<p>There are various waterproofing sprays and brush-on treatments sold for maps.  They shouldn't change the colour very much, (hopefully not at all for print) but may darken the base colour a little.  <a href="https://www.aquaseal.com/products.aspx?pagename=Product%20Details&amp;itemid=3789&amp;prodid=92576&amp;pagetitle=Aquaseal-Map-Seal---8oz." rel="noreferrer">Here's one example</a>, and <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Waterproof-Outdoor-Camping-Clothing-Fishing/dp/B0081HFEDM" rel="noreferrer">here's another</a>.</p>
<p>The key to using these is to ensure perfect coverage, and several thin, even, coats.  The same would be true for spray lacquer, which should also work though it's not necessarily designed to be flexible.  For origami I'd spray from a different direction for every coat, but even so getting it into the crevices will be tricky.</p>
<p>I've also <a href="https://www.ukclimbing.com/forums/gear/making_waterproof_maps-406094" rel="noreferrer">seen</a> a recommendation for polyurethane varnish, with the note that some change the colour but others don't.</p>
<p>A dip process would ensure good coverage but in an oil-based varnish is very likely to change the colour (as you found with epoxy), maybe adding translucency.</p>
<p>A range of options is presented <a href="http://granjow.net/waterproof-paper.html" rel="noreferrer">here</a> including some I've mentioned above.  One that looks particularly interesting is <em>shellac</em>.  It dissolves in alcohol but not water, and hardens when the alcohol evaporates, so unless you have alcohol-soluble colours on your paper, it shouldn't have much if any effect on the colour, and is described as being suitable for a bath process.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-10-06T15:43:07.917Z
2020-10-06T15:43:07.917Z
Chris H
<p>I am a paper craft artist. I am wondering if I can make my paper art waterproof.
I tried putting clear epoxy resin on the paper model, but the resin changed the color of the paper.</p>
<p>Is there any material I can put on my model to make it more durable and waterproof?
The paper I am using is 200GSM.</p>

<paper><origami>
How to make paper waterproof
NJMR
# How to make paper waterproof

(Asked by: username_0 on 2020-10-06)

I am a paper craft artist. I am wondering if I can make my paper art waterproof.
I tried putting clear epoxy resin on the paper model, but the resin changed the color of the paper.

Is there any material I can put on my model to make it more durable and waterproof?
The paper I am using is 200GSM.

**Tags:** paper, origami


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2020-10-06. Score: 7 | Accepted answer

There are various waterproofing sprays and brush-on treatments sold for maps. They shouldn't change the colour very much, (hopefully not at all for print) but may darken the base colour a little. [Here's one example](https://www.aquaseal.com/products.aspx?pagename=Product%20Details&itemid=3789&prodid=92576&pagetitle=Aquaseal-Map-Seal---8oz.), and [here's another](https://www.amazon.co.uk/Waterproof-Outdoor-Camping-Clothing-Fishing/dp/B0081HFEDM).

The key to using these is to ensure perfect coverage, and several thin, even, coats. The same would be true for spray lacquer, which should also work though it's not necessarily designed to be flexible. For origami I'd spray from a different direction for every coat, but even so getting it into the crevices will be tricky.

I've also [seen](https://www.ukclimbing.com/forums/gear/making_waterproof_maps-406094) a recommendation for polyurethane varnish, with the note that some change the colour but others don't.

A dip process would ensure good coverage but in an oil-based varnish is very likely to change the colour (as you found with epoxy), maybe adding translucency.

A range of options is presented [here](http://granjow.net/waterproof-paper.html) including some I've mentioned above. One that looks particularly interesting is *shellac*. It dissolves in alcohol but not water, and hardens when the alcohol evaporates, so unless you have alcohol-soluble colours on your paper, it shouldn't have much if any effect on the colour, and is described as being suitable for a bath process.


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