Written by Paul Worrall
Fixative spray is one of those products that seems simple until you actually compare brands properly — some barely protect a piece after one coat, others change the colour of what you’ve drawn, and most reviews online just repeat the same marketing lines rather than testing anything directly. Worth a genuinely honest look at what actually works.
I’m Paul Worrall. I spent nearly a decade running digital marketing for ARTdiscount, one of the UK’s larger online art retailers, and I now run Discount Art Supplies — a price comparison platform used by over 41,000 UK artists every week.
Quick Picks
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Workable vs Final Fixative
This is genuinely the most importent distinction to understand before buying. A workable fixative lightly sets the surface so you can keep building further layers of pastel, charcoal or pencil on top — useful mid-way through a piece. A final fixative seals the work more permanently once you’re finished, but generally isn’t meant for layering further work on top afterward. Buying the wrong type for how you actually work is the most common mistake here.
Winsor & Newton Professional Fixative
Sold as “Professional Fixative” in the UK (the same formula is called “Workable Fixative” in the US), this is consistently one of the best-performing fixatives in independent testing — good smudge protection after just one coat, better again after two, and genuinely good water resistance once properly cured. It works across charcoal, soft pastel, oil pastel, pencil and chalk, and applies as a light, controllable coat rather than a heavy blast. The trade-off is a medium-strong odour compared to some competitors, so ventilation matters.
Sennelier — Latour and Delacroix
Worth knowing Sennelier actually make two different fixatives for two different jobs. Latour is aimed at pastels specifically — quick drying and low odour, though independent testing found it genuinely needs three coats before offering real smudge protection, and it isn’t water-resistant. Delacroix is the pencil and charcoal formula, fast-drying with a matte, non-yellowing finish — but it’s specifically not recommended for soft pastels, since it’s too strong for that medium and can affect the surface.
Lascaux Fine Art Fixative
Unlike most of the others here, Lascaux is a permanent fixative rather than workable — a genuinely versatile option that’s been tested across fine art, printing and even architectural drafting, and works on photographs, collage and ceramics as well as drawings. Independent testing rated its water resistance highly and found fair smudge protection after two coats, though thick pastel or charcoal application can still be a challenge for any fixative, this one included. The odour is on the stronger side.
SpectraFix
Genuinely the odd one out on this list — the only water-based fixative, and it comes as a pump spray rather than an aerosol, which some artists prefer for control and low odour. The trade-off is a slow drying time, and because it wets the paper, thinner paper can buckle unless you’re working on something reasonably heavy. Worth holding it a genuine distance away when spraying, since a close burst can blow loose pigment around rather than settling it.
Krylon Workable Fixatif
The genuine budget pick — acid-free, archival, and won’t yellow or alter colour over time. As a workable formula it’s flexible enough that you can even erase through it to make corrections to a piece that isn’t quite finished, which is a nice, practical feature. It’s not as fade-resistant as the premium brands above, but for the price it’s a sensible option, particularly while you’re still working out which fixative properties actually matter to your own practice.
A Note on Colour Shift
Worth knowing before you commit to a piece: independent testing has shown some fixatives genuinely shift colour on application, particularly on strong contrasts like white pastel layered over black. This isn’t consistant across all brands, so it’s worth testing any fixative on a scrap piece first, especially for high-contrast work, rather than discovering an issue on a finished piece you can’t redo.
Using It Safely
Most fixative sprays are extremely flammable aerosols, so it’s importent to use them in a well-ventilated space, away from open flames or heat sources, and ideally not in a small, enclosed room. Spray from the recommended distance (usually around 25-30cm) in light, even passes rather than one heavy coat, and let each layer dry fully before adding another.
FAQ
What’s the difference between workable and final fixative?
A workable fixative lets you keep adding more pastel, charcoal or pencil on top after spraying, since it only lightly sets the surface. A final fixative is more permanent and seals the piece completely, but you generally can’t build up further layers on top of it as easily.
Does fixative spray change the colour of my drawing?
Some genuinely can, particularly on strong colour contrasts like white over black. Independent testing has shown certain brands shift colour more than others, so it’s worth testing on a scrap piece first, especially with high-contrast work.
Is fixative spray safe to use indoors?
Most fixative sprays are extremely flammable aerosols and should be used in a well-ventilated space, away from open flames or heat sources, and ideally not in a small enclosed room. Check the specific product’s safety information before use.
If you’re working in pastels specifically, my Best Soft Pastels UK guide and Best Paper for Pastels guide cover the rest of the setup. At Discount Art Supplies we compare prices across all the major UK art retailers in real time, so you can find the best current deal before you buy.
