You must be doing something wrong with the fixative .. it was developed specifically to prevent smudging – seal the medium to the paper or substrate to protect it. What fixative are you using? And how do you apply it?

I work in graphite and my work doesn’t smudge very much at all . But when I do use a fixative I use Krylon Matte Fixatif[/URL] but there are many kinds. Shake the can well and apply an even layer horizontally on the paper. Starting off paper so as not to get spitting and not too close so the air won’t blow on the paper. And hold the paper somewhat vertically – not flat. I will move evenly across the paper and off the other side with about 1/4 overlap in each pass and move fast enough that it doesn’t get “wet”. Then I let it dry for perhaps 20-30 minutes – shouldn’t take long as the layer isn’t very thick – and then I repeat it but this time I go vertically. Let it sit for maybe a half hour more and I can rub my finger on the graphite without worrying.

Not all fixatives are the same. Some won’t prevent smudging until several layers have been applied – others are faster. Odors vary as does behavior. It is best to try each one on a scrap paper and see how many coats it takes to stop the smudging and how it behaves generally. And I would also avoid the cheaper alternatives – like hair spray. Nobody knows how that will finally react in 50 years. Actual fixative is chemically designed to work with dry media as an archival solution. They can seem a bit expensive but a little goes a long way.

I use the Krylon workable matte fixatif spray … but Daler Rowney is an excellent brand as well. Perhaps it would take a second layer … I saw a review somewhere that said some of them take up to 3 layers before smudging stops. The only way to tell is probably to test it out on some scrap drawing.

How far away you spray the fixative? Is the paper wetted by the fixative solvent when you spray it?
This problem sounds like that there is not enough fixative on the paper, or the distance might be too long, which may cause the fixative to dry before it hits the paper (i’ve seen that happen…).

I have not found a fixative – yet – that keeps all the charcoal from moving/falling.. there is often too much charcoal material on the paper for it to glue everything down.. Several runs at about a foot away ( on a non windy day, outside) will do a nice job for Krylon workable fixative..

someone may have already written it but the word “workable” only means you can keep adding charcoal ( or pastel etc.,) .. you can’t really erase much after..

Kevin