The dilemma of whether or not to apply fixatives to works of art in pastel plague many contemporary artists. They recognize the undesirable effects of commercial fixatives (such as Krylon, Tuffilm), and complain that the sprays dull or saturate their colours, cause some pigments to disappear altogether and yellow or stain paper substrates rendering them shiny or sticky. The large size of many pastels executed today has made the application of a fixative even more important for their safe handling. Artists are concerned about preserving the appearance of their works but feel there is a lack of information from manufacturers on the quality of their products. It should not be surprising, therefore, that conservators frequently receive calls from artists inquiring about appropriate fixatives for their pastels.