Patent ID: 7576149

Claim:
A recording medium with an ink image thereon, wherein a varnish at least partially covers the ink image, and wherein the varnish is applied to the recording medium as a varnish composition, wherein the varnish composition comprises at least one latex emulsion selected from the group consisting of styrene/acrylic emulsions, acrylic emulsions, polyester emulsions, and mixtures thereof, water, at least one base, at least one coalescing aid, at least one viscosity modifier comprising an acrylic alkali swellable emulsion or an associative thickener, and at least one surfactant, wherein the latex emulsion is from about 40 weight percent to about 95 weight percent of the varnish composition, the total amount of water is from about 30 weight percent to about 80 weight percent of the varnish composition, the coalescing aid is from about 1 weight percent to about 4 weight percent of the varnish composition, and the viscosity modifier is from about 0.1 weight percent to about 5 weight percent of the varnish composition.