The present invention provides a process for making a coated substrate such as paper, by utilizing a coating composition containing a nitrogenous dye-fixing compound. The coating compositions utilized in the process contains from 5-95 wt. percent of a film-forming binder mixed with a dye fixing compound, dye fixing polymer or a mixture thereof that includes a dye fixing compound selected from a biguanidine compound, a guanidine oligomer, or a derivative, which is a member selected from the such group consisting of chlorhexidine, chlorguanide, an oligomer of a chlorhexidine or chlorguanidine derivative, or a salt thereof, wherein the ink-receptive surface coating composition or agent may also include at least one organic or inorganic cross-linker, as well as other coating substituents. The coating compositions provide a coated substrate that provides high quality printed images when printed with an ink containing a reactive dye having ionizable and/or nucleophilic groups capable of reacting with the coating agent, and images are bleed-resistant, water-resistant (e.g., water-fast), and/or are characterized by an enhanced chroma and hue.