To laminate or not to laminate? That is the question

To laminate or not to laminate? Have you ever asked yourself this question? If not, then perhaps you should. It could be the difference between winning or losing your next job.

Laminates are an integral part of graphics and will be for years to come. However, there is a time and place for them – as well as occasions and applications when they might not be needed.

So, what are the reasons for laminating?

The most common use for lamination is to protect your output from the elements – such as UV degradation – and enhance outdoor durability. You can also use laminates to finish a job with gloss, lustre or matte textures or to add an extra property to the graphic such as an anti-graffiti coating or slip resistance.

Laminates can also be used to add body and thickness to your output. This can be particularly useful when printing onto thinner materials; the extra layer will stop the graphic stretching and simplify the installation process.

All of the above should be considered when planning print jobs. However, there are some additional things to consider.

Firstly, when it comes to UV protection, lamination is a must for long-term applications if they are to stand the test of time. After all, these projects will be exposed to the elements and will need support if they are going to survive.

If your focus is on protecting the ink layer of a graphic, you should also consider laminating all long-term work – both indoors and outdoors – as well as output that will be situated in high traffic locations such as corridors and hallways.

When considering lamination for finishing effects, this is only necessary on some occasions as most print media is available in different finishes. Newer print hardware even allows for gloss and matte output from the get-go through their ink setup.