Lamination Depot

An Overview of Pressure-Sensitive Lamination: Versatile Film for Heat-Sensitive Prints

Lamination is one of the most popular and effective ways to protect and preserve prints of all sizes, from offset-printed business cards to large, digitally-printed posters. Though thermal lamination is the most frequently used style of lamination, not all printing methods or material types can stand up to the intense heat required to melt the thermal adhesive. For heat-sensitive media and inks, pressure-sensitive laminating film an excellent solution - providing the protective properties of thermal lamination without requiring any heat. In this post, we share an overview of pressure-sensitive lamination and learn more about its unique benefits.

 

The Basics

Pressure-sensitive laminating film, also called cold laminating film, is specially designed film that uses pressure instead of heat in order to activate the adhesive and apply the film to the document. Because pressure-sensitive lamination does not require heat, it is an ideal choice for items printed using inkjet, electrostatic, laser, thermal transfer, or dye sublimation printing systems, which can degrade when exposed to high temperatures. 

Cold laminating film has a factory-applied release liner on the backside, which prevents the film from sticking to itself on the roll. Not all roll laminators are capable of laminating using pressure-sensitive film, but those that are also include an additional roller that removes and winds the release liner as film is applied to the print.

Pressure-sensitive laminating film is made with solvent-based adhesives, which offer improved adhesion strength when compared to water-based adhesives. Furthermore, digital prints are known for being difficult to adhere to, which makes the aggressive adhesives used in cold laminating film an excellent choice for use with digitally-printed items. Like thermal laminating film, cold lamination rolls are available in a range of thicknesses and finishes, including matte, satin, and gloss. They are also offered in both UV-resistant and scratch-resistant (polycarbonate) varieties.

 

In Review

If your organization works primarily with digitally-printed materials (or uses other heat-sensitive inks or media), then pressure-sensitive lamination can provide the adhesion that you need without the damaging effects of heat. Although the cold lamination process requires specialized equipment and costs more than comparable thermal films, the investment is well worth it when compared with the potential cost of printed materials ruined by exposure to heat.

Decorative Laminating Pouches: An Easy Way to Add Pizzazz to Your Laminating Projects!

Laminating is one of the most popular and effective ways to protect and preserve documents of practically any size, from ID badges and photographs to in-store signage and award certificates. While most documents are laminated using clear laminating pouches, there is a vast array of bright and colorful decorative laminating pouches that can be used to enhance your documents. In this post, we learn more about decorative laminating pouches and share an overview of some of the exciting styles that are available.

            

The Basics

Like all thermal laminating pouches, decorative laminating pouches use heat to create a seal. To laminate a document using a decorative laminating pouch, simply open the pouch, insert your document so that it is centered within the pouch, and feed it through your pre-heated pouch laminator (using a carrier if required - refer to the instruction manual for your laminator for specific information). As the pouch passes through the machine, the adhesive inside melts and fuses with the document. The outer edges of the pouch create a seal that helps to protect the document from moisture and other elements.

There are two main styles of decorative laminating pouches - colored pouches and framed pouches. Colored laminating pouches are made up of one layer of clear laminating film and one layer of colored film. The clear layer is placed on top of the document so that the information shows through, while the exposed portion colored layer (which appears around the outer edge of your sheet) creates an accent border. Though the colored film layer is somewhat translucent, attempting to use it on top of the printed portion of your document would reduce the clarity of any text. Framed laminating pouches are made from two layers of clear laminating film, one of which has an image printed along the outside border of the top layer. Available themes range from professional-looking certificate borders and wood textures to festive birthday greetings and happy faces.

Both colored laminating pouches and framed laminating pouches are available in a few different sizes as well as a variety of colors and/or themes. While decorative pouches do create make laminated documents stand out more than traditional clear pouches, their price point is a bit higher than comparable clear pouches and there are fewer size variations.

 

Uses

Decorative laminating pouches have a wide variety of uses for both personal and professional applications. For the home user, they're an excellent way to preserve favorite photographs for scrapbooks or photo albums, to add color to child's school report or presentation, to make custom placemats for kids, and much more. In the office, they can be used for color-coded event badges, signage (both to promote sales to customers and for internal use), pricelists (i.e. red for wholesale, blue for retail), training materials, and much more. Individuals and organizations that already own a laminator will find decorative pouches to be an affordable way to make laminated documents stand out even more.

 

In Review

Decorative laminating pouches are an easy and effective way to make a bold and colorful statement on your next laminating project. From professional applications like color-coded ID badges and eye-catching signs and displays to personal projects like scrapbooking and crafting, decorative laminating pouches offer almost limitless possibilities. While they work exactly the same as clear thermal laminating pouches, decorative pouches are a bit more expensive and come in fewer sizes. However, the added impact of either a colorful background or an ornate frame makes decorative laminating pouches a popular choice for organizations and individuals alike.

Determining the Best Laminating Pouch Size for Your Document

Lamination Depot offers laminating pouches in hundreds of unique sizes to accommodate the most popular insert document sizes. Because laminating pouches need to be larger than the insert document in order to achieve a proper seal, there are a few guidelines that should be followed to help determine the most appropriate size for your document.

A minimum border of 1/8" is required on all sizes of your document in order for the pouch to seal properly. The easiest way to determine the ideal laminating pouch size for your insert is to simply measure the document and then add 1/4" to both the length and the height. The resulting measurements will represent the appropriate laminating pouch size for your insert. If your insert document is a standard size (such as a letter-sized sheet or a business card), then you will likely find a pouch that is designed to be an exact fit.

Even if your document is an unusual size, it is still somewhat likely that you will find a standard pouch size that will work. Although you cannot have a margin of less than 1/8" between the edges of your pouch and the edges of your insert document, having a larger margin will not cause any problems. You can choose to leave the larger border intact or trim it down to 1/8" using a paper cutter or a pair of scissors. If the pouch that you are using is substantially larger than your insert document, then you may notice small bubbles forming in the areas where the layers of excess film meet (which is why it is important to use the pouch size that most closely matches your document).

If you plan on using pre-slotted laminating pouches (or will be using a manual slot punch to add slots after lamination), then you will need to increase the margin to account for the slot. A standard slot is 1/8" tall, and a 1/8" margin is required above and below the slot itself, bringing the required margin to 3/8" for the slotted portion. When you add this to the 1/8" margin that is required on the edge opposite the slot, your pouch will need to be 1/2" larger than the insert document on the slotted side (and will need to be the standard 1/4" on the side without the slot).

Nylon Xtreme Bond Laminating Film: Aggressive Adhesion for Digital Prints

As we've covered in previous posts, single-sided laminating is a great way to protect book covers, posters, maps, and other projects that need to be preserved on the front side while remaining untreated on the back side. Nylon laminating film is specifically designed to work in conjunction with your single-sided laminator to reduce curling for superior results. Traditionally, nylon laminating film has been offered with standard adhesion strength, but some projects require a more aggressive adhesive. That's where nylon Xtreme Bond laminating film comes in. This ultra-sticky film provides the same curl-resistant properties as standard nylon film, but with a specialized adhesive formulation that adheres to difficult-to-stick-to prints. In this post, we take a closer look at nylon Xtreme Bond laminating film.

The Basics

Nylon Xtreme Bond laminating film is available in widths ranging from 12.5" to 19.5" on 3,000' rolls. The film is a thin and pliable 1.2 mil thickness, which makes it an ideal choice for making paper book covers. Because it is designed to be used with a single-sided laminating machine, it is only available on a 3" core. Nylon Xtreme Bond film is available in both gloss and matte finishes (matte is available by special order), both of which offer superior abrasion resistance as well as water-, oil-, acid-, and alkali-resistant properties.

Uses

The superior adhesives bond well with digital prints - including digital output from Xerox Docutech and Docucolor machines, Nexpress, and Xeikon Systems - and the film carries an official validation from the Xerox Finishing Lab. It is capable of adhering to fuser oil-based inks, digital toners, and even "wet" inks. Xtreme Bond film can even be die-cut for specialty applications.

In Review

Using nylon laminating film is a must if you want great results on your single-sided laminating projects, but most standard nylon films do not offer the adhesion strength that is required for working with digital prints. If you have a need to perform single-sided lamination on digital prints (or other difficult-to-adhere-to media, such as those printed with oil-based inks), then nylon Xtreme Bond laminating film is an excellent solution. It offers all of the same benefits as traditional nylon film - including curl-resistance, abrasion-resistance, and the ability to be die-cut - but also features a specially-formulated adhesive that tames most toners and inks. In conjunction with your single-sided laminator, nylon Xtreme Bond laminating films will transform your digitally-printed posters, book covers, maps, displays, and other projects into durable documents that will stand up to years of use.

An Overview of Single-Sided Lamination

Single-sided lamination has a variety of applications, ranging from book covers and posters to photographic prints and maps. While many people think that single-sided lamination can be achieved by simply loading only one roll of film onto a standard, two-sided laminator, the fact is that one-sided lamination is a unique process that requires specially-designed film and equipment. In this post, we take a closer look at single-sided lamination to learn what separates it from double-sided thermal lamination.

 

The Basics

When you use a laminator for two-sided lamination, each of the sides is applying tension to the laminated document. Since the two sides apply tension in opposing directions, your document will lay flat. Because documents laminated on only one side aren't able to rely on the opposing tensions in order to keep the document from curling, specialized laminating film must be used in conjunction with a single-sided laminator in order to counteract the curl. Single-sided laminating machines feature decurling bars (also called "anti-curling bars"), which the laminated documents feed through before they exit the machine. These bars help to flatten out any minor curls that occur during lamination, and are found exclusively on single-sided laminating machines.

 

Nylon "Lay-Flat" Laminating Film

Also called "lay-flat" laminating film, nylon laminating film is specifically designed for single-sided applications. The adhesive used on lay-flat laminating film has a lower melting temperature than the adhesive used on standard laminating film (210-230 degrees F compared to 290 degrees F), which helps to reduce curling. Nylon also shrinks less during cooling than polyester, which is yet another feature designed to reduce curls in your laminated documents. Nylon laminating film is water-, oil-, acid-, and alkali-resistant, can be foil-stamped, printed, or glued, and can even be die cut. It is most commonly sold in a 1.2 mil thickness and on a 3" core, with widths varying between 12.5" and 19.5".

 

Problems with Using Your Two-Sided Laminator for Single-Sided Lamination

Aside from the curling issues mentioned earlier in this post, there are a number of problems that can occur when a two-sided laminator is used for single-sided lamination. If you load only one roll of film onto your laminator, any excess film that extends past the width of your document will leave adhesive residue behind on the other roller (which can even cause the film to wrap around the roller entirely - a messy and time-consuming clean-up). When you have film loaded onto both sides, the film on the bottom protects the bottom roller from the excess film on the top roller, and vice versa. Furthermore, nylon laminating film is sold on a 3" core, while most non-commercial laminators use 1" core film. As a result, most double-sided thermal laminators aren't capable of using the lay-flat film required for single-sided lamination.

 

In Review

Single-sided lamination is popular in a number of industries, because it protects one side of a document while leaving the other side bare for additional processes (such as book-binding or mounting). Contrary to popular belief, single-sided lamination is actually a distinct and separate process from two-sided lamination, and requires the use of specialized nylon laminating film and a single-sided laminator. If you have a need to perform single-sided lamination on a regular basis, then investing in the proper equipment and supplies is a must, because using a double-sided laminator will not give you the results that you are looking for (and can ultimately cause damage to your machine).

Machineless Lamination: The Benefits of Self-Adhesive Laminating Pouches

Also called self-laminating, self-sealing, or cold laminating pouches, self-adhesive laminating pouches are made with specialized laminating film that does not use thermally-activated adhesive. Because they do not require the use of heat, self-laminating pouches can be sealed without a machine, making them an ideal choice for small laminating projects or for laminating documents in the field (without access to electricity). In this post, we'll take a closer look at self-sealing laminating pouches and learn more about the unique benefits they offer.

 

The Basics

Unlike thermal laminating pouches, self-adhesive pouches do not need to be run through a pouch laminator in order to achieve a proper seal (although some machines feature a cold lamination setting that can aid in sealing the pouch, which is useful but not required). They do have a few similarities to thermal pouches, in that they require a border around the outer edge of the document to create a seal and that once the film is applied to the document it cannot be removed. 

To apply a self-laminating pouch to your document, begin by placing your document face down in the pouch with the adhesive side on the top. Once the document is positioned properly, slowly roll the adhesive side onto the insert document, peeling the paper backing off as you go. Press the air bubbles out of the pouch using your finger tips, then press firmly around all edges to create a seal. 

 

Benefits of Self-Adhesive Laminating Pouches

Laminating is an extremely popular and versatile way to protect and preserve documents of all types, but not every laminating project is worth investing in a laminator. If you're only laminating a small number of items and don't already own a thermal pouch laminator, then you'll probably find that cold laminating pouches are the most economical option for your needs. In addition to being a machineless method of lamination, they are often sold in smaller quantites than thermal pouches, so they're ideal for short runs. The per-pouch cost of self-sealing pouches is considerably more than that of standard pouches, but they're still very reasonably priced (especially when compared to the cost of a laminator).

Another benefit of self-laminating pouches is that they're easy to use and safe for all ages. They don't rely on heat, so they're an excellent choice for classroom use or other projects with children. They're also great for on-site laminating, since transporting a pouch laminator is not always possible. Field representatives can laminate membership cards, product literature, or other business materials just about anywhere, without having to find an outlet or wait for the machine to warm up. Finally, cold pouches work well with heat-sensitive items (such as photographs) that could be damaged during the thermal laminating process.

 

In Review

Self-sealing pouches are a simple and effective way to laminate your documents without a laminator. Although they cost a bit more than standard pouches, they are an excellent option for small laminating projects because they don't require the additional investment of a laminating machine. They're also more portable than thermal pouches and safe for all ages, since there's no heat or electricity involved in the laminating process. If you're looking for a way to preserve and protect a few of your most important documents and photographs, create a set of personalized luggage tags, make identification badges to help represent your company at an upcoming event, or any other short run laminating project, then be sure to take a look at self-adhesive laminating pouches.

DIGIKote Laminating Pouches: Taming Hard-to-Stick-to Media & Heat-Sensitive Prints

Standard thermal laminating pouches are great for laminating documents printed on regular paper, but what about heat-sensitive prints or media that is difficult to adhere to? In those cases, low-melt laminating pouches are an excellent solution. In this post, we'll take a closer look at DIGIKote laminating pouches, which are specifically designed to eliminate the headaches caused by hard-to-laminate documents.

 

The Basics

DIGIKote laminating pouches are made from the same DIGIKote film that is sold in rolls for wide format laminators. DIGIKote laminating films have a low laminating temperature (approximately 185 degrees - compared to up to 290 degrees for some standard films), which helps to preserve the inks in digitally-printed graphics which degrade when exposed to high heat. They also feature an aggressive adhesive formula designed to stick to a wide range of media. For added protection against fading, DIGIKote films feature patented LIGHTFast technology, which uses UV inhibitors to absorb damaging light wavelengths. As a result, digital prints laminated with DIGIKote laminating film will remain colorful and bold for up to five times longer than uncoated images.

Using a DIGIKote laminating pouch is similar to using a standard thermal laminating pouch, although the temperature setting is lower. Preheat your laminator to the proper temperature, insert your document into the pouch, and feed it through the machine (using a carrier sheet if required by your laminator).

 

In Review

Laminating is an excellent way to preserve and protect important documents, but not every document can be exposed to the high level of heat required by standard laminating film. Futhermore, some media are difficult for laminating film to adhere to. For these projects, DIGIKote laminating pouches provide an ideal solution - they're easy to use and highly effective. If you've ever found yourself feeling frustrated with the level of adhesion or the digital ink deterioration while using standard laminating pouches, then you'll definitely want to look into laminating with DIGIKote film.

SmartLoad 12 Review: A Compact, Easy-to-Load Roll Laminator

Roll laminators are great for laminating large posters and display materials or bulk runs of documents, but what about users that just run documents 12" wide or smaller? In this post, we’ll take a closer look at the SmartLoad 12, which is the perfect size for laminating letter-sized documents and costs about half as much as other comparable roll laminators.

 

The Basics

Nearly all roll laminators are thermal, which means that they utilize heat to seal the edges of the laminate film and fuse the layers together. Depending on the machine, the heat is applied by either heated rollers or heat shoes, which are long, flat, aluminum plates. Regardless of the type of heating element, all laminating machines utilize rollers to help ensure secure adhesion, eliminate air bubbles and move documents through the machine.

 

Benefits of the SmartLoad 12

The SmartLoad 12 laminator has three primary benefits – cost, size, and ease of use. With many roll laminators costing in the thousands, the SmartLoad 12 has a reasonable price point of less than $400. The SmartLoad 12 laminator is designed to be compact, so it is small enough to fit in any environment (and it weighs only 30 lbs.). Loading and threading film onto most roll laminators can be somewhat difficult, but the SmartLoad 12 has an innovative "smart load" design that significantly reduces the film loading time while preventing the user from loading the film upside down. There's no mandrel to load the roll onto – just snap the SmartLoad film roll into the machine and thread the film through the rollers.

 

The SmartLoad 12 has a maximum laminating width of 12", which makes it a perfect choice for individuals and organizations that laminated letter-, legal-, and menu-sized documents. It has a fixed laminating speed of 3' per minute, and a quick warm-up time of only one minute. It uses a heat shoe, and features an adjustable temperature that enables it to laminate films ranging from 1.7 mils thick to 10 mils thick. The SmartLoad 12 also includes a convenient built-in horizontal trimmer and feed alignment guide, as well as a one-year warranty.

 

In Review

The SmartLoad 12 roll laminator is a small machine that's packed with big features. It may be limited to laminating documents 12" wide or less, but with a fast warm-up time, built-in trimmer, innovative film loading system, affordable price point, and one-year warranty, it's one of the most attractive small format roll laminators on the market. If you frequently laminate letter-, legal-, or menu-sized documents, then be sure to take a look at the SmartLoad 12.

An Overview of Matte Laminating Pouches

Many people know about the wide variety of sizes and thicknesses that thermal laminating pouches are available in, but not everyone is aware of the different finishes that are offered. In this post, we'll explore the unique properties of matte laminating pouches and discuss a few of the most popular uses for them.

The Basics

Like other thermal laminating pouches, matte laminating pouches are designed to work with a pouch laminator. To use a thermal matte laminating pouch, simply place your document within a pouch of the appropriate size and run it through your laminating machine, ensuring that it has reached the proper laminating temperature that corresponds to the thickness of the pouch that you are using. Both matte and glossy laminating pouches are clear, however matte laminating pouches have a non-glare finish. Matte laminating pouches are also more scratch-resistant than glossy pouches, and their delustered surface can be easily written on with pens and permanent markers.

Uses

The unique qualities of matte laminating pouches make them ideal for certain applications and within specific industries. Because they are non-glare, they are the preferred choice for use in high-light environments, such as photography studios or television sets. Their "writeable" finish makes them a great choice for luggage tags and identification cards that are written on after lamination. Since they are more scratch-resistant than their glossy counterparts, matte pouches are an excellent way to protect frequently-handled documents, such as price lists or reference materials.

In Review

Using thermal laminating pouches is one of the easiest and most effective ways to add durability to any document you're looking to protect. Matte laminating pouches work the same way as glossy pouches and are equal in clarity, but they have a smooth, non-glare finish that makes them resistant to scratches and allows the user to write on them with ease.

Lamination Depot carries a wide selection of matte laminating sheets in varying sizes and thicknesses, as well as matte/clear pouches that feature one side of matte lamination and one side of glossy film.

Sticky-Back vs. Self-Adhesive Laminating Pouches: Which Style is Right for You?

When referring to laminating pouches, the terms “sticky-back” and “self-adhesive” are often used interchangeably, however they actually correspond to two distinct styles of pouches that have specialized properties. In this post, we’ll discuss both self-adhesive and sticky-back laminating pouches to help you understand the similarities and differences between the two pouch styles.

 

Self-Adhesive Laminating Pouches

Also called self-sealing, self-laminating, or cold laminating pouches, self-adhesive laminating pouches are made from pressure-sensitive laminating film and do not need heat in order to seal the document. Like laminating with pressure-sensitive roll laminating film, cold pouches do not damage heat-sensitive documents (such as digitally-printed materials). To laminate with self-adhesive pouches, simply remove the backing that lines the adhesive side of the pouch, insert your document, and firmly press the layers together to create a seal. This style of pouch is considerably more expensive than traditional thermal pouches, so if you are looking to laminate large quantities of documents, you may want to consider purchasing a pouch laminating machine to take advantage of the lower pricing for thermal pouches. If you’re only laminating a few documents, laminating as part of a one-time project, or performing lamination in the field (without access to electricity), then self-laminating pouches may be an ideal choice for you.

 

Sticky-Back Laminating Pouches

Sticky-back laminating pouches are similar to traditional thermal laminating pouches in that they require heat to create a seal around the document. The unique feature of sticky-back laminating pouches is that they have an adhesive backing, which allows the laminated document to be stuck to a folder, bound presentation, signboard, or any other smooth surface. After placing the document within the pouch and running it through your laminator at the proper temperature, simply peel off the release liner on the back of the pouch to expose the adhesive and affix it as desired. Though the cost of the added adhesive backing is reflected in a higher retail price as compared to standard thermal pouches, sticky-back laminating pouches are much less expensive than self-adhesive pouches.

 

In Review

Though the terms sticky-back and self-adhesive may sound similar, the pouches that they refer to are actually very different. Self-adhesive (cold) laminating pouches use pressure-sensitive adhesive to encapsulate documents without using a thermal laminator. Since they don’t require the use of a thermal laminating machine, these pouches are a great option for small laminating projects or for laminating documents that are heat-sensitive. They require more manual labor and cost considerably more than thermal pouches, so if you plan on laminating a high volume of documents, you’ll definitely want to consider purchasing a machine that would enable you to use thermal laminating pouches. Sticky-back pouches are thermal laminating sleeves that have an adhesive backing, allowing users to affix them to any smooth surface. Like any other thermal lamination pouch, they must be run through a laminator in order to achieve a seal. The added adhesive backing does come at a slightly higher price point compared to standard thermal pouches, but they are still substantially less expensive than self-adhesive pouches.

If you are looking for a laminating pouch that can be sealed without a laminator, then a self-adhesive pouch will fit your needs. If you want to adhere a heat-sealed laminating pouch to a bound presentation or in-store display, then a sticky-back pouch is an excellent option.