Let’s quickly review the components of a print before we discuss applying laminating film.
Anatomy of a Print:
- Stock/Material – In addition to different thicknesses, paper stocks have different textures and levels of acid content.
- Ink vs. Toner – Printing machines utilize either fluid (wet) ink or powdered (dry) toner to add an image. It is important to note whether or not you are using an oil-based media.
Light vs. Heavy Toner Coverage:
- Prints with light toner coverage, such as an itemized list with small/no accompanying graphics with a lot of the white paper underneath showing through, require minimum adhesive strength.
- Prints with high toner coverage, such as a full-color poster with edge-to-edge printing, require maximum adhesive strength.
We recommend that prints are completely dry before applying laminating film to prevent unsightly bubbles, condensation, etc.
Laminating Film Adhesive Types:
- Standard: Designed for light toner coverage.
- PRO: Designed for medium toner coverage with water-based inks.
- Digital: Designed for heavy toner coverage with oil-based inks.
- Pressure-Sensitive: Designed for stocks made of non-porous material (like a sheet of vinyl or other plastic).
We Answer Application FAQs:
I am a school that is laminating student projects with Standard laminating film. Why is the laminating film not sticking to my students’ construction paper projects?
Construction paper most often has a higher acid content than standard office copy paper. If you encounter peeling or lack of film adhesion to construction paper projects, we suggest switching to an acid free paper, slowing the speed on your laminator if possible, or upgrading your film adhesive strength.
Will PRO film work for my digital prints?
As long as the activation temperature does not reactivate the toner applied to your print, PRO film can also be suitable for digital prints.