A Buyers' Guide To Laminators And Laminate
A Buyers' Guide To Laminators And Laminate description
Lamination is simply the process of enveloping a document
between two layers of plastic film and sealing its edges in
order to provide a level of protection against outside
influences that may cause damage. Photos, posters, letters,
certificates and cards are all examples of documents that
commonly utilize such a technique, and the items can either be
produced professionally or with special laminating products that
are used in the home.
Of the different types of laminators that are available, those
which use the process of thermal (or heat) lamination are
actually layers of film which are constructed of a polyester
base and resin. During the heating process, the resin layer
melts and is then spread across the surface of the print through
the means of pressure. Once spread, the adhesive begins to cool,
hardening as it goes, in order to form a permanent bond between
the film and the print.
There are several types of laminating machines, each using
different kinds of laminators. The easiest of these will allow
you to feed the document into a laminating machine, where it
comes into contact with the adhesive, which are then pressed
together by rollers or - in some cases - an oversized plate.
Using the Proper Laminator
+ Depending upon the material of the print to be protected,
certain laminators must be used in order to complete the job
correctly. That being the case, it's important to match the
correct type of laminator with the particular material that's
being used. In other words, prints of paper, wood or fabric are
going to require different types of laminators.
+ Due to the steps that are necessary to successfully laminate a
print, it's important to know the size of the document. Since
lamination pouches are used during part of the process, you'll
need to ensure that these are a proper fit before the technique
can be successfully completed.
+ The frequency in which you use the lamination machine and the
size of the jobs should be considered, as well. If you plan to
use it on a daily basis, or for large lamination jobs, then it's
best to invest in a heavy duty laminating machine. For
particularly large jobs, you might be better off obtaining an
industrial machine.
+ Thickness is an important consideration, as well, since prints
that are of a thicker nature will need to utilize a
spring-loaded roller in order to be fed through the machine
properly. The advantage to this type of tool is that it will
automatically adjust to the thickness of the material that's
being introduced.
+ Machines that are equipped with a stand-by mode and a
readiness indicator are best for those times when you're
planning to use them throughout the day, such as in an office
environment.
Hot Lamination
Different jobs will require specific types of laminators -
either hot or cold - depending upon the material and desired
effect.
+ For documents that are up to 20" in width, pouch laminators
are used. Photographs, ID tags and other jobs that are of
similar size would do best using this approach.
+ You'll need to use a roll laminator if you're planning to
process prints that are between 20" and 60" wide and 1" in
thickness.
+ Dry mounting is the most expensive of the three types, and is
performed by using a tissue adhesive as well as precise heat and
pressure regulations, in addition to the necessary time that it
takes to apply a substrate to the product. Specialized machinery
needs to be used in order to perform this technique, and is
often used in professional print shops.
Cold Lamination
Tape lamination uses a cold version of adhering a protective
plastic film to the print. By inserting a pre-wound, rolled
cartridge of laminated film into the machine and introducing the
document, both the adhesives and the print are pulled into the
machine with two rollers after pushing a button or using a hand
crank. These types are often used in the home environment,
office, photo-finishing labs and sign shops.
Various Types of Finishes
There are five basic finishes that can be applied to a laminated
product. Depending upon the type of effect that you wish to
produce will determine the best finish for the job.
+ Standard Clear - produces a glossy finish
+ Satin - reduces glare without frosting
+ Matte - applies a slightly frosted finish
+ Crystal - produces a granular texture
+ Scratch Resistant - hard finish for extra protection
With the right tools, you can produce a variety of high quality
products that are suitable for framing, posting or inserting
into a binding that houses keepsakes. Laminated documents are
also more professionally protected when prepared for packaging,
in the event that documents must be transported through mailing
or shipping services.About the Author:The writer Peter Mason
publishes many news and information for the website http://www.laminating-guide.com
. The author is helping people finding the best solutions for
laminators http://www.laminating-guide.com/laminators.html and
other important office equipment. |
