Film lamination and encapsulation offer many advantages for a variety of commercial printing projects, including posters, vinyl graphics, stickers, and decals. These processes provide a transparent, physical barrier that protects the printed material from various stresses and enhances its durability and longevity. In this article, we’ll explore five key benefits of using film lamination and encapsulation for your print projects.
1. Protection from Stresses
Film lamination and encapsulation protect the print surface from abrasion, handling, transportation, packaging, unpacking, accidental dropping, scratching, and extreme temperatures. However, it’s not just protecting the ink from these stresses; it also shields the underlying material, such as paper or vinyl. As we all know, paper and vinyl substrates will tear or stretch easily. Lamination adds a layer of strength to these fragile mediums like no other “invisible” material can.
2. Versatility of Films
Films come in various thicknesses, textures, and types, offering a wide range of options for different applications. Typical thicknesses start at around 2 or 3 mil, which is so thin that nautical maps often employ it so that the user is just barely aware that its actually laminated and yet it’s miraculously “waterproof”! Heavier laminates like 10 or even 20 mil thicknesses will give your paper print the rigidity of a piece of cardboard with 10 times the durability of cardboard.
From these thin, barely noticeable films to thicker films that add rigidity and durability, there’s a film type suitable for every printing need. Films also come in different finishes, including matte, lustre, and gloss, and can be smooth, textured, or even sandpaper-like, depending on the desired application.
3. Single-Sided and Double-Sided Films
Films can be single-sided or double-sided. Single-sided films are ideal for applications where access to the opposite side of the material is required, such as with vinyl graphics. Double-sided or encapsulation films completely enclose the underlying print inside a “pouch” of film, providing the ultimate protection, waterproofing, and sealing from environmental exposures.
4. Increased Durability
Regardless of the substrate your graphic is printed on, film lamination or encapsulation significantly increases its physical durability. Unlaminated floor graphics might last only a day in a busy grocery store, while the same graphic, film laminated, could easily last for six months or more. Similarly, imagine an unlaminated paper map on the bridge of a common fishing boat—lamination not only protects your graphics but also makes them much tougher and more resilient to wear and tear. Lamination not only protects your graphics but also makes them much tougher and more resistant to wear and tear.
5. Cost-Effectiveness
One of the most compelling reasons to use film lamination or encapsulation is its cost-effectiveness. The cost of laminating or encapsulating a print project is typically a fraction of the cost of the underlying print. This makes it a highly valuable investment, as the benefits of increased durability and longevity far outweigh the additional cost.
Film lamination and encapsulation offer numerous benefits for commercial printing projects, including protection from stresses, versatility, increased durability, and cost-effectiveness. Whether you’re printing posters, vinyl graphics, stickers, or decals, considering film lamination or encapsulation for your next project can enhance the quality and longevity of your prints.
Looking For Lamination Services?
At MiniMax we offer both Hot Encapsulation and Cold Lamination. We use a 65” Encapsulation machine, a 60” Laminator and even a sheet fed Pouch Laminator. We inventory Matte and Satin films in various widths as well as Dry Erase, Anti Graffiti, Cast and Calendared films.
Give us a call about your next print project, you might be pleasantly surprised at how little it can be to protect your precious new prints!