Clear Choice Laminating offers a large variety of laminates for your wide format printing needs.

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Finishes Offered for Available Laminates

Gloss

Luster

Matte

Soft Touch

Dry Erase

Anti-Graffiti

Metalized

Texture

Sandtext

Canvas

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We can laminate directly to substrates, supplied prints, prints on a roll aka “roll to roll laminating”,  one side laminate, two side laminate, encapsulation, flush cut, Hot melt laminating, low melt laminating, or pressure sensitive laminating.

All laminates are not created equally. Several factors will determine what lamination is suitable for your print. For example, the media you are printing on, the application use for your print, the type of ink used in the printing process, and even the environment of the final product are common elements we need to know before choosing which type of lamination will work best.

Confused yet? Well I hope not, but let’s break this down into categories to help understand what we mean. The following is directed towards wide format but can be used to help choose narrow format laminate as well.

“The media you are printing on”

Depending on the choice of media used to print your project will determine if you can use a hot melt, low melt, or a PSA. A General rule of thumb is to know that heat sensitive materials will call for a pressure sensitive laminate or a low melt laminate. Most prints that are on paper can take hot melt lam but not all. This will help guide you on choosing the correct material for your project.

“Application use for your print”

Knowing the application of a print will further help determine the correct lamination. Let’s fabricate a quick scenario… Say you want to use our textured Sandtex lamination to help create a floor graphic, because the texture looks more appealing to you or your customer. Well… Sandtex is not a “Nonskid” laminate for floor graphics. So, while your customer may want that particular feature, it would not be recommended. When it comes to who is liable for an accident, I would rather be safe than sorry. So, when application comes to mind, please think of compatibility, longevity, and how’s it’s going to be used.

“Type of ink used in the printing process”

The inks used to print, play a large role in what type of lamination can be applied. PSA laminate will adhere almost to anything, so when in doubt ask for a PSA. All of our Textured PVC low melts come in a super stick configuration. Super stick lamination helps adhere to prints that have heavy coverage, wax based toners, hard to stick to coatings, and certain fuser oils that make it harder to adhere to a digital print. Please see super stick disclaimer. We live in a “have to have it, Now!” society, but when it comes to wide format printing it may not be that easy. “Out gassing” and “Dry time” is very important when it comes to proper adhesion. If your prints are not given sufficient time to properly cure, the gases can become trapped. This can cause the lamination to lift off and even color variations within the print. We would recommend waiting 24-48 hours before applying lamination to some jobs. Hot melt polyesters are a more cost efficient laminate to use when laminating large prints, but depending on the inks used this may not be an option. Please follow our three step rule…

“Test, test and test!”

“Environment of the final product”

Many environmental conditions can affect which lamination can be used on the print. Sunlight, water, cold and hot temperatures, for example play a huge role in selecting the proper lamination. If you know your print will be close to a window with heavy sunlight, select one of our laminates with UV inhibitors. If your prints are heading near a window, select our solar-guard laminate to help fight off UV rays from direct sun. If chances are high that your print will come into contact with water, have your piece encapsulated. Applying the basic knowledge stated in the previous passages will help maximize the life span of your project.

If there was a certain thickness, laminate, or finish you needed and did not see it listed on our website please contact us and let us know. Clear Choice will do its best to make it available to you.

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