FAQ's

Why laminate?
Thermo laminating provides protection and luster to one or two sides of a printed piece thereby increasing its durability and its impact. At the same time, the laminating process gives the material a unique feel and finish thereby enhances the message that the piece is designed to convey. Printed pieces that are handled frequently or are used in a harsh environment will also benefit from lamination.

How is it done?
Thermo laminating is a process in which a protective coating of polypropylene, polyester, or nylon film is applied to either one or two sides of a sheet of paper. The paper is usually printed as either large press sheets with multiple images or as individual images on finished size sheets. The laminating film is applied to the printed piece with specialized equipment by skilled operators using a combination of heat and pressure.

How are these films different from each other?
Each of the most widely used films have certain advantages and disadvantages (see Laminating Chart) depending on how the printed piece to which it is applied is to be used. At Pro Laminators, we only use the best quality films from manufacturers specializing in high quality films for the printing industry. Because of our high volume buying, customers can expect the very best in film quality at very competitive prices.

How thick are the films that are applied to the printed materials?
Laminating films are measured in thousandths of an inch. For example, a film described as a 1.2 mil film is actually .0012 of an inch thick. The "mil" measurement is the total thickness including the adhesive plus the actual polypropylene, polyester or nylon substrate. Films for one sided applications are generally 1.2 mil thick.

The most popular thickness measurements for two side laminating are 1.7 mil, 3.0 mil, 5.0 mil and 10 mil.

What about different finishes?
Each film substrate is manufactured in a variety of standard finishes such as glossy and matte as well as specialty finishes including printable, glueable, writeable, etc. At Pro Laminators, laminating is our only business and we can help find the best film for most specific uses.

What types of printed items can be improved with thermo laminating?
One side lamination is perfect for book covers, catalog and magazine covers, pocket folders, dust jackets, box wraps, packaging labels, pressure sensitive stocks, and gift bags.

Two side lamination is used in a wide variety of situations and is perfect for menus, erasable calendars and charts, brochures, sell sheets, luggage tags, bookmarks, recipe cards, calendars, point-of-purchase materials, posters and more.

What size of paper can be laminated?
Pro Laminators has multiple production lines designed to accommodate many custom sizes of printed materials. Common sizes for One side laminating will range from 13" x 20" up to 36" x 40. Two side lamination can be applied to printed materials that can range from 2" x 3" to 28" x 40" (36" x 60" for posters).

What type of paper is best suited for laminating?
A wide variety of coated and uncoated papers can be laminated. The ideal paper will be 6-10 points in thickness. Textured stocks, C2S papers, and papers with metallic or florescent inks should be avoided. Copier paper (20 lb. bond) may provide acceptable results for Two side laminating for sizes up to 11 x 17 but it is always subject to wrinkling.

Are there any special layout considerations when preparing materials for laminating?
When designing and printing for One Side Lamination, the design, layout assembly and printing teams should know that a ½ to ¾ inch area along all 4 edges of the printed sheet that is free of inks or coatings of any kind is required. Trim marks are helpful in positioning the film on the sheet.

In contrast, Two Side Lamination can be applied to the very edges of the sheet and beyond. Press sheets with multiple images and trim marks will be laminated and returned ready for final cutting. Sheets with individual images can be flush trimmed or sealed with a 1/8 film border extending beyond the four edges of the sheet.

What is "curling"?
Some types of film laminating material on some types of paper will stretch when heated and contract while cooling. When this happens, the film will draw up causing the printed sheet to curl. A skilled operator will control the curl and will know how much curl is acceptable. In some cases, depending on the application, curl may even be desirable, depending on the final application.

What is the environmental impact of laminating?
Thermal laminating, unlike other finishes, is a very safe and waste-free process. Film laminates do not release harmful volatile pollutants or chemicals of any kind into the atmosphere.

What types of printed items can be improved with index tabs?
Laminated index tabs provide the professional final touch for important binders, folders, and large documents. Index tabs are used for promotional folders, corporate reports, financial reports, instructional manuals, and more. Tabs are available in a wide variety of colors to distinguish each document and to provide color-coded separations.

What size of paper can be index tabbed?
The most popular size is a 9 x 11 sheet cut to a 8 ½ x 11 sheet with a ½ inch extension. There may be 1 to 25 tabs per bank. Of course, other sizes and applications are available.

What type of paper stock is best suited for custom index tabs?
For best results, paper should be 65-80 lb. uncoated cover; 67-80 lb. vellum bristol; 90-110lb. index bristol; or coated stocks that are 8-10 points in thickness. Other paper types may be accommodated as well, depending upon the final application.

How should the layout for custom index tabs be done?
Pro Laminators has developed layout tips and a placement template that makes layout fast and easy. This index tab guide gives the appropriate dimensions saving you time and money. (See Tab Layout Instructions) Since our tabbing equipment uses a combination of pressure and heat (approximately 400 degrees) to apply a mylar coating to the tab, the tab sheets should be printed with a wax free, temperature resistant ink or toner.