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Lamination for solvent prints
Hi all
Please could I have your views on lamination.
If you were doing some digital printing for a client vehcles with a solvent printer do you have to laminate the print or not?Look foward to your views.
Many thanks
Luke -
15 Replies
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Have you looked through the archives, you’ll find loads of discussion on this subject.
The basics though are yes laminate for vehicles unless it’s only going to be on for a short time.
Steve
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also makes it easy to handel
chris
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Sorry to ‘repeat’ the subject but I did have a look and struggled to find something…loads of debate with solvent and eco etc…
We are in the process of buying a new digital printer and are getting a sales pitch that when buying a solvent printer we would ‘save’ on having to buy a laminator. I was always under the impression that when you want a long term solution on a car or truck that you always should laminate?Thanks for your time and replies.
Luke -
quote :are getting a sales pitch that when buying a solvent printer we would ‘save’ on having to buy a laminator
some one who does not know anything about the use of the machine or materials ask them how they would do a rap.
chris
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Vehicles are one of the harshest environments in which a print can be placed. I don’t care what anybody says, I would not put one on a van without lamination.
The only exception to that rule is if the print is for very short term use and even then I will only guarantee it up to the first time it gets cleaned. The thought of what chemicals and solvents might be used sends shivers down my spine.
Some time ago Robert posted up something about lamination failure in the swages on vans and how his opinion was that the cause of failure was not the adhesion between the laminate and the ink but rather between the ink and the vinyl. I agree with him and would only put non full solvent prints onto flat panels, which limits the jobs you can do with your printer.
In conclusion, my advice would be to go full solvent and laminate.
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One of the first things I did when I bought my Cadet last summer was to fit print and cut graphics for my own van without laminating. This was as much an experiment to see how long they would last. I’m pleased to say they still look as good as new so I am tempted to say for short term use (a year or so) no need to laminate – any longer, play safe, and laminate.
Meanwhile my little experiment continues.
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quote Phill:Meanwhile my little experiment continues.
I’ve done that with some badges I printed for one of my wife’s buses, they get washed at least once a week and they are still looking the same after 2 months.
Again for a customers vehicle (other than my wife :lol1: ) I’d laminate as the loss of good will etc may do more damage in the future especially if they use some chemical like John says.
Steve
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Can I add to this discussion that you can ease into laminating without buying a laminator. Simply wet apply the laminate by hand onto the print. (Laminator salesmen won’t tell you this!!)
Peter
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Thanks Peter
Using the ‘Manual’ lamination technique do you still get the same quality ‘finish’ to the finish of a laminating machine? Also if one did a decent job of manually applying the laminate, would it be as durable as the laminating machine version?
I am trying to put off buying a laminator untill we see a definite need for one in our office. I see there are a variety of different laminating machines out there and would rather buy a machine that is suited to the work we do with the printer rather than getting a machine that is ‘bundled’ into a package deal that is only going to do a ‘half job’.
Any more advice/views will be appreciated.
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I laminate my prints wet without any problems – However, you need to let them dry for a while though before contour cutting and you need space to lie the freshly laminated prints out flat to dry properly.
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i dont know much, if anything at all about wet laminators but i have noticed this one. http://www.uniformdigital.com/wetguard.html
seems a pretyy straight forward way of doing it.
anyone tried this product? -
Hi all,
I do not laminate any of my solvent prints… I have told clients that if they have a problem within 2 years I will sort it out FOC… to date they all look fine… some are now older than 2 years.. Having said that I have just bought an easytaper so will probably start doing it on some of the larger prints for vehicles but shop fronts etc.. I will continue to do un laminated.
Cheers
Ian -
quote Luke Lansdell:We are in the process of buying a new digital printer and are getting a sales pitch that when buying a solvent printer we would ‘save’ on having to buy a laminator. I was always under the impression that when you want a long term solution on a car or truck that you always should laminate?Luke
Luke, I don’t laminate tempory signs, with my solvent printer, or short term stuff, but anything going on a vehicle I do.
Originally I didn’t until one of my customers polished his vehicle and polished the ink off.
The same this with a bus. It was way out of anyones reach until they decided to degrease the entire bus. My sign faded noticeably, because the bus wash was caustic.
I’d laminate anything that needs to remain vibrant for a longer period… or any vehicle signage at all
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Manual Lamination
The end result of manual lamination is the same or better than through a laminator as far as I can see. It will be better in that you can remove a bit of dust that appears. You’ve no chance of doing this on a laminator.
In terms of longevity I see no reason for any difference. You are dependent of the material structure and glue regardless of how applied.
Peter
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vehicles – printed forms with true solvent inks looks good after 2 years without laminating /south Europe region/
depends how much is strong UV from sunlight in your region
i have thermal-transfer printer /PC600/ 2-3 months and dont know about them?
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