looking for some advice on wheather i should laminate or not

[Jon Marshall]

I’d laminate. That will feed into that recess no problem.

[Phill Fenton]

I would go with your instinct Liam – you’re right they will be much less durable unlaminated even with full solvent ink. The recess is fairly minor and shouldn’t cause a problem.

[Liam Pattison]

Hi there

thanks both for your advice, i had always supplied laminated prints for this type of thing before, and my dad was advising me to get them laminated as well.

It was just this supplier who was making me doubt myself (think maybe he was trying to cut corners, costs or time maybe), so i thought i would ask for advice to double check. So i really appreciate your help.

Also this job is actually replacing faded prints, so i didn’t want to give him prints which would fade even worse.

Thanks again for your help, if i didn’t have this forum i think all my hair would have fallen out with worry by now!

Liam

[Robert Lambie]

if he told you that AFTER you shown him the attached picture tell him he doesnt have a clue what he is talking about. 😉

Get it laminated Liam. its on a vehicle. the vinyl does not dictate the durability of the ink on its surface. yes some vinyls accept the ink better than others, so do have a better chance out doors etc etc but regardless, abrasion, chemical attack and UV stabilty is what you are fighting against when it comes to a vehicle out on the road. only lamination will help here.

think of the chemicals and abrasion attack on your print with the car/van going through a car wash in a single visit?

if they are a trade supplier they should know fine to laminate with the equivalent clear film they are printing onto after allowing 24hrs out gassing.

hope this helps some…

[David Rowland]

laminted, protects against pressure washers! and prints do fade over time

[Liam Pattison]

Thanks Rob, he hadn’t seen the picture at that stage, but i’ve sent it to him now and upon advice received here, i’ve specified i definately need these laminating.

This is my biggest customer so can’t mess this one up!

Thanks Dave and Rob also for mentioning the car wash aspect, i had wondered about that also.

So just as an additional point, is there any cases where you would advise against laminating prints.

Can anybody show me an example where you would not laminate? Would that only be if there were really deep recesses? Or on temporary wraps?
At what point does laminating cause a problem?

Sorry if i’m asking for loads of info

Liam

[Warren Beard]

You must laminate to protect the ink from abrasion and fading, the correct vinyl and laminate combination must be used for the application required. If deep recesses then a good cast wrap vinyl that states this as the use.

I would only not laminate if if it was a sign out of reach of people and also protected from the elements.

Cheers

Warren

[Martin Pearson]

Liam, laminating should never really cause a problem with vehicles as a wrap vinyl can be used if the reccesses are bad and the laminate is matched to the vinyl.
This obviously makes the job more expensive so you have to explain things to the customer offer a couple of different options and then let them decide.

If you explain things clearly so the customer understands then it helps when a customer gets more than one quote and someone gives them a much cheaper quote because they are doing the job the cheapest way possible.

If you think about the car wash aspect with these being Taxis then they are probably going to get washed far more often than most other cars so the need for some sort of physical barrier is increased.

[Stephen Morriss]

If it’s on a vehicle I always laminate my prints, unless they are very temporary, i.e. a few weeks.

I’ve had unlaminated prints on a bus as a check and it’s amazing how well they lasted at first but when they looked like they were going they went fast.

Steve

[Tim Painter]

Don’t understand why the ‘Trade’ supplier is recommending not laminating – unless they don’t laminate in house? Just a question maybe worth asking.

[Liam Pattison]

quote Martin:

Liam, laminating should never really cause a problem with vehicles as a wrap vinyl can be used if the reccesses are bad and the laminate is matched to the vinyl.
This obviously makes the job more expensive so you have to explain things to the customer offer a couple of different options and then let them decide.

If you explain things clearly so the customer understands then it helps when a customer gets more than one quote and someone gives them a much cheaper quote because they are doing the job the cheapest way possible.

If you think about the car wash aspect with these being Taxis then they are probably going to get washed far more often than most other cars so the need for some sort of physical barrier is increased.

Martin that’s great advice, that i should explain in depth the difference between different options or at least explain in depth that my price includes lamination to make them see it’s true value.

:lol1: When you say ‘with these being taxis’ that’s probably my fault for calling them cabs. By cabs i mean the front part of a lorry where the driver sits! That’s what i call it. These are going on lorry front doors and some kind of humongous generators which i think take up the entire back part of the lorry.

Thanks again

Liam

[Liam Pattison]

Thanks Warren and Stephen for that clarification.

Tim, i’m not sure about that one either, as i had always got my prints laminated from other suppliers, it’s just this supplier who made me question wheather i needed it or not. I think he was either trying to save himself some work or money after original quote was given maybe.

Thanks

Liam

[Mo Gillis-Coates]

Iv’e always found laminating isn’t the easiest of processes, especially if you lack the proper equipment (I wasted a lot of laminate and prints before buying a really good cold laminating machine), so therefore it’s possibly that your new supplier is shying away from it for some reason…

Just Possibly, or he may have a legit reason. I haven’t been doing vehicle sign writing for long at all, and even I know that you need to laminate them before application.

I’m experimenting at the moment with vehicle wrapping using MD5 laminated with MD7 and its taking to recesses just fine.

Let us know how you get on..

Mo

[Matt Boyd]

if going on a vehicle then you need to laminate it! simple as that. your supplier if hes in the trade should know this and should have asked what they were intended for and should have told you, you need to have them laminated.
we laminate everything that’s going onto a vehicle, the only time we wouldn’t bother if it was going to be real temporary say a couple of weeks max. remember that the final product your giving to the customer is a reflection on your work/company, so if it fades after several months it looks bad on you mate!!

[Adam Triggs]

I’m With Matt on this one……..

Lamination is the only way….. Save up get the machine and Laminate. In the long run there is no question about whether to lam or not.

Cheers
Adam