After spending what seemed like forever on your marketing documents and business pieces, they finally arrive. The designer and printer did the right job, and you are more than pleased with the end result. As you gaze on this masterpiece, you cannot help but wonder if they will last.

Months to come, will they hold the same vibrancy and clarity they do now? Probably not. So how do you preserve such things? What could you do to ensure that your documents retain their luster and beauty no matter what they have to face?

What Is Lamination?

Lamination is a simple but obvious answer to your problem. It is commonly done, yet somehow, business owners forget that it is a great way to maintain essential documents’ integrity. Lamination is a sustainable solution that all business owners can appreciate.

On paper, (literally), lamination is applying a transparent plastic film to a piece of paper then bonding the layers together. It is bound on every edge, and the result is a professional finish that secures a longer lifespan for your documents.

Moreover, people laminate for all sorts of reasons. No longer is it done wide format printing such as posters and signs. Lamination is now used on business cards and presentation folders. Flyers and labels also improve with proper lamination.

Types of Lamination

There are many types of lamination available today. This article will focus on the selected few, which have shown promising results and many benefits, especially business owners. Each type has its advantages, which are not necessarily disadvantages of the rest.

• UV Coating
UV coating uses a clear compound that is applied wet onto paper. It is then dried instantly using ultraviolet light. The UV coating consists of several compounds that are used to coat the paper. These include calcium carbonate, kaolinite, and polyethylene. When mixed with viscosifiers, the compounds combine and help adhere to the paper.

Further, UV coating is done by a particular machine that applies the compound then dries it instantly. Usually, the layer varies in thickness and reflectivity. High gloss is commonly applied to premium printing applications. This form of lamination is used for flyers and label stickers.

One of the most significant advantages of UV coating is that it offers a glossy sheen that makes your documents stand out. Flyers become more attractive and more desirable to pick. It also gives the document a smooth touch.
UV coating will save your documents from abrasion, scratches, rubbing, and smudging. Our marketing tools will not only look good but also last a long time.

• Cold Lamination
There are a few options on how the plastic is applied to the document by a laminating machine. This is what brought about two critical forms of laminating, the first being cold lamination. Cold lamination uses a cold laminator. It uses pressure and an adhesive to hold the document between the sheets of plastic. The pressure applied on the rollers on the laminating machine is what is used for laminating a paper.

Additionally, Cold lamination gives superior quality documents with a smooth, silky feel. It is commonly used on business cards to create cards that last a long time. Cold lamination offers less maintenance because the machines are inexpensive and easy to use.

The pressure from rollers in a cold laminator will also remove bubbles and ensure that the colors remain crisp and clear.

 
• Hot Lamination (frost and leather texture lamination–business cards)
On the other hand, a hot laminator will use heat to melt or activate an adhesive material. This is what will bind the plastic around the document. Hot lamination is faster than cold lamination and offers excellent protection for your paper.
One of the most remarkable things about hot lamination is that you can have additional machine applications, such as different textures. This is what is used to create frost and leather textures, mostly on business cards.

Importance of Laminating

So what is the importance of laminating your documents, especially marketing products? There are two main reasons why you should laminate your documents.

• Durability and Protection
As you can already tell, lamination increases the durability of your documents. Laminating film is made from durable materials, ensuring that your documents last for a long time despite moisture and scratches. It also becomes easier to clean the paper of dirt and spills. Lamination also prolongs the color intensity of the document by protecting it from UV rays.

• Quality and Likability
Your flyers, business cards, and marketing documents will become much more desirable and of higher quality, once you laminate. The whole point of marketing documents is to get people to see them. People generally like things that are appealing to the eyes. Therefore, your flyers will look more appealing and thus will be seen by more people. Furthermore, the quality will improve, making it easier to apply to a flat surface where it will last for years before tearing apart. Your posers will be seen by a lot more people before they expire.