Ed #4 Protective Covering

The two major families of protective finishes both have their strengths and weaknesses. But the key to remember, as Tony Soprano might say, is that “protection costs yez.” Whether you’re talking about bodyguards or protective coatings, the thicker and stronger they are, the greater their price. Coatings that are applied in-line, while the job is running, are generally the least expensive, and have the least impact on finishing and shipping or mailing costs. However, they can be hard pressed to withstand a thumbnail drawn across the page or other common assaults.

Laminating provides what is literally a whole new layer of protection, but it requires extra time, a larger budget and careful coordination between the printer and the laminator. If sealed edge lamination is used, sheets must already be trimmed to final size before they are laminated. Conversely, die-cutting, embossing, folding and scoring should all be done after the paper is laminated.

Taking it on the lam presents other challenges too. Heavier laminates can dramatically increase mailing costs, cannot be recycled like conventional paper, and have a big impact on the look and feel of the publication. Ultra high-gloss laminates can make any text that appears beneath them as difficult to look at as Waterworld.

What’s more, inks and laminates sometimes don’t mix. Inks and varnishes used beneath lamination must be free of waxes, silicone and other agents that are often used to make ink flow more smoothly. If an aqueous coating will be laminated, an aqueous primer should be used. Conventional metallic inks offer very limited adhesion to film lamination. Digital printing may require the use of a special film to handle the oil content of some of the toners used in digital printing.