Laminating the posters - I have a couple more questions...

[*89x2*]

Kevin & Mark, I know you both have laminated yours - When I called to have mine done, they had no idea about UV rated laminates...

One place has a "thin" laminate plastic - about 1.3 mil. thick with the "thick" plastic about 5 mil.

Another place said the standard is about 3 mil.

Now 1.3 mil. seems light enough to tear w/ 3 mil. being much better (sounding)
The 5 mil can only be fed a sheet 40" wide I think - these posters from Bloomington Gold are 42" wide

42 x 61 were the dimensions I gave...

What can you tell me about this - I looked for the old thread about it but didn't find it...

Has anyone else laminated theirs yet??

Thanks in advance!

 

[90Callaway]

I'm not the laminator but I'm attempting to extract a response from the expert. Here is what I've managed to translate -

Most laminates today already contain some UV protection.

There are many different kinds - Matt, Gloss, Stiff, Flexible, Sticky Back, Etc...

No laminate is going to tear because it's plastic. What I'm told is that 3min is "really %&$# thick".

The laminate on mine is probably about 1mil (might be 1.3mil).

It is still flexible enough to roll but stiff enough to not get a sharp bend and won't tear. It also can't get wet or dirty.

Questions - What do you want to do with it? Display with just laminate or frame? i.e. - Is it just for protection or for display purposes?

 

[*89x2*]

I'm not the laminator but I'm attempting to extract a response from the expert. Here is what I've managed to translate -

Most laminates today already contain some UV protection.

There are many different kinds - Matt, Gloss, Stiff, Flexible, Sticky Back, Etc...

No laminate is going to tear because it's plastic. What I'm told is that 3min is "really %&$# thick".

The laminate on mine is probably about 1mil (might be 1.3mil).

It is still flexible enough to roll but stiff enough to not get a sharp bend and won't tear. It also can't get wet or dirty.

Questions - What do you want to do with it? Display with just laminate or frame? i.e. - Is it just for protection or for display purposes?

Kevin, I can hear your laminate expert talking right now

Seriously, I am just looking for a sturdy way to hang & display it w/out fear of the sun damaging (or fading it) if sunlight should enter the room (or garage, depending) where I hang it.

It does make sense though - the thicker the laminate - there is a chance in a solid bend happening -vs- being able to roll it up if needed - I would probably stay away fom the 5 mil.

Also, One of the places, surprisingly, was Kinko's copy center :eek They sure have a lot to offer :cool But were also the most expensive - 3 mil. was their plastic laminate thickness.

Thanks again Kevin and please pass along my thanks to the "expert"

 

[*89x2*]

...more answers, more $$$

I amde a few more phone calls today about the laminating - I figured a quick call to the big "Blueprint shop" in town might be worth a call - well, here is what I learned...

They agreed that encapsulation of the blueprint would be the only way to keep it from quickly fading and if it is exposed to sunlight, even once encapsulated, it can stlll react to the sun - blueprints are on "photo grade" paper and that was the reason given

When I mentioned I wanted to hang it in the garage, the fella thought that might be best - Out of ALL sunlight :eek

I was offered a matte finish or a gloss finish on the laminates used to encapsulate and was quoted $126.00 for the job :eek

I was also advised that they could make a copy of the image to another paper that *might* last longer than a blueprint - for that service, they wanted $225.00 each :eek

Kevin or Mark, I may just drive up to your area's and do this :M