Laminating has been popular for a very long time and it shows no sign of going away. Why would it? There are many different reasons you might want to have something laminated and with that type of demand comes variation to deliver a customized end product. This means there are a number of different types of lamination.

In this article we’ll cover these three lamination types

1. Matte Laminating
2. Glossy Lamination
3. Soft Touch Lamination

Benefits of Lamination

First off let’s talk about the actual benefits of laminating something. From the beginning laminating was really focused on preservation of something that wasn’t very durable, but there is more to laminating than just that.

We’ve listed here some of the most common benefits of laminating things.

• Protect from Abrasion / Scratching
  Many items that get laminated are prone to scratching, tearing, smudging or scuffing. The last thing you want is your paper, menu or map getting torn and unusable. Laminating created a protective layer to keep that from happening.
• Extend the Life of the Product by Increasing Durability
  If you need something to last a long time then using a thick laminate will allow that to happen. It significantly increases the life of a product and makes it stronger so it can take daily abuse.
• Avoiding Damage from Liquids
  If you’re having a project done that requires printing on paper, then you run the risk of that project being damaged by water or other liquids if you don’t have it laminated. Especially if the product you are having printed will be near liquids (menus, boating brochures, etc.).
• Look & Feel
  Another big reason to laminate something is to give it a unique look and feel. By adding laminate you can make something flat, somewhat shiny or very glossy (which we go into more detail later). This can match the theme of your piece or simply be a nice differentiating feature.
• UV Light Protection
  Lastly, by laminating something you can protect it from UV light. Unfortunately ultraviolet light damages paper and will significantly alter the look and/or the lifespan of the piece. So have it laminated to avoid those issues.

Matte Laminating

Matte laminating, is also referred to as matte lamination, which is a finishing technique used in printing and design to give printed materials a non-glossy, matte appearance. This is also commonly referred to as “flat”. It involves applying a matte film coating onto the surface of a printed document or packaging.

This type of lamination is non-reflective and versatile in that it can be used across all types of themes such as premium looks, rustic or to look as simple and affordable as possible. Matte is classic and a big favorite of ours.

Glossy Lamination

Glossy lamination is also a finishing technique used in printing & graphic design that is used to enhance the appearance and durability of printed materials. It involves applying a thin layer of glossy plastic film, typically made of polypropylene or polyester, onto the surface of a printed document or packaging.

Unlike matte lamination, this is highly reflective and will give that “shiny” look to anything it gets applied to. For designers this is the perfect way to showcase your work or to match to the overall theme of the work.

Soft Touch Lamination

Soft touch lamination is our last type of finishing technique that gets used in printing and graphic design which is used to create a tactile and luxurious feel on printed materials. It involves applying a special matte film coating to the surface of the printed document or packaging that has texture-like properties.

Unlike glossy lamination, which creates a shiny and reflective finish, soft touch lamination creates a velvety or suede-like texture that is smooth to the touch. The film used for soft touch lamination is typically made of a combination of plastic and additives that give it a soft, tactile quality.

Projects using this type of lamination are typically meant to look more high end and are considered to be more premium.

Common Laminated Products

There really is no limit to what you can have laminated and the more creative you get the better. One of the things we love to do is share ideas to businesses, marketers and designers so just to give some quick inspiration here is a list of the most common products you find getting laminated most often.

• • Reports
  • Maps
  • Posters
  • Brochures
  • Flyers
  • Booklets
  • Catalogs
  • Menus

• Stickers
• Calendars
• And More

Again this isn’t an exhaustive list but it covers the majority of the most common products that are best to have laminated.

Remember that lamination is both functional and stylistic so think about both when deciding on your laminating options. And know that there are a number of types of lamination at your disposal that you can pull from to make your project come to life and last a long time.