What Lies Ahead for Lamination?
By K. Schipper Lamination isn’t a new process, as anyone whoever stopped at the local copy or photography shop to have a high school photo or keepsake sandwiched between clear plastic sheets can attest. However, the advent of large-format digital printing and the need to laminate prints well beyond 36 inches in width did a lot to light a fire under what had been a fairly static industry for decades. Faced with often-fragile ink systems and a variety of substrates and endusers clamoring for more durability, printers searched for the single, ideal lamination process that would meet their customers’ needs while best enhancing the bottom line. Although still a relatively new industry, large-format printing has matured considerably from those early days. Ink systems have improved and print-buyers have learned that every image doesn’t need to last indefinitely. At the same time, printers have found that lamination doesn’t necessarily come in a one-size-fits-all package. There’s no question t
