Cold Pressure Sensitive Laminates

A note on surfaces: Glossy, Luster and Velvet:
We offer several different laminate surfaces similar to the prints surfaces. Any laminate surface can be used on any of the print surfaces. The laminated print will take on the characteristics of it's final surface. In other words; if you laminate both a glossy and a semi-matt print with a glossy lamination, the prints will look identical. There is no difference between the two print surfaces if they share the same laminate.

Glossy laminates have a high sheen and reflect ambient light to the viewer much like a mirror, or a panel of uncoated glass. This be less than ideal if the print is to be hung on a wall directly across from a bright source of light such as a window. The reflection can obscure the viewers ability to see the image below the lamination. If the print is to be illuminated from above by spot-lights etc., or by ambient room illumination, then glossy may be a viable option. Glossy tends to be of a higher contrast than semi-matte or matte and gives the illusion of a higher level of detail in the print. This higher contrast provides the image with more "snap" and punchier colors. This surface shows fingerprints, dust and water-spots easily.

Luster is a softer looking surface that reduces the likelihood of distracting reflections. This surface also has a reduced contrast over the gloss material and therefore has less visual snap, and lower color saturation (punch). This should not necessarily be viewed as a negative factor. Some images, such as portraits and moody scenes can benefit from the qualities of a matt surface. Because matt surfaces have a lower sheen, they are less likely to show fingerprints and surface dust.

Velvet surfaces are the least reflective. they have a soft and slight pebbly texture, allowing for maximum light "break-up" at the surface. This type of surface may be ideal is difficult environments where the image hangs directly across from large windows or bright sources of light. This material hides scratches extremely well. And the 5 mil polycarbonate material is so durable, it's the only laminate we recommend for floor graphics. Because of the fragile nature of photographic emulsions, we strongly recommend that any photographic print used for display be laminated or placed behind glass.

Substrates