What is lamination?
Lamination bonds a thin plastic film onto the surface of printed board. It protects the print against scratches, moisture and abrasion, and gives the surface a gloss, matte or soft look. It is a finishing step applied after printing. The printer applies it, and film options vary by printer.
Lamination happens after printing: a thin film is bonded to the printed surface with heat and pressure. The board becomes both tougher and smoother in appearance. It is one of the most common surface treatments for reducing scratches and wear during handling, shipping and shelf life.
There are three main types. Gloss lamination keeps colors lively, matte lamination cuts glare and keeps text readable, and soft touch adds a velvet-like feel. Which one fits depends on the product, the budget and how you want it to look on the shelf. Matte and gloss can also be combined to make selected areas stand out.
A few things need attention. On dark, heavy prints the ink under the film can crack at the folds. Areas that will receive glue, such as the glue flap, are usually left unlaminated. Treatments such as foil and spot UV can be used together with lamination, but the order of operations and compatibility should be discussed with your printer.
Lamination usually needs no separate graphic in the file; the surface choice is written as a note in the brief. The printer applies it, and not every printer offers the same film options.
How you do this in Grapxo
You choose the surface coating (gloss lamination, matte lamination, soft touch) in the Finishes screen; the choice is written into the delivery package as an order note for the printer, and the printer does the application.
For more, see Soft-touch or matte lamination?.
Start producing in the studio
Write your brief and let Grapxo produce a print-ready vector surface.