August 2005: The Protective Power of Film Lamination

At Muscle Bound, we can perform film laminating on both hardcover and softcover books to offer increased durability.

If your book project will include paper covers, consider sealing them with protective film laminate. Available in gloss, satin or matte finishes, laminating can be performed on either softcover or casebound books. At Muscle Bound, we use layflat films that help avoid any sheet curling during or after production. Here are a few tips to keep in mind when preparing projects with laminating.

Dust up – Printers commonly apply press powder directly to printed material following production to help inks dry more quickly. If not sufficiently removed prior to laminating, press powder can become trapped between the paper and the film, resulting in a gritty, sandpaper-like appearance throughout your product. Pay close attention to the level of press powder on printed sheets when preparing to send them to your bindery.

Grip it – Like all printed forms slated for machine production, include a clearly marked gripper and side guide on all laminating projects. These guides help your finisher maintain accurate registration as laminate is applied. A gripper margin of at least 3/4” is adequate for laminating; side guide and image area margins of ½” are often sufficient.

Layout tip:Though the measurements will vary by layout, be sure to leave sufficient room between each cover. Otherwise, your finisher may not have adequate room to cut between covers. Consult with Muscle Bound in the layout stage to determine the proper measurements for your project. Be sure to lay out all multiple up cover forms with outside cover on the same side of the sheet. This will reduce the amount of trimming necessary prior to laminating and allow us to laminate the covers in a single pass.

Materials tip: In some cases, applying laminate to a printed sheet is an economical alternative to more expensive specialty cover stocks. For casebinding, laminating an 80-pound C1S litho sheet with four-color printing can provide a desired look, stability and durability that is comparable to more expensive cloth and specialty stocks.

The Muscle Bound Advantage
At Muscle Bound Bindery, we apply laminate to the toughest bookbinding products available anywhere. Our smooth roller and embossed roller finish give you design freedom for projects of any variety. For ultra-strong side-sewn casebound children's books, perfect bound catalogs and otabind layflat projects, rely on Muscle Bound as your bookbinding partner. Give us a call today to discuss your next job.