May 2008-Film Lamination: The Saving Grace of Book Protection

Think of film lamination as the saving grace of book protection. As the most durable of paper coatings, film lamination offers a protective shield to safeguard against normal wear and tear as well as grease and water. It’s the ideal coating for frequently handled products that must endure heavy use and still remain on the shelf. 

The cover of this University of Minnesota basketball program produced by © 2010 Muscle Bound Bindery was film laminated with a gloss finish to really make the team standout.

Common applications for film laminating include case bound book covers, cover wraps and soft cover books.

When requesting lamination for your project, specify the style of the book and how it will be used. The experts at Muscle Bound will be happy to offer recommendations for your specific application.

Finishes and Types of Laminate Film
There are three main finishes for film laminates: gloss, matte and satin. A gloss finish is the most common. It has a shiny appearance and promotes clarity in the printed piece where it is applied. Matte finish has a softer look and can add perceived value to many pieces. Satin, which is sometimes referred to as delustered film, has a bit of a sheen to it but not the high impact of gloss. It’s more forgiving in regards to scuffing than a matte finish.

Once on the laminator, we are able to apply these substrates using our smooth roller finish or our linen embossed roller finish.

The material used to produce the laminates varies as well and there are three main types which include nylon, polyester and polypropylene.

• Nylon-based laminate. Nylon film laminate counteracts moisture that causes curl. Nylon breathes better than other films and provides excellent protection for soft cover, perfect bound and Otabind books, along with the ability to negate any curl in the cover after production. One of the reasons nylon film is so popular is that it is uniquely stable. When exposed to heat during lamination, nylon doesn’t stretch or expand. Accordingly, when cooling, nylon doesn’t shrink or curl, due to its inherent stability and chemical properties. For these reasons, nylon film is the most popular form of laminate we recommend for book production at © 2010 Muscle Bound Bindery. Nylon laminates also come with matte finishes which produce a softer design look and lay-flat ability. The downside of this type of matte finish is it has a tendency to mark or scuff easily in usage and production.

• Clear polyester. Highly durable and scratch resistant film. This film is well-suited for case bound book covers. A popular choice in polyester films include  glueable/stampable laminates that enable surfaces to accept foil stamping and promote gluing operations. Polyester is not a lay-flat laminate so it may have a tendency to curl over time.

• Polypropylene. It’s a high-gloss film that offers high clarity and durability with acid-resistant properties. A frequent choice in polypropylene is the scuff free matte finish laminate that gives the end user a beautiful matte finish look and a durability that is resistant to scuffing. Scuff free laminate is very effective on darker image covers, but polypropylene is not a lay-flat laminate so it too may have a tendency to curl over time.

Layout Tips
Here are a few tips to keep in mind when preparing projects for laminating:

• Leave a minimum of 3/8” margin on all four sides of the printed sheet to allow the laminate to be laid down. Be sure the gripper is clear and marked. These guides will help your finisher maintain accurate registration as laminate is applied.

• Make sure you’re working with a thick enough caliper of stock. A caliper of .004 is required when working with thin stock such as 80# C1 litho label, a common cover wrap material for hard bound books.

• If you’re working with digital printed or toner-based inks on a sheet, let us know up front so we can have the correct type of film that they require. High-tack or Corona treated lamination adheres best on these sheets.

Muscle Bound Advantage
At © 2010 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 lay-flat projects, rely on Muscle Bound as your bookbinding partner. Give us a call today to discuss your next job.