Laminating documents with a pouch laminator is
simple. Just put your document in the pouch, run it through the
laminator and let it cool. This article is designed to provide you with some hints
to help you choose the right laminating pouch for your job.
Laminating documents with a pouch laminator is
simple. Just put your document in the pouch, run it through the
laminator and let it cool. It should be that easy. However, in order to
achieve the best results you need to select the right laminating pouch
for your job. This article is designed to provide you with some hints
to help you choose the right laminating pouch for your job. Here are
five things to consider.
Size: The first step in
choosing the correct laminating pouch for your document is to choose
the correct size of laminating pouch. When choosing the size of
laminating pouch for your job it is important to remember that the
pouch should be slightly larger than the document that you need to
laminate. This allows the laminating pouch to seal to itself around the
edges of the document providing a moisture tight seal. The size of the
border around your document is really a matter of preference however a
good guideline is to leave ¼” around all four sides of the document to
allow a good seal. If you are choosing a pouch with a pre-punched slot
it is important to remember to allot more space on the side of the slot
so that your document doesn’t cover up the hole.
Thickness: After selecting the correct size of laminating pouch for
your project the next step is to choose the correct thickness of
laminating pouch. Pouches are available in four primary thicknesses:
3mil, 5mil, 7mil and 10mil. Since pouches have a front and a back flap
it is important to remember that a 3mil pouch actually provides a 6mil
laminate and a 10mil pouch actually provides a 20mil laminate. Since
not all pouch laminators are capable of laminating with 7mil and 10mil
pouches it is important to check what pouch thicknesses are compatible
with your laminator. If you have a laminator capable of laminating all
four common thicknesses then you need to select your thickness based
upon the amount of rigidity and protection that you need. Generally
speaking the more the document will be handled and the more rigid that
you need it to be, the thicker the pouches need to be.
Finish: The majority of laminating pouches available on the market have
a gloss finish on both sides. However, there are a number of other
finishes available for special needs. For instance, laminating pouches
are available with a writeable matte finish on one or both sides, with
a peel and stick backing, or with a colored backing. Depending on your
project these unique finishes may be ideal for your project.
Quality: Not all laminating pouches are the same quality or are
composed of the same materials. Depending on the ratio of adhesive to
plastic material the quality of laminating pouches can vary greatly.
For this reason, cheaper laminating pouches are not always the best
buy. In fact often more expensive premium laminating pouches are
considerably better quality than generic pouches.
Other
Features: Apart from size, thickness, finish and quality, there are a
couple of other things to remember when choosing laminating pouches.
First, remember that most laminating pouches have slightly rounded
corners. These rounded corners give your documents a more finished
appearance without trimming. Additionally, laminating pouches are
always sealed on one side and open on three. For larger pouches it can
sometimes be easier to use pouches that are sealed on the long side
since it makes it easier to align your documents.
These five criteria can help you decide on the right pouches for your
laminating job. Once you have selected your pouches, laminating is
easy. Choose the right pouches today and get laminating.
Jeff McRitchie is the designer and Director of Marketing for MyBinding.com. He has written over 100 articles on laminators, binding machines, laminating supplies,binding supplies,binding covers,paper handling equipments,binders,index tabs, and shredders.
