Lamination is one of the best ways to protect
your important documents and favorite photographs. Normally, you need a
laminator to protect your materials, but high-quality laminators can be
expensive and you might not be able to afford one. Whatever
your situation is, there are a couple of things you can do to laminate
your documents. Let's take a look at what they are:
Lamination is one of the best ways to protect
your important documents and favorite photographs. Normally, you need a
laminator to protect your materials, but high-quality laminators can be
expensive and you might not be able to afford one. Or you may simply be
away from your laminator but still need to laminate something. Whatever
your situation is, there are a couple of things you can do to laminate
your documents. Let's take a look at what they are:
Use self-sealing pouches. Lots
of companies realize that not everyone has access to a laminator,
That's why some of them produce self-sealing laminating pouches. These
supplies don't require a machine but they can make your documents look
great and give them the protection you need. If you're interested in
using these supplies, you'll find that some of the best are made by GBC.
This company's self-sealing pouches are available in a number of sizes
so you can laminate the smallest business cards and the largest
photographs. You can choose between pouches that have permanent and
repositionable adhesive depending on your needs. Also, GBC produces
self-sealing pouches that can frame your item to make it look terrific.
Self-sealing pouches are easy to use, so they're your best bet if you
need to laminate without a laminator.
Use clear packing tape.
If you're working with small items such as labels, bookmarks, name
tags, or business cards, you can possibly use clear packing tape to give
them a bit of extra protection. The good thing about using tape is that
it's easy to get and it also doesn't cost very much. (In fact, you may
even have some tape tucked away in a drawer.) However, it can be a bit
challenging to get the tape positioned just right. You'll probably have
to practice a bit before you get the results you want.
Use synthetic paper.
Another option is using synthetic paper. This type of paper is made out
of plastic but it looks and feels like regular paper. Using synthetic
paper eliminates the need for laminating because your documents will be
sturdy enough for frequent handling. In fact, your documents will be
waterproof and they can't be torn. Synthetic paper works with color
copiers and laser printers, so it's easy to use. There are even several
sizes of synthetic paper available including letter size (8.5" x 11")
and tabloid size (11" x 17").
Although
nothing can beat laminating your documents and photographs with a
proper laminator, it's great that there are a few options available if
you don't have a machine. Self-sealing pouches are your best bet since
they're easy to use and available in different sizes. Synthetic paper is
also a viable option and clear packing tape can be used if necessary.
You might want to give all three of these options a try to see which one
works best for you. And if all else fails, there are a lot of great
laminators available. Good luck with your projects and happy laminating!
Jeff McRitchie is the Vice-President of Marketing for MyBinding.com.
He regularly writes articles, reviews, and blog posts on topics related
to bookbinding, laminating, paper shredding, and office equipment. More
than 2,500 of his reviews have been published in thousands of locations
on the Internet. If you're looking for information about laminating supplies, his articles are a great place to start.
