What is laminating

Laminating is a process of sealing a material between layers of plastic. The end result gives the document a plastic look and feel to it that is still readable.

How it works

A laminator is  required for any documents to undergo laminating. The actual process varies depending on what lamination machine is used.

For example, a pouch laminator or heated roll laminator works by using a lamination pouch that runs along with the document to be laminated through a set of heated rollers. These heated rollers activate the adhesive film and immediately adheres to the material. The heat eventually spreads so that the layers evenly bond to one another so the document is fully protected.

Cold laminators utilize a different plastic film that is adhesive coated with a glossy backing. This glossy backing doesn’t adhere to the glue and what the cold laminator does is remove that glossy backing during the process so the adhesive is exposed and then sticks to the item to be laminated. Rollers are also used in this process with the absence of heat.

Why you should use it on documents and ID cards

Laminating documents and ID cards aren’t just for the professional presentation and shiny look to them. Laminated documents and IDs are better protected from harsh conditions like water and dirt. The plastic coating virtually makes the document waterproof and they are easy to clean if ever they are dirty. Well-laminated documents have a clear coating so the readability isn’t affected and sealed plastic should render it tough to accidentally tear or damage.

Important documents can be saved from any external tampering and forgery through lamination. This means that any form of writings and scribbles won’t be able to penetrate the plastic and affect the paper directly. It is best to laminate documents that are final and sensitive to ensure the best protection possible.

There are special laminators exclusive for ID cards that can help punch holes and optionally embed micro text or ultraviolet colors to ensure ID authenticity and prevent forgery.

Conclusion

Laminators are all about secure protection and prolonged life of any important documents or materials. If you think you won’t be laminating that much, you can always get a pouch laminator or just hold on to your money and go to a shop that offers laminating services instead. For those think they’ll use it every now and then, consider getting a roll laminator machine. It’s bigger and bulkier, but it gets the job done a lot faster.