To Laminate or Not …
Customers often ask, what are the pros and cons of having my backlit graphics laminated, or not? The best answer usually depends on one or more of several environmental factors, as follows:
Which type of backlit graphic do you have?
Most backlit graphics are made from Duratrans, or color positive photo film. Duratrans is fairly durable as backlit graphics go, although the emulsion side is susceptible to excessive moisture and scuffing. The emulsion side of Duratrans is the front (right-reading) side, and this is the side that typically gets laminated. For backlit graphics that are imaged using the aqueous inkjet process, lamination is almost always recommended, because the inkjet-receptive coating (either right or wrong reading) is very sensitive to moisture and scuffing. There is one other type of inkjet backlit graphics, solvent-based, in which case there is no coating and therefore less sensitivity.
How and where is it being installed, and by whom? If your backlit graphics are being installed into an indoor light box and left alone, then the case for lamination may diminish, because one of the common “enemies” of backlit graphics integrity, is repeat handling, which can cause smudges, scratches and/or unwanted moisture on the surface of the graphic. Often customers will request laminate for the simple reason that the graphic will be handled by multiple and/or untrained individuals who may not be aware of the best care practices for duratrans and backlit graphics, and the laminate further ensures the graphic’s durability during handling.
How much UV exposure will there be? Most laminate films now contain UV inhibitors, which serve to block part (not all) of the UV component from sunlight and other indoor light sources that contain some UV elements, which would otherwise cause the graphic color to fade more quickly. It is worthy to note, however, that most of these films don’t block enough UV to increase the fade resistance more than 20% or so; meaning that a certain graphic that would have lasted 4 months without a UV laminate, may now last 5 months with it. The best methods for extending the color life of your backlit graphics include positioning your light box to avoid direct sun and/or direct indoor UV light sources; and also to power off your light box for as many hours of the day or week as is reasonable.
How long do you want the graphic to last? Adding the lamination step to your backlit graphics product will of course increase your cost of production, so all else being equal, if the useful life of this duratrans backlit graphic is short, then the case for lamination goes down, even if there are exposure issues over time that would otherwise call for lamination. For example, if you are using light boxes and duratrans to promote a temporary outdoor event, then even if you have high UV exposure to the sun, as well as maybe some graphics handling by inexperienced personnel, you may opt for non-laminated in the interest of overall cost.
What type of ambient lighting will there be? As referenced earlier, any type of UV light source will contribute to shorter color life of your backlit graphics. Most lightboxes use fluorescent lamps, which themselves contain a small component of UV radiation, so to continue the question further, how far are the graphics from the lamps, and/or how hot does this lightbox get, and/or are there any other lenses or UV filtering elements between the two?
How stiff do you want your backlit graphic to be? Most newer light boxes include a double-lens or “sandwich” design that enables you to slide your loose Duratrans graphic film between both the clear lens and the diffuser, without mounting the graphic to either, or using a stiff laminate. But if you are free-hanging your backlit graphic, or have other reason to make it less flexible than just the bare film itself, then laminating can give you the stiffness needed. Ask your supplier about various lamination thicknesses, which are often available as thick as 10 mil, 15 mil or 20 mil thick, for specialized applications.
How much reflectivity do you want? TV and photo studios as well as various retail-use customers using backlit graphics in their sets and displays, often request “matte” laminate for no other reason than to reduce the amount of glare generated by the backlit graphics film. Matte laminates are usually the lowest-glare version of laminate films available, followed by “satin” or “lustre” laminates, and then gloss. Worthy of note is that the effect of the various laminates is greatly reduced by simply turning on the lightbox that contains the graphic. Once there is a light coming thru the backlit graphic, the apparent glare (or lack thereof) drops off.
Use these questions together with your own answers, to build a case for or against laminate for your backlit graphics. Going unlaminated can save you money and also even a bit of production time; plus you can always go back and have an existing Duratrans or backlit graphic laminated even if it wasn’t laminated in the first place. The only caveat here is of course if the graphic becomes faded or compromised (scratched etc.) prior to lamination, then the lamination can’t reverse that.