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Tips for Print Finishing: Lamination and Protective Spray Use

Every finishing process has its limitations. Below we provide some basic tips and recommendations for the print finishing process to ensure the best results.

Dye Inks

We highly recommend that you laminate or use a protective spray on canvas and other media printed with dye inks. Without lamination or spray protection, dye base inks will fade at a rapid rate due to exposure. Ultra Violet light, dust and moisture are just a few factors that will cause vibrant colors and crisp images to deteriorate within just a few weeks or less. Prints, made with inkjet printers using dye inks, should be displayed indoors. In a pinch, a print that has been finished can survive for a short period outside.

UV Pigmented Inks

We highly recommend that you laminate or use a protective spray when you print on any media with UV Pigmented Inks. UV Pigmented inks, while more stable than dye inks, still need to be finished. They are said to be able to survive a few weeks without lamination, but for long-term displays the inks should be protected. With lamination and optimal display conditions prints are estimated to survive the better part of a century or longer. Outdoor and window displays, if finished with a laminate or protective spray, have a life expectancy of 6 months.

Solvents/UV Curable Inks

These do not require lamination. Solvent inks are highly resistant to external elements. A sign or a banner printed with solvent inks can last 3-5 years outdoors without lamination. If you choose to laminate, it will extend the life of your print.

Eco-Solvent Inks

These ink types do not require lamination. While eco-solvent inks are not quite as robust as solvent inks, they are expected to survive outdoors for 3-5 years without being laminated. Always keep in mind that the more extreme the climate, the shorter the lifespan of a print. Much like solvent inks, lamination will increase the longevity.

Latex Inks

These do not require lamination. Latex inks are new to the inkjet community, introduced in 2008. They perform similarly to eco-solvent inks. While lamination is not required for them to last several years, lamination will increase their longevity.