"Regular" laminating?
2016-09-18 by goch@...
It seems that face-laminating prints to plexiglass looks nice but is probably one of those things you shouldn't try at home.
On the other hand, ordinary "pouch" lamination of the sort used for ID badges, greasy-spoon menus, placemats and similar commercial projects is easy to do and inexpensive (at least up to something approximating 11x14 inches).
I have used this technique to make a nearly child-proof picture of one of my dogs for a four year old friend. I left enough clear border to put two grommets along the top to tie on a length of black parachute cord for hanging from a nail or hook. No frame.
The same kind of lamination can be mounted in aluminum frames, although the aesthetics might not be very appealing. And it is an easy way to create relatively attractive prints that can be propped on shelves, music stands and other places for temporary exhibition. (They store more easily than framed prints, too.) I have done this for silver prints as well as ink jet colour and B&W.
I wouldn't claim that these laminated prints can compete with the appearance and satisfaction of an archivally-processed, mounted and framed fine print, but they have their uses.
My question for the assembled experts: What are these laminating materials made of, and how archival or otherwise are they? I'm thinking of the clear or 'ultra-clear' hot-lamination pouches sold in office supply stores. I have been unable to track down *any* meaningful information on them.
If any of you use this kind of lamination, do you know of any brand of material that is particularly good for photographs?