The Inside Scoop Choosing the Right Laminate for the Job

Every Vinyl has its Lam

By Kyle Payne, Hexis

here are many times when you’ll find yourself jumping through hoops attempting to make a project fit your client’s parameters, especially their budget. Too many times this involves stripping down the options to the bare minimum, reducing the quality of the material from cast to calendared, skipping the air-release in favor of a slower, more arduous install, or using unlaminated prints because “the prints will still look the same, right?”. Other times, you may have to inform a client that certain options just aren’t possible; sorry, that style isn’t produced, so your project just can’t be done that way.

Before my tenure at HEXIS, I’ve plied my trade with a few print and sign shops over the past decade that catered to a range of markets including local small businesses, individual personal projects, startups, corporate events, architectural firms, and everything in between. In that time, I’ve dealt with clients at every experience level and budget; no client likes hearing what they need to do if it isn’t already in their own plans. However, the client is coming to you, the professional, to handle their projects and solve their problems before they arise. In my experience, this requires educating your customer with some hard truths, and taking the time to provide that education can help protect your business when the customer comes back with issues after negotiating the lowest possible price against your recommendations. Having a plethora of information at your disposal also helps you make those recommendations instantly, which exudes confidence in your client and softens the blow, which I’ve noticed, helps land the sale in the end one way or another. One area I’ve noticed that doesn’t get the same attention in education is how to incorporate laminates beyond their basic intention to protect a print.

Typically, laminates are composed of the same basic components as other wrap vinyl except for pigmentation so that they remain optically clear. They are available in calendered and cast options with various basic finishes including matte, satin, and gloss. Some are produced to be eco-friendly by being PVCfree, and some even have special textures built into the surface to add dimensional effects or add a slip-resistant quality for floor wraps. Many installers overlook the fact that while laminates are designed around print projects, they have a wider pool of application options including standard sign vinyl and full-wrap films. These are some of the tips and techniques that are taught during HEXIS training courses.

Certain colors that a client is determined to use may only be available in a gloss finish, but they really want a matte look for their design because it will photograph better or simply fit their vision. Instead of informing the client that it isn’t an available option, let them know you can provide that desired finish. Just in the past year, I’ve produced multiple special satin and matte finish variants of gloss-only cast wrap options for special clients; yes, this is an added cost, but rather than say no outright, you can give the client options and, maybe, a gloss finish at the lower price doesn’t seem so outrageous and you’ve landed the project.

I’ve also dealt with some very specific design parameters in the past where the client is adamant that the prints applied to their interiors need to look real. They need a marble tile finish on their counters or grained leather on their vehicle’s dash and console. Even with the highest quality images, the human eye can still pick up on signs that some qualities just don’t look right, and the illusion of the print is nearly always broken when someone touches the print’s surface; it just never feels real. But with the right laminate, you can sell that illusion. There are special textured laminates on the market like those in the HEX’PERIENCE line that can add wood grain or stone texture effects among others; these laminates produce natural highlights and cast real shadows that complete the illusion of the underlying prints. They’re not limited to printed materials either; you can add a grained leather or alligator skin texture to solid colors to create subtle, believable wrapped surfaces.

Aside from the basic protections, laminates also offer better handling of the vinyl during installation and removal by adding extra thickness allowing for easier grasping and stretching of the material as well as reducing the vinyl’s ability to tear apart. No one enjoys fighting with their vinyl attempting to get the perfect distribution of force so it doesn’t tear during an install, adding a laminate won’t stop the tear from ever happening, but it’s a major stress relief knowing how much extra workability it can add especially to a 2 mil film. Just because latex and UV inks have inherent weather-resistant qualities, don’t be afraid to apply a laminate to the print to make the installation less painful while also maximizing the print’s durability. And because a laminate can allow for easier and cleaner removal of the vinyl, you can use this as another selling point to convince those particularly difficult customers of its cost-benefit when labor needs to be calculated down the road for changing out their wrap. Innovation is key to expanding the world of wraps. Being aware of and providing novel solutions and options sells you as a knowledgeable, trustworthy installer. Laminates not only maximize the lifespan of a wrap but open new possibilities in design and application. Don’t neglect your lam.

Kyle Payne

kyle.payne@hexisgroup.com Senior Graphic Designer, Hexis