On the Lam: Why Lamination Is One of Print’s Smartest Finishing Moves
Finishing options may come at the end of a print project, but they should never be an afterthought. They are the final details that help your piece look sharper, last longer, and leave a lasting impression. Few finishing options deliver as much impact for the investment as lamination, making it a favorite for everything from book covers and packaging to menus and marketing materials.
Lamination does more than give a piece a polished finish. It protects printed materials from everyday wear, including scratches, fingerprints, scuffs, tears, and even the occasional coffee spill. It can also add thickness and rigidity, which is especially valuable for book and magazine covers, flexible packaging, presentation pieces, menus, and labels. In the right application, lamination can provide a moisture-resistant or grease-resistant barrier, improve durability in high-touch environments, and reinforce covers on bound pieces. It also influences the visual experience, either adding pop and contrast to color and images or softening the overall look depending on the finish you choose. For buyers, that means one upgrade can improve appearance, feel, and function all at once.
The most common laminate finishes are gloss, matte, and soft touch, and each creates a distinctly different effect. Gloss laminate turns up the shine and helps colors appear bold, crisp, and full of energy. If you want your piece to catch the light and stand out on the shelf, gloss is the clear frontrunner. Matte laminate takes the opposite approach, reducing glare and reflections while creating a refined, understated appearance that works beautifully for elegant brands, text-heavy designs, or pieces displayed under bright lighting. Then there’s soft-touch laminate, a perennial favorite when a premium feel is the goal. Its velvety texture and matte appearance give printed pieces an unmistakable quality that evokes luxury.
Beyond these three go-to finishes, other specialty laminates can mimic textures like linen, leather, sand, and other interesting surfaces, adding dimension and character without the cost of more complex materials. In short, lamination is not just protection, it’s an extension of your design.
If you want your print project to have a little extra zing and outlast standard paper, lamination is one of the smartest finishing options available. It’s a simple upgrade that can protect your investment and elevate the final piece in one fell swoop. If you’re not sure which laminate finish is the right fit, SunDance is happy to help. Contact us today, and let’s put the finishing touches on something remarkable.
As a successful working artist, Joanna brings a unique perspective to every customer’s printing project. With over twenty years in the fine art and wide format printing industry and plenty of hands-on experience, she understands that attention to detail, quality materials, and a dash of creativity is key in producing a piece that you are proud to stand behind. Her commitment to customer satisfaction and willingness to explore “outside the box” solutions to difficult or unusual printing requests make her a welcome addition to the SunDance team. When she is not creating commissioned equestrian artwork for her clients or art galleries she is often found jumping over fences on her Thoroughbred horse or relaxing at home with her husband and their four dogs, two cats, three turtles, and African Grey parrot. She is also an accomplished violinist, avid amateur kayaker, and is extremely uncomfortable talking about herself in the third person.