16 Best Laminating Sheets For Stickers We've Tested 2024
Brandon Forder May 20, 2024 12:22 AM
Laminating machines wrap paper papers, cards and images inside plastic coatings by fusing plastic onto the paper by heat or an adhesive. Although many scenarios demand for the use of thermal machines, self-adhesive laminating sheets can do the job as well. These sheets require no equipment other than a pair of able hands and scissors. They are straightforward to use and can save time and money.
You can use laminating sheets to preserve and protect certificates, photographs, artwork and bookmarks. Many come with imprinted grids to utilize. Protect your name tags, baggage tags, bookmarks, and cards with sheets that can be cut to whatever size you need.
Some laminating sheets come in bag shape, so you can remove the adhesive backing and place the object inside carefully; there may be a grid for perfect alignment. Allow some room around the item for sealing. Close the pouch from the fold to the open side, then press down hard in this same direction.
If you’re using sheets rather than pouches, remember that every document you wish to laminate requires two — one for the front and one for the reverse. Put the grid under one sheet and remove the backing before aligning it to the grid. Then, you can lay down the document, remove the backing from the second page and place the adhesive side down onto it.
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Size
Most laminating sheets come in a little larger size than that of a typical A4 size paper, which is roughly 11”x8”. Most laminating sheets are, thus, 11.5”x9” to 12”x8” in size.
Naturally, this is the case while working with separate laminating sheets.
The Clear Vinyl Self-Adhesive Laminate Roll, for example, has a laminating paper width of 12 inches and a length of 15 feet to 30 feet.
These laminating rolls can be trimmed to fit any project specifications.
Type
The two primary categories of laminating sheets are those that require a laminate machine and those that can be used by hand.
The fact that few consumers have access to laminating equipment means that those who do tend to favor brands that don't necessitate the use of such a machine.
Thickness
The thicker the laminating sheet, the better the protection it will provide for your paper.
However, a thicker sheet will provide a more dense coating, which could make your paper less transparent than if it were laminated with a thinner sheet.
Waterproof vs. Water resistant vs. Weatherproof
In the realm of sticker paper, the terms "waterproof," "water resistant," and "weatherproof" are not interchangeable. What you must know is as follows.
When sprayed, soaked, or submerged in water, waterproof papers will remain dry. The paper is impervious to water, as the drops simply bead up on its surface. Use this paper for labels and decals that will be exposed to water or washings frequently.
Water-resistant sticker sheets are made to “withstand moisture,” as in they won’t easily run or bleed when wet, but they are not designed to be totally soaked. These sheets are most ideal for objects that won’t be routinely washed such as phone cases, computers, party decor, disposable water bottles, wine bottle labels, etc.
Most weatherproof papers are not only completely watertight, but also resistant to fading caused by exposure to ultraviolet light. You should use these papers for things that will be exposed to direct sunshine, like car decals, bumper stickers, and garden labels.
Material and Finish
Depending on what you’re doing, the material of the laminating plastic can make a major difference. Providing, of course, you can figure out what the sheet contains. Most companies don’t even advertise their plastic content. In general, less priced laminating sheets contain a lot of PVC, which is a form of vinyl. PVC is cheap and easily accessible, and it also provides great UV protection. This makes it suited for applications where the document will be getting a lot of sun. That so, PVC is most often white in color, and even clear PVC can take on a cloudy look. There are also two types of PVC: monomeric and polymeric. Polymeric tends to be more durable, and stands up better to weathering.
As an alternative to PVC, some producers employ polyester or PET. These materials are clearer, but they’re not ideal for all purposes. That’s because they have to be made in larger layers, so they won’t work for very thin sheets.
BOPP, or Bi-axially Oriented Polypropylene, is another popular choice. What this means in plain English is that the polypropylene sheet has been stretched in both directions. BOPP outperforms untreated polypropylene in terms of strength and resistance to water. It's also clearer, which is crucial if looks are a factor.
The aesthetics of the laminating material should be the very last item on your mind. Is a glossy finish more appealing, or would you rather have a matte one? On a glossy sheet, details stand out and colors are more vibrant. However, it will also pick up glare, which is especially problematic in bright environments like the outdoors or with fluorescent lighting. A matte laminating sheet may be preferable in such cases.
How to Laminate Sticker Paper?
Most laminate paper comes in individual sheets that are roughly 11”x9” or 12”x8” in size. Stickers can be printed directly on any regular sheet of paper, including those of the A4 size.
With individual laminating sheets, they come attached to a backing. In order to protect your sticker paper, use these laminating sheets, which feature adhesive on only one side.
Usually, these laminating sheets don’t generate any creases or air pods as they are placed on sticker paper, but quickly get adhered with just a little pressure.
Like the VViViD Clear Self-Adhesive Lamination Vinyl Roll, laminate papers can be purchased in rolls. Before applying the laminating sheets to your sticker paper, you'll need to cut the rolls to the desired shape and peel off the backing.
These brands may be purchased in rolls rather than sheets, but they are applied in the same way.
The procedure differs slightly when using laminating pouches, such as the AmazonBasics Letter Size Sheets Laminating Pouches.
In order to connect sticker paper to a laminate sheet, you first insert the sticker paper inside the laminate sheet's bag or envelope and then run the laminate sheet through a laminating machine.
What Is Waterproof Sticker Paper?
Waterproof sticker papers are exactly what they sound like: self-adhesive paper that is waterproof…
as in, the images won’t bleed, discolor, or run when submerged in water. These sheets are designed to be run trough your home printer; and are normally compatible with either inkjet or laser printers, and sometimes both.
Why Waterproof Your Stickers and Labels?
Stickers, decals, and labels can be manufactured from a wide range of printable goods. While some printable label papers claim to be waterproof, the vast majority of sticker sheets are not. This implies that any time your printed photographs become wet, they will smear or blur.
As such, if you are adding a label or sticker to anything that is likely to be exposed to water or moisture, you should choose waterproof paper. Good examples are: water bottles, lunch boxes, coffee mugs, phone covers, kitchen mixers, cleaning supply labels, soap dispersers, essential oils, lotions, lip balms, automobile decals, etc.
Sticker printing and production, whether for personal or commercial use, necessitates the use of laminate sheets. With the correct kind of laminating sheets, your stickers can get destroyed, lose their gloss or their color over time.
This is why it is so crucial that you use the proper kind of laminating sheet for printing your stickers
