To make stickers more durable, we usually laminate them. A suitable lamination method can effectively prevent the pattern from being scratched off and make the sticker waterproof and UV-resistant. If you want to learn how to laminate your stickers, this article will explain the correct lamination methods.
Why Does Lamination Enhance the Durability of Stickers?
Laminating a sticker gives it a protective layer. This protective layer prevents sunlight, rain, and dust from directly reaching the sticker surface, so the sticker won’t easily fade and turn yellow.
Major Types of Lamination Films
UV Protection Lamination
If stickers are exposed to direct sunlight, the ultraviolet rays will damage the ink, causing the stickers to fade, turn yellow, or even become brittle. That’s why we add UV-absorbing agents to the film; they can absorb the ultraviolet rays and reduce the damage to the sticker.
Scratch-Resistant Lamination
To enhance the durability of your custom stickers, we add a wear-resistant coating to the film surface. This will extend the life of the stickers.
Waterproof Lamination
To make stickers more water-resistant, we add a high-barrier PET film to the stickers. This film can block external moisture, which prevents the stickers from fading or peeling off. PET is also manufactured in fiber form; this overview of PET polyester material explains how the polymer is processed and used beyond film applications.
Correct Lamination Methods
Allow Ink to Dry
When we customize stickers for you, to allow the ink to fully penetrate and dry completely, the film will not be laminated immediately after printing. Instead, we first let the stickers air dry, and then dry them at a constant temperature. This makes the colors last longer and resist fading.
Please note that if your stickers have darker colors and large printed areas, the ink will take longer to dry. But rest assured, we will make sure the ink is completely dry, and your custom stickers won’t fade easily.
Apply the Film Evenly
To ensure the film perfectly adheres to the sticker surface, we use a silicone roller to apply the film evenly with constant pressure and speed. During the lamination process, the roller presses the film tightly against the sticker, so your stickers won’t curl easily. If you customize stickers with darker colors, we will adjust the roller speed to ensure the film can be applied evenly.
Only through this uniform lamination process can the ink be completely sealed. In this way, the sticker will not easily peel off, thus making it more durable. At the same time, this process also helps prevent your custom stickers from curling during the die-cutting process.
Control Cold and Hot Laminating
There are two main lamination processes: cold lamination and hot lamination. You can choose a suitable lamination process according to your needs.
Cold Lamination
We usually perform cold lamination at room temperature. This process does not require heating; it relies on the pressure of rollers to press the film onto the sticker. We simply need to control the speed and pressure of the rollers. This lamination method can protect the sticker’s colors and is especially suitable for making colorful stickers. If you want to customize stickers with high color saturation or gradient effects, you can choose cold lamination.
Thermal Lamination
Thermal lamination uses a constant temperature of 176–248°F to melt the hot-melt adhesive on the film. Next, we use a roller to press the film onto the sticker. Once the adhesive cools, the film will firmly adhere to the sticker.
Compared with cold lamination, thermal lamination offers stronger adhesion and is more suitable for producing waterproof and outdoor stickers. For example, if you want to customize stickers for use in the bathroom or car, you can choose thermal lamination.
Keep a Dry Working Environment
Humid air causes stickers to absorb moisture. This will lead to two problems. First, the stickers are prone to bubbling when heated during lamination. Second, the stickers are prone to mold growth, resulting in spots on the surface after lamination. Besides, moisture can cause stickers to curl or even peel off after application.
We use a temperature-controlled roller system with condensation control. This silicone roller has a built-in temperature sensor. It monitors ambient temperature and keeps the roller at the same temperature as the workshop. This effectively prevents condensation from forming on the roller surface.
Applications Requiring Lamination
Laminated labels for food tins can also be affixed onto food tins whenever brands need flexible product information or seasonal packaging revisions.
Outdoor Stickers
There are many outdoor applications for stickers, such as on cars and billboards. If you want to customize car stickers, mailbox stickers, or bike frame stickers, we recommend that you apply lamination to the stickers. Outdoor stickers are constantly exposed to the sun and wind. If they don’t have laminations, they can easily turn yellow or even peel off. Adding a protective film to your stickers can make your stickers more durable.
Shipping Labels
If your business involves logistics and transportation, we also recommend that you laminate your custom stickers. Shipping labels have many applications, like barcodes for warehouse goods, express sorting labels, and shipping container labels.
These stickers are repeatedly rubbed during use and come into contact with a lot of dust and oil, which can easily cause the information on the stickers to be covered up or even scratched off. Therefore, when you want to customize shipping labels, it is essential to laminate stickers to make them more durable.
Premium Packaging Stickers
To make your product packaging look more attractive, you can choose to apply a glossy or matte film to your packaging stickers. This layer not only protects the stickers from scratches but also improves the look and feel of the packaging.
Glossy film is suitable for colorful stickers, especially for cute or futuristic product packaging. Matte film, on the other hand, is more suitable for simple and elegant premium packaging, as it can enhance the product’s visual appeal.
FAQ
Can Die-Cut Stickers Be Laminated?
Die-cut stickers can be laminated. If you want to customize outdoor stickers with good water resistance, we usually die-cut first and then laminate. This ensures that the sticker is fully covered by the film. If you want to customize barcodes or product labels in large quantities, we usually laminate them first and then die-cut them. This ensures that the die-cut stickers are the same size.
Does Lamination Affect Sticker Adhesiveness?
Laminating stickers does not affect the adhesion of the sticker. The film is applied only to the front side of the sticker, not to the adhesive layer. The purpose of lamination is to protect the pattern on the sticker. Both hot and cold lamination processes ensure that the adhesive does not bleed.
Will Sticker Colors Darken After Lamination?
Lamination hardly makes the sticker color darker. As long as you choose a high-quality film, its impact on the sticker color is negligible. Glossy films will make your sticker colors brighter, while matte films will only make your sticker colors softer; this is normal.
What Is the Lifespan of Laminated Stickers?
Even with lamination, the lifespan of stickers varies depending on the applications. The lifespan of laminated stickers used indoors is generally 2-3 years. Outdoor-use laminated stickers are more weather-resistant and have a lifespan of 3-5 years. In comparison, non-laminated stickers have a shorter lifespan; if used outdoors, they will last only 3 to 6 months.
Does Lamination Affect QR Code or Barcode Scanning on Stickers?
Lamination does not always affect barcode scanning. If the sticker is covered with a glossy film, it will reflect light and may affect the scanning of the laser barcode scanner or mobile phone. Therefore, for stickers that require scanning, we recommend using matte film or low-reflective film, which can protect the barcode and prevent it from being unreadable.
Final Thoughts
Laminating stickers not only protects the design but also makes them last longer. With suitable materials and a lamination method, you can get high-quality stickers. If you are looking for a reliable partner, LIYANTIAN is your best choice. We have a professional technical team that can help you produce high-quality stickers. If you have any needs, please feel free to contact us.
