Welcome to Terra Reproductions!

Lamination & Mounting

Terra Reproductions offers a full range of laminating services. We can laminate any item up to 60 inches across by any length. We offer both glossy and matte finishes. Your job will be laminated quickly and professionally. We also laminate business cards and documents up to 8.5” x 14” and much more. We offer the best pricing in town.

Hot Lamination
Hot lamination is used to completely encapsulate paper. The laminate is heated and applied to the substrate, creating an airtight and water tight seal. By leaving a slight edge all around the paper or substrate, it is completely encapsulated within the laminate. Hot laminates are available in a variety of thicknesses from 1- 6 mil in either matte or glossy finishes.

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Cold Lamination
Cold laminating film (sometimes called tape laminating) uses pressure sensitive adhesives to bind the film to the material being laminated.

Cold lamination is your best option when laminating heat-sensitive documents or photos. There are several styles of cold laminating film to fit a variety of applications:

Single-sided film is used to laminate just one side of a document. You might use this type of laminate if you wanted to apply an adhesive to the back of the document.
Double-sided or dual laminating films completely encase your document, laminating both sides for complete protection.
Transfer adhesive laminating films laminate your document on both sides, and at the same time applies an adhesive backing. A peel-away liner reveals the adhesive. You can then stick the laminated document to various surfaces such as glass or wood.
Over-laminate is a laminating film that is applied to materials such as floor graphics, wall art, store front signage, and children's games. Over-laminate is cut out and laid over the material.

Cold Laminating film is available in a variety of finishes:

Matte - This is a non-reflective finish that has a slightly granular look. Matte finishes tend to make image colors more vivid.
Satin - Provides a reduced level of glare, and has a soft sheen.
Luster - This finish reduces glare, and has a sparkling sheen.
Gloss - This is a clear finish that brings out and emphasizes colors. It makes images look brighter, adds definition and radiance.

Laminating film is available in a variety of widths and thicknesses. The thicker the film, the stiffer and more durable the laminated item will be.

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Hot Laminations
Hot laminating film consists of two layers, a polyester-base layer and an inner adhesive resin layer. The material to be laminated is placed between two sheets of laminating film. Heated rollers melt the adhesive resin layer, which then spreads over the document, hardening as it cools and creating a bond between the material and film.

There are several types of laminating film used in hot laminators:

Standard laminating film is designed for everyday lamination of documents that do not have a heavy ink lay down.
Special low melt laminating films require less heat and are used when laminating materials that are sensitive to high temperatures, such as photographs.

Hot Laminating film is available in a variety of finishes:

Matte - This is a non-reflective, slightly granular finish. It tends to make image colors more vivid.
Satin - Provides a reduced level of glare, and has a soft sheen.
Luster - This finish also reduces glare, and has a sparkling sheen.
Gloss - Best for bright colors. Adds definition, radiance

There is a difference in laminating films. To select the right film, you'll need to know how it will be used.

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The differences in films that can be quantified are the thickness of the film and the melt temperature. There are also differences in film and adhesive quality, both of which affect the clarity of lamination. Unfortunately, these can not be quantified. The best way to ensure film and adhesive quality is to buy your laminating film from a reputable dealer. If your laminated materials look cloudy, then you may need to switch to a different film.

1.5 mil Laminating Film: If you need to protect items for a short time and there is not much concern about curling, waviness or wrinkles, then a 1.5 mil film will get the job done and be inexpensive. Examples of this would be sports team rosters and items that are used just once such as signs used in a parade (lamination protects them from rain).

1.5 mil films require higher laminating temperatures, usually in the 300F-310F range. Since 1.5 mil films have little thermal mass, it quickly loses heat to the material being laminated. This makes it difficult for the adhesive to remain hot enough, long enough such that it can be drawn into the material being laminated. As a result 1.5 mil laminated materials are less durable and may delaminate in a short time.

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3.0 mil Laminating Films: Laminating with a minimum of 3 mil film is a good general approach to laminating. 3 mil film typically provides excellent long term protection and it resists curling, waviness and wrinkles.

If you need to laminate output from ink jet printers, photographs or art, we recommend using a low-melt film. This provides a higher quality adhesive that melts at a lower temperature.

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5 mil & 10 mil Laminating Films: These thicker films are used when greater protection and stiffness is required. You might want to use these films with presentation materials and teaching aids that you want to use year after year.

We Laminate:

Photographs
Business cards
Architectural size drawings
Posters
Display Materials
Calendars
Displays

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