Typically, lamination is used if sturdiness is required such as for business cards and soft covered books. Lamination also has the added benefits of improving the tactile feel of the of the printed surface, lending it a smooth finish.

Matte Lamination: Lamination is when a plastic film is applied to the outside layer of the paper that will both protect it and create a beautiful aesthetic. There are two types of lamination, matte and gloss. Matte lamination has a look of high-class sophistication that does not try to grab people's attention by being shiny. It is more subdued but adds a very luxurious and elegant finish to the printed surface. It is often used to produce textured graphics. It is great for items such as business cards that aim to give off a professional impression. Matte lamination does not provide the same level of protection as gloss lamination because it can be prone to scratching and fingerprints. This is the most expensive finishing option.

Gloss Lamination: Gloss lamination gives your printed item a very high impact. It makes the colours look deeper and more vibrant, it also forms a durable protective coating which makes it ideal for high use items such as menus. Gloss lamination is the most durable method of finishing your printed products but is also one of the most expensive (it is only slightly cheaper than a matte lamination).
You can combine Matte lamination with a spot UV coating. This will allow you to highlight certain features of your graphic with the UV coating while keeping a subdued matte background. The highlighted features will almost look as though they are popping right off the page. Not only does this look incredibly professional but is eye catching and memorable as well.

Varieties of Films

The three main kinds are nylon, polyester, and polypropylene films.

Of the three, the polypropylene film allows for the laminated object to look as shiny as it possibly can, although this material is not nearly as durable and sturdy as the other two. Polypropylene is also the cheapest kind of film and the quickest to use for lamination. However, due to its low quality when it comes to durability, it is often easily damaged and ruined soon after the process occurs, making it better for short-term needs rather than for things that will need to stay laminated for long periods of time.

The nylon film is probably one of the most popular choices for people who need to laminate things like books or other such items. This is because nylon is breathable and lets in air, which allows the laminated product to resist any kind of curling of the edges that might occur with other films. It is also great under high temperatures, meaning it is less likely to stretch, bend, or break during lamination. This option is also much more expensive than the other two, but it may be well worth the extra money, seeing as it is also the highest quality film.

Polyester is the last major type of laminating film. It is extremely popular due to its reasonable price and fairly high quality. Though it is not as great as nylon, polyester definitely holds its own. It is both shiny and pretty durable, combining the best of both worlds for lamination. It is not likely that this type of film will cause too.