Does anyone laminate their own 13X19 poster prints ? If so, where do you get the equipment and rough cost? My local Staples is charging $20 to mount and laminate a 13X19.
Mount and laminate to 1/4" fome core should run $12-$15 per square foot, depending on area and material. Some laminates are much more expensive than others.
I also would like to know how this goes and how it looks! There is a sports outfit in the nearest city where the photog. offers a 16 x 20 poster on black foam core. I would like to know what he uses for glue and how he does it.Some use a coating to both glue and protect and some use a glue from 3M. Some buy their foam core, black, at WalMarts.
Other than what I pick up in the odd post, I think the process is a big secret. When I google for the info, I just get a myriad of places willing to print and use foam core for an additional price.
I also would like to know what photographers are inventing.
terrat wrote:
I also would like to know how this goes and how it looks! There is a sports outfit in the nearest city where the photog. offers a 16 x 20 poster on black foam core. I would like to know what he uses for glue and how he does it.Some use a coating to both glue and protect and some use a glue from 3M. Some buy their foam core, black, at WalMarts.
Other than what I pick up in the odd post, I think the process is a big secret. When I google for the info, I just get a myriad of places willing to print and use foam core for an additional price.
I also would like to know what photographers are inventing....Show more →
There are numerous ways to mount on foam-core. The easiest is to use the self-adheasive foam core. It comes with a peel-off cover that exposes the glue. You simply mount your image on the sticky material and roll to make final contact.
There are also dry-mount machines which use heat and sheets of glue. You would put the mount board down, then the sheet of glue, then your print. It looks like a commercial pres you see at a dry-cleaner. You simply press all the material together and the machine heats the glue and sticks your image to the board.
You can also use plain foam-core or mount board, a can of spray adhesive [there are many available]. Simply spray the adhesive on the mounting board and the back of your print, then attach. Again, use a roller to make final contact.
As for laminating, large laminaters can be very expensive. Unless you are doing a tremendous amount, I'd eat the cost and pay for it to get done. We do a lot of 16x20 through 20x30 posters. Most are rolled and shipped unmounted in tubes. For those we do mount, we use the plain foam mount, and spray can glue. We don't ever laminate.
I don't think you will find 13x19 foam core, self adhesive or not.
If you are looking for laminating and mounting, I can tell you how I do it. Its not the only way, but its worked for me since 1995.
With a laminator that can accept both top and bottom rolls, you load laminate on the top and two sided adhesive on the bottom. After the print is run through, you have a big laminated sticker. There is a release paper on the adhesive. You then clean an oversized piece of foamcor/gatorboard/sintra/wood/whatever (and I mean REALLY CLEAN - we had adhesive rollers to run over the boards; any dust will show through to the print as a big zit looking thing). You then peel back one inch of the adhesive and crease it over, exposing the adhesive. Line up the print on the board and adhere that first inch. Unload the materials from the laminator and set the roller depth to the thickness of the board. Insert the edge with the one inch of applied adhesive and SLOWLY feed the board while stripping off the adhesive backing. When you are done, trim to size and you have a finished, laminated, mounted print.
A good source for product reference is Seal. They make laminators and have their own self-branded materials as well.
Keep in mind, this is all done with a laminator that costs at LEAST $3000, so it's nothing that a casual user could easily do.
I've been researching this subject for the last 2 weeks. 13 x 19 precut you pay premium price. Buy 20 x30 which is standard by most companies and cut it in half to get 2 pcs/ Search Google, Search YouTube, they have demos, which you can learn buy. I found over 15 companies with foam board. I've had some done locally around $2.00 sq ft for white 3/16. But I like the look and strenght of Blk 1/2. That cost me $7.00 sq ft, plus I supply my own prints. Larger prints 20 x 30 or 24 x 36 are difficult with sprays, adhesives. The best is Hot Press Dry mount. Search it out. NOte: Sometimes your local arts -crafts stores have precut boards. Freight is the killer on larger sheets. Some web sites offer free shipping over $200.00. Anything in sizes 30 x 40 to 96 x 48 is shipped by truck, heavy freight charges. Depending where you live, you may have a local supplier near you. Hope this helps.
One last thought, buy a small 8 x 10 from your local store (Staples, Office Max, others) with adhesive and try it. Applied Adhesive may or work for you and it may not. Go to www.trghotpress.co.uk amazing videos on everything for dry mounting. You will get a education on the different processes. I just bought their HGP 260 someone going out of business. More later as I learn the in's and out also
