Issue link: https://nbm.uberflip.com/i/1479467
G R A P H I C S - P R O. C O M O C T O B E R 2 0 2 2 • G R A P H I C S P R O 5 3 Ryan Scislowicz, KPMF USA, says liquid laminates aren't typ- ically used for vehicle wraps because wraps need the flexibility of film, which retains its properties even when it is stretched and heated. "People expect laminates to continue to extend the life of their graphics. We like to think of them as the sunscreen of wrap," he says, adding that OEM-rated inks are warrantied for a year or two unlaminated, but lamination will extend the life of the inks and the product giving customers a better return on their investment. In the past, laminates only came in gloss and low gloss fin- ishes, but now they come in satin and metallic finishes, which give the end user additional options to set their product apart from the competition. "ere is a laminate for just about every customer expectation," Miller says, "but there are still trade-offs to be made when choos- ing a laminate. No one laminate can do everything." TOP LAMINATION MISTAKES One of the biggest mistakes a shop can make is laminating a print before it has had time to outgas. "We recommend, depending on the saturation of the inks, 24 to 72 hours of outgassing before you laminate," Scislowicz says. "If you don't, the outgassing process cannot happen, and it is either going to brown out the surface of the laminate, or it could migrate down into the surface of the clear coat or paint, which is not a positive thing when you remove a wrap." Even on latex, some manufacturers recommend an hour or two wait before laminating.