How Do I Choose the Right Overlaminate?

It’s tempting to grab whatever clear roll is closest to the laminator, but mixing different types of vinyl and laminate is one of the most common causes of preventable graphic failure. To get a result that stays flat and lasts, you need to match the "families" of the materials.

Vinyl films are manufactured in two primary ways, and they don't like to be mixed.

•  Cast with Cast: Cast films are premium, high-conformity materials (like wrap vinyl). Because they have no "memory," they don't want to shrink. When you pair them with a Cast laminate, both layers move and breathe at the same rate.
  
  

• Calendered with Calendered: These are generally for flat or simple curved surfaces. They have a natural tendency to shrink slightly over time. If you put a Cast laminate on a Calendered base, the base will shrink while the top stays still, leading to edge curling or "tunnelling."
  
  

When a graphic is installed outdoors, it expands in the heat and contracts in the cold.

• Matched Sets: The layers move together. The bond stays strong.

• Mismatched Sets: The layers fight each other. This internal tension is what causes the edges of your decals to "snap" upward or the laminate to peel away from the print.

Beyond the film type, consider the adhesive technology. If you are using a high-texture or "air-release" media, ensure the laminate is thin and flexible enough to flow into those channels without trapping air.