The low temp Seal print guard laminate works great on canvas. I just gallery wrapped my first print that was roll laminated and not sprayed. Gives you a thicker fold because of the laminate material but other then that it looks really good. The big deal with this type of laminating is no ink cracking or scuffing of ink. The vinyl laminate really protects the canvas. Their will always be issues. First and foremost will be is the look and feel acceptable? The low temp laminate is heated and roll pressed onto the canvas so the texture is pretty natural looking. Some will not like the plasticky look of the canvas. Just experimenting for now so no real plans to move this direction other then more trials and workshop demonstrations.
Intuitively I suspect that any lamination is just going to kill the optical look of the metallic simulated surface.Most laminates I've used dull down even the dmax of rc media and I would expect it to flatten out the subtle effects of this kind of media. Even putting these papers behind glass or plexi dulls the effects to a degree. j
I have been laminating canvas for a number of years with this method. Have you tried Seal's Printguard UltaMatte yet? Speaking of folding, I have been using a technique similar to the Hahnemuhle Canvas Wrap Systems with the film laminated canvas for about the last three years. I still do traditional stretching if one requests it. It might be thicker to fold, but man is it durable.
Face mounting on to plexiglass in my experience is the only way to retain the Dmax and effect of the metallic print - and yes it may look plasticy, but with a metallic print you only have 2 options - to deaden it down by a soft laminate where the glue is a bit opaque - (which is what you are experiencing) ; or to enhance the metallic effect and look at the 'plasticy effect ' with a differnet perspective and think of it as 'enhancing' the metallic effect.I would keep an open mind and try one of your prints and have it face mounted on plexi and then see what you thought of the effect. I would then let go of the fact that you have purchased a Seal laminator for the job - and unless you use it for other projects, I would sell it. When you see the results you will soon forget the trials and tribulations you have been through getting to that point. JulieI have been experimenting with a dozen different laminating processes with many assorted materials. I actually have plexi ordered and it should arrive next week.Not sure I understood the comment about selling the laminator as it is the machine I will use for my plexi mounting and already use for my dibond mounting and canvas laminating. I have dibond and "opti mount" adhesive for the plexi mounts and cannot wait to try it out over the metallic prints.If your going to have a printmaking and mounting studio and also teach workshops you must have all the right equipment.
Julie,Not a problem. This is a picture of one of our metallic prints laminated to one of the brushed stainless dibond custom frames we build. The reason for our trials is to enhance and protect these metallic prints.Presently we are not covering the prints with spray or laminate until we find the appropriate product. For this mount we would prefer something thin like a crystal clear laminate.Although we thought of plexi for this we feel it will stick out too proud if you will and ruin the effect.
