When you’re creating a zine, the cover is one of the main details you must consider. It’s the first thing readers will come across. Due to this, it will influence their initial impression of you. One strategy to guarantee that your zine cover stands out and stays durable is using lamination. What we are going to do here is look at how it aids zine covers. We will discuss both the benefits and potential options. Then, if you need laminating services, you can speak to us.
Lamination and zines
Lamination is a procedure involving the application of a thin layer of film to your zine’s cover. This film won’t massively modify the colour of your product underneath, but will provide great benefits.
The main thing here is the film will safeguard the paper fibres. This allows the reader to fold it without any concerns of cracking. If you have ink coverage where your sheets are folding, the paper, being fibres, won’t like it. The paper and ink can crack. Lamination stops this, therefore making sure your zine cover stays neat and professional.
Opting to go without lamination can lead to the cover cracking. This can make it look scruffy and you like you’ve made a mistake. It is particularly crucial to laminate the publication’s front cover if the weight is 170gsm or greater.
With a wire stitched zine, if you were to fold the cover card, the ink may crack. This will open up the sheet’s fibres and leave several scuffed marks down its spine. Normally, you shouldn’t judge books by their cover, but here, it is an essential part of the presentation so it is unavoidable.
Possible options
Next, we’ll discuss the options for lamination. Then, if you want some help with laminating services you can ask us.
There are a few main options for laminate finishes. Each one has its own texture and aesthetic appeal. So, you will be able to customise your zine how you like.
Firstly, there is matt lamination. This is the most common choice for zines. It provides a non-shiny, smooth finish. Your zine will receive a professional and sophisticated look. Matt is a great choice for uncoated or silk paper. There is not much of a sheen and it looks professional.
Secondly is gloss lamination. This one provides a reflective and shiny finish. It makes your colours and illustrations pop through. As such, it works wonders for graphic novels or comics. If we were to compare gloss to matt here, the former would have more shine and really jump towards the reader. Although, you could argue that this can make the content harder to read when you tilt towards light. Matt has more subtlety and you won’t really realise it’s there.
Then there is soft touch lamination. It supplies a velvet feel to the cover. There is a professional and distinct aesthetic. Yet, this option is arguably not appropriate for zines; old school ones wouldn’t have entertained the thought of employing it.
Finally, there is anti-scuff lamination. This is a less common solution. Despite its name, it doesn’t do much to stop scuffing. It is one possibility, but you’d usually be best off using matt instead.
We do delicate work and ensure quality laminating services
At Foiling Services, we are aware of the delicate nature of lamination. As a result, we can deliver fantastic solutions every time. Most importantly, we make sure there are good bonds and no problems like bubbles or creases. Whether you need to laminate for protective or aesthetic reasons, we can help.
So, feel free to get in touch if you need our laminating services. We can give you advice about different uses, recommendations, and more.