Laminating images onto MDF - how?

cardiff_gareth

cardiff_gareth

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Gareth
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Hi all, just wanted to ask if anyone knows how to laminate prints onto MDF? I see a lot of photographers / print shops offering this service, print shops being rather expensive and photographers doing it themselves so I know it can be done, my dilemma is how?!

So far all I've managed to read on the web is that you have to paint the wood with an oil based sealant first, attach the print to the wood with an adhesive spray and then somehow laminate a cover over the whole lot?

My questions are! Do I need to use the oil based sealant and adhesive spray? Also these laminate sheets/pouches, where do you get them from and how do you use them?

Some sites say the wood is beveled and others don't? Does the wood have to be beveled or can I just get MDF, cut to size and have squared edges/corners?

Thanks in advance ;)

Gareth
 
Firstly the size - its best to have the wood cut undersize - about 1/2 inch in both dimentions - so once the print is stuck on you trim from behind to give a clean edge.

To laminate you have 3 options, hot, cold and encapsulate.

All three also use pressure - and the presses are heavy and expensive - but as such are built like tanks and last almost forever. The encapulate option is the lightest - as they are just like office encapulators - the size they do is the limliting factor - A4 no probs - some will do A3, and one or two will do A2 - and some will also allow mounting onto thin card.

The hot (hard bed) and cold will mount onto most thicknesses of MDF - I use a cold press and either 6mm or 19mm MDF - or card, diabod or foamex. The presses are around £800 upwards - and the rolls of laminate are £80 upwards for 600mmx25m - theres a wide range of surfaces.

Have a look at www.hotpress.co.uk for all the gen.... you will find presses crop up from time to time on eBay...

Perhaps you now see why the costs are high - and you will often get dust caught behind the laminate so you'll sometimes need to reprint too!
 
I'm the same as snappingsam use cold pressure roll press Jet Mounter and hot press or sealion laminates.
 
or print direct onto white laminate mdf board, there are a bunch of people who can do this for you, get in touch if you need more info.
 
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