Vinyl & films

Overlaminate

The clear film that decides whether your print lasts one year or five. The cheapest insurance in the shop, and the easiest step to rush.

Also called	Laminate, clear film, UV laminate, overlam
Thickness	Commonly 1.5 to 3 mil, in cast and calendered versions to match the film beneath.
Outdoor life	It is what sets the graphic's life. An unlaminated outdoor print may fade noticeably within a year, the same print laminated can hold five.
Ballpark cost	Roughly 0.45 to 0.80 dollars a square foot for standard gloss or matte, and over a dollar for anti graffiti.

Ballpark trade cost per square foot as of August 2026, before laminate, labour or markup. Films are bought by the roll and the per foot price moves a lot with roll width and volume, so treat these as a sanity check rather than a quote.

What it actually is

A clear pressure sensitive film applied over a printed graphic, carrying UV inhibitors that absorb radiation before it reaches the ink. Available gloss, matte, lustre and with anti graffiti and textured finishes.

What it is good for

→ Anything printed that will live outdoors
→ Vehicle graphics, which get washed, brushed and stone chipped
→ Floor and counter graphics needing abrasion resistance
→ Anywhere cleaning chemicals or graffiti removal are expected

What to watch for

Let solvent prints outgas before laminating. Sealing in residual solvent produces bubbles that appear days later, after the job has shipped. Twenty four to forty eight hours is the usual rule and rushing it is the most common lamination failure there is.

Match the laminate to the film. Cast vinyl needs cast laminate, or the calendered laminate shrinks and takes the expensive film with it.

Matte laminate hides ink but shows every fingerprint and scuff on a vehicle. Gloss stays looking newer longer on anything handled.

Tension and roller pressure matter more than people expect. Too much tension and the finished graphic curls off the substrate as the laminate relaxes.

Printing and finishing

Applied on a cold roll laminator for most shop work. Cast laminate is required over perforated window film and anything conforming to a curve.

Quoting a job with Overlaminate?

The free sign price calculator prices by size and material the way a shop quotes, and the wrap calculator works out coverage before you order film. No signup on either.

Price calculator Wrap calculator

Overlaminate — FAQ

Do I really need to laminate outdoor prints?

If it is going outside and expected to last, yes. UV destroys ink long before it destroys film, and laminate carries the inhibitors that slow it. The cost is small against a reprint.

How long should I wait before laminating a solvent print?

Twenty four to forty eight hours in normal shop conditions so the solvent can outgas. Laminate too early and bubbles form under the clear film days later.

Gloss or matte laminate?

Gloss for vehicles and anything handled, because it cleans up better and hides wear. Matte for interior graphics and photography where reflections would fight the image.

Price your films once

Set your vinyls and laminates up once in PrinterFlo and every quote prices itself by size and options, with cost, profit and margin on the line as you build it.

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