Photo Laminating Made Easy

Although people share a lot of photos through Twitter, Facebook, and other websites these days, many people still love to have hard copies of their photos. Unfortunately, printed photographs are subject to wear and tear, and a photo can be destroyed by too much handling. Luckily, it is possible to laminate your photos so they will last longer. It's easy, too. Just follow these steps:

•   Get a laminator. Obviously, you will need a laminator to laminate your photos. Your best bet is to get a small pouch laminator that can be stored away when you're not using it. You will need to choose a machine that has a feed opening that's large enough to accommodate your pictures. For example, if you want to laminate a large, department store portrait, your machine should have a feed opening that's 8.5" wide or more. Keep in mind that what it comes to laminators, you get what you pay for. Thus, a higher-end machine will give you better results and it's less likely that your photos will be marred by wrinkles and bubbles.
•   Select your purchase. You are going to need laminating pouches in order to process your photos. Selecting the right pouches is important because you need to choose ones that your machine can handle. Pouch thickness is measured in mils (a mile of 0.001^th of an inch) and most pouches are between 3 and 10 mil thick. Check your laminator's instruction manual to determine which pouch thicknesses are appropriate. (In other words, don't try to use a 10 mil pouch if your device can only handle 3, 5, and 7 mil pouches.) You will also need to choose between matte and glossy pouches. Both look great, so choosing one is really just a matter of preference. Also, you will need to choose pouches that are large enough to completely envelop your photos. Luckily, there are pouches out there that correspond with common photo sizes such as wallet size and 4" x 6". It's okay to use a pouch that's a bit bigger than your picture - you can trim away the excess film after laminating.
•   Start laminating. Turn your laminator on and choose the appropriate temperature setting. (The right setting is machine-specific, so be sure to consult your owner's manual.) You now need to let the laminator warm up. This might take a few minutes, so use this time to place your photos in the pouches. Make sure the photo is centered in the pouch so that it will seal completely. Once the laminator has warmed up, place your photo in the feed opening. The folded edge of the pouch should go in first. When the laminated photo comes out of the machine, put it side to cool off. Continue laminating if necessary.
•   Finish things up. After you have laminated all your photos, turn off the machine so it doesn't overheat. If you need to remove excess laminate from your pictures, you can do so with a rotary trimmer or craft knife and straight edge.

As you can see, it's easy to laminate your favorite photos. You just need the right pouches and a laminate to finish the job. Try laminating your photos so you can enjoy them for years to come.