POLYESTER (PET)
- Used where a durable finish is required on one or both sides
- Suitable for regular or wide format laminating
- Scratch or scuff resistant
- Available in various gauges
- Available with a thermal digital adhesive for sheets produced on digital equipment
- Can have encaspsulated lip (a sealed, visible edge extends past the printed material to form a watertight seal) – perfect for menus
ORIENTED POLYPROPYLENE (OPP)
- Typically used when lamination is only required on one side of the sheet however can be applied to 2 sides
- Suitable for regular or wide format laminating
- More pliable and bends easier than PET with less memory
- Available in gloss matte finish, and scuff free
- Generally available in thinner gauges
- When laminated on one side only, the sheet is less likely to curl over time
- Can be flush cut (trimmed even with the edge of the printed piece)
- Encapsulated lip is not possible with OPP
- Ideal for write-on/wipe off applications (dry erase)
- Less durable than PET; more prone to scuffing, especially regular matte OPP
NYLON
- Excellent choice for applications where curling of the sheet is of great concern (e.g. soft covers and paperback books)
- Won’t stretch, shrink or expand
- Scuff and scratch resistant
- Typically applied to one side of sheet but can be applied to both
- Available in gloss or matte finish