LexJet Essentials: Marabu Liquid Laminates

Umbrellas. Seat belts. Sunscreen. A suit of armor. All of these are forms of protection. Everyone knows the importance of protection. So why do so many photographers pass up the opportunity to ensure their work last for generations?

Whether creating a family heirloom canvas wrap or a banner to celebrate a milestone birthday, Marabu has a liquid coating for you.

Marabu ClearShield Select is perfect for manual or automated applications and provides chemical and scratch resistance on rigid substrates, canvas, vinyl, and banners. It is available in gloss, semi-gloss or matte finishes.

Marabu StarlamOwn a StarLam? Marabu Clearshield Select for StarLam is your laminate of choice. It’s the same Clearshield formula, but with lower viscosity, so it works perfectly with roll-to-roll laminators like the StarLam 1600R.

The entire Marabu line of protective coatings offers you and your clients peace of mind, knowing that their images and artwork are safe for years to come.

Find your perfect protection on our website or call us at 800-453-9538, and one of our printing specialists will be happy to help. Want more information? Visit the Marabu booth at The LexJet Experience.

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Print Protection Tips: When to Use Liquid Coating

For prints that are subjected to direct light, wear-and-tear or even graffiti, one of the most economical ways to protect them is with a coat or two of liquid coating. Water-based coatings, such as Sunset Gloss or Satin Coating as well as Marabu ClearShield and EnduraCoat options provide consistent, reliable and cost-effective print protection for everything from canvas wraps to wall murals to outdoor signage.

The benefit of using a liquid coating include abrasion resistance, extending the life of the graphic and making it easier to clean them, which is especially helpful for outdoor signage that falls victim to those graffiti artists. Coatings can also change the image’s finish — from gloss to matte, for example — which is one way to reduce the glare of a glossy print.

Ink Interaction & Coatings

While ink technology in inkjet printing has evolved significantly in recent years, even latex or solvent inks can use added protection from a liquid coating, especially for long-lasting or high-traffic prints (think: wallcoverings).

It’s especially helpful for prints displayed in direct sun, which need help against the UV light that can eventually wear away any ink. It’s important to remember, however, that ink-and-coating combinations can sometimes behave in an unpredictable way. Best to test compatibility before coating an entire job.

StarLam coating for water-based coatings

Water-based & UV Coatings

Water-based Coatings: For smaller jobs, a water-based coating is the way to go since they can be roller, mop or machine applied. These are great cost-effective alternatives to thermal or pressure-sensitive laminates. Since they are liquid, water-based coatings can conform to uneven surfaces when needed, which a laminate film cannot typically do.

These can also be machine-applied. Check out this video to see how easy it is to use the Marabu StarLam coating machine. Waterbased coatings range from $0.08 – $0.18 per square foot.

Machine-applied UV liquid coating

UV Coatings: Machine-applied UV coatings provide longer life at a lower cost, $0.04 – $0.10 per square foot, depending on the product. Our line of Mara Shield UV coatings are application-based, such as anti-graffiti, corrugated board and rigid or flexible substrates.

UV coatings dramatically extend the life of prints and intensify the color vibrancy of printed images. The MegaCoat XL 63 UV Coater can handle everything from films to boards that are 1-inch thick.

To learn more about coating, ink and substrate compatibility, check out our Print Protection page or call at LexJet coatings expert at 800-453-9538.

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Liquid Lamination Made Easy with the StarLam Laminator

For print facilities looking to increase speed and consistency in liquid coating applications, the Marabu StarLam Liquid Laminator is the go-to solution for water-based coatings, such as ClearShield Liquid Coatings.

Watch the video above to learn how easy it is to set up the StarLam and get it rolling. The machine can handle a variety of substrates up to 64-inches wide, as well as various coatings, such as Marabu ClearShield for the StarLam.

The StarLam can coat printed substrates for many applications, such as banners, canvas prints, vehicle graphics, wallcoverings, trade shows and more. Because the StarLam includes a heater and roll-to-roll design, the prints are ready to go with a finished, consistent layer of coating that offers the benefits of film lamination at a budget-friendly cost.

Applying coating using the StarLam is designed to be a one-person process, and it speeds up workflow for high-production shops. Plus, the StarLam cleans up in less than 10 minutes — no roller or pail rinsing and cleaning needed.

To learn how to shut down and clean the StarLam, watch the video below. If you have any questions about how to incorporate the StarLam Liquid Laminator in your operation, give a LexJet print specialist a call at 800-453-9538.