GLOSSARY OF TERMS
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Decal:
An image that has been laminated on top (either heat-activat-
ed or pressure-sensitive) with an adhesive backing.
Film:
A synonym for laminate. The material used in the laminating
and encapsulating process.
Heat-Activated Films:
Films with an adhesive that are activated when heat is applied.
Once applied to an image the adhesive forms a strong bond
adhering the laminate and the image together.
In-Feed:
The side of the laminator from which images are fed.
Leader-Board:
A piece of foam board (about 4' x 4") used to push films into
the nip. Also used for mounting or pre-coating boards to pre-
vent adhesive from getting onto the rollers and sealing edges.
LED:
Light Emitting Diode
Mil:
Refers to the thickness of the laminate in 1/1000ths of an
inch. One Mil is equal to .0254mm or 25 micron.
Mounting:
Applying an image onto some kind of foam board or sub-
strate.
Nip:
The spot where the top and bottom rollers meet.
Out-Feed:
The side of the laminator from which completed images
emerge.
Pre-Coating:
The process of coating a substrate with an adhesive mounting
film onto which an image can be mounted.
Press:
The amount of force in distance put on anything that passes
between the top and bottom rollers.
Pressure-Sensitive Films:
Films with an adhesive that are activated when pressure is
applied, forming a bond between the protective laminate and
the surface of the image. Used primarily for fast mounting
applications and recommended for heat-sensitive thermal and
photographic prints.
Release Liner:
The backing on a pressure-sensitive film or mounting adhe-
sive. After peeling the release liner off, the adhesive layer
becomes exposed.
Sled:
A board that has a non-stick surface that is used when lami-
nating one side of an image only.
Substrate:
The material to which an image is mounted or affixed.