Tech/FAQ
Application Methods:
Roller | HVLP
Sprayer | Lumina Atlantis Series - Phoenix
Series Rollcoaters/Dryers
General rules:
- Clean equipment and preparation area is mandatory for good results. Be sure that the area is dust and smoke free. Make sure that the print's surface is free of contaminates such as oil, smoke or dust before lamination.
- Use a paint filter in a funnel to filter any unused laminate back into the original container (available at most paint supply stores)
- Lumina liquid laminates normally DO NOT require thinning but if required for a particular application, no more than 5% distilled water may be added then stirred in.
Please contact our technical department for assistance on solutions to any viscosity or specialty applications.
- DO NOT mix Lumina products with any other product
- Minimum temperature of 60F or 15.6C degrees must be maintained.
- Inks MUST be dry or the lamination job will not cure properly. Both solvent and aqueous inks require at least 24 hours of drying time to properly flash off all solvents or water. Canvas and fine art papers which are used for aqueous pigmented inks that have less than perfect water resistance will require more dry time depending on room temperature and local humidity. Humidity levels of 70% + will require up to 50% longer drying and curing times.
- If applying more than one coat, wait at least six hours before applying
the second coat or use an appropriate drying system such as the Phoenix
Series Dryers.
- Aqua Jetcoat II that has been applied to vinyl (vehicle graphics films)
requires 72 hours for full cure in order to be fully water and chemical
resistant. The cure time can be reduced by using the Phoenix Series
Dryers to accelerate curing.
- Atlantis Series Rollcoaters and/or Triton Flood coaters provide a completely even and controlled film thickness and combined with the Phoenix Series Dryers, produce a perfect fast cure lamination on nearly all inkjet media.
Roller Application
- Short nap open structured foam rollers which are made for the application of water based paints or rollers especially designed for giclee media application can be used to apply Lumina liquid laminates on canvas, fine art papers and banner substrates. Care must be taken to not over apply the laminate as this can cause "roller marks" and cause slow cure times.
- Use roller application on WATER RESISTANT media and inkjet receptor
coatings ONLY - HVLP spray or Atlantis Series Rollcoaters can be used
on most non-water resistant media.
- Place the print on a smooth flat surface and for ease of application, tape or pin the print to the surface to hold in place.
- Use a clean paint tray and submerge the entire circumference of the roller in laminate then roll out the excess on the paint tray. Roll the laminate on using firm but even pressure, going back and forth in one plane (up and down or side to side but not both). DO NOT lift roller off the surface of the media, continue until surface is fully covered or until the roller has to be reloaded.
- Let the laminate "sit" for about one minute then using a non-loaded roller, lightly roll the complete surface, again without losing contact with the surface, to roll out any lines and to made sure the laminate is evenly dispersed on the surface.
- Place the coated print in a a dry, dust free area, we recommend using a drying box with racks and doors that can be closed to keep dust and foreign particles off the print until the laminate dries.
HVLP Sprayer Application
- Use a good quality HVLP sprayer system, either turbine or compressed air are suitable.
- Make sure there is a water and oil trap filters installed, inline, if using the compressed air version gun.
- Use a minimum 4 to 5 cfm compressor and 5 gallon (18.9L) tank for small
and medium sized prints - larger prints may require a larger compressor
or larger air tank for proper operation of the spray gun.
- Use a 1.4 to 1.6mm needle and nozzle and gun manufacturer's recommended air pressure to the gun.
- Spray application requires a clean, well ventilated area or preferably a spray booth for proper application.
- Use an approved mask to keep from inhaling particulate and over spray. Follow all safety rules. Even though Lumina products are non-flammable and contain no harmful solvents, inhalation of resin particulate is not advised. Use an approved painters mask for the application of water based paint.
- Spray even, overlapping passes - do not over apply - one or two light coats followed by a "wet look" coat will provide the best results and total protection for your prints. Allow three hours between coats if air drying. Use of a Lumina Pro Series Dryer will allow immediate re-application.
- If air drying, let fine art paper prints dry for at least 12 hours before mounting and in the case of canvas, you may stretcher mount in 6 hours assuming room temperatures of 70F or 21C and humidity levels of 70% or less. Lower temperatures or higher humidity will require longer dry and cure times when air drying.
Lumina Atlantis Series Rollcoaters/Phoenix Dryer Application
- Follow instruction manual for proper setup of the Lumina Atlantis Series
Rollcoater and/or Phoenix Dryer machines. A clean environment is mandatory
in order to provide proper results, do not use rollcoaters in a dusty
or smoke filled area. Make sure that the print's surface is free of contaminates
such as oil, smoke or dust before lamination.
- Laminated media can be immediately placed on the Lumina Atlantis Series
Dryer conveyor table and dried at the appropriate speed and temperature
for the media used. Please check your operators manual before using this
equipment.
- Using the Lumina Atlantis Series Rollcoaters in combination with the
Lumina Phoenix Series Dryers will produce a perfect finish on nearly
all inkjet media and reduces cure times by up to 75%. For extremely fast
cure times, two or more passed through the dryer tunnel will reduce total
cure time to 12 hours, especially in highly humid conditions.
- Be sure to follow all safety regulations for accident free operation.