Posters, do you go with laminating or framing?

[genetik]

A while back, like a few months before the online Cave shop closed its doors, I ordered 3 posters from them. I thought about laminating them, since that’s what I did in the past with my previous posters. Now, I’ve been thinking and I don’t know if it’s really the best move. I was thinking that maybe framing would look better, and I guess more importantly, keep the poster in better condition in the long run.

So, I was curious as to what most of you are doing. Do you go with laminating or framing, and why one more than the other? Also, having never framed any of my posters, is it considerably more expensive?



EDIT: Thanks for the input. Seems that the clear way to go is framing them.

[Skykid]

My god, don't laminate your posters!

That's all, thread over.

[genetik]

My god, don't laminate your posters!

That's all, thread over.

Ok, but what's the argument against laminating?

[Ed Oscuro]

Lamination is the end game for a poster; if something better comes along - or if you find that the laminate material is harming the poster - you're SOL because you can't take it off.

[AntiFritz]

Considering polls don't ever work.

I vote frame.

although I usually just use blutack

[PAPER/ARTILLERY]

I'm lucky in that I work in a print shop / framing centre so none of it costs me a penny. I definitely agree you shouldn't laminate anything unless it's disposable. I tend to either frame my prints or mount them on acrylic which is a fairly simple and elegant solution (if perhaps a little expensive). If you're not sure about how you want something mounted then you could always pay a few quid to get a super hi-res large-format scan and make prints. Although some places will obviously refuse this if the content is copywritten.

[genetik]

if you find that the laminate material is harming the poster

That's pretty much the only reason I started to think of going with framing. I don't intent on replacing or re-selling them. So far I laminated 3, the DC Under Defeat one (which still looks great after 8 years), a Japanese Viewtiful Joe pink poster (which my girlfriends loves...I think because it's pink), and the very wide Street Fighter Udon poster. All still look amazing (I made sure that sunlight doesn't hit them directly).

But is that common that the laminate material degrades the poster?

although I usually just use blutack

That seems mighty risky. As a teen, I used to hang all my posters like this, and now all of those ended up in the trash (not that I would care much for those posters now).

[Ed Oscuro]

I don't know what time-frame we're talking about for laminate degrading, but as soon as it starts going bad, it's pretty much game over for the poster. Glass is the great material from ancient times and you can get it in types that block high-energy spectrum variants...like ultraviolet rays. Laminate material, by contrast, is likely to slowly break down from UV exposure. Personally, if you want the poster to survive in the long time, a frame will do the job and look nicer too.

[genetik]

I don't know what time-frame we're talking about for laminate degrading, but as soon as it starts going bad, it's pretty much game over for the poster. Glass is the great material from ancient times and you can get it in types that block high-energy spectrum variants...like ultraviolet rays. Laminate material, by contrast, is likely to slowly break down from UV exposure. Personally, if you want the poster to survive in the long time, a frame will do the job and look nicer too.

And cost wise, is it in the same ball park as laminating?

[Friendly]

You wouldn't laminate a painting, either.

[STG]

And cost wise, is it in the same ball park as laminating?

I doubt it, especially if you're using high end museum glass. I'd say you're looking at around $200 per piece if you go with a custom cut frame & regular glass, at least at the places I've used in the past.

You can also look for empty frames that are pre-made and just stick your poster in there, they sell them at Ikea or any art supply stores, that's a much cheaper option that is still miles better than laminating.

[Ed Oscuro]

Yeah, it's a given that glass - even cheap glass frames - are way more expensive than laminate. I dunno, how long do you want to keep the posters nice? A lot of Cave stuff goes for insane prices today, and who knows what it'll be worth in the future - of course not least is the matter that when they're out of production that may well be it.