Q How do you protect wide-format print from getting scratched, especially if you’re not keen on laminating it?

A This query comes to me via my colleague Barney Cox, who was quizzed on this at one of the recent PrintWeek/HP wide-format breakfast briefings. Happily for me, he also provides a ready-made answer! He said: If someone’s determined to scratch the print, then they will. And vendors all attest to potential customers turning up at their showrooms with a key ready to check how easy it is to flake off the print. UV-cured inks can provide additional toughness, but if you want the ultimate protection some sort of barrier between the punter and the print is a prerequisite. If you don’t want a laminate film, then one option is to coat the job – and in the wide-format world, just to confuse outsiders, a clear coat is often referred to as a liquid laminate. Suppliers, such as Drytac (0117 958 6500, www.drytac.co.uk) and Seal (00 49 5722 2070, www.sealgraphics.nl), offer coaters/liquid laminators in addition to their standard laminators. The most elegant solution, provided you have a white surface behind where you’re mounting the print, is to print a mirror image of the graphic on to the reverse side of a clear plastic substrate. The print is then out of harm’s reach and, depending on the chosen substrate, there’s a variety of different surface finishes. Or, you could lay down an additional white layer if feasible with the available kit.

Q I’m working on a project that could involve a fairly large quantity of lenticular printing. Could you recommend some suppliers as I’m not having much luck so far.
Name and address supplied

A With pleasure. I believe this is the definitive register of contenders, but am always happy to amend so please do get in touch if I’ve missed anyone off: 3-D Images 020 8364 0022, www.3dimages.co.uk; Augustus Martin 020 7537 4200, www.augustusmartin.com; Chesapeake Labels 01494 618600, www.cskcorp.com; Formula 11 020 8773 2211, www.formula11.co.uk; GBM Group 0161 273 5562, www.gbm.co.uk; Hive Associates 020 7664 0480, www.hiveassociates.co.uk; Print-Leeds 0113 290 0340, www.print-leeds.co.uk; Ryedale Printing Group 01751 432505, www.ryedalegroup.com; SMP Group 020 8855 5535, www.smpgroup.co.uk; Spatial Imaging 01932 569392, www.holograms.co.uk; Vinalith 01689 878211, www.vinalith.co.uk.

Problems with your print? Email printweek.helpline@haymarket.com or post your query online at http://community.printweek.com/forums