Five Methods for Trimming Laminated Documents

Laminated documents are easy to produce. But what happens if they're surrounded by excess laminate? Don't fret because you can trim the film to make your work look better. Here are five methods for trimming laminated documents:

1. A rotary trimmer. If you want to quickly trim your documents and make sure the cuts are perfectly straight, use a rotary trimmer. These cutters are easy to use and cut cleanly so your document won't have any ragged edges so long as the blade is sharp.
2. Zippy knives. These cutting tools fit right in your hand and are used like a letter opener. Zippy knives are safe to use (it's really hard to cut yourself with one) and they allow you to trim excess laminate quickly. These knives are great for irregularly shaped documents but getting a straight line with them can be tricky.
3. Scissors. Chances are you have a pair of scissors at your disposal. If you lack another kind of trimmer, you can definitely use the scissors to trim your laminated documents especially if you used thinner film. However, if you do use scissors, slide them through the laminate – don't open and close the blades. This will give you a smoother cut.
4. A craft knife and straight edge. If you need a perfectly straight cut, use a craft knife and straight edge. The straight edge will keep the document perfectly flat so you can cut without any problems. You will need a cutting mat to use these tools so you can protect your work surface. Also, be careful. It's very easy to accidentally cut yourself with a craft knife.
5. An automated laminating trimmer. Most of the suggestions listed already are perfect for small amounts of documents. However, it you regularly crank out a lot of laminated items (and if you can afford it), consider getting an automated laminating trimmer. Using this type of machine will save you a lot of time and make your documents look great. There are even devices that can laminate your document and trim the excess film in one step. Be sure to consider an automated laminating trimmer if it sounds appealing.

Trimming your laminated documents is easy and you have many options to choose from. Give one or more of these methods a try to see which one works best for you. Happy laminating!

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Written by Jeff McRitchie
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