Akiles ProLam Professional Foil Laminator Starter Kit with 2 Foil Colors and Pouch Carrier

Welcome to MyBinding video. Today we're looking at the Akiles ProLam Photo, a six roller professional laminator. This demo video will show you how to go from this to this. Here's how to use the machine step by step.

First, turn it on with the power switch on the back. There's a very helpful and simple chart on the top of the machine. This will help you select the correct temperature and speed for the size pouch thickness you're using. With your selections made, gather your materials as it warms up and begin to place them inside laminating pouches. As with all pouch laminators, make sure the crease end goes in first into the throat of the machine. Once it's inside, let the Akiles take over from here. It will bring your project all the way through the machine and out the other side. Once your project is completely finished, lay it flat on a surface to cool. Use the control pad to make adjustments to speed, keeping in mind the higher the number, the faster the rollers, but the less heat applied to the project. Over time, you'll master the optimum speed and temperature for each kind of pouch. Smaller projects are done in the same way and you can drop the temperature all the way down to zero for cold lamination for photos or other color sensitive materials. Pressing and holding the reverse button on the control panel backs the rollers up so that you can remove or re-center a project. Because of the ProLam Photo's extra large 13 inch wide throat, large projects can also be laminated. Pictured here are side by side documents or poster sized documents that need one full and long pouch. Just assure that you have good margins within your pouch, with the crease headed into the machine, and it will take it from there. The ProLam Photo can handle most any size document and pouch thicknesses up to 10mil. It really is that simple with the ProLam Photo six roller laminator by Akiles. For more demos and reviews of this product and many more, check out MyBinding.com.

Welcome to MyBinding video. This is a product review of the ProLam Photo Six Roller Professional Laminator by Akiles. If you have a lot of laminating to do on a regular basis, the Akiles ProLam Photo may just be your best bet. Let's have a look at all of its features while watching it in action. On the top of the machine is a quick reference chart that we really like. It's simple and very informative. It helps you decide what temperature and speed you need for the size pouch you're using. All selections are made with push buttons up or down and displayed on a digital screen. We really like the fact that you can change the speed setting at any time, including during the middle of a project. And as you can see here, there's quite a difference between the slowest and fastest speed. Speed 9 is about 60 inches per minute. Likewise, the temperature can be adjusted at any point, too. However, to be sure that you have the accurate temperature you need, you need to wait for the ready light before processing your project. Also a great selling point is the fact that you can do all different kinds of materials. Photos and other color sensitive materials can be done under cold lamination with a zero temperature setting. You'll find that jams are rather rare with the ProLam Photo. However, there is a reverse button that you push and hold to back out the rollers so you can re-center or even remove a project. The ProLam Photo's extra large 13 inch wide throat opening is a real benefit. With it you can process just about any size document that you might need to. This side by side two documents in one pouch is an example. Or a poster that's printed or created and needs to be preserved and laminated. And pouches that are three up to ten mil in thickness can be used. So, 13 inches wide or less and up to 10mil, this pretty much opens the field of play. Its only drawback is in its being so industrial. The price point is $550 is quite a lot. It's pretty much solid metal and weighs 40 pounds. It also takes up two cubic feet of space. And finally, Akiles thought really only about function in making this great machine, but it is pretty ugly to look at. With that said, we really like this machine. And if you can afford it and need a real workhorse, this could be your ticket. For more demos and reviews of this product and many more, check out MyBinding.com.

This is How to Foil Laminate!

For those who are new to this, we’ll first go over the basic steps. We also highly encourage everyone to view our written knowledge base article.

Here’s the supplies you’ll need: your laminating foil, some scissors, a project printed with a laser printer, a carrier, and finally a pouch laminator.

First, open your carrier and place your project inside. Now take your foil and cut it appropriately to cover the correct portion of your project.

Take that piece and rest it in its position.

If you have other colors and places to fill, continue to do so.

It’s important to cover the printed portions of your project that you do not want to foil. If you don’t then some of the print will transfer onto your carrier and make a mess on other later projects.

Now insert the carrier into the laminator. It’s best to either hold or get something to keep the project flat so that the foil does not fall from within the carrier.

When it’s done, remove the carrier from the back, open it up and proceed to peal off the foil and uncover your project.

Now chances are you’ll see spots in your foiled project, which means we have to go over steps for quality control.

I wish there was an easy one-and-done way to get the best quality—but there are so many factors in play that it’s going to take some trial and error on your part.

So first, when printing you have to print on a laser printer, no other printers will work. The foil adheres best with solid black projects—if you have colors, convert them to black or don’t laminate them. This also means no gradients or opaqueness. And it’s best to use vector based images—texts are vector based, and programs like Adobe Illustrator create vector based art.

The smoother the paper, the better your results. And as long as you can print it in your printer you will be able to foil it.

For choosing a laminator, it should have temperature controls for 10 mil, but preferable one that you can set the actual temperature manually to 300 degrees fahrenheit or higher. Slow down your laminator, too. And make sure the throat of your laminator is large enough to fit your projects!

When you choose not to foil part of your project, cover it with paper to avoid ink transferring onto your carrier and ruining future projects. And we’ve found that for some reason, some foils just adhere better than others.

Not every printer toner provides the best results. Some toners adhere better than others, and printers with a high dots per inch(DPI) will provide smoother edges and nicer results.

For serious professional foiling, check out foil fusers and foil stamping machines—these are expensive, commercial usage machines. Follow this information and you should be able to achieve some great looking foil laminated projects!