What about laminating?

[pays_my_bills]

Has anyone ever put their ACEOs through a laminator, or heard of doing this? I'm wondering if it would be acceptable or not. I think it would be good for preserving and protecting the artwork, but being new to this world of ACEOs, I thought I would get some feedback about this first. Debbie

[artistjillian]

Most collectors are anti-lamination. First of all, usually it makes the size larger than 2.5x3.5" as the card needs to be completely enclosed. Traditionally an ATC/ACEO needs to fit inside a 2.5x3.5" 'sleeve' or collector's album page/sleeve. Some fraudulent 'artists' will laminate to cover up the fact that their work is a print or embellished print, rather than original work, so many are very wary of buying anything that is laminated. Myth: That you need to laminate as ACEOs are handled a lot. Truth: I handle my ACEOs far less than other art - ACEOs go straight into albums while other art is put in drawers and so forth, waiting until I can frame or find a place to display. One thing you can do, if you are interested in laminating, is to offer the purchaser the choice of lamination or not. You can search the discussions (see top of discussions) on lamination as this has been discussed before, so you can see what was said. ~Jillian

[pays_my_bills]

Thank you Jillian. I hadn't even thought of the possibility that someone may think a laminated art card would be a fraudulent piece of art, but that makes total sense. I think I'll steer clear from this process, and reserve lamination for my own purposes. Debbie

[robsfweak]

Greetings! I purchased an ACEO once that was laminated and I love it! It is a print (I knew this when I made the purchase, as it was clearly stated as such). So, I am quite happy with lamination...in this case. I like the shiny plastic surface. On the flip side: Because I liked the laminated look, I created an ACEO for a swap, and although it was completely hand drawn and painted, I decided to laminate it because I thought that it would look cool, and, to me, it did! But, I don't think that the person with whom I swapped with liked it all that well, possibly because of the lamination, though I don't know for sure. Anyway, later, I read that lamination is not favored, for the reasons stated by Jillian, so, I guess that I won't do it again! But, I still think that it looks cool, and wouldn't consider lamination as a way of hiding something fraudulent, but I can now see where others might. It's a learning process! I'm glad that you asked this question! Penny 🙂

[mreas]

Generally it's considered bad form to do anything irreversible to the artwork in the process of preserving or presenting it, even if it's a print. I once went to the home of a woman who had purchased a Vasarely print, mounted it on plywood and decoupaged it. She asked me what I thought. Being the jerk I am I told her she rendered it worthless. She liked it that way. And if you like your art laminated go ahead and do it or buy it that way. As long as it's stated up front, and you don't care what the experts think. mick