Can egg tempera be laminated?

[monti]

Can egg tempera be laminated (with plastic)?

Before anyone judges, please read on:
I am training to become a Montessori teacher and must hand color and submit 100 large charts that will be laminated (to ensure longevity in the classroom). The obvious choices are watercolor or colored pencil. However, I would prefer to use egg tempera. My undergraduate studies were in painting and I have my reasons for this preference.

I know it seems a sin to even think about coating paint with melted plastic, but I have no choice in this matter.

I plan on painting thinly. The charts are a rigid sort of museum board.

Any knowledge would be greatly appreciated.

[Alessandra Kelley]

Jeepers. I wouldn't laminate a painting, but I think on the scale of school charts it would probably be fine. Certainly egg tempera will look better than watercolor and colored pencil.

[Dennis H]

Monti,
It seems prudent do the paintings in tempera, or whatever medium you prefer, then make color photocopies -- or scan the originals and print them on a good color laser or inkjet printer -- then laminate the copies. That way you don't wreck the originals, which you can maintain as masters. How large do your charts have to be?
My wife is a Montessori teacher and trainer. She colored her materials with Prismacolor pencils, I scanned them, and we made color printouts. We have digital files of all her images now, which can be printed out at any time.
Dennis

[monti]

thank you both.
all the charts are approx. 28" x 36". i know this is large for egg tempera. but i don't really plan on building up the surface much. just want to give a nice layer of color. also, we are required to turn in the originals, as well as use them in the classroom. so no scanning and printing allowed!

[Bert Congdon]

Does it have to be with heat? I was an advertising photographer, and at a convemtion I saw a laminating machine demonstrated that used a cold process, rolling a large print through and a contact sheet was rolled on top without a wrinkle. Perfect. Permanent. But I don't know who does it or has such a machine.

I like the idea of a large photo, keeping the original, and making another print when needed. In fact, the photo can be coated with lacquer by any lab that can make the print, and let them mount it on card. In my opinion an advertising/commercial photographer should take the picture.