Ok, so I'm getting pretty good results with adhesive backed sticker paper and *I believe* Avery full page laminating sheets?

The problem I'm having is the formation of "micro bubbles" that look like a kind of grain on the label. Has anyone else experienced this?

Here's an example:


If you look at the lower left of the label, where the white glare is (had to use flash, sorry) then look up, you'll see a bunch of little "sparkles" in the reflection of the label, thats what I'm talking about...

Would a thermal lamination machine fix this? I'm trying to find some kind of copy shop in my area that has one, but its a bit hard as they are basically designed to use 2 rolls of material to sandwich the paper, which obviously wouldn't work for adhesive backed photo paper...

Any relevant advice on the matter would be greatly appreciated.

Use shurtape. Specifically the HP series 72 mm wide with 30 or less microns of thickness

EDIT: Not easy to handle but after some trial and error it will give you awesome results.
I used 40-45 microns adhesive vinyl when I started making labels, but the air bubbles broke the charm.

Thank you for the advice, I had in the past stayed away from the "oversized packing tape" method, as I need to do sheets at a time with my silhouette electronic die cutter, but given your praise - I'm certainly willing to try!

I had found this model in the HP series, http://www.findtape.com/product130/Shurtape-HP-200-Mid-Grade...

It's Shurtape brand HP 200, with a 30 micron BOPP film, and 1.9 millimeter total thickness. I *think* this falls in line with what you were describing. If its not too much trouble, would you mind on elaborating exactly what models you've worked with in the past?

As I have to special order it, I'll probably end up getting a couple rolls of different types so I can experiment with it, but if I could learn from your previous trial and error, it would not only greatly speed up the process, but probably save me some money on some that may be hit or miss...

Best Wishes,
Cam

Pretty sure I'm using a HP 100 roll. I bought it almost a year ago and it still has meters and meters of lenght to offer
I wish I could help you experimenting with another model but I have no access locally.

Ok, thats actually very helpful. I had mainly looked at the HP 200 because it said "Production Grade Packaging Tape" versus of the 100's designation of "General-Purpose Gade Packaging Tape" of course, I'm obviously not going to use it for packaging, so I guess I was wrong to go by the description lines...

I also found this other model that looks really interesting... It's listed as: "Shurtape PP-803 Ultra Clear to the Core Packaging Tape" Info here: http://www.findtape.com/product536/Shurtape-PP-803-Ultra-Cle...

It's thicker at 2.2 millimeter total thickness, but is crystal clear, and actually says "it is used for label protection" as one of the uses...

Being that a normal size roll of these tapes are $3-4 (plus shipping of course) I figure I'll probably make a combined order for:
A roll of HP 100
A roll of HP 200
A roll of PP-803 Ultra Clear

and use that as the basis for my trial and error.

One final question, and I know this may be a little weird talking about tape this much...

Pretty much all of the shurtape descriptions mention them supporting both "hot" and "cold" application... Have you tried heating a piece up when applying it? Would that do anything different? Think I should try it in my testing?

Best Wishes,
Cam

I've never had the need of heating, the tape just applies very good at room temperature.
That PP-803 Ultra Clear model looks like a great product, I'll try to get myself one roll soon.
GL with the endeavour. 

Vlad: I got that order of tape(s) in... Tried a run with the PP-803. Figured I'd share my experience.

The result is *um* a kind of a mixed review...
Basically, for someone like you, who is shall we say "an experienced tape wrangler" it's probably right up your alley. The PP-803 works as advertised, specifically a very thin and shiny material that offers amazing "clear to the roll" clarity.

That being said, it is freakishly hard to work with. As-in if you don't immediately lay it correctly in one shot, you're screwed.

Personally, I'm going to have to go get some more sticker paper and get some more trial and error in, but I believe the potential is there, if a little wasteful for the beginner.

While the outcome is certainly based on the skill of the person using it, I don't see any obvious problems that would be a definite deal breaker.

There's a catch when applying the tape, I'll try to take some pictures tomorrow via PM to show you my technique (it works very good!). At least I'll try to describe my method