Soft Shrink

Soft-shrink technique uses 80–120 °C heat applied at slow pass speeds, letting the polymer relax gradually. It produces less stress in the film but takes longer per panel.

Some premium films and certain substrate chemistries benefit from soft shrinking — particularly multi-layer optical films where mechanical stress can affect the layer stack.

The choice between soft and hard shrink is set by the manufacturer's installation guide. Quality workshops follow it; budget workshops often shortcut to whichever technique is fastest, sometimes damaging the film.