Design, installation, printing, long-term durability. While all of these are factors in how a commercial window graphic is received, its success might rest on the window film material that’s used. Material selection shouldn’t just be looking around and grabbing what’s in stock. And what you’ve used before isn’t always the best option. Instead, picking window film material should be a careful and selective process that takes into account:
Taking the time to understand all of the parameters of a window graphic project, early in the process, can help you select a film material that will provide the base for a successful project outcome.
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If you have a commercial space you may want to use window films for safety, security, sun and UV protection, architectural purposes, or visual design. With the right digital window graphic material you can manage all of that and more.
Not everything “vinyl” is vinyl
There are certain products where a singular name has become shorthand for an entire industry. Xerox is shorthand for copying something; you don’t ask for a tissue, you ask for a Kleenex; any freezer treat is a Popsicle and when discussing window graphics the question comes up around what type of vinyl you’re printing on.
Just like those examples, vinyl has become a catchall term used to discuss all window film material. In actuality window graphics can be constructed off of a number of different base film materials with polyester and vinyl being the most popular.
Each has its own distinctive attributes and benefits.
Both window graphic materials provide a strong degree of durability to their designs. While they can be used in the same project, each has very different application strengths.
|
Optical Clarity |
Long-term Appearance |
Finish Consistency |
|
Installation Benefits |
|
|
Vinyl (PVC) |
Mid-range |
High durability |
Glossy (A matte overlaminate can be added) |
Use with wide-format, large scale, and commercial inkjet printers |
Can be wet applied with a floating technique. |
|
Polyester (PET) |
Strong with minimal distortion, 100% optically clear |
Resists fading and scratches |
Resistant to discoloration |
Use with UV inkjet and eco-colvent inks |
Resistant to cracking in the cold and shrinking in the heat. |
There is still a third option that is particularly popular with environmentally conscious companies and those looking to obtain LEED Certification. That is LINTEC’s ECO or Recycled PET film. In addition to its environmental benefits it provides high design clarity, smooth finishes, a scratch-resistent coating, and meets standard optical clarity requirements.
What about architectural vinyl?
This is not the name of an actual window graphics material. It’s another generalized term that is used to discuss any film material that is used as an architectural element.
Printed window film graphics can be used for branding, wayfinding, design aesthetics, messaging, style, and more. Each of those uses may require a different technique from the printer. A key to the success of the printing process is understanding the relationship between the properties of the window film material and the printer and ink that will be used.
Creating digital window graphics generally involves the use of commercial printers whose output consists of one of three inks:
Latex is an ideal process for graphics with high print transparency and broad application compatibility. Its ability to handle heavy color saturation results in bright, vibrant colors across a large format design. LINTEC E-3000ZC films are fully compatible with HP latex printers for high-quality/cutting edge graphics.
The benefits of latex printing go beyond what you see in the final product. There are design, process, longevity, and environmental benefits as well.
Perfect for printing at high production speeds. UV-curable inks are commonly used with flatbed and roll-to-roll printing processes. The finished pieces have high scratch, solvent, and elemental resistance.
This printing process provides better flexibility and lower odor than full-solvent products.
Note: It will also be important to work closely with your printer in order to understand the suggested curing time of each ink/material combination. This will help with your project installation plan timeline.
At the start of the printing process, the printer will often print out a color profile that will allow the graphic designer and other project stakeholders to see what the design will look like when printed on the selected material. This is an opportunity for any final adjustment to be made. A change may be needed because of the way that one of the properties of the film material interacted with the ink during the printing process.
The need for adjustments could be the result of:
This is why it is important to involve your printer early in the project discussion. They can help match the needs of the design to the printing process that will produce the strongest output based on the selected materials.
There is a difference between window graphics that are clear and ones that have optical clarity. “Clear” usually refers to the actual graphics - their look, readability, and messaging and if they can be seen and understood once they have been printed and installed. Optical clarity on the other hand refers to the technical makeup of the film material.
There are four factors that define optical clarity in window graphics material.
|
Category |
What It Is |
Goal |
|
Total Transmission (%T) |
The amount of light that can pass through material. |
> 90% |
|
Haze (%) |
The way that light is scattered through material. |
Lower numbers = Sharper graphics |
|
Clarity (%) |
How focused an object appears when looking at it through window film. |
> 95% |
|
Gloss (60°) |
A surface’s reflectivity |
75-95 GU |
The optical clarity of window film material is an important thing to consider because it affects how clear people perceive the final design. Polyester typically has a near 100% optical clarity rating while vinyl film is about half that. That’s not necessarily a negative thing though as some spaces may call for more subtle optical clarity, such as glass spaces that are being transformed for privacy concerns.
A graphic designer should understand a material's optical clarity properties so that they can build their design around them.
Window graphics have to withstand a number of environmental punishments both natural and man-made. And while there isn’t a singular exposure-focused film material, there are strong bases and specialized substrates that can be combined to preserve the integrity of the material.
To decide which ones to use you have to consider a number of different factors including:
Will the graphics be on an exterior surface and exposed to the elements?
Rain, snow, and the sun can all shorten the visual impact and lifespan of a commercial window graphic. The wind can also have an effect as it pushes dirt and debris at the graphic facade. Film material like vinyl offers durability against the elements and you can get additional protections with the addition of overlaminates.
Is there the potential for human interaction?
This could be a child running their hand along a hall-length display or office workers pushing against a graphic every time they open and close a window. Overlaminates can help here as well by offering an extra layer of protection to the design and strengthening the base material.
For building managers who are more concerned about purposeful negative human interactions, LINTEC offers overlaminates that are graffiti resistant.
Does a window graphic need to create a level of protection for occupants?
Does your commercial space receive a lot of sunlight/UV rays and are the graphics intended to block those? Many traditional polyester UV-films have UV inhibitors embedded into the base material. While this provides protection, it can do so at the expense of the clarity of the graphic imagery. The ECO-2200ZC film material from LINTEC addresses that issue by adding a UV-blocking agent into the material adhesive. This provides protection while retaining optical clarity.
A secondary option is to go with a clear UV window film which can quickly provide your interior with the protection you need without compromising your sightlines.
Your graphics should look amazing not just when they are first installed but every day after as well. Regular cleanings and care can help keep a window graphic looking its’ best but if there’s not the right match of window film material and cleaning material your graphic may end up shortly looking like an abstract art installation. But that’s assuming that it stays in place long enough to need to be cleaned.
While window graphic films can technically be hung anywhere, some films work better on certain surfaces. Vinyl is receptive to placement on surfaces that have a texture while polyester films are best for flat, smooth surfaces as it does not stretch.
Of course even if that material-to-location match is perfect, if the area isn’t prepared correctly the installation will not be successful long-term. Even window graphics material that has been chosen because it has been specified for a certain placement can suffer from dirty surfaces, glass that is chipped or broken, or foreign objects coming between the surface of the material and the glass.
Installers know that a good liner can make or break printing. A good liner can help not only with the printing process but it can be vital to ink adhesion as well. Many in the industry look to thin liners under a “less is more” approach, but LINTEC has developed a 2 mil and a 4 mil thickness liner which improves the overall stability of the material.
The debate will continue around what’s the most important step you need to take to achieve a successful digital window graphic outcome. But there can be no argument around the importance of giving the project a solid foundation by starting it with the right window film material.
The factors that go into that decision for your commercial building window graphic installation can be complicated by the fact that a single location may need multiple types of film material based on the installation areas.
Ultimately, you’ll need to select a film material for your design based on:
Taking the time to understand each of these unique factors can help you to select a window film material that will give your project durability and design brilliance.
Choosing the right window film material for your next digital window graphic project doesn’t have to be complicated. Get in touch with LINTEC of America to see some window film material samples today.