Quite often people will ring up specifying that they are in need of privacy window film. It's a tricky one because I will immediately recommend frosted film, but that's often not what clients are after. One of the most common requests is for one way vision privacy film.
The client want to be able to see out, but nobody to see in. Can it be done? Well, it can but its conditional and relies on basic physics.
There are dual reflective films that work exactly like in the movies. The one way mirror effect used in the interrogation rooms for instance.
Its important to note that if a movie is scientifically accurate then the room behind the mirror will be in almost complete darkness.
that's because this effect only works if the light density is greater on the opposite side of those wanting to be hidden. By increasing the reflectance on the glass's surface (with a reflective film) and lowering the light density behind the glass, you will only see what is being reflected back at you, but if the light density behind the glass is too great you will see whatever is illuminated behind the glass (thus ruining the desired effect). That's why we make it extremely clear that reflective films only give you privacy during daylight hours.
Natural daylight is more often than not always brighter than artificial light (bulbs). so even with lights on inside on a gloomy day you still get 100% privacy. That being said some fluorescent tubes used in offices can be surprisingly bright and can sway the balance on a dark morning/evening.
Many different window films will give you extra privacy as a result of installing them, but that isn't always their primary function. to create the privacy conditions just mentioned you would need a very strong dual reflective window film. This films primary function is to be a super effective heat and glare reduction film, privacy is a secondary benefit.
frost is obviously a great choice for privacy because it disrupts the line of sight both ways and perfectly mimics acid etch glass look. A lot of frosted films are primarily designed for signage purposes. i.e. to be cut into logos and lettering and used as various manifestations. That's why their backing sheets are often thick wax coated paper, this is so that they can be fed into cutting machines and signage can be manufactured easier.
Window frosting is a great choice for windows overlook the neighbours. It keeps certifiers happy and you never have to make eye contact with your neighbour between the bathroom and the bedroom. Quite often glass frosting films are used if the view from the window is unsightly. I recently used some frosted film in an office that was facing a graffiti filled alleyway full of rubbish. I cant believe they hadn't considered it sooner. It made a world of difference.
Another popular choice for privacy film is reeded glass film, it looks exactly like reeded glass, its easier to clean and it doesn't cut down the natural light. see my other blog on reeded glass film for more information and pictures.
There is one other type of glass film that is widely regarded as one way privacy film, and that's the stuff you see on bus windows usually covered with advertising. The inside is dark in colour and the outside is usually printed onto. The entire surface is made up of tiny 1mm-2mm holes. When sitting inside the bus its easy to see through the film, but everyone on the street only really sees the advertising. Understandably Its not a great choice residential jobs requiring privacy film due to its aesthetic.
So These are a few ways you can use window tinting to gain privacy. I hope I've managed to shed some light on the limitations of using reflective film and the benefits of using frosted films and reeded films. If you need any info just give us a call.
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