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two way mirror
My customer wants to be able to see out of his office, but no one to see in, I’m sure I’ve seen a vinyl that will do this somewhere but can’t locate it.
Any help welcome.Cheers Gordon
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13 Replies
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Pretty sure it’s contravision that you are looking for. Most suppliers offer it.
Cheers
Gary
😳 Just read the title mate 😳 Contravision is printable vinyl. Not sure but you probably looking for more of a window tint vinyl.
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Hi
Hexis do a pretty good range of window tint vinyls, one of which should be what you are looking for. Won’t quite be a mirror finish but is very reflective from outside.
John
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Just remember the one-way mirror relies on it being darker on one side than the other.
It is ALWAYS a mirror from the brighter side and see though on the darker side.
If he turns his office lights on and it’s brighter than the room he wants to look in to…he’s met with a mirror…and the staff get a good look in.
Dave
ps. You could try (perforated vinyl) contra-vision as an alternative.
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quote David Rogers:Just remember the one-way mirror relies on it being darker on one side than the other.It is ALWAYS a mirror from the brighter side and see though on the darker side.
If he turns his office lights on and it’s brighter than the room he wants to look in to…he’s met with a mirror…and the staff get a good look in.
Dave
ps. You could try (perforated vinyl) contra-vision as an alternative.
This is correct, its all down to the balance of light, my personal preference is a film called Optitune, by Hanita a dual reflective giving less internal reflectance than the usual r-silver 20 most go for. The Optitune 15 is really good for this but bear in mind it all depends what type of glass its to be installed on, single pain, double galzed, laminated, toughened etc etc.
The perforated vinyl may be a better option for you, all depends what the customer wants/thinks.
Bob
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Thank you all
Cheers Gordon -
OK I have a customer now who wants the same thing. He has already had mirror tint applied, but his office looks out onto a factory floor and as he has the lights on in his office all the time it has made no difference!
I was wondering if you have done this job Gordon and how you chose to do it in the end? I have already suggested contravision, but can’t really say how well it will work as I have only applied it to outside windows or cars before where it will be brighter outside. I have suggested he may have to use spotlights to light the face of the contravision for it to work effectively.
Any thoughts?
Thanks
John
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Stock films now do a film that they claim gets round this problem – stockfilms.co.uk
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There is a way of producing see-through graphics that may solve this sort of problem, using translucent white perforated window film, in place of the typical white on black perforated window film.
One-way (white on black) see-through graphics have a white layer under the design, to maximise the visual impact of the graphics when seen from the outside, and a black layer facing the inside to maximise the see-through properties. However, during the hours of darkness, or if for other reasons there is more light on the inside than on the outside, one-way see-through graphics can suffer from ‘burn-through’ where the lights inside a building, room or vehicle can reduce or virtually eliminate the impact of the graphics and destroy any privacy, if there is no or inadequate external illumination.
Backlit see-through graphics (typically produced from translucent white perforated window film) are ideal for use on the windows of convenience stores and other retail outlets which operate during the hours of darkness, and other circumstances where there is more light on the inside than on the outside. Backlit see-through graphics also allow daylight in and a view out. In addition, the internal lighting is used to ‘back-light’ the graphics during the hours of darkness. This increases the advertising impact without increasing the energy consumption of the store. Optionally, ceiling mounted spotlights directed onto such advertisements really make them “pop”. Backlit see-through graphics have only a translucent white layer under the design. A ghost reverse image of the print can be seen from the inside, although the mind will concentrate on the outside view and not the ghost image.
Bright, colourful designs increase the visual impact and make a bit difference to the level of privacy.
This isn’t a solution for all circumstances, as it depends on the light levels, where the lights are – and the level of privacy that is required, but I hope it helps.
Last point – Contra Vision is a trademark and not a generic term to describe see-through window graphics, or perforated window film…..
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quote Gavin MacMillan:Stock films now do a film that they claim gets round this problem – stockfilms.co.ukNot sure what Stock films claim as their website is under renewal but as far as I know , and all other window tinters know, you can not see through any sort of film from the lighter side to the darker side, its just not physically possible and we have to explain this to customers on a daily basis.
Stock Films would be making a big thing about this if they had really solved this. If it was possible we would all know about it and would be very rich installing it.
Just think about it. You cant even see out of a plain glass window to the outside at night if you have the lights on inside so putting anything on the glass that restricts light will make this even worse.
As Bob has said Hanita Opitune is one of the best films for one way viewing as it has one reflective side and one darker less reflective side which helps a bit between two rooms of similar light levels but really one room has to have dimmed lights.
Just look at any Police TV programme where they look through one way mirrors into an interview room. The interview room is always brighter than the watching room. -
They did a mail shot, I’ve not seen the film or have any experience with it but that’s what they are claiming.
[/quote]You cant even see out of a plain glass window to the outside at night if you have the lights on inside so putting anything on the glass that restricts light will make this even worse.
[quote]I don’t think any film would get around this but I think what stock films were saying is that there film wont flip and give the reverse of what you want? Like I say I’ve not used it (or plan to) but maybe phone and find out?
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I spoke to Stock Films and they said that they have no such film. As Stuart has said it’s not possible. The only solution I could come up with was to use strips of mirror chrome backed onto black so at least the chrome ‘mirror’ reflection would be confusing enough to break up the view into the private room. This is something I have seen done many times and I was wondering if there is a product designed specifically for this purpose? (ie black backed mirror chrome)?
Thanks
John
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Thanks for all the info, customer is now having second thoughts anyway(price related)
Cheers Gordon
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