Let’s talk shop: Window graphics

When we started our business nearly three decades ago, if someone asked for window graphics, the choice was cut vinyl lettering. Maybe layers of vinyl if we were really jazzing it up. I remember doing a lot of bullet lists of services and stripes of vinyl across multiple windows.

Now, when we get requests for window graphics, whether on storefront windows or vehicles, there are so many more options. Now we’re asking if they need to see out of the windows, if they’re wanting to block out the light completely, or if they want solid film, do they still want light to come through?

Cut vinyl lettering is still, of course, an option. And, we still do the occasional bullet list of services, or stripes of graphics, but now we have full-color printed graphics as a choice, as well as the different adhesives and visibility options.

Narrow choices

With so many options now available, I find we ask a lot of questions to narrow down what the customer is really needing. Like I mentioned, it’s a matter of asking what they need from their window graphics.

• Do you want full coverage?
• If so, do you want to still see out from the inside?
• Do you want to block the light completely, or do you still want light to come in?
• Are you looking for partial coverage? This could be a partial wrap that’s decorative across the windows or contour-cut vinyl.

When cut vinyl lettering is what the customer is looking for, then often it’s informational text on the door(s) and a list of services on additional windows. But there are additional choices here as well, like full-color or solid color cut vinyl lettering.

Old school window graphics

Before we get into all the printed options, I will say that sometimes keeping it old school is still the way to achieve effective window graphics. If the company needs informational text, that’s easy to read, especially if they’re on a budget, then cut vinyl is a great option.

That said, when combined with contour cutting, there are printed options that still give an old-school look. The window lettering we did at multiple locations for a local pizzeria is printed on a specialty gold leaf-look film.

Since we’re able to print the black outline of the graphics directly to the gold vinyl, it eliminates a second layer of vinyl and keeps the cost down. Together, they achieve the look of cut, layered vinyl that matches the customer’s brand.

Since we’ve had such an issue getting SignGold 24KT vinyl over the last few years, we started looking for other options. We came across Encore Gold Leaf from MPC Supply as a great solution. The cost is much less expensive than true gold leaf, something that often matters more to the customer than having real gold leaf.

Perforated vinyl

Many of our large storefront window graphics are full coverage with perforated view-through vinyl. We always laminate our graphics, including perforated graphics, to help with abrasion and UV protection. On perforated vinyl, lamination keeps the small holes from filling with dirt and water, making the graphics look rather dingy.

Most of our vehicle graphics consist of perforated vinyl as well. Many of our customers want to see out the back and/or side windows for safety when driving.

We always explain to our customer that the visibility with perforated vinyl works opposite at night. When it’s dark outside and light inside, then the visibility happens in reverse.

This isn’t usually a concern with vehicles because we don’t drive with our interior lights on, but on building graphics, this should be a consideration. For example, if it’s a gym with people working out after it’s dark outside, they may not want to feel like they’re in a fishbowl being watched from the outside.

In instances like this, we might recommend a combination of graphics. Perhaps perforated graphics by the front desk area or up higher, where people aren’t working out right next to the window, and then a solid vinyl across the lower section.

Solid vinyl

As I mentioned above, some of our storefront windows include solid graphics for privacy, but often they still want light to come through. In this case, there are a few vinyl options that pertain to longevity, adhesive, and light flow.

We’ve wrapped the windows of a local Skechers store a couple of times as their designs have changed. This project involved another company hiring us to survey the site, measure all the windows, and send them the information. They then sent us the completed graphics for installation.

They sent us vinyl that is designed for flat surfaces like windows and costs less than wrap media. The graphics allowed some amount of light to come through, which prevents the interior from being too dark, but they block visibility to the parking lot from inside the store.

When the graphics are on a vehicle and they need to blend with the rest of the wrap, we print to the same premium wrap media and extend it over the window. The white point of different media affects the color of the print, so it’s important to use the same media across the wrap.

The graphics provide solid coverage while still allowing light to come through and the graphics to be visible on both sides. For our contractors with equipment stored in the vehicle, the solid vinyl also helps with security. If someone can’t peer in the windows and see what’s inside, they may be less likely to break in.

Another common option for window graphics is full-color printed graphics that are also contour-cut to shape. They are not see-through like perforated vinyl, but since the graphics don’t cover the entire window, there is plenty of visibility and light around them. For the windows of a children’s dentistry office, we did a band of graphics on the outside with printed and contour-cut cartoon images aligned on the outside and inside.

Temporary

We recently wrapped the front windows of a health club that is opening soon. While the interior space is under construction, they wanted to cover the windows with solid vinyl, while still advertising that they’ll be opening.

Since the graphics will be up for short-term, we chose a transit media with a temporary adhesive. It’s the same media we use for our temporary bus graphics. It prints fantastic and peels off easily.

Decorative

Another type of wrap media we use for interior and exterior windows is more decorative than for advertising. There are a lot of finish options with decorative window films, but one we use often is a frosted film.

It’s a wet-application film that provides privacy and blocks visibility, while still allowing filtered light through. At a local college, there is a row of windows. On one side are offices, while on the other side are benches and tables for students gather to study. The school needed to block visibility, but wanted the windows to be subtle and still allow light into the office spaces. The frosted look was a perfect solution.

The film can also be contour-cut for an even more decorative look. The cut areas offer clear visibility, while the rest of the film has a solid frosted look. This was a good option on the large glass windows of the wash tunnel at a local car wash. We cut the decorative stars from their logo, along with some decorative stripes, out of the graphics to create a bit more interest.