Window Perf-ection

MAY 16, 2016| SpeedPro East Bay

Have you ever sat on a bus that has graphics all over it, and from the outside looking in you can’t see a thing, but on the inside looking out you can see as if almost looking through a regular window?  Well, that’s the magic of a window perforation!

A “window perf” as it is often called is just a perforation.  The material consists of a bunch of small holes throughout the entirety that from a distance are nearly impossible to notice. The idea of this is to print and apply this material to the outside of a window so from the outside you see a printed image but from the inside, you can see out – it looks like tinted glass. The back/adhesive side of the vinyl is black so it essentially creates a tint that blocks harmful UV rays and even keeps the inside of a space cooler as it blocks out heat as well.  Pretty much the same way tinted windows work where you can see out but can’t see in.

Window perforations are a really popular material used for car wraps.  In order to do a full wrap with graphics all around your car, the windows have to use this perforated material.  Our friend at Sun’s Free Solar used a window perf for his truck back window as you can see on the picture to the right.  These are also increasing for storefronts as well as any commercial space with lots of window space.  It’s great for locations where a lot of light is beaming in and you want to block it out as well as advertising at the same time!

Finally, a little lesson on window perforation.  For vehicles, the window perforation has to have a 50/50 pattern which allows for visibility.  For storefronts, the pattern can be 60/40 or 70/30 which provides a brighter image.  These numbers represent two things: the first represents the % of the solid area and the second represents the % of holes.

Now that you know a little bit more about window perforations you may consider one for your next print job.  Call us at our Alameda location today!