Maybe your meeting room faces a busy corridor. Maybe your clinic sits on a high street, or your shop window lets the afternoon sun bake the stock. Wanting a bit of privacy is perfectly normal, and the good news is you do not have to choose between privacy and daylight.
The trick is picking the right film for how the glass is used, and when.
Key takeaways
- Window frosting blurs the view both ways and lets soft daylight through, day and night.
- One way vision (often called two way vision) shows a full colour graphic outside while you can still see out.
- One way vision depends on light: it works best when it is brighter outside than inside.
- Frosting suits offices, meeting rooms and clinics. One way vision suits shopfronts that want branding and a view out.
- Both can be removed when it is time for a change.
What is window frosting?
Window frosting is a film that gives clear glass an etched or sandblasted look. Light still comes through, but shapes behind the glass turn into a soft blur. It works the same from both sides, so it gives privacy in the day and at night.
Frosting does not have to be a plain sheet. We cut privacy bands, decorative patterns and logos from frosted film on our Zund, so every line is crisp. Leaving clear gaps in the design lets you choose exactly how much people can see.
Real jobs: full height frosted windows with a black monogram for the Glamdeva pop up in London, and full privacy frosting on shower room doors at The Padel Vault.
Pro tip For meeting rooms, a frosted band at seated and standing eye level gives privacy while keeping the top and bottom of the glass clear, so the space still feels open.
What is one way vision?
One way vision, also sold as two way vision, is a perforated window vinyl. It is covered in tiny holes. The outside face carries your printed graphic, so from the street people see a full colour design. From inside, your eyes look through the holes, so you can still see out.
The catch is light. One way vision relies on the outside being brighter than the inside. During the day that is usually the case. At night, with the lights on indoors, the effect can flip, and people outside may be able to see in more easily.
Pro tip Keep important text and logos large on one way vision. The holes take away part of the image, so very fine detail can look softer up close than a solid print.
Window frosting vs one way vision at a glance
| Window frosting | One way vision | |
|---|---|---|
| Privacy in daylight | Blurs the view both ways | Hard to see in, easy to see out |
| Privacy at night | Still blurs the view | Weaker when the room is lit and outside is dark |
| Daylight | Lets daylight through with a soft, diffused glow | Lets light through the holes, but darkens the room a little |
| Branding | Cut logos, bands and patterns in an etched glass look | Full colour graphics and photos |
| View out | Blurred | Clear enough to see the street |
| Best for | Offices, meeting rooms, clinics, bathrooms | Shopfronts, showrooms, vehicle and street facing windows |
Which should you choose?
Choose window frosting when
- you need privacy all day and all evening
- the glass is inside, like meeting rooms, partitions and office doors
- you want a calm, premium etched glass look
- you want daylight to fill the room
- it is a clinic, salon or bathroom
Choose one way vision when
- you want the window to work as an advert
- staff need to see out to the street
- the glass faces outwards and gets plenty of daylight
- you want full colour photos and branding
- you want to cut glare from strong sun
You can also mix them. A shop might use one way vision on the big street window and frosting on the office door at the back. Frosted film can also sit alongside printed window vinyl and cut lettering for opening hours and logos.
Real job: crest manifestations on the glass at Benjart's West London design room.
What about glass doors and partitions?
Large panes of clear glass in busy spaces can be easy to walk into. Building Regulations guidance in England (Approved Document K) expects that kind of glazing to be made visible, which is often done with manifestation: a band, logo or pattern at eye level. Frosted film is a neat way to do it while adding a bit of branding. Check the exact requirements for your building with your landlord, building manager or fit out team.
We make manifestation strips for glass doors and partitions, cut on our Zund and fitted by our own installers.
What do you need to send for a quote?
- the width and height of each pane
- a photo of the windows, inside and out
- your artwork, logo or idea
- which side of the glass you want the film on, if you know
Need artwork? Our in house design team can help. If you are supplying it yourself, logos should be vector files so cut lines stay sharp. Our guide to vector files explains why.
Get the privacy you need, without losing the light
Whether it is a frosted office partition or a shopfront that works as an advert, we print, cut and install window graphics in London from our studio in Uxbridge. We print on our Liyu, cut on our Zund and our own team fits every job, early or after hours if you need it. See our window frosting options or ask us which film suits your glass.
