How does contra vision work?

How it Works

Contra Vision® products transform glass with one-way vision graphics which cannot be seen from the other side. The graphics are used for advertising, branding or to achieve decorative effects. They also provide privacy and solar control benefits to people inside buildings and vehicles without blocking their view outside.

The Contra Vision effect is most commonly achieved by applying a self adhesive window film to the glass. The film contains areas of printed graphic (a print pattern) as well as unprinted see-through areas covering up to 50% of the film. When looking at the side with graphics, the eye is drawn to the printed colors because they reflect more light than passes through the see-through areas (provided the lighting on the outside is brighter than the inside).

The secret behind the one-way vision effect is ensuring the printed graphics are obscured or hidden from the other side of the glass. This is best achieved by having a black “backing” which covers exactly all the printed areas on the film without blocking the see-through (unprinted) areas. When looking through the reverse side of the film, the view coming through the film is dominant because the black layer absorbs light and is less apparent to the eye.

Introduction

Conventional one-way vision window graphics are produced using an adhesive perforated window film which is white on one side and black on the other. Graphics (an image) are printed on the white side and the one-way window film is then applied to glass, often with a transparent overlaminate covering to protect the holes from getting blocked with rainwater and dirt (in situations where this is a problem).

One-way vision graphics can also be produced by printing layers of black, white and the image onto a transparent substrate in a print pattern, leaving areas of see-through around the printed areas. The print pattern can replicate the common perforated pattern but lines, dots and hexagons are also possible depending on the accuracy of the printing technology.