Window Perf

Advertising space you already own

Window perf is a perforated vinyl film printed in full colour. From outside it reads as a solid graphic; from inside, the tiny holes let you see out almost normally. It turns storefront glass and vehicle rear windows into advertising space while adding daytime privacy and cutting glare and heat — which is why it is the one window material that costs you nothing in usable space.

How it works

The film is a regular pattern of small holes, typically around 50 percent open. Printed side outward, your eye reads the ink and fills in the gaps, so the graphic looks continuous. Looking the other way, from the darker interior toward daylight, your eye reads through the holes instead and the print goes nearly transparent. The effect depends on that brightness difference, which has two consequences worth knowing before you order.

The two things people are surprised by

First: at night the effect reverses. With the interior lit and the street dark, the view through from inside stays fine but the graphic outside goes dim and the window reads as grey mesh. Perf is a daytime medium. Second: the view out is slightly softened — it is perfectly usable, but it is not clear glass, and a customer sitting directly at that window will notice it. Neither is a fault; both are how the material works, and we would rather say so now than after it is on.

Where it works

Storefront windows and glass doors, office partitions, the rear windows of vans, trucks and cars, bus and shuttle windows, and empty retail units being marketed. It is also the standard answer when a whole pane needs covering but the room behind still needs daylight — which is where it beats cut vinyl and printed film.

Things to know before ordering

Perf goes on the outside of the glass and is laminated for weather. It should not go on a window that must open unless it is trimmed for the frame, and a rear window with a wiper needs the laminate specifically — a wiper running on unlaminated perf will destroy it in weeks. On a vehicle, avoid the defroster-line area if the glass has a heated grid and you want it working well. Tell us the window, the vehicle and whether there is a wiper, and we will specify the right film.

Cleaning and lifespan

Clean gently with a soft cloth and glass cleaner, wiping across the film rather than into its edges, and keep pressure washers off it entirely — water forced into the holes lifts the adhesive. Expect a few years outdoors before the print starts to fade; sheltered storefront glass does considerably better than a rear window that faces the sun all day.

Getting a quote

Email info@signs613.com with the window measurements, a photo, and your artwork, or use the request form. There is finished perf work in the gallery, and we install across the Belleville, Kingston and Napanee area.