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Opalux Window Film Blog
Patterned window film is one of our most underrated specialities
We’ve all noticed patterned window films in various settings from time to time, ranging from reception areas and lobbies to internal office partitions and corridors. However, many of us may not have consciously noted just how effective they are at providing a certain amount of privacy in the spaces in which they are installed, while still permitting a high level of natural light through the glass.
This makes such window film the ideal choice when you have an internal space that you would like to give a ‘designer’ look as part of a generally light and open atmosphere. But why might you opt to purchase such film through Opalux?
There are so many types of patterned film to choose from
One of the most obvious reasons to turn to Opalux for patterned window film is the broad choice of patterns that we make available to you, depending on the overall aesthetic to which you aspire for the given space.
We can typically bring you such generic patterns as Squares, Vertical Stripes, Horizontal Stripes, Rice Paper, Parchment, Frost, Opaque Colour, Dots, Circles, Stippolite and Graduated Stripes.
To find out which patterns we can provide you with right now, simply contact us at the specification stage by calling +44 (0)845 026 1125 or emailing solutions@opaluxwindowfilm.com.
Window film that plays a vital role in many different contexts
Whether you are a specifier sourcing window film for the decoration of glazing within a residential, commercial, office or retail building, our patterned window films work on the basis of certain consistent principles.
Choosing Opalux decorative window film means not only a quick installation process, but also the ability to remove, replace or update designs in the future, which can be especially handy when the film is being fitted in spaces that may see multiple changes of use over time.
It’s also worth bearing in mind the health and safety dimension of window film. The visibility of patterned film helps to ensure the users of the building do not accidentally collide with large areas of uninterrupted glazing that may not otherwise be easily discernible.
All in all, our patterned window films here at Opalux don’t just look sophisticated – they are sophisticated, providing just the decorative solution that an otherwise unadorned space might require. You can find out more about the latest products that we have to offer in this category of window film by getting in touch with the Opalux technical team now.
An introduction to our window graphics
Creative surface graphics have long played an instrumental role in commercial premises for such purposes as promoting a business’s corporate identity or meeting health and safety requirements. Sure enough, we offer a wealth of these films to our customers here at Opalux.
What kinds of graphics may you request from us?
As one of the UK’s leading names in architectural and automotive window film, we are pleased to say that we can give you the benefit of any popular type of creative surface graphics.
That may mean turning to us for plotter-cut opal frost graphics that can be applied to glass partitions, retail display windows, glass screens and plate glass windows, to name just some of the surfaces for which they are often specified. Such films can be useful for projecting creative images while fulfilling more practical needs, such as for manifestation and partial privacy screening.
However, an especially high level of creative freedom can be enjoyed when our vinyl and digital print graphics are ordered. These films serve all manner of bespoke applications, materials and processes, taking the form of window graphics and signage, multi-surface digital graphics and vehicle graphics.
We can address your most specific requirements
Given the wealth of film that we offer in the category of window graphics, it is important to be as well-informed as possible when attempting to select the product that best caters to your requirements as an end user or specifier.
That’s why we would always recommend that you contact us at the specification stage, by emailing solutions@opaluxwindowfilms.com or calling +44 (0)845 026 1125, so that we can discuss your requirements and assist you in making the best possible choice of window film.
If you turn to us with an interest in frosted vinyl plotter-cut graphics window film, for example, we will be happy to supply our renowned PV900 film that has a finely textured matt finish, can be applied to new or existing glass and provides two-way privacy without seriously reducing the natural light level.
Alternatively, you may be on the lookout for colour vinyl opaque, translucent or transparent plotter-cut window graphics or digitally printed films for window graphics and wall coverings. If this is the case for you, we can put you in touch with suitably skilled professional providers of such films, tapping into the Opalux Market Place.
Opalux is the ultimate user-friendly brand of architectural and automotive window film, and thanks to the network of Opalux installing dealers based across every region of the United Kingdom and Ireland, you won’t need to look far for the highest standard of cost-effective window graphics.
If you don’t like the highly mirrored look of solar reflective films, don’t worry!
There’s no question that the solar control window film in our stock here at Opalux can be instrumental in reducing how much solar heat and glare passes through your glass, as would potentially compromise the comfort of those using your buildings.
However, it is not just practical, but also aesthetic considerations that will guide you when you are shopping for window films, which is why our low mirror solar control films may appeal.
Not every specifier or end user is a fan of the highly mirrored appearance that is typical of solar reflective films. If you are among them, you may be interested in the more neutral look that our low mirror options can give.
Window film that caters to all of your priorities
You may give serious consideration to our lower-mirrored window films because these are the films that may seem to best suit the architecture of the building or the style to which you aspire. These films are metallised, but also have a suitably muted grey or bronze appearance, whether viewed from the inside or outside.
The reflectance level of these films isn’t as high as some alternatives, but they are still effective at controlling the amount of heat and glare experienced by the given building’s occupants. Both interior and exterior weatherable versions of these films can also be specified.
What are your options in this range of window film?
We give you various low mirror window films to choose from here at Opalux. They include our Lower Mirror Neutral Grey 20, 35 or 50 solar control films, which deliver a balanced year-round performance of good solar heat rejection with higher light transmission and a neutral external appearance.
Much the same can be said of our External Sputtered Grey 20 or 35 film, except that it is applied externally rather than internally. Another external window film in this range that may interest you is External Sputtered Bronze 20 or 35, which – as its name suggests – provides a bronze appearance rather than a grey one. We can also offer the internally applied Lower Mirror Bronze 20 or 35 films.
When you are looking to select the low mirrored window film that best suits the application you have in mind, we would always urge you to first get in touch with our technical department, so that we can give you the benefit of our specialist knowledge and experience.
Furthermore, we can also connect you to an Opalux approved dealer who will be able to further assist you in ensuring you invest in the most suitable window film for your requirements. Simply call 0845 026 1125 now for further information and guidance.
In what circumstances might you be interested in our Low-E energy control film?
Considerable energy savings are possible in an air-conditioned building when one purchases from our extensive selection of energy control window film here at Opalux. However, amid the recent unpredictable wintry conditions, it is our all-seasons Low-E films that have particularly caught the eye of many of our customers.
These window films are internally applied solar control films with a Low-E coating added to the interior facing surface. This results in a film that rejects a high proportion of the sun’s heat and glare while enhancing the comfort levels of users in the building and minimising air conditioning costs.
Meanwhile, the Low-E coating is instrumental in reducing winter heat loss through glazed areas, which helps to keep heating bills down and improve the given building’s carbon footprint.
Our Low-E film is a little different to the alternatives
A locally applied Low-E window film may normally seem sufficient for minimising the cold-chill effect experienced by people sitting next to large windows. However, if winter energy savings are to be attained, most if not all windows in a particular area or building with a thermostatically controlled HVAC system will need to be treated.
That’s why customers of Opalux can choose between two options for Low-E window film: a solar reflective film that provides the utmost solar heat reduction and winter heat saving, or a neutral low-mirror film that helps to lower solar heat and glare alongside winter heat savings.
Whether you opt for our Low-E Reflective Silver 20 or Neutral 50 solar control film, you can look forward to such shared benefits as quick, retro-fit installation, the screening of harmful UV rays and low emissivity. These films deliver up to 99% ultraviolet light (UV) filtering while also assisting in the reduction of cooling costs, and therefore Climate Change Levy liability.
The role that these films can also play in alleviating the discomfort caused by excessive heat and glaring reflections off computer screens can even make them a great investment when you are seeking to achieve compliance with the Workplace (Health, Safety & Welfare) Regulations.
Place your order for a wealth of window film
When you are seeking to purchase window film that perfectly matches your practical requirements, and whether you are a specifier or end-user, we would urge you to first consult the Opalux technical department for tailored and informed advice and guidance.
Call 0845 026 1125 or email solutions@opaluxwindowfilm.com to find out more about the breadth of window film that we can supply in accordance with your most demanding needs.
Light management is a sometimes overlooked benefit of window film
There are two broad types of light management window film of which organisations should be aware, and which are both offered here at Opalux – light diffuser films and light blockout films.
What are the benefits of light diffuser films?
When you wish to achieve the best and most uniform diffusion of light across a window or lightbox, our light diffuser film can be an excellent solution.
While you may consider the likes of privacy, solar control or tinted film to perform a similar role to this, standard film in any of these categories may not diffuse the sun’s rays, daylight or artificial light in quite as measured a way as dedicated light diffuser film.
Indeed, you might even go as far as combining a light diffuser film with a heat or glare control film to diffuse the light even more effectively, while also giving the benefit of glare control. The downside of this arrangement is that it will turn the glazing from transparent into translucent, preventing you from looking through the window.
This should help to make clear just how useful light diffuser films can be as privacy films – indeed, the level of privacy provided can be superior even to standard dedicated privacy film. Such light diffuser films from the Opalux range are white and available in the two densities of 30% or 60% light transmission, with the former being denser than the latter.
To completely block out light, choose our light blockout films
Light blockout films very much live up to their name, with their visible light transmission of less than 1%. If you really do need to prevent the passage of almost any daylight or artificial light through a window or lightbox, there can be no better solution than these completely opaque films.
We offer such films in two varieties here at Opalux: white/black films with adhesive on the black face, and black/white films with adhesive on the white face. They are suitable for installation on both the interior and exterior faces of windows and lightboxes.
These films can be invaluable for such specialised settings as theatres, laboratory rooms and museum display areas where there is a need to prevent any daylight coming through the glazing.
Call us about any of our wide-ranging window film
Whether you are specifically seeking light management films or those of any of a wide range of other categories, it is important to first consult knowledgeable professionals – like those of our technical department here at Opalux – if you are to be sure of making the right choice.
Call the Opalux team now, on +44 (0) 845 026 1125, or email solutions@opaluxwindowfilms.com for a more in-depth discussion of your options as an end-user or specifier.
Solar reflective film is even available from us for polycarbonate windows and rooflights
For conservatories and similar settings that use polycarbonate windows or rooflights instead of glass, a solution may be desired for reducing the amount of solar heat and glare transmitted and exposed to the occupants of the building. Standard reflective window film, however, tends to bubble up if applied to plastic instead of glass.
It is for this reason that you may take much interest in Opalux’s extensive solar reflective films that are specifically designed for polycarbonate windows and rooflights – but what else do you need to know about them?
The perfect solution for providing relief from the sun’s rays
As with so much of the other window film that Opalux manufactures, when one comes to choose between our solar reflective films for polycarbonate windows or rooflights, they will need to consider whether the interior or exterior version is the right choice for them.
Our internal solar reflective film in this range takes the form of a translucent metallised film – bearing the name of the widely recognised Opalux Suncool brand – that is usually applied to conservatory polycarbonate rooflights. Such film can be relied on to provide immediate shading and relief from the direct rays of the sun.
Alternatively, it may be the exterior version of this film that you prefer. It is a metallised silver solar reflective film that provides not only maximum solar heat and glare reduction, but also daytime one-way privacy. This solution is equivalent to the exterior solar reflective window film that you may have seen advertised for glass, except that it incorporates a polycarbonate-friendly adhesive enabling its application to almost any polycarbonate glazing.
You can expect such window film to produce a silver reflective outside appearance during the day, while from the inside, the visual effect is not as obvious, simply taking the form of a light tint.
We can help you to make the right choice of window film
Whichever of these window films you purchase, you can look forward to significant reductions in both glare and the harmful effects of UV rays, such as the premature fading of furniture and furnishings.
However, you will first need to ensure you choose the right film for your requirements. The Opalux technical department can assist you in selecting the film that is best suited to your intended application, whether you are a specifier or end user.
Feel free to call our team for advice today, on 0845 026 1125, or contact us via the Opalux website.
Introducing the wonders of our glazing manifestation film
While the key practical reason to invest in glazing manifestation should be obvious to all of its users – namely, the legal requirement to make clear glass more noticeable so that people do not accidentally walk or run into it – it can be easy to underestimate the wealth of available options.
This is certainly apparent with one glance at our own far-reaching range of glazing manifestation window film here at Opalux – so what should you know about it as a prospective purchaser?
Our standard glazing manifestation may be the best match for your needs
If you simply require an easy-to-use, off-the-shelf 50-metre roll of glazing manifestation whether as an architect, designer, specifier or end-user, our Mani-Fest standard rolls of frosted manifestation dots or squares may be the ideal solution.
There is no simpler or more cost-effective means of complying with the requirements set out in the Building Regulations and the Workplace Health Safety & Welfare Regulations for window manifestation or glass partition manifestation.
Alternatively, bespoke solutions are available
It may be that the given application requires you to request customised glazing manifestation – in which case, you will be pleased to learn that it is possible to have our Opalux Mani-Fest 50-metre rolls produced on a bespoke basis to your own specification.
Contact the Opalux Customer Services team today to order, by negotiation, bespoke rolls incorporating a pattern of your choosing, subject to a minimum order quantity of 750 linear metres.
Such bespoke glazing manifestation window film can be produced with a distinctive repetitive mark or logo, within certain design limits. This helps to make it the ideal choice for larger-scale environments such as schools, hospitals and office blocks.
Or talk to us about freeform manifestation
The ultimate form of bespoke glazing manifestation, however, is our freeform manifestation that combines the basic safety dimension of glazing manifestation with creative graphics applied to glass.
This is the glazing manifestation to choose when you are seeking complete freedom to produce the graphics that you desire for your organisation’s glass surfaces. You can choose from an assortment of materials for this, including coloured vinyl graphics, wide format digitally printed graphics, pictures, photos and many other options.
Whether you are already sure about which form of glazing manifestation will best cater to your firm’s requirements or you are eager to explore your full breadth of options, we urge you to get in touch with our company at the specification stage, by calling +44 (0)845 026 1125 or emailing solutions@opaluxwindowfilms.com.
What level of UV protection do you require in your chosen window film?
If there is one definite menace to many a workplace’s fabrics and furnishings such as its curtains, carpets, furniture, floors and artworks, it is the ultraviolet (UV) rays produced by the sun. Unfortunately, once the damage that UV causes occurs, it cannot be reversed, but by being proactive, you can help to prevent it ahead of time.
Yes, we’re referring to our own UV control, anti-fade window film here at Opalux – but which type of such film from our acclaimed product range is likely to serve your needs best?
We offer impressive levels of standard UV protection
Even our ‘standard’ UV protection window film is far from standard, with all of our polyester window films containing UV absorbers that enable 99% of harmful UV rays to be blocked.
Strictly speaking, it is actually 99% of UV rays in the 300 to 380-nanometer solar spectrum range that are blocked by this standard UV protection film.
But formidable enhanced protection is also available
When a further level of UV protection is needed against UV rays of up to 400 nanometres or more, you may be interested in our specialist museum grade films that come in the form of an optically clear film, with additional solar control properties also able to be specified.
There may be healthcare applications for certain skincare conditions that necessitate this heightened degree of UV control, so we would always advise affected customers to get in touch with the Opalux customer services department for additional information and guidance.
Finally, why not ask us about our super-enhanced UV protection?
If you suspect that your given application will require the use of the very greatest UV protection, you may wish to enquire about our amber UV control film, which blocks out the blue part of the spectrum present in natural and artificial light.
There are various laboratory, photographic, pharmaceutical and manufacturing processes – such as the assembly of circuit boards – that are sensitive to this portion of the spectrum. The end user may even find they require multiple layers of our super-enhanced UV protection film, which is why they should examine samples first.
Always consult the Opalux technical department for assistance when you are attempting to choose the most suitable UV protection window film for your application. Call 0845 026 1125 or email our team today.
Our tinted window film makes sense for many different reasons
One of the categories of window film for which we are most renowned here at Opalux is tinted window film, and for more than a few reasons.
Such films are optically clear, transparent and non-metallised, and we present various options that can be applied to glass, including grey/black tints and art colours tints.
Why might you be interested in our grey/black tinted films?
There are various reasons why you may be interested in our grey/black deep-dyed polyester window film, not least given the wide range of grey/black densities in which it can be specified, from very light shades through intermediate to the very darkest shades.
When you are simply interested in such tinted film with the purposes of improved appearance, UV control or shading in mind, one of the lighter shades may be the best choice. However, the darker shades also provide these benefits, together with high levels of glare control to make it easier for those using computer screens to concentrate on their work.
A wish for greater daytime privacy may also motivate you to consider these window films, with different shades providing different levels of privacy while giving the external side of the glass a low mirror exterior appearance.
Such a broad range of available shades also makes this type of window film an appealing option if you are seeking to match up the appearance of replacement clear panels with that of existing surrounding tinted glass.
Alternatively, ask us about our art colours window films
Your reasons for specifying our art colours tinted window film, meanwhile, are likely to be very different. Such film is typically chosen by designers looking to enhance the atmosphere of a given setting by tinting the windows with such colours as Blue, Lilac, Green, Pink, Purple, Red or Yellow.
These window films are certainly striking and decorative, which makes them an excellent choice for such sites as classrooms, children’s wards, stage sets, exhibition displays, public buildings, gyms and restaurants. They also provide such decoration while maintaining transparency through the glass, and can be removed whenever you wish to update the look of your windows in the future.
Request our help with selecting window film
Whatever type of tinted window film may seem most suitable for your own desired application, it is recommended that you seek out the specialist knowledge of our own seasoned professionals at the specification stage, so that you can be sure of making the most informed choice.
Contact the Opalux team today about our window film, by emailing solutions@opaluxwindowfilms.com or calling +44 (0)845 026 1125.
We give you many options for anti-graffiti window film
The central purpose of our anti-graffiti window film here at Opalux is simple. Glazing in public-facing areas can be highly susceptible to graffiti, and our anti-graffiti film helps to protect glazing from the scratch marks that graffiti can cause.
It accomplishes this thanks to its optically clear transparent sacrificial coating that absorbs the graffiti. The film can then simply be removed and replaced, so that the panel is left looking as good as new.
The effectiveness of our extensive selection of anti-graffiti window film has helped to make it an especially popular choice for mass transit systems, with trains, buses and ferries having long been vulnerable to the ravages of graffiti.
What forms of anti-graffiti film do we offer?
If you are in need of a dependable standard anti-graffiti window film for interior application, our SA-100CL-iSR 100-micron film represents an excellent solution. It is quick to install, offers high optical clarity, is scratch-resistant and screens harmful UV rays, so is not ‘just’ an anti-graffiti film.
Meanwhile, those seeking a standard clear anti-graffiti window film that is suitable for outdoor settings can take advantage of our SA-100CL-eSR film. It needs to be installed to the exterior surface of the glass and correctly silicone edge-sealed, in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.
Thicker, 175-micron versions of these strong-selling interior and exterior anti-graffiti window films are also available, in the form of the SA-175CL-iSR and SA-175CL-eSR respectively.
Alternatively, and finally, you may take an interest in the SA-200CL-iSR multi-laminate 200-micron anti-graffiti window film. This is another form of such film that is to be installed to the interior surface of the glass, with such thicker and multi-laminate films sometimes deemed necessary if the graffiti operators use heavy-duty tools.
Opalux should be your go-to source of window film
When you are looking to select the most suitable anti-graffiti window film for your intended setting, whether as an end-user or specifier, it is recommended that you get in touch with the Opalux technical department for informed guidance.
Call our team on 0845 026 1125 or complete and submit an online enquiry form today, and if appropriate, we will connect you to an Opalux approved dealer who can provide you with invaluable assistance, including visiting the site if necessary and providing costings for the film installation.