Window Graphics – Inside or Outside

So you have a great logo design or graphic that you plan to have cut out of vinyl and installed on a glass window or door… One decision that commonly gets overlooked is whether your artwork should be installed on the inside or outside of the glass? You do have a choice in most circumstances, however, this decision is not always easy to make and it depends on a combination of factors.

The most important question is “how visible DO you want your artwork to be?” It is signage after all, so you expect it to be SEEN.

There are certain factors and compromises to be made though, which are often specific to your design and location. These all factor into how prominent your final messaging will be. Some considerations include:

• the colour / design of your vinyl graphics
• the type of vinyl material you wish to use
• the colour of your glass
• existing uv films / tinting / privacy films / laminated security glass
• amount of protection from elements and vandalism

graphic colour and design

Let us first set up a benchmark for visibility. One of the biggest misconceptions is that your glass is CLEAR. Well, in most cases it is, but the reflections in the glass often appear dark. This is why using white vinyl on the outside of your windows will deliver the highest contrast and most visible artwork.

Progressively darker colours will usually become less and less visible. There are some exceptions however. If your windows have a light coloured privacy film on the inside, this may provide the necessary contrast for darker vinyl artwork. Similarly, if your interior is very bright (white walls, floor, furniture, bright lighting, etc), this may provide some contrast for darker artwork as well.

Note: exterior and interior lighting conditions are going to vary over the course of the day and night… they are seldom consistent!

When you move your artwork to the inside, you are suddenly competing with the reflections on the outside of the glass. These include lighting hotspots, shadows and exterior mirror-like reflections from your surroundings. These reflections will make your graphics less prominent.

type of material

Some vinyl materials benefit from being on the outside. These include textured, metallic and reflective materials. Often, these materials will only have the material colour on the front side and the back will appear different. Some mirrored and metallic vinyls will reflect light out through the glass if applied on the inside and have good visibility.

If you wish to use a matte material, it will appear matte on the side on which it is installed and glossy when viewed through the glass. Matte materials offer a change in texture to the smooth plane of the glass and can stand out with textural differentiation.

the colour of your glass

Windows will often have a degree of tinting in the glass for UV protection or privacy in commercial applications. Windows with a moderate to heavy tint will require outside application of graphics for visibility. Stay away from artwork that has a similar tint to your glass.

existing window films

Security films are fairly common in retail applications. They are a great alternative to security bars to keep your front window safe yet inviting. If you have it, it will be installed on the inside of your glass and you often won’t know it’s there because it is exceptionally clear. Similarly, tinting or privacy films will be on the inside as well. In all instances, vinyl artwork is recommended to install on the opposite side or outside surface for visibility and so as not to damage your window film.

protecting your investment

Lastly, you have to make a decision whether you want to compromise enhanced visibility with protection. Although many commercial vinyl materials have excellent outdoor durability, it is always a good idea to consider whether your artwork is a candidate for interior installation based on the above factors. Interior mounting will have less colour fading over time and will be physically protected in high traffic areas. Vandalism of graphics is less common than you might think and is usually location specific. You are the best judge of your location and whether you should be protecting your investment.

I hope this information provides you with some informative guidelines for your project. There are always exceptions and creative applications that will allow for a beautiful and long lasting installation… sometimes contrary to what is suggested. It all depends on your individual location, design and intent.