Double sided window graphic?

[gnubler]

The product from Signs365 is described as "DualView" window graphic, low tac adhesive. It's been a while since I ordered it but it was somewhat translucent. Order a sample and try it out.

 

[JBurton]

Yes, but would an opaque white still let light come through? It's already a dark restaurant, we need to have daylight come through the windows otherwise it may look like a dungeon. LOL.

I think petepaz's plan here avoids tight registration, but cuts down on daylight coming in. Trans white should be just fine, you'll just have to get it registered against the clear pretty well, or it'll be headache inducing.

I like gnublers suggestion for signs365 window cling, unless you have white ink capabilities already, or really want to practice registering translucent prints, it would make the most cash the fastest...

 

[Humble PM]

Design the graphics so that you have empty space negative reading L>R and R>L, with voids reading right both ways (bit like a vehicle)

 

[netsol]

ooh, I love the idea, but you only get 1 chance to nail the registration or it's an instant reprint. LOL. There would be 8 panels to get perfect. Not impossible, I've got 9 years of experience, but still tricky nonetheless.

You don’t think there can be registration problems if you have the capability to print white?

 

[ddarlak]

Whip out some brushes and poster paint and go old school.

 

[jcskikus]

PetePaz was correct and to use cast or calendared vinyl (i.e. Oracal 3640) on clear/transparent as it will block enough of the graphic on one side but along a quarter of the light to come through where there isn't a print on either side. If light comes through where the print is, you won't see what you were meant to be viewing. I wouldn't worry about light through and instead, make sure they can see the picture they wanted on the window.

 

[GaSouthpaw]

Opaque white isn't really opaque when there's a light source (the sun) behind it. Unless the graphic is really dark/saturated, light will come through.
Like others have said- reverse print on clear, standard print on white (I'd use translucent, but- either way- make sure the adhesive is clear), laminate together, trim, and install would be the easiest to do. You could also print on white and apply on the inside, and print on perf, and apply outside. That or farm out to a wholesaler who can print the whole thing on clear with white.
I would personally stay away from second surface perf on exterior windows, because those windows are almost always tinted, and the prints don't show up all that well.

 

[petepaz]

Yes, but would an opaque white still let light come through? It's already a dark restaurant, we need to have daylight come through the windows otherwise it may look like a dungeon. LOL.

not sure translucent will let in as much light as you would think but no the opaque vinyl will let less light through but it will also help block out some of the reverse side graphics. it's not 100% like a block out material but better than translucent

 

[WhitakerNJ]

A customer of mine has a restaurant and wants to put a graphic on their window. I immediately thought of window perf, but then they said they wanted a printed image on both sides of the window. Stupid question, how do you do that? Window perf on inside and outside of the window, giving 2 layers ultimately? Is there a 2 sided window perf vinyl? Not sure what to do here, would love some recommendations. Thanks.

We have an HP365, and we often do window clings on it. We use a polypropylene double-sided film with 8mil blockout material. We print one side, feed it back through, and print the other side. Then, we apply a double-sided windowtac to it. One side is permanent, and the other side is low-tac. It is a tricky process and requires a laminator, but it can be done. Currently, we're working on a job that calls for 138 - 24x36 pieces.

 

[bigben]

I have a HP 700W. If the image on the second surface is not exactly the same you see the print on the other side with the sunlight. We have tried the 5 layers print with the black in the middle but it take way too much ink and time. Drytac make a blockout vinyl with a clear adhesive. We print one side on clear vinyl and the other side on the drytac stuff. Cut them, align one on top of each other and use the laminator to stick them together. This technique is faster and less expensive than print 5 layers. You can add a small bleed and make a final cut when the two prints are stick back-to-back.

 

[media maven]

A customer of mine has a restaurant and wants to put a graphic on their window. I immediately thought of window perf, but then they said they wanted a printed image on both sides of the window. Stupid question, how do you do that? Window perf on inside and outside of the window, giving 2 layers ultimately? Is there a 2 sided window perf vinyl? Not sure what to do here, would love some recommendations. Thanks.

I know I am late to this post, but check out Continental Panorama two way vision. https://cgxusa.com/products/panorama-two-way-vision/

 

[Philw]

A customer of mine has a restaurant and wants to put a graphic on their window. I immediately thought of window perf, but then they said they wanted a printed image on both sides of the window. Stupid question, how do you do that? Window perf on inside and outside of the window, giving 2 layers ultimately? Is there a 2 sided window perf vinyl? Not sure what to do here, would love some recommendations. Thanks.

I use 5-layer printing on a Mimaki ucjv300-75, attached is an animated spinning gif showing a door sign for a Chinese restaurant. Not sure whether you'd have to download to see the two sides as it spins?

 

[Ron at Forest Litho]

You must consider that the customer is expecting something in his mind that may not be physically possible. Or whatever you do will not be what is in his "dream." You should ask him if he has seen something like this that he liked so you can see what he is talking about. Do one test window first.

 

[TEN]

This has been said already but most commercial glass has e-coatings or tints that will affect how the colors are displayed. A simple test is to tell the client to tape a peice of plain white copier paper to the inside and view it from interior and exterior sides to see the difference.

 

[Bobby H]

Just from quickly skimming through this older thread I couldn't immediately see if anyone asked/answered this question. But was the customer expecting to have the same image displayed on both sides or two different images sandwiched together? Either way it raises all sorts of problems.

Sunlight will be able to shine through most kinds of vinyl to some degree, even if it isn't specifically translucent white or clear. If two different images are printed on both sides of a sheet of vinyl, or applied to the exterior and interior sides of the glass it's likely people inside the store will be able to see some ghosting of the outdoor image creeping through the interior image. If the same image is used on both sides one side would have to be flipped backwards to minimize the ghosting effects, but any text would be backwards.

Window graphics tend to be tailored for people viewing from outside of the building. Perforated vinyl is the best approach for this kind of thing. People inside can't see the graphics.