Suitable for:
- Entrances
- Bathrooms
- Shower screens
- Offices
- Doors
- Restaurants
- Safety Marking
- Signs & Logos
The name "frosted films" is often used to describe translucent films. These are also sometimes erroneously referred to as "opaque films". However if you check the dictionary you'll find that an opaque surface is one that does not transmit light. To confuse matters further, the lighting industry refers to white translucent covers as "opal" diffusers, which sounds similar to opaque and so they are often misnamed.
Translucent films are used to change the appearance of glass. Patterns can be cut into the film to create a variety of effects and control the privacy / vision balance. The patterns are cut into the film after the film has been installed without damaging the glass. Complex graphic elements and text are computer cut before installation.
Translucent films are a great low maintenance window covering. Translucent films are available in a number of finishes.
Popular translucent choices
- Frosted Crystal, which has a sparkling appearance and looks like sandblasted glass
- Dusted Crystal has a soft appearance which looks like acid etched glass
- 3M™ Fasara Milky and Aslan™ Milk Glass is milky like its name
- 3M Fasara Luce, extra milky, like Milk Glass above
- 3M Fasara Altair, rice paper
- 3M Fasara Vega, rice paper
If computer cut graphics are to be incorporated into any translucent design, then Frosted or Dusted Crystal should be used. Frosted and Dusted are always popular but Fasara Milky is often used where more privacy is necessary. It is tougher than the other two because it is made from polyester rather than vinyl and is a little cheaper than the other two films (unlike the other Fasara products). There are many films in the Fasara range so let us know if you are looking for something different.
Furthermore it is possible to cut patterns into the film to create a variety of effects. Most patterns are cut after the film has been installed without damaging the glass.
Another option is to use a print receptive clear or translucent film and digitally print and image or design onto the film
The best way to understand this is to browse through our extensive picture gallery. Most of the designs that you’ll see here have been designed on site in consultation with our customers.
Commercial offices
The greatest volume of translucent film is used on commercial offices. Over the last twenty years it has replaced Venetian blinds as the most common solution for office privacy. It can be easily installed either during construction and fit-out, or after occupancy. The design possibilities are endless and the effects can be subtle or dramatic.
About Windows has managed projects from just a few metres to many hundreds of square metres of film. Some of these have been designed by an architect or interior designer while others have been done by ourselves in consultation with our customers.
Entrance doors and side lights
Sometimes it is necessary to cover all of the glass in an entrance for security reasons. In other cases, to do so makes the entrance look like a dead end from inside, even though translucent film still allows good daytime illumination. By using strategically placed cut-outs you should to be able to see who is at the door without allowing people to see into your house from the street. This may be achieved by using a simple clear border around the perimeter or something more elaborate.
Entrances Galleries
Bathrooms and cupboard doors
External windows in bathrooms sometimes require translucent film. In most cases the film is only installed on the lower section of the window and the top portion of the window is left clear. The height of the film can be chosen to suit the particular circumstance and can be finished as a straight horizontal line or with a decorative pattern.
Shower recesses are another common place for translucent film. Again the film need not cover all of the glass. We prefer to install the film on the outside of the shower but film has been installed in many showers and has been in successful operation over a number of years.
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