Does privacy window film work at night?
A common question we get asked is “does privacy window film work at night?” Most one-way window films including perforated privacy window films only provide privacy during the daytime. These films are opaque and as lighting levels change throughout the day privacy is often lost when lighting inside the building is brighter than the outside.
Our MicroPerforated Translucent film features a translucent white facefilm. As well as providing privacy during the day the film achieves a degree of night-time privacy if suitable internal lighting is used. Please note curtains or blinds will still be required to maintain full privacy. Even if the internal lighting is sub-optimal, night-time privacy will still be better than conventional one-way perforated privacy window film.
Additional factors that can affect the performance of the privacy window film include the angle of oncoming light and the intensity of artificial light sources inside the room. For optimal performance, avoid placing bright, direct light sources close to the windows.
How do I make my windows private at night?
Ideal conditions
- Internal lighting should be directed on to the window to illuminate the privacy film. This lighting should be positioned ‘out of the line of sight’ to external passers-by.
- Other internal lighting should be switched off if the interior surfaces are light in color.
- Other internal lighting may be left on if the interior surfaces are dark in color or the directional light is sufficiently powerful.
- Please note curtains or blinds will still be required to maintain full privacy.
- You may also want to consider dimmer switches to control the intensity of interior lighting.
Acceptable conditions
- Internal lighting should be directed on to the window to illuminate the privacy film. This lighting should be positioned ‘out of the line of sight’ to external passers-by.
- If the interior surfaces are light in color and other internal lighting cannot be switched off the product will offer less privacy than in ideal lighting conditions.
- Please note curtains or blinds will still be required to maintain full privacy.
Poor conditions
- If the environment behind the privacy film is lit with heavily diffused light sources that can’t be turned off, the product will offer little to no privacy.
- If the interior and other visible surfaces are light in color or if point and diffused light sources are in the line of sigh to external passers-by, results will be less than perfect and other means of illumination should be explored.
FAQs
Our MicroPerforated Translucent Privacy film features a translucent white facefilm which provides privacy during the day and the film achieves a degree of night-time privacy if suitable internal lighting is used. Please note curtains or blinds will still be required to maintain full privacy. Even if the internal lighting is sub-optimal, night-time privacy will still be better than conventional one-way perforated privacy window film.
Contra Vision Mirror Dual Reflective window film can give you both day and night privacy as it reflects the landscape back to outside viewers. At night, mirrored privacy film will block out 95% of the light to give you a high level of privacy. There will also be a reflection on the window at night from streetlights or other external light sources, this will prevent anyone from seeing in.
There are a few ways you can make your windows private at night. The most obvious solution would be blinds or curtains to prevent passers-by from looking into your home in the evening. Another solution is Contra Vision® MicroPerforated Translucent Privacy which provides privacy at night under the correct lighting conditions.
Contra Vision® MicroPerforated Translucent Privacy requires diffused lighting inside the building at night to partially obscure the view inside.
