How Can I Use Window Graphics for My Business?

NOVEMBER 10, 2020| SpeedPro

What Are Window Graphics?

Window graphics are signage and advertising products that attach directly to a window. Typically, they’re made from a type of vinyl film that either clings to or adheres to glass without damaging it. Window graphics come in several different types, styles and sizes, and they’re fully customizable so you can make them work exactly how you need them to for your business.

Types of Vinyl Window Graphics

The kind of window graphics that a business uses depends in large part on the location of the graphics and how long the company plans to use them. Here are a few examples of the different types of window graphics available.

Location-Based Window Graphic Types

One way window graphics can differ from each other is in the film used to create the graphic. A few examples of the different film types available include:

Transparent films: Transparent window films are completely see-through. They can be printed with graphics or text. When printed and applied to a window, only the colored portion of the graphic is visible. The rest of the film blends in with the glass.
Translucent films: Translucent window films are similar to transparent films but are also designed to be backlit, making them visible to passersby in the evening or nighttime hours.
Perforated films: Also known as “one-way vision” films, perforated films let people see out of a window, but not in. The exterior of the window is covered in a graphic, but the small holes in the film allow people on the inside of a building to see out. Perforated films are also often used on vehicle windows in the form of bus and car wraps.
Opaque films: Opaque films are not see-through. They’re often a solid color, such as white. The graphics and text are printed on the film, and any area that isn’t printed on remains visible when the graphic is applied to the window.
Crystal films: Crystal films are the “frosted glass” version of window graphics. Often used to create privacy, they work well when used on interior windows. For example, you might cover the windows of a conference room with a crystal film so that people can’t see who’s inside. Light would still be able to travel through the film.

Window Graphic Styles

Window graphics are available in a range of styles, including:

Vinyl lettering: Vinyl letters can be cut into the font or type of your choice, such as block lettering or script. Lettering can serve a practical purpose, such as letting customers know about a sale, your hours of operation or your company’s address.
Large impact graphics: Large impact graphics tend to be attention grabbers. They often fill an entire window space and might take up multiple windows. These graphics can include photographic images, such as pictures of people wearing your brand’s clothing or pictures of food and drinks. You can also choose to have your brand’s logo blown up into a large graphic and applied to a window.
Smaller graphics: Smaller graphics can include smaller versions of your company’s logo as well as designs that don’t take up the entire glass surface of the window.
Privacy coatings: A privacy coating might involve a crystal or etched glass film over the entire surface of the window or small strips or blocks of a “frosted glass” look window decal or cling.

Top Benefits of Window Graphics

Using window graphics can deliver multiple benefits to your business. They can help attract more customers to your company, build your brand identity and define who you are and what makes your business different. Some of the most significant benefits of window graphics include:

Flexibility: Whether you choose to use a window decal or cling, window graphics tend to be flexible. You aren’t stuck using the same graphics year-in and year-out unless you like them. Since the graphics are usually not difficult to remove or reposition, you can change them out more frequently than other types of graphics.
Built-in advertising: Window graphics offer an ideal way to let the world know your business exists. Additionally, the graphics can help people get a better sense of who your company is and what it does. When people walk up to a building that has pictures of food emblazoned across the windows, they’re likely to put two and two together and figure out that they’re approaching a restaurant.
Timely messages: Window graphics can function perfectly as temporary signage. They allow stores to highlight current sales or special offers, for example. A gym can use graphics to announce new operating hours or that it has new exercise equipment, and a nail salon can use graphics to let people know that it’s now offering gel manicures.
Greater privacy: Although window graphics are often used to share information, they can serve other practical purposes too. For example, you can use window graphics to create a privacy barrier on windows on the interior of a workspace. You can also use frosted glass or crystal films to block off parts of your workspace that you don’t want passersby to see — without taking the natural light out of those spaces.
Attention: People are more likely to notice a business that has a sign or graphics on its facade. If your company’s windows are bare and you don’t have much else in the way of signage, how is anyone going to know you’re there? Eye-catching graphics can help you turn heads on the sidewalk and street.
Savings: In some areas, hanging up a sign or putting up another type of display requires a permit. It costs money to rent a billboard or purchase a print ad. While window graphics aren’t free, they do tend to cost a lot less than other forms of advertising and usually don’t require the purchase of a permit.
Weather resistance: Window graphics are surprisingly durable, considering how lightweight and affordable they are. That’s because they’re made out of vinyl. To make your window graphics last as long as possible, consider using second-surface graphics, which are applied on the window’s interior and face outward. Even if you choose first-surface graphics applied to the window’s exterior, you can count on the decal to hold up well.
Improved appearance: Window graphics enable you to dress up your workspace or building and mask any unappealing areas. For example, if your office has a view of an alley, you can use window graphics to create the illusion of a pretty mountain view or a view of the ocean. You can also use window graphics to put your brand’s stamp on a building you don’t own.

Uses for Window Graphics

Window graphics are extremely versatile. You can use window graphics to transform your storefront or any glass surfaces inside your building. Here are some of the most popular uses for window graphics:

Share information: When someone approaches your business, they may want to see what your hours are — especially if they happen to arrive and find the door locked. Your front door or an adjacent window is the perfect place to display your business hours as well as other key information like your web address and phone number.
Give directions: If you have multiple exterior doors, but you don’t use them all as entrances, consider adding window signage to any door that is not in use, pointing customers toward the correct entrance. You can also use window graphics to mark whether a door is an entrance or exit.
Brand your building: You want to make sure there’s no question about what business occupies your building or plaza suite. Window graphics can feature your brand identity through logos, slogans or photos showing off your products and services. You can also include these branded details on glass surfaces inside.
Promote a sale: If you’re running a special sales promotion, you can use window graphics to advertise your sale to passersby through bold text and bright colors. This is an excellent way to pull in shoppers who can’t resist the possibility of a great bargain.
Provide privacy: Window graphics can serve a more subtle but valuable purpose in some cases by providing privacy. Stores and restaurants may want to provide some privacy for their customers, but this feature is especially popular for offices, schools and libraries. These graphics can feature images and text or can simply give glass a frosted appearance.
Display artwork: Window graphics can also add an artistic flair to a building face or interior. You can use artwork in your business to inspire. Create large, custom displays that evoke specific emotions or inspire certain thoughts. The presence of artwork can enhance the experience for your employees, customers and anyone in your business.
Frame window displays: Retail windows often feature physical displays. This may be a staged room for a furniture store or mannequins showing off the latest looks for a clothing retailer. Window graphics can replace these displays, but they can also work with them, providing a decorative frame, supplemental text or imaginative details to help bring them to life.

Examples of Window Graphics in Action

Consider the following popular applications for window graphics, but remember that your imagination is the limit when it comes to the possibilities.

Offices

In an office, window graphics can have multiple uses. Mainly, they can add visual interest and can provide privacy where needed. For example, a large graphic on the inside of a conference room window can conceal a lackluster view or keep outsiders from peeking in when you’re holding an important meeting. If your office floor plan has a lot of glass windows or walls, graphics can create a sense of privacy without making the space feel closed off or cramped.

Gyms

Window graphics can be used to help create privacy at gyms or fitness centers while attracting new clients. For example, one-way view graphics can feature images of people working out inside the gym. Those images can make people who have been planning on exercising more decide to come in and join. Meanwhile, the people inside the gym don’t feel as though people walking by outside are watching them sweat. Since the graphics are made with a perforated film, gym members are still able to see out through the windows.

Retail Stores

Retailers can use window graphics in so many ways. A store that’s about to open can use the graphics to let people know about its grand opening. Meanwhile, a store that has recently relocated can hang up a window decal in its old location to let customers know of the move. Finally, retailers can use graphics and lettering to create eye-catching displays that make people want the items the store has to offer.

Restaurants

Whether it’s a casual fast food establishment or a more elegant dining location, restaurants often use window graphics to highlight items on their menu and share information with customers. For example, a restaurant can use window clings to highlight happy hour offers or let people know what the specials are for the day. Some restaurants fill their windows with over-sized images of the dishes they serve, enticing hungry customers to come in for a meal.

Get Help Creating Window Graphics for Your Business

If you think window graphics would help you better promote your business, or if you’re looking to use them to jazz up your company’s appearance, SpeedPro can help. Our experts can assist you in choosing and creating the window graphics that will help you meet your goals the fastest. To learn more, contact the SpeedPro studio nearest you today.

Back to Blog