Frosted Panes: a Grrrreat Business Decision
Spending eight months of the year shivering in the frozen tundra that is North Dakota, we at Office Sign Company are used to frosted pain. However, as April is upon us and the weather begins warming up outside, we wanted to take a second on the blog to discuss a different kind of frosted pane.
One of the most elegant forms of signage you can install in your office is frosted (or “etched”) vinyl. Applied to a variety of windows, doors, and other glass surfaces, this vinyl provides both aesthetic value and privacy to your workplace. We will utilize the remainder of this blog post to discuss the different qualities of etched vinyl, and how your office can benefit from the addition of frosted panes.
For clients who are looking for an elegant way to brand their doors or windows, crave a certain level of privacy in their offices, or are merely tired of trying to keep their glass clean, we recommend Etched (or Frosted) Window Vinyl as a beautiful solution to make your office stand out. Not everyone has the budget to sandblast (by hand or machine) into glass. Rather, applying some etched film/vinyl to the window creates just as stunning a look, for a fraction of the cost.
Why would I want etched vinyl on my glass?
There are a variety of reasons why you, or your client, may be interested in purchasing etched window vinyl for the glass in and around your office. Here are some of the most common uses that we find:
- Etched Logos on Window or Doors: this is a very common theme that we see with our clients. Within higher end offices, hospitals, restaurants, spas, and more, etched logos are a great way to brand your company even further. Etched logos provide a certain form of sophistication to your workplace, and our etched vinyl is an economical way for your brand identity to make a statement.
- Using Etched Vinyl as Privacy Film: we hear this quite often from our customers, “do you sell that privacy film stuff?” Some of the most common industries that benefit from using etched vinyl as privacy film are medical and legal. Regardless of what type of business your company does, it’s nice to have a little privacy from outsiders (especially with full walled glass offices or conference rooms). Using full panels of etched vinyl as privacy film is a great practice.
- Combining the Two; Both Branding and Getting Privacy: with our etched vinyl, you can also weed your logo or design elements out of large panels, so that your etched vinyl serves the function of both providing privacy and branding your company.
- Lower Cost than Sandblasting: seriously, you can equip your conference room, office, front door, lobby windows, bathroom mirrors, and more with etched panels or decals for a fraction of the cost that you would pay someone to come in and mask & sandblast your glass. Also – it’s much, much easier to remove if you decide you don’t like the look.
- Added Aesthetic: if nothing else, the etched vinyl will simply look good. It diffuses shapes, hides blemishes and uncleanliness on windows, and simply enhances the overall look of your office.
If you’re looking for more reasons, just take a look at some of the work we’ve done below. You can weed out portions of etched vinyl, digitally print on top of it, cut it into all different shapes and sizes, and more. We’d be happy to set you up with a free digital proof for your next frosted window job!
So, what type of frosted (or etched) vinyl should I get?
I’ve convinced you that your business needs some frosted panes already? Well, now comes the exciting part – choosing which type of material to use! As simple as it would be to simply say “give me the frost,” there are a variety of different materials that we use for our clients. Below, we will go through some of the differences between each vinyl, and which type of etched vinyl is best for you and your particular purposes.
- 3M Dusted Crystal: Even if you’ve never heard of etched vinyl before reading this, I’m certain that you recognize the brand “3M.” Brand confidence alone is enough to prompt most individuals to go through 3M for their frosted film, and we also highly recommend this film for a variety of purposes (it’s easily our most commonly sold!). This film is 2 mil. in thickness, has an acid-etched appearance, and displays uniformity in color in both reflected and transmitted light. It is more transparent than its counterparts, but still does a solid job of blocking out visibility. Application is relatively easy with this vinyl, but we still recommend that you either have had experience in applying vinyl, or contact someone who has (like us!) for assistance.
- FDC Etched Vinyl: Richer in appearance than its counterpart from 3M, FDC Etched (when applied) is more visible in a variety of light settings. It’s great for applying indoors or outdoors (as long as temperature exceeds 50 degrees Fahrenheit), and it also boasts a thickness of 2 mil. FDC Etched Vinyl is matte in appearance, like most etched vinyl, but its color comes out in a much more prominent fashion (in part due to the fact that it’s less transparent than 3M’s DC vinyl). We recommend this type of etched vinyl more-so for logos and graphics, especially if you want that richer, and more prominent, color to be displayed.
- MacTac B-Free Dusted/Frosted Vinyl: Although the lowest in popularity among finishes that we sell for frosted vinyl, the benefit of MacTac’s B-Free film is that it is a thicker film (3.1 mil) that is easier to install for first-time etched vinyl installers. The look of this vinyl closely resembles that of 3M’s DC vinyl, with just a thicker application. Also, in certain lights you may be able to view the air release lines in the adhesive. Ultimately, the beauty of this vinyl is that it’s the easiest for beginners to install.
In order to learn more about all things Etched/Frosted Vinyl, please feel free to contact our customer service staff at (701)-526-3835, or email us at service@officesigncompany.com. We’d love to work with you on getting your next frosted panes in place!
Written by: Jack Yakowicz
Marketing Manager, Office Sign Company
Contact at jack@officesigncompany.com
