Glass is the one surface where you get to choose which side the print goes on and how much light comes through. All four options are in the Stickers & Decals lane under Decals.
Perforated window vinyl
Printed vinyl punched with a pattern of small holes, typically about half print and half open. From outside in daylight you see the image; from inside you see out, because your eye looks through the holes. It goes on the outside of the glass and is the material for a full-window storefront graphic or a rear car window. Two things to know: at night with the lights on inside, the effect reverses and the image goes faint; and fine text disappears into the holes, so keep type large and bold.
Clear decals
Printed on transparent vinyl, so only the ink shows and the glass stays glass. Right for a logo, hours, or a phone number where you want the window to stay open. White in the artwork prints as clear unless a white ink layer is added, so light-colored logos need that layer or they vanish. Applied outside or inside depending on where it is read from.
Static cling
No adhesive; it holds on clean glass by static. Peels off and goes back on, so it is the choice for seasonal promotions, sale windows, permits and anything that changes. It does not hold on textured or dirty surfaces, and it does not last outdoors in wind the way an adhesive decal does. Inside the glass is the safer place for it.
Inside-mount decals
Printed in reverse and applied to the inside of the window, so it reads correctly from outside. The glass protects the print from weather, car washes and vandalism. Best for permanent lettering on a storefront. Tinted glass darkens the print, so go bold on colors.
Which one
- Full-window image, still want to see out: perforated.
- Logo or lettering, window stays clear: clear decal.
- Changes every few weeks: static cling.
- Permanent and protected: inside-mount.
Measuring and the file
Measure the glass, not the frame, and note any mullions that divide it; a graphic that crosses a bar has to be split into panels. Build the file at final size (100 dpi is enough for a window seen from a sidewalk), add 1/8 inch bleed, and say in the order notes whether it reads from inside or outside so we know which way to print it. Wall and floor decals follow the same rules with a different laminate; see the sticker finishes guide.
Ready to print? Browse the catalog, sign in for a live quote by size and quantity, and upload your file when you add the item to the cart. Not sure the file is right? The file check runs before checkout, and our designers can fix it or build it from your notes.