The material manufacturer says its new Scotchcal Clear View Printing Film 8150 is the first perfectly transparent cast PVC printing film on the market.

Any design can be reproduced using digital or screen printing, while unprinted areas allow a perfectly clear view through the glass, says 3M. This permits a unique combination of print and transparent surface. It is no longer necessary to cut out printed elements from the film – instead the printed area is an integral part of the film, which is bonded in its entirety. This means that even filigree details such as individual hairs can be represented, and colour gradients can be easily reproduced.

The one-way vision which is desirable in transport advertising can be achieved with the help of a printed hole matrix, without the need to perforate the film. The high degree of conformability of the PVC film and 3M’s bonding system enable easy and fast application even on contoured or curved surfaces such as windscreens. The result, says 3M, is high-quality glass designs that last up to seven years and are covered by the 3M Performance Guarantee.

Scotchcal Clear View printable film can also be used in many ways on and inside buildings, enabling architects and shopfitters to implement creative design ideas for new and existing glass surfaces – for example on facades, shop windows or in stairwells. For offices and department stores, the film makes it easy to create individual designs for glass doors, dividing walls and showcases.

Whether for purely decorative or for functional purposes such as advertising, or ensuring privacy, the product allows designers to be creative in their use of high-performance solutions for glass design using graphics, text and special effects.

www.3M.com