Printable window films have really taken off in the retail and commercial markets. Not only are these films used to advertise products and enhance spaces but they also can be used for privacy purposes.
在零售和商业市场中，可打印窗膜越来越受重视。这些窗膜不仅可以用来宣传产品和增强空间视觉效果，还可以用于保护隐私。
One of the challenges for the retail market is “creating an environment that creates an experience,” says Tim Boxeth, marketing manager for 3M Commercial Solutions. “Because of online shopping, the retailers are looking to create more experiences, so one of the ways we’ve seen them do that is using more graphics in general but also incorporating window graphics into that mix.”
3M商业公司市场经理Tim Boxeth说：“零售市场面临的挑战之一是需要‘创造一种营造体验的环境’。由于网上购物的兴起，零售商正在寻求创造更多用户体验的方法，其中一种方式就是更普遍地使用图形材料，并且还可以将图形材料运用于窗面上。”
Digital printing allows companies to create an infinite amount of designs on their windows.
数字印刷的出现使得各家公司在其窗面上能够创造出各种各样的设计。
Joshua Barnard, product manager, digital print media, for Avery Dennison Graphics Solutions says that his company is seeing a major focus on retail and point of purchase displays when it comes to window films.
艾利丹尼森图形公司数字印刷媒体产品经理Joshua Barnard表示，在窗膜这块领域，他们公司主要关注零售和POP展示图形广告这些方面。
“There has definitely been an increase in the amount of graphics used in retail applications. We see a lot of that,” he says. “The other area we’re seeing a lot of cool projects in is conference rooms and corporate offices.”
他说：“在零售行业的应用中，使用图形产品的机会一定会越来越多，我们已经见证了许多次这样的情况发生。我们同样在别的领域诸如会议厅和公司的办公室，也看到了许多很酷的项目。”
Many companies are enhancing their conference room windows with window graphics. Some give glassed in spaces privacy from the outside, while at the same time enhancing the space on the inside with art or a corporate theme.
许多公司正在利用窗口图形来增强他们的会议室窗户设计。有些设计通过利用艺术图案和企业主题图形在增强内部空间的同时，还可以对外部隐藏其内部空间。
Avery Dennison Graphics Solutions has numerous options when it comes to window films, including perforated window films, printable white for opaque window applications, transparent and translucent films, clear and translucent colored films, frosted films and architectural films.
艾利丹尼森图形公司提供了多种窗膜选择方案，包括穿孔窗膜、可打印白色不透明窗膜、透明和半透明窗膜、透明和半透明彩色窗膜、磨砂窗膜和建筑窗膜。
3M’s Boxeth says that many corporations want to use these films to “create environments people want to be at and work at or attract younger workers and new workers.”
3M公司的Boxeth表示，许多公司都希望使用这些窗膜来设计出人们想要在这里工作或者吸引年轻员工和新员工的环境。
He adds that window graphics in the past were printed on perforated window films where people on the inside of the window could see out but people on the outside couldn’t see in very well.
他补充说，过去的窗口图形印在穿孔的窗膜上，窗户内部的人可以清楚地看到完整的图形，但窗外的人很难看清图形的模样。
“With our clear films, you can create nice looking designs that can be very subtle and noticeable and you can see through the windows much better,” Boxeth says. “That, along with white ink in printers, allows designers and printers to create unique effects on clear film.”
Boxeth说：“使用我们清晰的窗膜，你可以通过创造漂亮精致的外观设计来吸引人们的关注，并且更好地观赏橱窗。再配合打印机中的白色墨水，它能够使设计师和打印机共同在清晰的薄膜上设计出独特的图案效果。”

3M calls its window graphics, window wraps.
3M称其为窗口图形或窗口包装。
“We’re definitely committed to this space. We know there’s opportunity here and we’re working to innovate to deliver the next window films and help grow the market,” he says.
他说：“我们专注于这个领域，所以我们知道这里有机会。我们正在努力创新，为我们的客户提供一个又一个的窗膜产品，并帮助促进窗膜市场的发展。”
Avery Dennison’s Barnard says that since digital printing technology became more accessible, more people have become aware of its capabilities. When people walk down a street and see rows of windows with different graphics in them, they begin to think about all the different ways they can use the technology to enhance their own spaces, he says.
艾利丹尼森公司的 Barnard说：“由于数码印刷技术变得更易于使用，因此越来越多的人意识到其功能的重要性。当人们走在街上，看到各式各样的窗户上印有不同的图形时，他们也会开始考虑如何运用他们现有的技术来增强他们自己空间的展示方式。”
The market for window films will continue to grow as manufacturers add functionality to their products. He says that Avery Dennison invested in a company that has a gauzy film that is clear until a switch is flipped and then it becomes frosted. Companies are interested in using it for conference room spaces. If the conference room is not in use, the windows are clear. If it is in use, the windows become frosted for privacy purposes. The film can also be used in bathrooms.
随着制造商不断地优化他们的产品功能，窗膜市场将一直保持稳定增长。他说，艾利丹尼森投资了一家公司，该公司生产的薄膜在原始状态下呈现出的是清晰的透明质感，当轻按转换按钮之后，薄膜就会转变成磨砂质感。一些公司可以把这种薄膜应用于会议室的空间中。当会议室不被使用时，窗户就是清晰透明的，一旦对会议室进行使用，为了保护公司的隐私，窗户就可以变成磨砂的质感。这种薄膜也可以应用于浴室之中。
There’s also interest in window films for grocery store freezers that would keep the glass from frosting up every time the door is opened, he says. Hospitals and hotels are interested in antimicrobial films.
他说，他对于杂货店冷冻柜的窗面薄膜也很感兴趣，因为每次开门时玻璃都不会结霜。而医院和酒店方面可能对抗菌薄膜更感兴趣。
There are a number of benefits to using window films to customize office spaces, Barnard says. In leased office spaces, for instance, companies can use window films to identify the names of conference rooms or the names of employees in offices.
Barnard表示，使用窗膜来定制设计办公空间有很多好处。例如，在租赁的办公空间中，公司可以使用窗膜来识别会议室的名称或办公室中的员工姓名。
“Instead of laser engraving the glass, you put film on there that gives the same effect of laser engraving,” he says. That way, when a new tenant moves in, it is simple to take off the film and begin again without having to replace the glass.
他说：“你只需要贴上薄膜，你就可以获得和激光雕刻一样的效果。当一个新的员工进来时，你可以轻松地取下原有的薄膜更换一个新的，而不需要重新更换一块玻璃。”

John Coyne, sales manager at Lintec of America in Schaumberg, Ill., says that his company’s best-selling window film is optically clear. The film can be placed on the inside of a window so clients don’t have to worry about rain or environmental issues ruining their window graphics.
位于美国的伊利诺伊州绍姆堡镇的Lintec公司销售经理约翰·科恩表示，他公司最畅销的产品是光学透明窗膜。该窗膜可以贴合在窗户的内部，因此客户不必担心雨水或环境问题会破坏窗户的图形。
It also can be used for privacy purposes or for window advertisements.
它也可以用于隐私目的或窗口广告。
The window graphics market has grown exponentially because “there are only so many banners you can put up,” he says. But there is a ton of high-end, visible window space on buildings. Many high rise buildings won’t let tenants put anything on the outside of the building, but there are no restrictions on the inside, he adds.
目前窗口图形市场呈现指数增长趋势，科恩说：“虽然摆放横幅的地方有限，但是建筑物上有很多高端可见的窗口空间可以利用。尽管很多高层建筑严禁租户将任何东西置于建筑外部，但是对于建筑内部是没有任何限制的。”
“Think about the space and how much it costs to rent; how many people walk by a window. Windows and walls,” he says.
他说：“你可以想想空间和租用成本，以及每天会有多少人从窗户和墙边走过。”
There’s still a lot of advertising and promotional work, especially in retail stores that want to get their point across in their windows, Coyne says. Window films also have industrial applications. Customers use the films as a light diffuser. They will print different designs on the films, which are then put on windows or light fixtures, where the light shines behind the graphic.
科恩说：“每天都有很多的广告和促销活动，特别是一些零售店，他们会非常希望能在窗户上展示他们的广告。”窗膜也经常被应用于工业生产中，客户通常会将这些薄膜作为光源的散光罩。他们在薄膜上打印各种各样的设计图案，再将薄膜安装在窗户或者灯具上，当光源从图形后方亮起时，薄膜上的图案就能够显现。
Window films are also used as UV blockers on windows. This is particularly helpful in clothing and furniture stores where the client doesn’t want their products displayed in the windows to fade.
窗膜也可用作窗户上的紫外线阻隔膜。这对于服装和家具店特别有用，因为客户不希望他们展示在橱窗里的产品褪色。
The digital printing market has advanced so much that shops can print window graphics that show one graphic on the inside and another on the outside of the window by using layered inks, Boxeth says.
Boxeth说：“数字印刷市场发展如此之快，以至于商店可以通过使用分层油墨来打印窗面图形，在窗面内部展示一种图案，而另一种则显示在窗面外部。”
Begin by reverse printing the image that will be viewed from the second surface, he says. Cover that with a layer of white ink, a layer of black ink and another layer of white ink before you lay the colored ink down for the image that will be viewed on the first surface.
反向印刷即是可以从两面看到不同的图案。首先在薄膜上覆盖一层白色墨水，再覆盖一层黑色墨水，之后当你准备在薄膜的另一面印刷上彩色墨水之前，先覆盖一层白色墨水，这样你就能很直观地在薄膜表面看到图案。
These types of special effects can be used in longer-term architectural graphics or promotional window graphics. They are in high demand in retail, restaurant and hospitality spaces.
这类具有特殊效果的窗膜可用于保质期较长的建筑图形或促销窗口图形。他们在零售业、餐厅和酒店等服务场所的需求量很大。