A shop window is effectively a display case pointed at the sun. Graphics behind the glass can receive more daylight in a week than an interior print sees in months, and the glass itself brings condensation, cleaning and temperature swings. Window schemes also change often, sometimes every few weeks, so installation and removal matter as much as durability.
Fading is the main enemy
Prints in a south-facing window can lose colour quickly. Colourjet, the solvent coating used in Landor Liquid Lamination, contains integrated UV inhibitors that help guard against premature fading. It also protects against water and abrasion, which helps with condensation running down the glass and with staff handling props and graphics while dressing the window.
A coating cannot stop sunlight altogether, and some windows are harsher than others. It does help colours stay true for longer, which is especially valuable for brand colours that need to match across a chain of stores.
Types of window graphic
Hanging panels and backdrops
Rigid boards and hanging banners set back from the glass are usually printed on latex, UV or eco-solvent printers and then coated. Test the coating on your chosen board or banner material first, as not every substrate accepts a solvent coating well.
Graphics on back walls and plinths
For the walls and fixtures inside the window bay, Phototex is a practical choice. It is a printable self-adhesive woven fabric that can be repositioned while you dress the window and removed in one piece when the scheme changes, without damaging the surface underneath. It does not suffer from edge curl, weakened adhesive or peeling, and visual merchandisers can install it themselves.
A short checklist for window schemes
- Find out which way the window faces and how much direct sun it gets.
- Ask how long each scheme will stay in place and whether elements will return.
- Check whether condensation is a problem in that store.
- Plan who will install and remove graphics, and how quickly.
- Test any coating on the actual material before a multi-store rollout.
For quick touch-ups on props or small display pieces, ClearJet aerosol coatings in gloss and semi-gloss are handy to keep in a visual merchandising kit.
Planning your next window scheme? Drop us a line through our contact page and we will help you choose materials that suit the location.