Smart Film Colors and Styles: White, Gray, Black, Colored, Gradient and Printed

Standard smart film frosts to white. Gray, black and colored versions exist, some films dim instead of switching, and patterns can be printed over the frost. Here is what each one looks like when it is on and off, and the trade-offs.

Standard white PDLC

Almost every installation uses white PDLC film. Off, it is a soft, evenly lit milky white, like sandblasted glass. On, it is the clearest of all the variants: light transmission in the 75 to 80 percent range and a haze of a few percent, so the view is intact and the glass reads as ordinary glass. It is also the best rear-projection surface. Our transparency guide explains the clarity and haze numbers to ask for.

Gray and black smart film

Gray and black PDLC films frost to a charcoal or dark gray instead of white, which designers choose for dark interiors, offices with dark frames and glass that should not glow white at night. The trade-off is the on state: these films stay tinted when clear, roughly like a light window tint, so a water view or a bright room loses some brightness. They also cost more and are made by fewer manufacturers, which affects lead time. Choose them for looks on interior partitions, not for view glass.

Colored smart film

Blue, green, pink, red and yellow PDLC films exist. Off, the frost takes the color; on, the glass carries a colored tint. They are decorative products for showrooms, nightlife, salons and feature walls rather than for windows you look through. Availability is limited and the film is usually a special order, so allow extra lead time and ask for a physical sample before committing a whole wall to a color.

Gradient, dimmable and patterned

"Gradation" or gradient means two different things. Dimmable smart film uses a transformer that varies the voltage, so the glass can sit anywhere between frosted and clear rather than only at the two ends; not every film and transformer pair supports it, so it has to be specified up front. A gradient look can also be printed: a decorative film with a frost-to-clear fade, a band, a logo or a pattern is layered with the switchable film, so the pattern stays permanent while the rest of the pane switches. Printed and frosted bands are also how a company logo goes on switchable reception glass.

Laminated smart film and smart glass

Searches for "laminated smart film" usually mean the PDLC layer sealed inside a new laminated glass unit at the factory, which is smart glass rather than film: it replaces the glazing, is fully encapsulated, and costs several times more. Self-adhesive smart film is the same PDLC layer with an adhesive back, applied to the glass you already have. Our smart film vs smart glass comparison covers cost and when each is the right choice.

What we install

Our standard installation is white self-adhesive PDLC film, because it gives the clearest on state and the most even frost, and it is what most homes, condos and offices want. If a project calls for gray, black, colored or dimmable film, ask at the quote stage: we will tell you what is available for that pane size, the clarity trade-off, and the lead time before you commit. Installed pricing for standard film is $55 to $90 per square foot; specialty films are quoted per project. See our pricing guide, or request a quote with a photo of the glass.

See pricing → smart film cost in Miami. Get a free quote → request one here. Questions to ask an installer → the 12 questions to ask any installer.

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