Explainer
How smart film works
A short, direct explanation of the technology and the process — for homeowners, designers and facility managers.
Interactive visualization — not a photograph of a completed installation.
Smart film works by applying a low voltage to a PDLC laminate on the glass. Power off, the film scatters light and looks frosted. Power on, the film becomes clear. Everything else — planning, wiring, control, commissioning — exists to make that one behaviour reliable and invisible in the finished room.
The switching principle
Liquid crystals suspended in a polymer layer scatter light when they are randomly oriented and transmit light when an electric field aligns them. That is the whole mechanism. Ghost Glass™ specifies 45–60 VAC working voltage and 0.5 W per square foot consumption for its film.
The system behind the glass
Each panel has a lead that runs to a transformer or power supply, which converts building power to the film's low-voltage requirement. The control device — wall switch, remote receiver or a relay tied into a smart control system — sits between the supply and the panels.
Where the transformer lives, how the run reaches it, and how many panels share a circuit are the questions that determine how tidy the finished installation looks.
- Glass dimensions and panel layout
- Wiring path from each panel
- Transformer / power-supply location
- Control method
- Installation conditions on site
The five stages of a project
Measure and design; custom fabrication; dry-apply film installation; licensed electrician connection; commission and test. Each stage has a decision that cannot be undone cheaply later, which is why we front-load the planning.
Living with it
Day to day, the film behaves like a light switch for privacy. Clean the glass with a non-abrasive, ammonia-free cleaner and a soft cloth, avoid scraping the edge seal, and leave the electrical connections alone. If a control needs to change later, the control layer can usually be updated without touching the film.
FAQ
Questions, answered directly
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Next step
Schedule a smart film consultation
We review your glass, wiring path and control preference, then give you a planning range and a realistic programme.