Acrylic Mirrors
Lightweight, shatter resistant, bright reflection
The observer is able to see through it, while on the other side, the
people being observed are unaware that it is anything other than a
regular mirror. We manufacture cut-to-size acrylic one way mirrors with
a bright silver finish which looks nearly identical to a standard
mirror. Our acrylic mirrors are difficult to shatter, which makes them
ideal f or observation in prisons, interrogation rooms, mental hospitals,
and anywhere liability is a concern like stores, daycares, and schools.
Acrylic One Way Mirror »
Glass Mirrors
Durable coating, weather resistant, easily cleaned
Glass one way mirrors
have a different appearance than acrylic, it is more of a bronze/gold and is only reflective from one side.
This can be an advantage for many different types of applications, where
both sides are going to be illuminated. Glass can be tempered to give it
5-10x the strength. We sell samples of all of our products in case you
want to evaluate them first before investing in a larger mirror.
Glass One Way Mirror »
One Way Mirror Information
A one way mirror is
also commonly referred to as a two way mirror since it actually acts as
a mirror from only one side while serving as a window on the other side.
The term “one way mirror” is a common misconception for this reason.
A one way mirror allows up to twenty percent of light through while
reflecting the rest of the light from an aluminum surface. The surface
is generally comprised of aluminum in which just enough metal is
distributed on the surface to reflect only half of the light.
How One Way Mirrors Work
A one way mirror consists of a light side and a dark side with one side
allowing bright light while the opposite side allows faint light
through. The side that is dark allows little light to transmit to the
light side with a minimum amount of light reflecting back from the dark
side. The majority of the light comes from the bright side with a lot of
light being reflected back on this side.
As a result, the light side produces more light which overpowers the
light coming from the dark side. If you are on the bright side of the
mirror you will see a mirror reflection and if you are on the dark side
you can see through the mirror as a window.

With a conventional mirror a silver metal is applied to the second layer
so the entire amount of light is reflected back to the person looking in
the mirror. A one way mirror is created in the same manner except the
layer of glass contains one separate surfaces consisting of a front side
surface and a surface that is located behind the layer of glass.
A layer of metal or acrylic is used for the front surface of the glass
in a thin coat that allows a reflection to be seen by the person looking
at the mirror. The thin coating allows a percentage of light through
which allows the person on the other side to view the mirror as a
window.
How Is a One Way Mirror Used?
-
Police Departments: A one way mirror is
commonly used by law enforcement during the interrogation process.
It provides a way for police officers to observe the behavior of a
potential criminal without the criminal knowing he is being observed
during the interrogation.
-
Retail
Surveillance: Another way one way mirrors are used is for
surveillance in retail establishments. Often retail stores will
install mirrors not only to provide a spacious appearance to the
store but also to observe shoppers that may have the potential to
shoplift items from the establishment.
-
Television
Industry: One way mirrors are also used in the television industry
to provide a way to reflect the script so the performer or speaker
can read from it during a televised production. This gives the
illusion that the speaker is speaking directly to the audience when
in reality they are reading from a script.
-
Scientific
Instruments: One way mirrors are also used in scientific instruments
such as telescopes and microscopes that require separate lighting to
allow light to pass through and at the same time be reflected.
Types of One Way Mirrors
One way mirrors are commonly made of acrylic or glass with the latter
being the higher quality grade of mirror. An acrylic one way mirror is
shatterproof and allows for a wide variety of flexible designs and
shapes. It is also less expensive than a one way glass mirror. This
grade of mirror can be made available with options such as abrasion
resistant surfaces, pressure sensitive backing, and optional surface
plating of standard or first surface mirror sheeting.
A glass one way mirror is not shatterproof and can be designed in a
variety of sizes and shapes. It is also available in different options
that include abrasion proof surfaces and different types of sheeting
options. A glass one way mirror is the common choice for the law
enforcement and television industry.
How to Detect a One Mirror

You can tell if a mirror is a one way mirror by placing the tip of your
finger against the reflective surface. If you can see a slight gap
between your finger and the image in the mirror it is likely that you
are looking at a conventional mirror. If a gap between the one images is
non-existent there is a possibility that you are viewing a one way
mirror.
You can also turn off the lights and if the light is more intense on the
other side you should be able to see images from the room on the
opposite side of the mirror. The mirror will also produce a hollow sound
when you tap on it since there is lack of backing on the opposite side.
Although one way mirrors are sometimes the subject of controversial
issues, for the most part they are used for very productive purposes
such as for scientific experiments and marketing case studies as well as
for the purposes we have discussed here.
Pricing & Ordering »
Questions?
Call us! (419) 787-4526 or (419) 708-6338