Window Mapping Film for Christmas: Put Your Windows in the Show

Point a projector at your house for Christmas and you will notice something on the first night: the snow and stars look great on the siding, then disappear the moment they hit a window. Glass is clear, so most of the projected light passes straight through into the room. The picture ends up with dark holes exactly where many houses have their most interesting shapes.

What Window Mapping Film does

Window Mapping Film goes on the outside of suitable windows. Instead of letting projected light pass through, it gives that light a surface to catch, so the projected image shows on the glass as part of the show. Snowflakes can drift across the whole front of the house, a wreath can glow in an upstairs window, and a countdown can sit right in the middle of a picture window.

When the projector is off, the film stays largely see-through: about 92% light transmission with 4.5–7% haze, so the windows still look and work like windows.

Sizes

The film is 0.075 mm thick and comes in rolls 49 in (1.24 m) wide, in lengths from 10 to 100 ft, with custom lengths on request. Measure each window you want in the show and send us the sizes. Glass type and exterior exposure are checked for each project before you order.

Christmas ideas that use the windows

• Glowing windows: warm candle-light or a fireplace glow in every window while snow falls on the siding.
• Characters in the windows: elves, a reindeer or Santa appearing one window at a time.
• Window frames as gifts: wrap each window in a projected ribbon and bow.
• A big picture window: use it as the centerpiece for a short animated story or a Christmas countdown.

Window film vs. rear projection film

They do different jobs. Window Mapping Film is for projecting onto the house from outside. Rear Projection Film turns a window or clear panel into a screen you project onto from behind, so the projector can stay indoors. That works well for a single window display, like a storefront or a front room facing the street.

Planning tips

• Map the windows in your projection software as separate shapes so you can give them their own content.
• Keep the projector outside and protected. A Homeline enclosure suits homeowners in milder climates; the climate-controlled Defender suits wet, freezing or coastal sites.
• Test at dusk and adjust brightness so the windows and siding look even.

Get started

Send us your window sizes, a photo of the house and your projector model, and we will help you plan the film and enclosure. Contact us or call 888-631-5880.

More reading: Christmas house projection mapping guide · Window Mapping Film · 10-step Christmas projector checklist