The Difference Between First Surface and Second Surface Decal Installations

GH Imaging offers clear vinyl decals in static or pressure sensitive forms. They are printed full color and are very easy to install. Graphics are always printed on the non-adhesive or static side

They can be applied two ways: First Surface or Second Surface.

First Surface

First Surface refers to applying a decal directly to the glass surface. The art is on the front side of the print. When standing outside, you view the print directly.

You can also choose to use a spot white underbase on your first-surface decal. This is a layer of white ink printed behind the art to make your design more vibrant while keeping the background transparent. A decal without the underbase isn’t as bright and can be slightly washed out from sunlight.

Second Surface

Second surface refers to applying decals to the interior side of glass. These will be viewed from the outside by looking through the glass. Second surface decals are always reverse-printed. Reverse printing is simply a mirrored image of the art so it can be viewed correctly from the outside once installed.

Second Surface decals can be printed with a spot white underbase or with a white flood coat. A flood coat is a layer of white printed over the back of the image. This is used when you want the whole decal needs to be white instead of the default clear.

To recap this are the 5 ways to produce and install clear window signs:

First Surface Install – No White Underbase

First Surface Install – With White Underbase 

Second Surface Install – No White Underbase

Second Surface Install – White Underbase

Second Surface Install – White Flood Coat