Buy Window Coverings with Confidence By Sarah Vande Krol

There are many factors that contribute to selecting the right covering for your window. The main functional reasons to install window coverings are light control and privacy. Additional factors include durability, life expectancy, cleaning, versatility, formality, attractiveness, safety, and price.

Light Control

The most difficult functional factor to control is light, and most window coverings fall in one of five categories:

Transparent - Clear, without obstruction

Translucent - Diffused light, preventing perception of distinct images

Filtered - Muted light in bright conditions

Semi-Opaque - Surfaces impenetrable by light, yet allows some light through gaps

Opaque (or Black-Out) - Blocks all light

Transparent describes an open window with clear glass. Few windows are left completely open unless the building is in a private setting with foliage or an overhang that block direct sunlight.

Translucent describes a window covering that is sheer or with components that are spaced for privacy. Included in this category are light fabric drapes and bamboo shades.

Filtered window coverings allow subtle transmissions of light. This grade includes medium fabric drapes and most mini-blinds.

Semi-opaque defines window coverings that almost block all light, allowing some light into the room through narrow gaps or along the edges. Shutters are a prime example of window coverings in this category.

Opaque, or black-out, window coverings block out all light. Few coverings can completely prevent direct sunlight from penetrating the window. Some roll shades on the market claim to be able to block all light.

In addition to the degree of light the window covering will keep out, the amount of light a window covering will let in is just as important. A successful window treatment will convert most of the window to be transparent when desired. Many window coverings can open to allow a view of 80% or more through the window. Most window coverings are easy to use and can transform from open to closed without much effort.

Privacy

Privacy can be easily achieved with almost any window covering. The window treatment simply needs to be translucent or better to diffuse distinct images. Even frosted glass or glass block can give adequate levels of privacy.

Durability and Expected Life

By nature, a window opening is a harsh environment subject to direct sunlight, humidity, and fluctuating temperatures. Accompany these factors with frequent use and it is easy to understand why window coverings need to be well constructed. The overall life expectancy is usually less for fabric window treatment that can fade over time. Solid window coverings, such as shutters, have an extensive life expectancy.

Cleaning

All window coverings will collect dust and dirt. Fabrics are the most difficult to clean and are the most subject to stains. Furniture-quality window coverings will generally wipe clean with a light solution.

Versatility and Formality

Some window coverings work well in formal environments and others work best in casual living situations. Alternate window coverings are versatile and blend well with almost any room.

Style and Overall Attractiveness

A particular window cover might meet all of the functional needs, but if it is not attractive, there is no reason to proceed. Today's window fashions come in thousands of colors and patterns, providing a number of options for any decor.

Safety

Small children in the home can, and will, have contact with window coverings. Some treatments have cords to raise or lower for visibility. These could become a considerable hazard if they are within reach.

Window Design

Window configuration can limit the number of window coverings that can be used in a particular space. Shallow windows, trim molding with larger corner blocks, and bay (or bow) windows usually require special installations.

Price

While there is a large discrepancy in the cost of window coverings, it is important to weigh the overall value. The term value is overused in this consumer marketing society, but when purchasing long-term household items it is necessary to consider the return on investment. Window coverings on the low end of the price spectrum generally have a short life expectancy and low durability. Higher priced window coverings, like shutters, are designed to last the life of the home and retain its original character. Although more expensive, they will not need to be replaced.

Shutters are a hard window covering that is semi-opaque when closed, but provides great visibility when open. Furniture-quality wood shutters can be either painted or stained to meet the needs of most decorss. Shutters are extremely durable and have a long life expectancy, and are versatile for applications in formal or informal settings.

Sarah Wright is employed by Horizon Interior Shutters and ShutterLand Interior Shutters. She is a regular contributor of All About Shutters. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sarah_Vande_Krol

Window Cling - Tips on Working With Your Designs and Graphic Artist By Carla San Gaspar

Window clings are just amazing to look at. As they stick to the glass, they are like modern mosaics and are like art glass stained windows that embellish magnificent, old churches.

Large format prints such as window clings now adorn many urban landscapes as they become one of advertising’s arsenals. More than anything, it gives businesses a new tool and an even bigger space to spread its marketing gospel about. Just look around your city and you will easily find a large format print product that easily grabs your attention.

Large formats prints are about size. And the bigger the size of the advertisement, the larger the attention it commands. What even makes it a whole lot better especially for window cling is that these can be placed way above building windows.

Large window clings are definitely a sight to behold. On building windows, these giant non-adhesive signs often look like illustrations that came straight out of books. Colors on transparent film and glass appear like they were made using nothing but colorful crayons and pens.

Window cling applications are virtually limitless. As long as the surface is clean and smooth, window clings can stick anywhere. Aside from windows, you may also use them to stick on appliances and metal sheets. Just be sure to protect them from being exposed directly to the elements so that they will last longer.

Designing window clings

As with all advertising mediums, designs are what gives window clings their charm. Window clings excel in promoting products or brands in the market. It ably decorates windows while holding up advertisements.

Any image or illustration can readily be adapted into a window cling print, be it transparent or opaque. Use this medium wisely and know its strengths and weaknesses. Here are some design tips to help you out in your window cling design:

1. Know no limitations. Great ideas come from the most inventive minds.

2. Remember to use as many colors as you can to enhance your work.

3. Experiment with lines.

4. Try to see which one has more impact, a graphic design oriented vertically or horizontally.

5. Know which sizes works best for your window cling design and the background it is pitted against.

6. Window clings are not just rectangles or squares. Window clings can be die cut and fashion into the shape you want.

Graphic Artists

It is only sensible to hire a graphic artist if you truly want to maximize your window cling. A graphic artist can exhibit his skill to match your concepts. Work with him instead of asking him to decide on almost everything.

1. You can decide on which colors to use and the graphic artist would know how to combine them more effectively.

2. You can dictate the color scheme you want and the graphic artist again, would make certain adjustments so that the colors you want would blend more successfully.

3. You can describe all the details you want included in your window cling and the graphic artist can lay it out for you, without the design looking scattered or too much.

4. The more detailed you are with your concept, the better can your graphic artist conceive your plans.

5. Give your graphic some room for his own style to emerge and see if it works for what you had in mind.

6. Give your graphic artists some time to create various studies on the design you want.

Working on your window cling design may time you some time, so include a timeline for your design, printing and shipping so you can work well with your deadline.

Remember, window clings lasts for a long time so it really helps to give it some thought. And as you do that, it is also important to give a considerable amount of time deciding on which printing company to entrust you window cling printing to.

There are many large format printers out there so choose wisely as to who can deliver the results that you want and when you want them.

More on window signs tips and guides can be found at Large Format Posters Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Carla_San_Gaspar

Nautical Home Decor - A Budget Choice By Johnson V

Nautical home décor style is popular with many people irrespective on the geographical position. Bright sea colors along with sky blues and bright whites help create a décor that is cheerful and clean-looking. And the best part of nautical home décor is that it is easy to achieve, and budget saving at the same time!

Nautical home décor is simply a matter of bringing outdoor things inside. Free items like seashells, sand, or driftwood evoke the sea very effectively. While on a vacation, take this opportunity to pick up some items that you will later incorporate into your nautical home décor. Sea treasures look good displayed in an oversized clear vase, stacked on bookshelves or hung on the wall. All you need is a little basic hardware to turn your found items into a decoration or adornment.

Life for sailors is brutal; working on a windswept boat, getting knocked around by storms, and being beaten by waves. Boats and seagoing equipment do not look too pristine after they have worked the ocean for years. And luckily for the decorator, this distressed, sea-worn look is inexpensive to use in nautical home décor.

For example, the glass décor in a nautical home is appropriate if it is an old, worn lantern, or a retired glass float. It is clear which style is more affordable, and which style you are more likely to find in a quaint collectibles shop or Main Street antique mall.

Likewise, an oar or fishing pole from an antique store does not have to be finely refinished to be a good decorative accessory. Let the oar be splintered or worn; that is how it would actually look at work in the water.

Ships, boats, sails, and seashells are never fading decorating trends that are always safe bets when you create nautical home décor. Once in a while you will need to update your fabric choices, but the general themes and colors of nautical home décor never go out of style. This is advantageous for the home decorator.

The best fabrics for nautical home décor are cotton canvas, usually in shades of ecru or blue. Coincidentally, this is also very inexpensive and sturdy cloth for furniture and even curtains.

Unless you get tired of nautical home décor, there will never be any need to completely overhaul your interior design. Since it is always in style, you can shop for last year’s (or even the last decade’s) nautical accessories and save a huge amount on reproduction nautical home décor at discount stores.

For more information on Nautical Home Décor check out http://www.homedecordiscussion.com You'll find loads of tips and techniques plus you'll find answers to questions many others in your situation have asked before. But Hurry! For a limited time you can get your very own copy of our award winning Home Decor Software at absolutely no cost. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Johnson_V

How to Make Your Film Stand Out With Sound and Music - Part 1

As a filmmaker, you know there are several ways to manipulate your audience with camera angles, lighting, editing, etc. In the audio world, you have a great arsenal of tricks too. There are basically 2 kinds of audio in any motion picture.

1. Diegetic

2. Non-Diegetic.

The Greek word "Diegesis" means a recounted story. Oxford's English dictionary states "The narrative presented by a cinematographic film or literary work; the fictional time, place, characters, and events which constitute the universe of the narrative."

In other worlds, the world of your film.

Diegetic is the sound that is meant to be from the actual scene happening on screen like character voices, elements in the picture (cars, traffic, birds, etc) and music from instruments played on screen or from a radio or television (also known as "source music"). This diegetic sound can be on or off screen though it is always meant to be actual sound. Of course, nowadays in post-production, most of this is either created entirely by a sound designer and or sweetened by the mixer.

Non-Diegetic is the sound of artistic license. It's the sounds of commentary, narration, sound effects and the music soundtrack. This is where many purists have claimed that the use of such non-diegetic sound is articifial and contrived. Danish filmmakers Lars Von Trier and Thomas Vinterburg's Dogma 95 states "The sound must never be produced apart from the images or vice versa. (Music must not be used unless it occurs where the scene is being shot). " Of course Von Trier's Dancer in the Dark breaks these rules. Dogma 95 may be more of a publicity stunt like nailing your manifesto to the church doors. There is no question that music can heighten the mood, project emotions and stay ringing in your head as your leave the darkened theater to return to the real world. How effectively you use the music determines the level of "realism" and whether you even remember there was music in the scene.

Evoking Tension in Film

Tension is an emotion that is so effectively carried by the music in a film. Try watching any tense moment on film with the sound turned off and it's completely lost. I tried to watch the beginning of Monsters, Inc. with my young son recently. I had forgotten how scary the opening moments were - and my son has never seen anything scarier than Dora the Explorer or Maisy or Miffy. (Noggin is big in our house.) And as my son started to slink down into the couch, I reached for the volume to erase the scariness.

John Williams' two-note motif for the shark in Jaws still brings back terror to many. Flicking through the channels the other night, I stumbled on a film noir moment and the soundtrack was just chilling.

The Coen brothers' first film Blood Simple, scored by Carter Burwell, utilizes diagetic music as score and works extremely well. I didn't even notice it at first as the story had me so captivated.

In the final moments of the film, Frances McDormand's character is being hunted and is desperately trying to save herself. The music in the moments before this seem to be coming from her neighbor's window echoing through the courtyard. The diagetic then rushes up to the forefront building on the final moments. I found a clip of it in Spanish here on YouTube. The music I'm talking about starts at around 48 seconds in just before she breaks the light bulb.

Blood Simple won the Grand Jury Prize at the 1985 Sundance Film Festival. Not bad for a first film and shows how the use of these rather simple techniques, one can so effectively manipulate an audience. We'll be discussing more about film sound and music in future articles.

Andrew Ingkavet is a film composer and Head Monk of 300 Monks, an audio agency providing custom music services to film studios, ad agencies and more. You can learn more at http://300monks.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Andrew_Ingkavet

Stained Glass Windows for Less Using Decorative Window Film by Jason L Harrison

When it comes to decorating your home, people try to come up with different ideas to make their home stand above the rest. People are not looking to make their home something unusually different but they do want it to look great and have people notice their decorating ideas. One way of doing just that is by working with decorative window film. This allows you to do so much more for your home than just hanging up dark ugly curtains.

Glass doors If you want to change the whole atmosphere of any room that has a glass door, cover it with stained glass window film and give the room instant beauty. Most people like to choose a plain frosted look for doors with a design that has flowers or swirls in it. Others like to decide on a design that looks like it is etched into the glass. If you are having a hard time choosing between the two typesthen there are window films that combine both the etched and frosted look. No need to compromise, as you are able to get the best of both of these designs with just one choice!

Privacy and shade By using stained glass window film, you add both privacy and shade to your home. No matter which design you decide on, you will not only add beauty to the area but people will not be able to see in and it will help to reflect the light from the sun, which will help to keep your home much cooler in the warmer months. By reflecting the sun's rays away from the living room carpet, you also help to make your interior decorations last much longer. Simply put, the less UV radiationthe longer the colors and patterns on your items will last.

Types and styles There are many types and styles to choose from when you decide to go with privacy window cling. Two of the most popular styles are the frosted look and the etched glass look. Many people also like to incorporate floral prints to give the effect of a beautiful garden. You may also be adventurous and check out beveled and cut glass designs. These gorgeous window films allow you to present the look of stained glass, which will instantly change the whole atmosphere of your home. Not to mention that its more affordable then real stained glass windows by a significant margin!

Kitchens and bathrooms When changing the look of your home, many people can easily forget areas such as the kitchen windows as well as bathrooms. It is absolutely possible to change the entire feelof your bathroom by adding stained glass film to your standalone shower. This helps to make the room look larger, warmer and more inviting not to mention that it gives the person in the shower, much more privacy then just a normal clear glass door.

Areas to apply film Really, window film is able to be utilized in all areas of your home that are made of glass. Because of this, it is very simple to add flarein just a short amount of time. You can apply borders,jazz up room dividers, make your light fixtures more interesting, and even add an interesting mosaic to liven things up. Make sure to match the stained glass colors to your décor so that you can be sure that everything is in sync and that you are not going overboard. I often find that a little window decoration can go a long way. You definitely don't want to make your room too ostentatious!

Cost effective You do not have to spend a fortune to get the customized glass look. Stained glass window film is very affordable. It is important to know how much you are able to spend before you go and make your purchase. With dozens of designs and styles to choose from, you will be sure to find something in your budget that you will be pleased with. Of great importance, make sure you spend time upfront knowing what your end goal is. Take good measurements, and from there, your selection will be simple.

If you want to add flare to your home without spending your entire bank account, then stained glass window film is the way to go. You can change the look of any room by adding this film to a window, door, or a light fixture. The best part of using window film, is that most of us have the simple skills required to install it ourselves. Step by step guidance is also easily found online at many decorating focused websites.

Don't be afraid to experiment, research in magazines or online, and find what works for you. All in all, window film is a great addition for any weekend project.

About the Author

Jason Harrison is an avid amateur home decorator. He also loves writing and sharing detailed step by step guidance on how to turn new home decorating ideas into beautiful reality. For more Tips and Ideas on using Decorative Window Film or Stained Glass Window Film in your home visit his site.

7 Decorative Ideas For Stained Glass

Long ago, stained glass was strictly used in churches. Many individuals can remember sitting in a church marveling at the detail of the glass and wondering just how it happened. But, today, stained glass can be used in many different ways. In fact, you can add it to your décor to give your home or business an appeal like none other. How can you add stained glass to your home? Here are some ideas.

Idea 1: Windows! It makes great sense to add stained glass to your windows. When the light beams in, the room is filled with a wide range of colors and looks. And, you can use it in virtually any design that you would like. Add it to your front window for a unique and beautiful decorative feature in your home.

Idea 2: Doors. Many doors have that glass part of them that is hard to see through. This glass is there for security so that individuals can not see into the home. But, replacing it with stained glass will give you that same beauty but will provide a beautiful display on the front entrance to you home.

Idea 3: Mirrors. For those that have large sized mirrors within their home, including those that are placed on an entire wall, stained glass can be added on top of it to give an amazing effect.

Idea 4: Vases and Bowls. An interesting way to add a little color and light into your home is to use a vase that features stained glass. It provides hundreds of color options, styles galore and even more interesting things to talk about within your home. Decorative bowls for candy are also perfect here.

Idea 5: Your Coffee Table. When you have guests visit your home, do you allow them to see a dull and boring coffee table? Add a stained glass top to it and you’ll definitely have something to talk about.

Idea 6: Lamps and Lighting. One of the beauties of stained glass is the light that it allows through. The light is modified by the colors that you have selected and can add a beautiful tone to it. For a subtle or a dramatic look, look for stained glass lights.

Idea 7: Cabinet doors. A great way to add a décor element to a kitchen or to your television cabinet is for the doors to them to be made of stained glass. This will give you a beautiful look that is completely original. Use the colors that fit your needs and tastes, add more of those colors throughout the kitchen and get a beautiful look well worth the investment.

Adding stained glass to your home is the perfect way to spice things up. You choose the color scheme, the look and the design and you reap the rewards of beauty that is unlike anything else. And, when the sun shines on your stained glass, it will be nothing short of amazing.

Stain glass supplies and other ideas on how to work with stained glass is available athttp://www.stainedglasstogo.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Frank_Tobias

Decorate Your Home with Window Glass Film by Home Experts

Many home owners are not aware that they could easily decorate their houses using decorative window films. There are many types of window films that you can choose, but the most popular ones are the etched glass film and the stained glass films. As most films are now adhesive-free, installing them is a ease and you can easily peel them off if you do not like them.

All you need is just 15 minutes to see your ordinary glass being turned into something that looks as if it costs hundreds of dollars. There are also some films that can act as a mirror at the same time. Since decorative glass films are not affected by moisture and heat, they can be safely used within shower enclosure.

There are many types of decorative window films that are suitable to be used in shower or bathroom. Stained glass films beautify the bathroom while at the same time offer privacy. It also softly diffuse light that comes in, giving a very relaxing ambience. Stained glass films have many uses besides installing them on windows or glass doors. For example, they can also be used for glass candle votives or on clear glass lamp shades.

You can gather plenty of ideas and inspiration from your neighbourhood. You might notice that most of your neighbours will just install blinds and curtains to block out light. These are very monotonous and cut off light completely. You do not need to follow them.

Stained glass films are often used as decorative window films because it adds elegance and an air of grace to the room. However, you would not want to use it for all the windows. This depends very much on what type of window design you have and your budget. If you have a nine-pane window framed by wood, try installing them on every alternate panel.

There are many designs that you can choose from. If you do not like the stained glass look, then consider using etching glass film that makes your windows or doors to look like they are etched. When it comes to decorative window glass films, your imagination is the limit.

Installing window glass films in your home not only enhances its look, but there are many other benefits too. Window films helped to filter out UV ray and keep the heat out during the summer. During winter, it helps to keep the heat in the house. In either season, you will have lower electricity bill.

About the Author

There are many designs available for Decorative Window Glass Films. Note that not all window films are created equal, and you should be careful when choosing one from a reliable manufacturer.