Madico’s Architectural window film portfolio encompasses far more than traditional solar control. From premium designer films and high-performance solar control to decorative privacy solutions and specialty films for non-traditional substrates, the Madico portfolio is designed to address a wide range of glazing challenges.
For an experienced installer, the challenge isn't understanding what window film does. It is understanding which film construction and appearance best matches the glazing, environment, and customer's requirements.
Madico organizes its Architectural portfolio into four primary categories: Sunscape® Premium, Solar Control, Decorative, and Special Purpose.
Within each category, there are different sub-categories made from varying film technologies and aesthetics. Understanding those distinctions can make product selection more precise.
This guide breaks down the portfolio from the installer’s perspective.
Part 1: Understanding Film Categories and Types
The Four Madico Architectural Film Categories
These categories are not steps on a performance ladder, rather serve as different application solutions.
Category | Primary Objective | What Differentiates It |
Sunscape® | Premium solar control + aesthetics | Premium positioning, designer finishes and multiple solar-control technologies |
Solar Control | Controls heat, glare, UV, privacy, and appearance | Broadest range of solar-control constructions and performance profiles |
Decorative | Privacy functionality, appearance, and graphics | Changes the visual character or transparency of existing glass |
Special Purpose | Unique glazing challenges | Purpose-built solutions for specialty substrates and specialized environments |
Sunscape®: Premium Solar Control with a Refined Finish
Sunscape is Madico's premium architectural solar control line, combining solar performance with a more refined, designer-oriented aesthetic.
The line includes several different technologies, including neutral, dual-reflective, selective and ceramic films, so Sunscape should not be thought of as one film. Instead, it is a premium family of solar-control solutions intended for customers who place a high value on both performance and finished appearance.
The Sunscape line is designed to enhance the look of a space while providing solar control benefits like UV rejection, glare and heat reduction, energy savings, fading protection, and privacy enhancement.
When to consider Sunscape
Sunscape is particularly appropriate when the customer says:
“I want the best performing window film for my home, but I also care deeply about the finished look.”
That can mean a subtle, natural appearance, a warmer architectural tone, reduced reflectivity, or a sophisticated non-reflective finish.
Sunscape Film Technologies
Neutral
Neutral Sunscape films provide solar control while maintaining a natural, understated appearance.
Think: solar performance without making the glass visually dominant.
Designer Grey provides a soft grey appearance with strong solar-control characteristics while maintaining a non-reflective appearance.
Best suited for: Customers wanting a contemporary grey appearance without a highly reflective finish.
Softlite provides a soft earth-tone appearance designed to complement a broad range of architectural environments. Madico currently lists glare reduction up to 75%, TSER up to 71% and UV rejection above 99%.
Best suited for: Projects where a warm, natural appearance is as important as solar control.
DUAL REFLECTIVE
Dual-reflective construction addresses one of the most important practical tradeoffs in solar control: exterior solar performance and privacy versus interior reflectivity at night that accompanies some traditional reflective films.
The objective is to provide a more reflective exterior appearance while reducing the amount of reflection experienced from inside the building at nighttime.
Think: strong daytime performance with improved nighttime viewing from the inside out.
Duralite is a neutral true-gray dual-reflective solution with low outside reflectivity designed to provide solar energy reduction while minimizing interior and exterior reflectance. Duralite's unique construction and appearance provides durable performance in all environments.
Best suited for: Residential applications requiring moderate solar performance with a relatively neutral appearance and reduced interior reflection to maintain nighttime views.
Starlite is engineered to provide high heat reduction while minimizing interior reflections associated with conventional solar-control films. Its primary value is the combination of powerful solar control and glare reduction with improved nighttime viewing.
Best suited for: Residential and commercial applications where the customer requires high solar control and nighttime, inside out viewing.
SELECTIVE
Selective films are designed to reject targeted portions of the solar spectrum, particularly infrared energy, while maintaining high visible light transmission.
Think: high heat rejection without making the glass look dark.
Purelite is an extremely light selective film designed to provide balanced solar performance while maintaining a neutral appearance.
Best suited for: Spaces where maintaining daylight and a bright, natural appearance is especially important.
CERAMIC
Ceramic films use advanced ceramic particle technology to provide solar performance without a metallic or mirror-like appearance.
Think: premium solar control with a clean, non-reflective finish.
Advanced Ceramic uses nano ceramic particle technology to provide solar control while maintaining a non-reflective appearance. The film slightly darkens the glass while reducing heat and glare without creating a metallic appearance.
Best suited for: Customers who want solar performance without a reflective look.
Solar Control: Madico's Broadest Solar-Performance Portfolio
This category gives installers multiple ways to approach solar energy, glare, UV, privacy and appearance. The key is understanding that two films can both be called “solar control” while producing very different experiences.
The four primary Solar Control sub-categories are:
· Neutral
· Dual Reflective
· Reflective
· Exterior
Neutral Solar Control Films
Neutral films are intended for customers who want solar performance without dramatically changing the appearance of the glass.
They are generally the starting point when the customer wants:
· Heat reduction
· Glare reduction
· UV protection
· A clean architectural appearance
· Minimal visual reflectivity
Solar Grey provides a clean, contemporary grey appearance while reducing heat and glare without creating a highly reflective finish.
Installer takeaway: A versatile neutral choice when the customer wants a modern appearance without bronze or mirror-like reflectivity.
Solar Bronze takes a different aesthetic approach, using a warm bronze tone while providing solar-control performance.
The warmer appearance can complement brick, stucco and Southwestern-style architecture particularly well.
Installer takeaway: Choose when the architecture benefits from warmth rather than a cool grey appearance.
Dual Reflective Solar Control Films
Dual-reflective films are particularly useful when the customer wants to balance daytime solar performance and privacy with nighttime visibility.
This is an important distinction from conventional reflective film.
A customer may love the daytime performance of a highly reflective film but discover that interior reflectivity becomes distracting after dark. Dual-reflective construction is designed to address that issue.
Optivision is Madico's premium dual-reflective solar-control solution.
Its construction reduces interior reflectivity while maintaining strong solar control, helping provide clearer nighttime views. The film also provides glare reduction, UV protection and daytime privacy, with darker configurations providing greater privacy.
Installer take away: When the customer says, “I need heat rejection, but I still want to see out at night,” choose Optivision.
Optivision Reflective is the darker VLTs – 15% & for significant daytime privacy and reflectivity while maintaining the dual-reflective concept.
This makes it a useful option when the customer wants more visual privacy than standard dual-reflective solutions provide, as in for a business that operates day and night.
Installer take away: More privacy and stronger reflective appearance, while retaining the benefits of dual-reflective construction.
Reflective Solar Control Films
Reflective films use a strongly reflective appearance as part of their solar-control strategy.
They are particularly effective when high solar performance and daytime privacy are priorities and the customer is comfortable with a more pronounced architectural appearance.
Reflective Silver is designed for the highest efficiency solar control with a clean, modern reflective appearance.
It is particularly appropriate for commercial properties, high-rises and projects where the reflective appearance is acceptable, or even desirable.
Installer take away: Strong solar performance + reflective architecture + daytime privacy.
Exterior Solar Control Films
Exterior films deserve their own discussion because “Exterior” describes the application, not simply appearance.
Exterior films are specifically engineered for application to the outside surface of the glazing and are designed with weatherable construction for environmental exposure.
They are particularly useful when:
· Interior access is limited
· The glass is laminated or triple-pane, posing risk of breakage
· Interior application creates a potential thermal or application concern
· A consistent exterior treatment is desired across complex glazing
In other words, an exterior film isn't simply “the same film installed outside” and an exterior application requirement should be established early in the product-selection process.
Solar Grey Exterior provides the neutral grey aesthetic and solar-control approach of Solar Grey in a configuration intended for exterior application.
Solar Bronze Exterior provides a warmer architectural appearance while addressing projects requiring exterior application.
Reflective Silver Exterior combines the reflective aesthetic and strong solar-control approach of Reflective Silver with an exterior application configuration.
Installer take away: When exterior application is required, be familiar with your exterior solar control options.
Decorative: When the Glass Itself Is Part of the Design
Decorative films address a different problem than solar control. The question is no longer primarily: “How much solar energy can we reject?”
Instead, it becomes: “What should this glass look like, and how much should people be able to see through it?”
Madico's Decorative portfolio includes Black Out, White Out, Frost Matte, Misty Dew, and Printables.
Black Out provides complete visual coverage by blocking 100% of light transmission. It is the strongest privacy solution in the Decorative portfolio and can also be plotted into logos, patterns and graphics.
Best suited for: Complete privacy and visual obstruction.
White Out provides a clean white appearance and blocks nearly 90% of visible light, making it an excellent solution for spaces where separation, coverage, or privacy is needed without the cost or permanence of replacing the glass.
Best suited for: Bright, clean privacy applications where substantial visual obstruction is desired.
Frost Matte provides the familiar appearance of frosted glass while allowing light to continue into the space. It is an effective solution when the customer wants privacy without creating a completely dark or closed-off environment.
Best suited for: Offices, partitions, bathrooms, doors and other spaces requiring visual separation with natural light.
Misty Dew offers a matte appearance similar to Frost Matte but with a more distinctive texture.
Best suited for: Projects where a conventional frost isn't quite distinctive enough and the design calls for additional texture.
Printables turn architectural glass into a customizable graphic surface. The film is optically clear and designed to accept printed designs, images, patterns and graphics. Madico Printables comes also comes in a unique 72-inch roll width.
Best suited for: Branding, graphics, architectural patterns, signage, and custom designs.
Special Purpose: Purpose-Built Solutions for Unique Applications
Special Purpose films address situations where a conventional architectural film isn't necessarily the right tool.
Madico describes the category as solutions for unique glazing challenges involving adhesion, UV protection and non-traditional substrates.
The current portfolio includes Amber 81 and Blister Free
Amber 81 is designed to provide specialized UV filtration while allowing safe visible light transmission. This makes it fundamentally different from conventional solar-control products. Its primary purpose is controlled UV management, rather than simply reducing solar heat. Primary applications including clean rooms, hospital operating rooms, and facilities serving people with severe sunlight sensitivity.
Best suited for: Specialized environments where UV filtration is the primary requirement.
Blister Free is designed for uncoated acrylic and polycarbonate surfaces, where conventional film adhesive systems can experience moisture-related blistering or delamination.
For use on specialty substrates and applications including transit systems, schools, ATMs, kiosks and information displays, as well as skylights, sunrooms, bus shelters, and other acrylic windows.
Blister Free can be used as a foundation on acrylic or polycarbonate as a base film beneath solar-control and decorative films.
Best suited for: Specialty plastic glazing where adhesion is critical and there is a desire for solar control or decorative film application.
Part 2: A Practical Approach
Selecting the Right Madico Film
Step 1: What is the primary objective?
Solar control?
→ Sunscape or Solar Control
Privacy or aesthetics?
→ Decorative
Specialty substrate or specialized UV requirement?
→ Special Purpose
Step 2: If it is solar control, what matters most?
Customer priority | Start with |
Premium aesthetic + solar control | Sunscape |
Natural/neutral appearance | Neutral |
High heat rejection with lighter appearance | Selective |
Reduced interior reflection at night | Dual Reflective |
Strong daytime privacy | Reflective / Reflective Dual Reflective |
Non-reflective solar control | Ceramic |
Exterior installation | Exterior |
Step 3: Consider the viewing environment
Does the customer experience the glass primarily:
· During the day
· At night
· From inside
· From outside
· From both sides throughout the day
This is particularly important when comparing Reflective vs. Dual Reflective films.
A film can perform exceptionally well from a solar-control standpoint and still be the wrong recommendation if the customer's primary complaint is nighttime interior reflection.
Step 4: Consider the substrate
Before selecting a conventional glass film, confirm what you're actually installing on.
Glass? Conventional architectural-film selection applies.
Acrylic or polycarbonate? Investigate Special Purpose solutions such as Blister Free.
Laminated or triple-pane glazing? Evaluate whether an exterior application is more appropriate.
Highly specialized UV environment? Consider Amber 81.
The Installer's Quick-Reference Guide
The easiest way to remember the Madico Architectural portfolio is:
· Sunscape = premium solar control.
· Solar Control = choose the performance/appearance construction.
· Decorative = change the glass.
· Special Purpose = solve the unusual problem.
Solar Control Quick Reference
Film | Sub-Category | Primary Differentiator | Appearance | Key Application Consideration |
Sunscape Designer Grey | Neutral | Neutral premium aesthetic | Grey | Contemporary, non-reflective appearance |
Sunscape Softlite | Neutral | Warm aesthetic + solar control | Earth tone | Warm architectural environments |
Sunscape Duralite | Dual Reflective | Dual-reflective solar control | Neutral gray | Reduce reflectance while maintaining performance |
Sunscape Starlite | Dual Reflective | Dual-reflective solar control | Reflective | Nighttime viewing |
Sunscape Purelite | Selective | Light selective film | Very light/neutral | Preserve daylight and views |
Sunscape Advanced Ceramic | Ceramic | Non-reflective solar control | Natural/slightly darkened | Premium appearance without metallic look |
Nova 70 | Neutral | Very light selective solar control | Nearly clear | Heat rejection while preserving daylight |
Solar Grey | Neutral | Neutral solar control | Soft grey | Clean, contemporary appearance |
Solar Bronze | Neutral | Warm solar control | Bronze | Warm architecture / distinctive appearance |
Reflective Silver | Reflective | High solar performance | Reflective | Commercial/high-rise applications |
Optivision | Dual Reflective | Dual-reflective solar control | Reflective exterior / reduced interior reflection | Nighttime views |
Optivision Reflective | Dual Reflective | More privacy + dual-reflective construction | More reflective | Stronger daytime privacy |
Solar Grey Exterior | Exterior | Neutral solar control | Grey | Exterior application required |
Solar Bronze Exterior | Exterior | Warm solar control | Bronze | Exterior application + warm aesthetic |
Reflective Silver Exterior | Exterior | Reflective solar control | Reflective | Exterior application + strong performance |
Decorative Quick Reference
Film | Primary Objective | Approximate Visual Effect | Best Option When… |
Black Out | Complete privacy | 100% light blockage | Nothing should be visible through the glass |
White Out | Strong privacy | Nearly 90% visible-light blockage | Customer wants bright white visual coverage |
Frost Matte | Privacy + daylight | Frosted/translucent | Customer wants privacy without darkness |
Misty Dew | Privacy + daylight + texture | Textured matte | Customer wants something beyond conventional frost |
Printables | Graphics/customization | Custom image/design | Glass needs branding, graphics or patterns |
Special Purpose Quick Reference
Film | Primary Objective | Substrate / Environment | Best Option When… |
Amber 81 | Specialized UV filtration | Specialized environments | UV management is the primary requirement |
Blister Free | Moisture-resistant adhesion | Acrylic/polycarbonate | Conventional film risks blistering |
The Bottom Line
The Madico Architectural portfolio is easiest to navigate when thinking in terms of application assessment rather than product memorization.
The right film isn't simply the one with the darkest shade, highest heat rejection, or most attractive appearance. It is the film whose construction, physical/optical characteristics, solar performance, reflectivity, application location, and substrate compatibility best match the project.
Ultimately what makes the Madico portfolio so valuable is that it gives installers multiple ways to solve a broad customer concern - comfort, heat, glare, privacy, appearance, and/or protection - while tailoring the project to the specific glazing, customer requirements, and/or the way a space is used.
If you have more questions, please contact your Madico Sales Representative or local Service Center.