Two-way mirrors in Croydon are often used to allow for one-way observation when an individual is being interrogated by the police. Two way mirrors are also used to act as camouflage for hidden cameras and TV Teleprompters also use the technology to reflect the text back to the news reader or performer. This allows the news reader to look directly into the camera, hence the viewer, when delivering his lines. Two way mirrors are often used in fast-food restaurants so the duty manager can keep a sharp eye on the smooth running of the operation.
A mirror is manufactured from a pane of glass, which has two surfaces, either one being suitable for the process referred to as “silvering.” The first surface of the mirror is called the front side. On the other side of the glass pane; this is referred to as “the front of the back” is where a thin layer of reflective material is applied. The metal is usually silver, tin or nickel and to deny any light from passing through, “the back of the back” is often given a coat of darkening paint. The result is a glass pane that reflects all the light forward through the glass from the silvering to the observer. When viewed from the back, side there is no reflection, hence no reflected image.
When creating two-way mirrors in Croydon, things change. Instead of a heavy-metal coating, an extremely thin coating of metal or acrylic is applied instead. When an observer looks at the mirror from the front side, he will see a reflected image as if it was a conventional mirror. Because the surface that was applied is so thin, some light will penetrate the glass instead of being reflected back. This allows a person who is looking through the glass from the back to observe an image. The image appears the same as it would if you were looking through a tinted glass.
When a two-way mirror is installed it simply looks like a large mirror in one room and a tinted window in the adjoining room. For the mirror to work best, the room which houses the mirrored surface should be much brighter than the room used for observation. It is the significant difference in illumination that makes the two-way mirror work. If the lighting was reversed, the person looking at the mirror could peer directly into the other room.
A clever way to determine if the mirror is two-way or conventional is what is called the “fingernail test.” If you touch the surface of the mirror and look at the reflection you should see the two fingernails meeting exactly if it is a one-way mirror. If it is a two-way mirror there will be a definite gap between the two fingernails.
Spring Lane Glass and Glazing specialises in one-way or two-way mirrors repair and replacement services in Croydon. Visit them.