Anti-Microbial Archives

Find out how our anti-microbial screen protectors kill 99.9% of common bacteria on the spot.

Photodon is More Than Screen Protectors and Privacy Filters!

February 8, 2023 | By Jenny Sockol
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It's true that Photodon's most commonly used capability is the custom production of screen protectors and privacy filters. But did you know that our specialties extend beyond that?

Photodon offers so many more services and products than the screen protectors and privacy filters we are known for. Just a few of these capabilities include producing monitor hoods and laptop stands, using our multiple lasers to cut and even etch screen protectors, and installing customers' screen protectors on their devices in our clean room. Watch our capabilities video to see some of our talents and abilities.

You can also keep reading to learn more about what Photodon can do.

Screen Protectors

Laser-cutting screen protectors makes up the most of what we do. Along with all of the current devices on our site, we also create custom cut options for just about any other screen that exists.

Custom Cut Screen Protectors

Custom cutting is our specialty. With our top-of-the-line technology, we can cut any shape or size to meet your needs. Camera holes, notches, knobs, or different corners are no problem for our specialized team.

Privacy Filters

Photodon provides privacy filters for all industries that require that personal and other sensitive information be kept secure. We have 3 different types of privacy filter material, and they all start to reduce screen viewing at approximately 30 degrees and turn the screen nearly black at angles greater than 45 degrees.

Different Film Type Choices

Whether you need an anti-glare film, a clear film, or a privacy filter, Photodon has you covered with 13 different film choices available on our website. We are also able to supply specialty films for specific purposes depending on demand. Other companies only offer one or two types of material, but at Photodon, you can create a screen protector that fulfills your particular need.

Small and Large Diagonal Sizes

Photodon has incredible abilities that allow for the creation of screen protectors of all sizes. We cut screen protectors for devices as small as a watch face and as large as a 100-inch diagonal monitor, making us extremely versatile.

Multiple Lasers

Using a laser is a fast, efficient way to cut screen protector material. It's even faster when there are 2 lasers to process all the orders. Because of this, Photodon provides exceptional lead times, with many jobs shipping out the same or the next day. We also fulfill high volume orders faster, making our lead times very manageable for our business customers.

Clean Room

Photodon has a clean room, and we use it for customers who want us to install their screen protectors for them. Our clean room is built specifically to limit dust particles from getting under the screen protector, which is the main cause of a bad installation. Our experienced team has installed thousands of protectors onto devices for our customers. No size is too big for our Photodon team!

Monitor Hoods

Making monitor hoods is another Photodon specialty. We design them to help provide your monitor with shading from overhead or window light, and they come in two varieties: office and indoor-outdoor. Both styles are easy to install and remove, easy to clean, and can fold down for compact storage.

Microfiber Cloths

Photodon sells microfiber cloths. These high-quality cloths are great for scratch-free cleaning, and they pick up germs and bacteria. In addition, they are washable and even customizable. With our large assortment of colors, sizes, and 6 different styles, you can't go wrong with Photodon's microfiber cloths!

Etching

Our laser machines can etch words, designs, part numbers, or anything else you want directly onto your screen protector or microfiber cloths. There are many possibilities with our etching capabilities, and you are welcome to use your imagination. Label your screen protector with your name or a quote, or put a part number on it for easy identification. We also etch microfiber cloths, most commonly with a business name or logo.

Laptop Stands

One of Photodon's newest products is our laptop stand. The ingenius design allows for the perfect video conferencing angle for all your meetings. It's also adjustable, versatile, and easily portable. There are multiple advantages to this laptop stand, including ventilation for your laptop, four adustment levels, and four different colors.

Custom Products

Photodon's screen protectors can be used for more than protecting your devices. We have had customers use our screen protectors for projects such as creating a "floating" picture frame to protecting signatures on items.

Our acryllic material has also been used for a unique project for custom mazes in research settings.

Cleaners

Screen cleaners are essential to a more successful screen protector or privacy filter installation. That is why not only are they included in our complimentary installation kits, but you can also purchase any of Photodon's cleaners at any time. These installation kits are superb for maintenance of your screen protector or privacy filter as well, and they can also be used on so many other items around your home.

In Conclusion

As you can see, Photodon is more than just screen protectors and privacy filters.

Photodon employees are always happy and ready to help with any questions you may have. You can always contact us at 847-377-1185, M-F 9:00 am – 5:00 pm EST, or email us at [email protected].

The Two Most Important Things to Consider When Buying a Screen Protector

August 4, 2021 | By Don Basch
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Screen protectors first and foremost protect screens from irreversible damage such as scratches, dings, and harsh cleaning chemicals.  You can also use them to help protect your health, increase privacy, and reduce glare.  Most importantly, preserving your screen clarity makes your device useable for more years, saving you money and helping the environment.

The very first screen protectors in the early 2000s were transparent and glossy.  Manufactures have, over the years, added features to increase the usefulness of these screen savers.  The first was to create an anti-glare material, and they did this by etching the outer surface.  While this made an anti-glare, it also resulted in pixeling (distortion of the screen image).  These early versions of anti-glare were not suitable for close-up viewing of text or for color-critical applications.

This image shows the basic structure of a screen protector.  Anti-shock material would have an additional layer on top of the base layer.

Technology has since improved and advanced to correct pixeling and has gone on to solve many other problems.  Manufacturers now offer clear, anti-glare, anti-microbial, blue-light cut, privacy, shock-absorbing, hard-coated scratch-resistant, ultra-thin flexible materials, and many other specialty materials.  Most screen protectors are used on flat screens and adhere to the screen with silicone resin.  The new ultra-thin products usually have a higher adhesion and can bend and adhere to curved surfaces such as phones that wrap around OLED screens and large curved monitors.

When purchasing a screen protector, it would seem like a simple, straightforward decision, and it can be if you want general screen protection.  But for those who have a unique application or need to purchase for a product that you or your company are manufacturing, you need to get the best screen protector that meets specific standards or requirements.  For instance, will the device be used indoors or outdoors, be used on an office monitor, a drawing tablet, a vehicle in-dash vehicle in-dash, or a public kiosk?  Each of these devices have special considerations.

1. What is the main reason(s) you are looking to cover your device screen?

a. Extending the life of your device

  • Most screen protectors cover the screen to keep it looking new.  However, cheap screen protectors may not have the clarity you need.  A higher-quality screen protector with other features may better fit your needs.

b. Reducing screen surface glare

  • Glare reduction is accomplished on a screen protector by two methods:  etching or, most recently, by applying nanoparticles evenly over the outer surface.  This newer method creates a much better image than the anti-glare materials of years ago, significantly reducing past pixeling issues.
  • If it is most important to maintain image quality, reading text, or working with color-critical applications such as Photoshop or prepress work, you are best served by considering a light anti-glare or no anti-glare (glossy) screen protector.  Medium to heavy anti-glare screen protectors will gray out in sunlight when viewing from the side.  In addition, for some color-critical applications, consider purchasing a monitor hood to reduce ambient light on the screen.  A monitor hood puts nothing between you and the screen image and takes some of the overhead and side light off the screen. Photodon makes monitor hoods for almost any monitor for both office and industrial applications.

c. Protecting from excessive cleaning or harsh cleaning chemicals

  • These can degrade the screen when cleaning repeatedly, especially with chemicals such as bleach or alcohol.
  • Using the wrong cleaner on a screen can permanently damage the anti-glare and other coatings of your device.

d. Reducing fingerprinting

  • Fingerprints on a touchscreen such as in a vehicle can be incredibly annoying; using a light anti-glare screen protector will help with this issue.  Avoid higher anti-glare in vehicles as they tend to gray out when viewing from an angle.  Oleophobic coatings allow the removal of fingerprints more easily by utilizing a microfiber cloth.

e. Eliminating most germs and microbes

Anti-Microbial

  • If you have concerns about germs and microbes on your touchscreen, especially on a shared device, an anti-microbial screen protector may be the product for you.  The top layer contains zinc, and microbes cannot live on surfaces that contain zinc.

f. Protecting eyes and help with sleep patterns

Blue Light Cut

  • Help regulate your sleep patterns.  Blue light from the screen can disrupt your body's natural production of melatonin.
  • Reduce eye stress; reducing blue light reduces eye stress related to long hours of screen viewing.
  • Screen protectors that block the Ultraviolet spectrum act more like filters because they filter out most UV and the highest end of the blue light spectrum.  Filters work in both directions so that a blue light cut material will protect both the display from direct sun and the user from any UV and higher end blue light.

g. Protecting information on the screen

Privacy Filters

  • Privacy filters reduce visibility of information on your screen from side viewing, while keeping the information on the screen visible to the user.  They also protect digital gear from damage and glare, as well as reduce UV and blue light.
  • There are three versions of privacy filters:

–Two-way, which provides privacy from the left and right (or top and bottom depending on the orientation of your screen), with fully backed adhesion.  This type is recommended for one installation only, as removing and re-installing will result in an unclear viewing area once it is reapplied.

–Two-way, which provides privacy from the left and right (or top and bottom depending on the orientation of your screen), adhered with adhesive tabs.  This type is easier to apply and can be installed and removed many times.

–Four-way, which provide privacy from both sides, the top, and the bottom.  These have fully backed adhesion and are best used on tablets, phones, and kiosks.  This type is recommended for one installation only, as removing and re-installing will result in an unclear viewing area once it is reapplied.

For more information on how privacy filters work, visit our blog:  How are Privacy Filters Made, and How do they function? (photodon.com)

2. Where is the screen device being used?

Does the environment require a special purpose screen protector material?

a. Harsh environment

  • If using your device in environments such as an auto shop with diagnostic equipment or for fieldwork, you may want a higher scratch or shock resistance screen protector for your touchscreen. Anti-shock protectors give you an added level of protection by adding an extra layer of shock-absorbing material laminated to the primary layer.  In addition, these anti-scratch screen protectors have a special hard coating applied to the top surface.  Shops and manufacturing facilities using a human-machine interface (HMI) are examples of environments where these film types are helpful.

b. Public transportation

  • If you do a lot of traveling on public transportation, a privacy filter may be an excellent choice to keep information on your screen private to only you.

c. Busy open office environments and any business that needs to adhere to HIPPA

  • If you work in a medical, financial, or government setting, privacy filters will also be the best choice to keep information private.

d. Church

  • Churches often have big screen TVs and have found that glare is an issue.  Anti-glare protectors prove to be the best for better visibility.

e. Restaurant or other public place

  • If multiple users are using an ordering system such as in restaurants or stores, chances are there are germs and microbes on the screen.  Our anti-microbial film reduces germs and microbes by 99%.  Hopefully, the screens are being cleaned regularly, which is another reason a protector would benefit in this situation.

If you want a quick answer as to what type of film to purchase from the Photodon website, click this link to our film type questionnaire.

We are happy to help you with any question you may have.  If needed, please contact us at 847-377-1185, M-F 9:00am – 5:00pm EST, or email us at [email protected].

Protect Your Employees and Your Expensive Equipment With Anti-Microbial Screen Protectors

June 10, 2020 | By Jolynn Paige
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The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the workplace for the unforeseeable future, and Photodon is here to help our business partners protect their digital equipment and themselves with our durable anti-microbial screen protectors. Digital equipment in the workplace – timeclocks, office computer screens, informational kiosks, cafeteria ordering screens, or any other screen that employees touch – can be protected from damage by using a screen protector.

Why do we need anti-microbial films?
Now, more than ever, keeping digital surfaces free from bacteria and viruses is essential in the workplace.  While our anti-microbial film (AMC) does not kill viruses, it does kill 99%+ of bacteria that hits the surface, which gives companies an added level of confidence that they are providing a safe environment for their employees.

Instead of bacteria accumulating and multiplying on the screen surface, anti-microbial screen protectors drastically reduce the risk of transmission of common bacterial infections such as strep, e. coli, and salmonella.  When these micro-organisms hit the surface of our AMC film, the zinc in the surface layer of the screen protector creates an uninhabitable environment for bacteria.  SGS Test Report for Photodon Anti-Microbial AMC

How does Photodon’s anti-microbial film hold up to disinfecting type cleaners?
Anti-microbial screen protectors can be cleaned with disinfectant cleaners used in implementing rigorous workplace disinfecting procedures.  While we are unable to say exactly how long one of our screen protectors will withstand regular cleaning with harsh chemicals, we do know that replacing the screen protector is much less expensive than replacing the device screen itself.  We have repeatedly heard from companies about how expensive and unproductive it is when their digital equipment gets damaged from heavy usage or improper cleaning. We also hear from them how happy they have been with the results of using our screen protectors.  There is no doubt that we are helping them save time and money.

Photodon’s Anti-Microbial Screen Protector features:

  • Kills 99+% of tested bacteria
  • Protects your device screen from harsh cleaning products
  • Reduces absenteeism
  • Is recommended for all devices, especially ones in medical-type facilities
  • Has a glass-like smooth touch
  • Has an oleophobic coating for easy cleaning
  • Retains all touch-screen features, even when wearing rubber gloves
  • Is highly transparent
  • Does not cause damage to the screen due to silicone adhesion 
  • Is easily removable with no residue
  • Is available on any device up to 82.5" with 16:9 aspect ratio

More info

How does Photodon anti-microbial film work?

Zinc Oxide is embedded in the polyethylene terephthalate (PET) protective film.

 

Zinc Oxide damages the bacterial cell membranes, thus preventing them from reproducing and destroying them on contact.

Why Choose Photodon AMC Anti-Microbial Screen Protectors?
Our anti-microbial screen protectors are free of any harmful chemicals and compounds, they are tough once installed but easily removable with no damage to the screen, and they can retain anti-microbial properties indefinitely with normal cleaning. They are effective in eliminating over 99% of bacteria (pathogens). Our films are also cost-effective and durable.  We can custom cut any shape and size anti-microbial film (up to 82.5 inches) with no minimum order quantity, fast turn-around time, and discounts on bulk and multi-piece orders.  When you work with Photodon, you know you will be working with a team of professionals dedicated to helping you with all your digital screen protection needs.

You can contact us at 847-377-1185, M-F 9:00a.m – 5:00pm EST, or email us at [email protected].