This article consists of a collection of frequently asked questions about all the different types of reflective tapes. If you have a question to add, please email me at steve@reflectivestore.com . How does reflective tape reflect? Reflective tapes reflect light back to the source by receiving light, bending light, and bouncing it back to the…
Our company, Reflective Inc., stocks a large variety of reflective tapes and sheeting. This includes adhesive reflective tapes, sew on, and heat applied. The article below lists every tape that we carry in house and gives a brief summary of what each is used for as well as its characteristics. For most of our tapes,…
“Retro Reflective Tape” is defined as a thin white or colored film (aka sheeting) that reflects light back to the source of the light using either glass spheres or man made prisms. The film normally adheres to a surface using a self-adhesive peel and stick backing. However, for garments and fabrics, they would have a…
Reflective tape and sheeting have been making the night time a safer place for over 80 years. During that time, reflective tapes in their various forms have saved countless lives by improving visibility both day and night. Before discussing how retro reflective tape works, it is important to make a distinction between a simple “reflective”…
One question that we have a lot of customers ask is, what is the brightest reflective tape? This is a common question, since often people associate the brightest tape with the best tape. But the fact is, the brightest tape is not always the best for an application. There are other characteristics of reflective films,…
Twelve Types of Reflective Tape – Deciding Which One is Best for You. Introduction Reflective tapes vary in brightness, flexibility, conformability, adhesion, durability, vividness, and color. These are all factors to weigh when choosing a reflective tape to use for your particular application. This article will discuss each type of “standard solid colored reflective tapes”…
First and foremost, this article is not legal advice. If you are concerned about the legality of anything you are doing to your vehicle, consult your local law enforcement office and any other agencies that you deem necessary. The information below is what I know to the best of my knowledge. This question of is…
What Sets Prismatic Reflective Tape Apart from Glass Bead Tapes? Glass bead tapes and prismatic tapes are the 2 types of reflective tape available on the market today. The first reflective tapes used glass bead technology and were invented by 3m in the 30’s. Then Reflexite invented micro prismatic tape in the 1960s. It is interesting that even…
If you can see an object, it is technically reflective since it is bouncing light to your eyes. For a surface to be reflective, it simply has to throw or bounce back light from its surface without absorbing all of it. Most objects use scattered or diffused reflectivity where light is scattered everywhere. A mirror…
The need for Retro Reflective Devices that could be seen when struck by light at night came about from the introduction of the car into the modern world. From the beginning, automobiles came with lights. However, simply having lights on a dark road was not nearly enough to assure personal safety and prevent serious accidents….