Two retrofits, opposite philosophies
A capacitive touch foil becomes part of the glass: a 0.155 mm transparent film laminated behind the pane, invisible, permanent, sensing through the glass itself. An infrared frame bolts onto the display: visible as a slim bezel profile, removable in minutes, sensing above the glass. Both convert existing displays into touch screens. Everything else about them differs, and those differences — not specifications — should make the decision.
The five deciding differences
1. The glass
Foil needs a glass pane to live behind: a storefront window, a protective glass front, a glass partition. No glass, no foil. A frame needs only a display with a bezel landing zone — no extra glass at all.
2. Permanence
Foil is laminated for the life of the installation; moving it means new foil. A frame unbolts and follows the display to its next room. Temporary and fleet programmes choose frames; architectural programmes choose foil.
3. The touching object
Foil is capacitive: bare fingers (and capacitive styli) only. A frame senses gloves and any stylus. Winter retail through a window is foil's home turf — the customer is outside with bare hands on glass; a warehouse terminal with gloved operators is frame territory.
4. Size economics
Foil in this catalogue runs 17–86 inches; frames run 15–500. Small-to-medium architectural glass favours foil; anything beyond a shop window favours frames.
5. Failure and service
A damaged foil is a glass-out replacement. A damaged frame is a swap of the profile or its PCBA — the components exist precisely so the sensing can be serviced without touching the display.
| Choose foil when | Touch must happen through existing glass; the front must be perfectly flush; the install is permanent; users are bare-handed |
|---|---|
| Choose a frame when | The display may change; gloves or styli are used; the size is above 86″; serviceability matters; the programme is temporary or fleet-based |
Describe your glass, your users and your programme length in the inquiry and the reply will commit to one route — with the reasoning you can hand to your client or your facilities team.