Why Do Display Coating Problems Cost Businesses Money?
Every day, businesses lose productivity and customer satisfaction due to display readability issues. Outdoor kiosks become unreadable in sunlight. Medical equipment screens create dangerous glare for healthcare workers. Touch devices accumulate fingerprints, which can be frustrating for users and require regular cleaning. Industrial control panels reflect overhead lighting, making critical information difficult to see.
At Orient Display, we’ve engineered coating solutions to help manufacturers solve these exact problems across automotive, medical, industrial, and consumer applications. The right coating choice can mean the difference between a display that enhances user experience and one that creates operational headaches.
What Are AG, AF, and AR Display Coatings?
Display coatings are specialized surface treatments that solve specific visibility and usability problems. The three most effective solutions are:
AG (Anti-Glare) reduces harsh reflections and eye strain by creating a matte surface that scatters light, making displays more comfortable to view under bright lighting.
AF (Anti-Fingerprint) creates an oil and water-repelling surface that prevents fingerprint buildup and makes displays easier to clean, crucial for touch interfaces.
AR (Anti-Reflection) uses optical interference to eliminate mirror-like reflections while maintaining crystal-clear image quality, essential for outdoor and high-brightness applications.
How Do These Coatings Compare for Performance and Applications?
Based on our extensive testing and customer deployments, here’s how these coatings perform across key metrics:
| Coating Type | Primary Function | Surface Appearance | Best Applications | Key Benefit |
| AG (Anti-Glare) | Reduces harsh glare and eye strain | Matte finish with slight texture | Indoor displays, office equipment, reading devices | Enhanced visual comfort in bright environments |
| AF (Anti-Fingerprint) | Repels oils and fingerprints | Smooth, easy-to-clean surface | Touch screens, mobile devices, kiosks | Reduced maintenance, improved touch experience |
| AR (Anti-Reflection) | Eliminates reflections, increases light transmission | Crystal clear, transparent | Outdoor displays, automotive, high-end electronics | Maximum clarity and contrast in all lighting |
Can You Combine Different Coating Types?
Yes, and many applications benefit significantly from combined treatments. Here’s what our engineering experience has shown works best:
| Coating Combination | Performance Benefits | Best Use Cases | Trade-offs to Consider |
| AG + AR | Enhanced visual comfort with improved clarity | Automotive displays, industrial HMI | Slight reduction in sharpness due to AG matte effect |
| AG + AF | Comfortable viewing plus easy cleaning | Office equipment, indoor kiosks | AF layer must be matched to AG surface texture |
| AR + AF | Maximum clarity with fingerprint resistance | High-end smartphones, tablets, premium displays | Higher cost but superior user experience |
| AG + AR + AF | Complete protection and performance | Medical equipment, luxury automotive, outdoor industrial displays | Highest cost and processing complexity |
What’s the Best Coating for Outdoor Displays?
For outdoor applications, AR (Anti-Reflection) coating is typically the superior choice for outdoor use scenarios.
Outdoor displays face direct sunlight, which creates intense reflections that make screens unreadable. AR coating provides enhanced clarity and anti-reflection performance. AR coating can significantly improve visibility in bright outdoor conditions.
However, for cost-sensitive outdoor applications, AG coating is often recommended for cost-sensitive outdoor use, providing a reasonable compromise for glare reduction.
Our Recommendation: For applications requiring maximum clarity and outdoor visibility, choose AR coating. For budget-conscious applications, AG provides good value for outdoor glare reduction.
Which Coating Should Automotive Manufacturers Choose?
Automotive displays require the most demanding performance standards due to safety implications and harsh operating conditions. Based on our automotive partnerships, here’s what works:
For Dashboard and Center Console Displays: For automotive and industrial HMIs, we recommend:
- AG + AR or AG + AR + AF composite treatment provides optimal performance
- AG reduces glare and relieves visual fatigue
- AR reduces reflectance and enhances image clarity
- AF prevents fingerprint buildup that could obstruct critical information
For HUD (Head-Up Display) Applications:
- AR coating is essential to prevent double imaging
- Must achieve very low reflectance for optical clarity
- Requires high-performance AR treatment for durability
What Coating Works Best for Touch Devices?
Touch devices prioritize feel, cleanliness, and visual quality. Here’s our recommended approach:
For Consumer Electronics (Phones, Tablets):
- AF + AR combination delivers the best user experience
- AF coating provides a smooth touch feel and fingerprint resistance
- AR coating maintains display clarity and reduces battery drain from increased brightness compensation
For Industrial Touch Panels:
- AG + AF combination handles harsh usage patterns
- AG reduces glare in industrial lighting environments
- AF coating must withstand frequent cleaning with industrial solvents
How Are These Coatings Manufactured and Applied?
Understanding the manufacturing process helps explain performance differences and cost variations. Here are the primary methods we use:
AG (Anti-Glare) Processing Methods
Chemical Etching (Glass Applications)
- Process: Acid etching creates microscopic surface irregularities
- Performance: 88-91% light transmission, 3-6% reflectance
- Best for: High-durability applications, harsh environments
- Cost: Medium
AG Film Application
- Process: Micro-particle resin coating applied to PET film base
- Performance: 89-93% light transmission, 2-4% reflectance
- Best for: Cost-effective applications, easy installation
- Cost: Medium to high
AF (Anti-Fingerprint) Processing Methods
Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD)
- Process: Vacuum deposition of fluorinated compounds
- Performance: Contact angle up to 120°, >6H hardness
- Best for: High-durability, frequent-touch applications
- Cost: High
Solvent-Based Coating
- Process: Solution application of fluorosilane compounds
- Performance: Contact angle 100-115°, moderate durability
- Best for: Standard consumer applications
- Cost: Low to medium
UV-Cured Nanocoating
- Process: UV-polymerized fluoropolymer coating
- Performance: Contact angle 95-110°, good weather resistance
- Best for: Outdoor applications, balanced cost/performance
- Cost: Medium
AR (Anti-Reflection) Processing Methods
Vacuum Thin-Film Coating
- Process: Multi-layer optical films (MgF₂, SiO₂, TiO₂) deposited in vacuum
- Performance: <0.5% reflectance, 97-99% transmission
- Best for: Premium applications requiring maximum performance
- Cost: High
Sol-Gel Nanocoating
- Process: Spray or dip application of nanoscale materials
- Performance: 1-2% reflectance, 96-98% transmission
- Best for: Cost-effective AR solution
- Cost: Medium
Moth-Eye Nanostructure
- Process: Etched nanoscale surface structures
- Performance: <0.2% reflectance, 98-99% transmission
- Best for: Ultra-premium applications, wide viewing angles
- Cost: Very high
How Long Do Different Coating Types Last?
AF film adhesion and service life depend on the substrate and coating technology; it is prone to wear in environments with frequent wiping. Chemical-etched AG glass provides high durability with abrasion resistance, while AG films depend on the coating quality.
Key Durability Factors:
- Chemical-etched AG: High durability, abrasion resistant
- AG Films: Durability depends on coating quality
- PVD AF: Superior adhesion and longevity compared to other AF methods
- Solvent-based AF: Average durability, prone to degradation
- Vacuum AR coating: Excellent stability and long durability
Coating durability directly impacts total cost of ownership and should be considered when selecting treatments for specific applications.
How Much Do Different Coatings Cost?
Coating costs vary but does not provide specific cost multipliers. Cost considerations include initial treatment, durability, and maintenance over the product lifecycle. Different processing methods have varying cost implications:
- Chemical etching: Medium cost
- AG Film: Medium to high cost
- PVD AF: High cost
- Solvent-based AF: Low to medium cost
- UV-cured AF: Medium cost
- Vacuum AR: High cost
- Sol-Gel AR: Medium cost
- Moth-Eye nanostructure: Very high cost
High-end products often employ AG + AR + AF three-layer composite films or coatings, which have the highest cost and greatest processing difficulty.
What Makes Orient Display’s Coating Solutions Different?
Our 2 decades of display engineering experience mean we understand both the technical requirements and real-world challenges our customers face. We provide comprehensive technical analysis and application-specific recommendations to help you select the optimal coating solution.
Technical Expertise: We offer detailed guidance on coating selection, processing methods, and performance optimization for specific applications across automotive, medical, industrial, and consumer electronics sectors. Our engineering team understands the critical performance requirements for each application type and can recommend the most effective coating combinations for your specific needs.
Contact our engineering team to request a consultation: tech@orientdisplay.com
How Do I Choose the Right Coating for My Application?
Use this decision framework based on your primary requirements:
Step 1: Identify Your Primary Challenge
- Glare/Eye Strain: Start with AG coating evaluation
- Fingerprints/Cleaning: Prioritize AF coating solutions
- Reflections/Outdoor Visibility: Focus on AR coating options
Step 2: Consider Your Environment
- Indoor/Controlled Lighting: AG or AF coating often sufficient
- Outdoor/Variable Lighting: AR coating typically required
- High-Touch Applications: AF coating essential
Step 3: Evaluate Performance Requirements
- Consumer Products: Balance cost and performance
- Professional/Industrial: Prioritize durability and reliability
- Safety-Critical: Choose proven, high-performance solutions
Step 4: Assess Total Cost of Ownership
- Initial Cost: Compare coating treatment costs
- Maintenance: Factor in cleaning and replacement costs
- User Experience: Consider productivity and satisfaction impacts
What Questions Should I Ask When Selecting a Coating Partner?
When evaluating coating suppliers, these questions reveal technical capability and experience:
Technical Questions:
- What specific coating processes do you control in-house?
- Can you provide performance data from similar applications?
- How do you ensure coating uniformity across large displays?
- What quality control testing do you perform?
Experience Questions:
- How many similar projects have you completed?
- Can you provide customer references in my industry?
- What technical challenges have you solved for similar applications?
- How do you handle custom coating requirements?
Support Questions:
- What engineering support do you provide during design?
- How do you handle performance testing and validation?
- What documentation and certification can you provide?
- How do you support field issues or warranty claims?
Ready to Solve Your Display Coating Challenges?
Whether you’re dealing with outdoor readability issues, fingerprint accumulation, or glare problems, the right coating solution can transform your display performance. Our engineering team has solved these exact challenges across thousands of applications.
Next Steps:
- Technical Consultation: Share your application requirements with our engineering team
- Performance Testing: We’ll recommend optimal coating solutions and provide test samples
- Cost Analysis: Receive detailed pricing and total cost of ownership analysis
- Production Planning: Integrate coating solutions into your manufacturing timeline
Contact our engineering team: tech@orientdisplay.com
Request a consultation: Share your display specifications, operating environment, and performance requirements for customized coating recommendations.
Orient Display has been engineering custom display solutions with expertise spanning automotive, medical, industrial, and consumer electronics applications. Our coating solutions are deployed in devices worldwide, from automotive dashboards to medical equipment interfaces.