<![CDATA[PSA: Mirror Film Will Not Work on Capacitive Touchscreens]]>So my idea was to use mirror film on a touch screen monitor to make a touch screen version of the magic mirror.

The Test

I basically used my old droid razr, which has a capacitive touchscreen, to perform the testing. I applied 2 way mirror film to the screen, and examined the results.

Results

The mirror film acted as a conductive and triggered the touch screen on all sides. Essentially it was the same as placing your whole hand on the screen and trying to tap over top of it.

Media

As seen in this image, I was somehow able to actually slide the lock to one side but it simply stuck there as if I never took my finger off.
(Ignore the bubbles on the film, I didn’t spend a whole lot of time making it perfect since this was just my testing phase)

Mirror Film on Capacitive Touch Test 1

In this gif, I peeled off the film and applied it sideways, which made it to where I couldn’t tap anything. This is as if I laid my hand over one half of the display, and tried to tap something.

Mirror Film on Capacitive Touch Test 2

In the last gif, I actually found out you can practically use the film as a stylus.

Mirror Film on Capacitive Touch Test 3

Conclusion

This won’t work for what I want haha.

I’m not sure where to go with this idea from here, maybe someone has a suggestion? Mirror Film does not seem to be the way to go.

Maybe one of the other touch technologies would not have these problems, but I am not quite sure.

]]>https://forum.magicmirror.builders/topic/45/psa-mirror-film-will-not-work-on-capacitive-touchscreensRSS for NodeSun, 10 May 2026 05:32:39 GMTFri, 06 May 2016 00:37:46 GMT60<![CDATA[Reply to PSA: Mirror Film Will Not Work on Capacitive Touchscreens on Sun, 26 Jun 2016 15:15:35 GMT]]>@sdrenth Amazon

]]>https://forum.magicmirror.builders/post/1987https://forum.magicmirror.builders/post/1987Sun, 26 Jun 2016 15:15:35 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to PSA: Mirror Film Will Not Work on Capacitive Touchscreens on Sun, 26 Jun 2016 07:30:14 GMT]]>@EoF where did you get the two way mirror film from?

]]>https://forum.magicmirror.builders/post/1982https://forum.magicmirror.builders/post/1982Sun, 26 Jun 2016 07:30:14 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to PSA: Mirror Film Will Not Work on Capacitive Touchscreens on Wed, 01 Jun 2016 03:09:24 GMT]]>@Didge https://forum.magicmirror.builders/topic/166/eof-s-touch-screen-magic-mirror-testing-phase/1

]]>https://forum.magicmirror.builders/post/1205https://forum.magicmirror.builders/post/1205Wed, 01 Jun 2016 03:09:24 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to PSA: Mirror Film Will Not Work on Capacitive Touchscreens on Wed, 18 May 2016 22:13:17 GMT]]>@Didge I am buying a touch screen panel kit, it’s a 21.5 inch one. Unfortunately, they seem to only make these things in China so I have to wait a while before I get it. I ordered it about a week ago.

This is pretty close to exactly what I ordered.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/201401031341?lpid=82&chn=ps&ul_noapp=true

I ordered from Ali Express though, which I’ve never used before. I was able to find one on there for ~$60 (and free shipping).

]]>https://forum.magicmirror.builders/post/781https://forum.magicmirror.builders/post/781Wed, 18 May 2016 22:13:17 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to PSA: Mirror Film Will Not Work on Capacitive Touchscreens on Wed, 18 May 2016 21:40:45 GMT]]>@EoF AWESOME and thanks for a reply!

I do hope you will keep us updated with your progress, can I ask… what size touchscreen are you buying and the rough cost?

This is getting interesting!

]]>https://forum.magicmirror.builders/post/780https://forum.magicmirror.builders/post/780Wed, 18 May 2016 21:40:45 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to PSA: Mirror Film Will Not Work on Capacitive Touchscreens on Tue, 17 May 2016 13:11:51 GMT]]>@Didge Hello, I’ve actually ordered a resistive touch screen panel kit. If it were capacitive, your idea would probably work pretty well. I’m not sure if they make capacitive based panels though (affordable at least).

]]>https://forum.magicmirror.builders/post/738https://forum.magicmirror.builders/post/738Tue, 17 May 2016 13:11:51 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to PSA: Mirror Film Will Not Work on Capacitive Touchscreens on Tue, 17 May 2016 02:49:55 GMT]]>Sorry just passing, not read all the replies,

But if it was me I would use a piece of glass on the rear of the glass line with mirror film and on the other facing the user side line with the touch digitizer I think that might solve the issue and then lay the glass over the display you would like to use.

Just my two pence worth, hope this helps you in solving the issue :D

]]>https://forum.magicmirror.builders/post/726https://forum.magicmirror.builders/post/726Tue, 17 May 2016 02:49:55 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to PSA: Mirror Film Will Not Work on Capacitive Touchscreens on Mon, 16 May 2016 07:09:14 GMT]]>I’ve received the following response from Pro Display this week, so they are using a monitor with on top of that a mirror glass on top of the mirror glass a touch screen. I think this solution would be cheaper when looking for a larger screen size as opposed to looking for a large built-in touch screen monitor.

This would have the touch frame sat on the surface of the mirror glass, like the attached project images they inbuilt this into a decretive frame to conceal. I’ve also attached images of how this can look as a full solution.

This boasts a commercial grade monitor which can be used in either portrait or landscape format, multi touch (6point touch) and 24/7 usage.

You would then wire both the screen and touch frame back to a windows running computer.

]]>https://forum.magicmirror.builders/post/696https://forum.magicmirror.builders/post/696Mon, 16 May 2016 07:09:14 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to PSA: Mirror Film Will Not Work on Capacitive Touchscreens on Sat, 07 May 2016 15:11:47 GMT]]>@sdrenth Awesome! I was actually just looking at their site earlier.

I’ve been looking for resitive touch screen panel kits. Essentially they’re an overlay you apply to a normal monitor, connect via USB, and it “makes” it into a touchscreen.

However, I am have a very hard time finding one that is decent. They only place I can even find them listed is on ebay, and they all have one little thing wrong with them. Such as being incorrect size, incorrect aspect ratio, or something else.

I can’t seem to catch a break :/

]]>https://forum.magicmirror.builders/post/280https://forum.magicmirror.builders/post/280Sat, 07 May 2016 15:11:47 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to PSA: Mirror Film Will Not Work on Capacitive Touchscreens on Sat, 07 May 2016 06:35:06 GMT]]>@EoF That indeed might take a while before you’ll get it. Could you provide me with a link of the touch screen you’ve ordered? I’m guessing it’s a standard touch screen or does it also have the mirror overlay?

I’ve just contacted a manufacturer in the United Kingdom which manufactures all kinds of displays, as well as touch mirrors in the hope that they can provide me with some more information about what kind of material we need to be looking for and maybe even provide them. Don’t know if they will respond but I thought it was worth a shot :)

http://prodisplay.com/products/interactive-mirror-tv-overlay/

]]>https://forum.magicmirror.builders/post/275https://forum.magicmirror.builders/post/275Sat, 07 May 2016 06:35:06 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to PSA: Mirror Film Will Not Work on Capacitive Touchscreens on Fri, 06 May 2016 22:10:20 GMT]]>@KirAsh4 Ah alright I was just curious.

]]>https://forum.magicmirror.builders/post/274https://forum.magicmirror.builders/post/274Fri, 06 May 2016 22:10:20 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to PSA: Mirror Film Will Not Work on Capacitive Touchscreens on Fri, 06 May 2016 22:02:53 GMT]]>I have not, but I do order a lot of small electronics, custom made PCBs, and stuff like that. Unless I pay the additional $35 DHL service fee, my orders take roughly 3 weeks to arrive. Some of them don’t offer a DHL service, in which case you’re stuck waiting for regular China Post to get to you through the several layers of customs …

]]>https://forum.magicmirror.builders/post/273https://forum.magicmirror.builders/post/273Fri, 06 May 2016 22:02:53 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to PSA: Mirror Film Will Not Work on Capacitive Touchscreens on Fri, 06 May 2016 21:58:25 GMT]]>@KirAsh4 wow that is a while… Have you ever ordered any of those touch screen kits? I’m looking at one like this

]]>https://forum.magicmirror.builders/post/272https://forum.magicmirror.builders/post/272Fri, 06 May 2016 21:58:25 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to PSA: Mirror Film Will Not Work on Capacitive Touchscreens on Fri, 06 May 2016 19:43:01 GMT]]>@EoF, anywhere between 20 days to a month is how it takes for them to get stuff to me in the US.

]]>https://forum.magicmirror.builders/post/255https://forum.magicmirror.builders/post/255Fri, 06 May 2016 19:43:01 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to PSA: Mirror Film Will Not Work on Capacitive Touchscreens on Fri, 06 May 2016 19:39:29 GMT]]>@sdrenth Yeah please keep in touch! I think the next thing I’m going to try is one of those resistive touch screen overlays on I keep seeing on Ebay. You can get a 19" for about $50. Problem is they’re made and shipped from China… Which means I don’t know how soon I’m going to get one.

]]>https://forum.magicmirror.builders/post/254https://forum.magicmirror.builders/post/254Fri, 06 May 2016 19:39:29 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to PSA: Mirror Film Will Not Work on Capacitive Touchscreens on Fri, 06 May 2016 17:31:46 GMT]]>Hi @EoF,

Today i’ve received my first raspberry PI (3 model B ) and installed magic mirror. My idea was also too create a touch screen version of the magic mirror. My inspiration to get into this project was this video and I wanted to create something similar:
http://www.dumpert.nl/mediabase/6761889/66801fa6/touchscreen_spiegel.html

I’m looking forward to the progress of your research. I’ll let you know if I find something that can be of use for this project.

]]>https://forum.magicmirror.builders/post/242https://forum.magicmirror.builders/post/242Fri, 06 May 2016 17:31:46 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to PSA: Mirror Film Will Not Work on Capacitive Touchscreens on Fri, 06 May 2016 12:55:28 GMT]]>
  • Update -

    • So a thought occurred to me over night. I work as IT for an automotive company, and just recently setup an older touchscreen device for another department. I still had it under my desk, so I went ahead and brought in a piece of my mirror film.

    Since it’s an older model of touchscreen on this device, it’s a resistive touch screen. Sure enough, it works through the film!

    So it appears that you will need a resistive touch screen if you plan to make something like this of your own. However, they’re not cheap, and you lose some ability like multi touch. For my purposes, multi touch isn’t a problem, and for the cost issue I have found some touch screen conversion kits that are pretty cheap and resistive!

    So it looks like there’s hope for this project of mine.

    ]]>    https://forum.magicmirror.builders/post/229https://forum.magicmirror.builders/post/229Fri, 06 May 2016 12:55:28 GMT