Product Description
Mactac B•free® JT5999MBF v2 Gloss Clear – 3.1 Mil Optically Clear Window Film – Bubble-Free Dry-Apply Air-Egress Adhesive for Full-Color & Reverse-Print Glass Graphics, 54"
Micro-Structured Air-Egress Adhesive | No Application Fluid | Full-Color on Glass | Reverse-Print to Read Through the Window
Mactac B•free® JT5999MBF v2 Gloss Clear is the transparent member of the B•free family — a 3.1-mil gloss clear polymeric PVC film that puts full-color graphics directly on glass while the untouched areas stay see-through. Where Frosted and Dusted obscure the glass for privacy, Clear keeps it clear: the graphic reads, the window still functions as a window.
It carries the same micro-structured, permanent, clear acrylic air-egress adhesive as the rest of the line, engineered for dry application — air escapes through channels in the adhesive as you squeegee, so the film goes down bubble-free and wrinkle-free with no wet-application fluid and no cleanup. Print it on solvent, eco-solvent, latex, or UV, for indoor and outdoor window graphics and internally illuminated light box faces.
Applications
- Reverse-printed storefront graphics — applied second-surface, read from outside
- Full-color retail and promotional window graphics where the glass should stay clear around the art
- Logos, hours, and lettering on entry doors and storefront glass
- Internally illuminated light box faces needing a clear carrier
- Interior glass wall and partition graphics that shouldn't block the view
- Layered looks — clear graphics combined with frosted/dusted elements from the same B•free family
Dark areas in a printed window graphic absorb heat. When sun hits the graphic, temperature differences across the glass create thermal stress that can crack the pane — and Mactac explicitly accepts no liability for glass breakage from this cause. Risk rises with dark ink coverage, glass size, thickness, cut quality, edge condition, tinting, and frame design.
This is worth extra attention on Clear specifically: because the surrounding glass stays transparent, a dark graphic sits as an isolated heat-absorbing zone on an otherwise clear, sun-exposed pane — exactly the differential that stresses glass. On a west- or south-facing Phoenix storefront, keep dark coverage in check, be cautious on large or tinted glass, and talk to us before the job goes out if you're unsure.
The air-egress adhesive has channels that let air escape. Use application fluid and the liquid gets trapped in those channels, which is exactly the failure the technology is meant to prevent. Do not wet-apply this film. If the job calls for a wet application, Mactac recommends JX999R or the Glass Décor 700 series instead — ask us and we'll point you the right way.
Physical Properties
| Property | Typical Value |
|---|---|
| Film Type | Gloss clear polymeric PVC |
| Thickness (face only) | 2.95 mil (75 µ) |
| Thickness (film plus adhesive) | 4.14 mil (105 µ) |
| Adhesive | Micro-structured, repositionable, permanent, clear acrylic — air egress |
| Peel Adhesion | 3.1–3.7 lb/in (12–18 N/25mm), 180° on stainless steel, 24 hr (FTM-1) |
| Quick Tack | 4.4–5.6 lb/in² (20–26 N/25mm) on stainless steel (FTM-9) |
| Release Liner | 80# polycoated, layflat |
| Dimensional Stability | Max 0.2% at 48 hr / 158°F (FTM-14) |
| Minimum Application Temperature | 50°F (+10°C) |
| End Use Temperature Range | -40°F to 194°F (-40°C to 90°C) |
| Surface Burning | Meets ANSI, NFPA, and IFC Class A — flame spread 5, smoke density 25, per ASTM E84-01 / ANSI-NFPA 255 / IFC 8-1 |
| Outdoor Durability | 5 to 7 years unprinted |
| Shelf Life | 2 years from date of manufacture at 60–77°F and 50% RH in original package |
| Maximum Ink Saturation | 270% |
| Width | 54" |
| Recommended Overlaminate | ColorGard® LUV (where added protection is needed) |
Values are typical and are not necessarily for use in specification. Mactac's window product guide lists durability as 5 years; the JT5999MBF v2 datasheet lists 5–7 years. Confirm with us for a specific job.
Easy Removal
Although designed as a permanent glass application, the film removes easily with little to no adhesive residue. Lift a corner and peel slowly but firmly at a 90° angle. On larger graphics, score the film into 5"–6" wide strips the height of the window and peel one strip at a time.
The B•free® Window Family
| JT5796MBF v2 Frosted | JT5798MBF v2 Dusted | JT5999MBF v2 Clear | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Finish | Matte frosted translucent | Matte dusted translucent | Gloss clear (transparent) |
| Primary Use | Privacy / etched-glass look | Privacy / soft dusted look | Full-color & reverse-print graphics, glass stays clear |
| Thickness | 3.1 mil | 3.1 mil | 3.1 mil |
| Liner | 80# LFP | 91# LFP | 80# LFP |
| Flame Spread / Smoke | 5 / 15 | 5 / 25 | 5 / 25 |
| Wet-Apply Alternative | Glass Décor 700 | Glass Décor 700 | JX999R or Glass Décor 700 |
| Adhesive | Air-egress permanent clear acrylic — dry application — 54" — 5–7 yr | ||
Do not mix JT5999MBF v2 with the original JT5999MBF in the same job — the finishes are not an exact match.
Printing Notes
Reverse-Print Setup
For second-surface graphics read through the glass, mirror the artwork before printing and account for the viewing direction in your layout. If the design layers white ink behind color for opacity, build and proof that white pass on this film specifically — a clear carrier reads very differently lit from behind versus viewed in reflection.
Ink Saturation & Drying
Print in a conditioned pressroom at approximately 73°F and 50% RH; maximum ink saturation is 270%. Solvent, eco-solvent, and mild-solvent prints need 24–48 hours of open-air drying — ink does not dry in a rolled-up print, and it must be fully dry before lamination.
Transport
Roll finished graphics image out at a minimum 6" core diameter. Unlaminated prints must be completely dry and bagged. Avoid extreme temperature and humidity swings in transit and storage.
Installation — Dry, With a Soft Squeegee
Cleaning the Finished Film
Use a soft, lint-free cloth and off-the-shelf glass cleaner (Windex, Glass Plus). Spray the cleaner onto the cloth, not the graphic, wipe with a damp (not saturated) cloth, and dry immediately. If the edges aren't sealed, keep cleaner away from them — over time it causes edge lifting.
Storefront graphic that needs to read from the street?
Clear is the reverse-print film for that job, and it pairs with the Frosted and Dusted films in the same B•free family for layered looks. Ask us about samples and about ColorGard® LUV where the graphic needs extra protection. KG Supplies stocks Mactac in Phoenix with overnight delivery to Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, and Colorado, plus nationwide UPS shipping. Call (602) 272-8655 or email Sales@kgsupplies.com.
