Is there a way to build a display case that only shows what is inside when you flick a switch?

Question

I want to build a display case that when the light inside is off you cannot see what is in there. I am going off the inverted concept of tinted glass where you cannot see what is inside if there is a light on the outside. I think if I put tinted glass on the outside with the tinted part facing the outside of the case, and I put a small light on the inside, you will only be able to see what is inside that case if the light is flicked on, otherwise it is dark. is this possible?

Answer 1

Your idea of using tinted glass and black interior is very good. It actually does not matter whether the tinting is on the inside or on the outside, as long as the amount of light entering your box is much less than the reflected light from the glass surface (typically 4% per surface, at normal incidence). You would require about 95% opacity for your tinted glass for the items inside the box to remain "invisible" while the inside light is off.
Best of luck with your project.

Answer 2

Along the same lines with tinted glass (two way mirror) you can go one better. Angle the glass (45 degrees) so when viewd from the front a reflection of a picture or objet glued to the underside of the lid is seen in the reflection. Turn on the light and the reflected image will disappear and be replaced by the view if the now lighted object....

Answer 3

Use a mirrored glass like they do in police interrogation rooms. So long as it is much darker inside the display case than in the room, it will be very hard to see inside it. Once lit, it should be brighter locally inside the case and BANG!... the case contents jump out at the viewer.

This, by the way, is why police always sit in a darkened room when watching through those mirrors. It is also why it is hard to see the outside, at night, through a normal window when the inside is well-lit.

Answer 4

exactly what i thought,,just use dark glass and make inside of cabnet dark..