[The evolution of screen-related technologies has expanded the potential of virtual windows and skylights to evoke presence, as described in this story from Global Design News. See the original version of the story for five more images. For more about the Prospect-Refuge theory mentioned near the end, see a March 2025 article in the environmental psychology journal ArchPsych. –Matthew]

OpenView Luminous Virtual Windows by Sky Factory: Reimagining Interior Space Through the Illusion of Nature

May 8, 2026

Fairfield, Iowa, USA – OpenView Luminous Virtual Windows transform enclosed interiors into immersive environments filled with light, depth, and the sensation of open space.

Designed for commercial interiors, OpenView creates what designers call “spatial polarity,” a dramatic change in the perceived scale of a room through the illusion of a full-scale natural landscape viewed through a window.

OpenView Luminous Virtual Windows by Sky Factory, won a 2025 Good Design Award from The Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design and European Centre for Architecture, Art, Design, and Urban Studies.

Unlike traditional wall murals or standard panoramic photography, OpenView uses advanced photographic techniques to create a remarkably realistic sense of depth.

The system relies on focus stacking, also known as focus layering, a process that combines multiple images taken at different focus points into a single composite photograph.

This technique mimics the way the human eye naturally perceives depth, allowing every element of the landscape to appear sharp and detailed.

As a result, viewers experience not just a photograph, but the convincing illusion of extended space beyond the wall itself.

Traditional panoramic photography usually depends on a single focal point, which subtly reminds the viewer that the image is flat.

OpenView overcomes this limitation by layering carefully sequenced photographs to reproduce the depth of field our visual system expects in real environments.

The effect is highly immersive and dramatically alters the viewer’s perception of space.

A key element of the illusion lies in the careful positioning of the horizon line within each composition.

Lower horizons create the sensation that the viewer could step directly into the landscape, while higher horizons generate the feeling of overlooking a vast natural environment from above.

Every OpenView image is captured specifically for this purpose rather than licensed from existing commercial photography collections.

The company’s photographers combine technical expertise with an understanding of cognitive perception and environmental psychology.

Each landscape is selected and photographed to engage the brain’s instinctive interpretation of spatial cues.

Careful planning, weather conditions, and controlled image capture are essential to producing scenes that feel expansive and believable.

Once captured, the imagery is printed using professional ultra-high-definition eight-channel printers and mounted onto optical-quality acrylic panels.

Behind the panels, a calibrated LED light box emits a soft, natural luminescence that replicates daylight.

The modular panels, which can reach sizes of 5 by 8 feet, may also be combined into much larger window arrays for expansive installations.

OpenView is also designed with functionality and maintenance in mind. Unlike many virtual window systems, its modular structure allows for easy servicing and long-term maintenance.

LED components can be accessed, replaced, and recycled efficiently, making the system practical for large commercial facilities.

More than a decorative feature, OpenView supports wellness-centered interior design by creating a visual connection to nature.

Drawing from the environmental psychology concept of “prospect and refuge,” the system offers viewers both expansive views and a comfortable sense of shelter.

The result is an interior experience where the illusion of openness is not only seen, but deeply felt.

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Project: OpenView Luminous Virtual Windows
Designers: Skye Witherspoon, Sky Factory, Inc.
Manufacturer: Sky Factory, Inc.