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Applying auto tint to your car windows is the easiest way to protect your car's interior from harmful UV rays and prying eyes. It's also a great way to make your car or truck look more stylish and sleek. When it comes to car tinting, you have two choices for to get it done: hiring a professional or doing it yourself. Still, if you are reading this, you have probably decided to tackle the project on your own. While it isn't the easiest thing to do, it's not rocket science and can be done by anyone willing to put in a little time and elbow grease.
The internet provides all the choices in the world - if you can't find it on the internet, it doesn't exist. With a galaxy of options, how do you know what you are looking for? We'll take a look at the different factors to consider as you compare different brands and formulations of window tint film, arming you with the information you need to choose an option that provides your ideal balance of ease of installation and quality of finished product.
The market today offers a variety of window tint films, each designed to meet specific needs and preferences. Dyed Window Film is the most basic type, providing glare reduction and increased privacy with its layers of dye absorbed into the film. Metalized Window Tint incorporates tiny metallic particles that reflect heat and UV rays, enhancing durability and reducing interior heat, though it can interfere with electronic signals. Ceramic Window Film uses non-metallic, non-conductive ceramic particles to offer excellent solar heat rejection without affecting electronic device functionality, making it highly durable and effective for both UV and glare protection. Nano Ceramic Tint advances this further by using nanoscale ceramic particles to achieve even greater heat rejection and clarity. Hybrid Window Tint Film combines the qualities of dyed and metalized films to strike a balance between aesthetic appeal and functionality, offering moderate heat rejection with minimal signal interference. Each type provides unique benefits, from cost-effectiveness and simple sun protection to high-end performance in heat and UV blocking, accommodating a wide range of consumer needs and vehicle specifications.
Dyed Window Film is a basic form of window tinting film that primarily uses multiple layers of dye to achieve sun-blocking properties. The dye is absorbed into the film, which then acts to block sunlight through absorption. This type of film is often favored for its non-reflective finish and ability to provide increased privacy while reducing glare from the sun.
Dyed window film offers several advantages particularly when compared to more technologically advanced films like nano ceramic or metalized window tints:
However, dyed window films do have some drawbacks. They are less effective at controlling heat due to their lack of reflective properties, and they can deteriorate faster than other types of films, often leading to fading and the need for replacement. Despite these issues, dyed window film remains a widely used choice for those looking to enhance the aesthetics of their vehicle while achieving basic sun protection and privacy.
Metalized Window Tint is a specialized form of window tinting film that incorporates tiny metallic particles to enhance the film's ability to reflect heat and strengthen window durability. These metallic particles are embedded within the film itself and are responsible for the tint's high reflectivity and superior structural integrity. The metalization process helps in effectively reflecting solar heat and ultraviolet rays away from the interior of the vehicle.
Metalized window tint offers several benefits over traditional dyed window tints:
However, it's important to note that the metallic components in these tints can interfere with cell phone, radio, and GPS signals. Despite this drawback, metalized window tint is a robust option for those looking to protect their vehicle’s interior and occupants while also achieving significant heat rejection and durability.
Hybrid Window Tint Film is an advanced form of window tinting film that combines the best attributes of dyed and metalized tints. It typically consists of a dyed layer coupled with a thin metallic layer, which together provide enhanced sun protection without the high reflectivity and signal interference often associated with fully metalized tints. This composition strikes a balance, offering both aesthetic appeal and functional performance.
Hybrid window tint provides a multitude of benefits by integrating the properties of its component materials:
Hybrid window tint is ideal for those seeking a practical compromise between performance and cost. It offers improved durability and effectiveness in sun protection compared to dyed films while avoiding the extensive metallic look and potential electronic signal disruption of full metalized films.
Ceramic Window Film is a premium form of window tinting film that uses ceramic technology to offer superior protection from the sun. This type of film incorporates ceramic particles that are both non-metallic and non-conductive, providing excellent solar heat rejection without blocking electronic signals. It is known for its high clarity, durability, and efficiency in filtering out both ultraviolet (UV) and infrared (IR) rays.
Ceramic window film delivers several compelling advantages over other types of tints:
Ceramic window film is an ideal choice for those who seek the ultimate in performance and aesthetic. It stands out for its ability to combine high heat rejection with durability and minimal impact on electronic communications, making it a top-tier option in the window tinting market.
Nano Ceramic Tint is an advanced form of window tinting film that uses nano-ceramic technology to enhance the performance of window tints. This type of tint is composed of non-metallic ceramic particles embedded within the film, which are so small they are measured on the nanoscale. The nano-ceramic particles are used because of their non-conductive properties, which help in reducing heat and blocking harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays without interfering with electronic signals.
Nano ceramic tint offers a variety of benefits over traditional metallic or dyed window tints:
Ceramic and nano ceramic window films both offer excellent heat rejection and UV protection but differ primarily in their composition and the scale of their ceramic particles. Traditional ceramic window film uses larger ceramic particles, providing strong durability and clarity without interfering with electronic signals. Nano ceramic film, on the other hand, utilizes ceramic particles that are much smaller--nanoscale in size--which enhances the film's ability to reject heat while still maintaining high visibility and UV protection. This nanotechnology allows for a finer, more uniform distribution of the ceramic particles, which can improve the film's overall performance by increasing its infrared rejection without compromising the tint’s clarity or signal transmission. As a result, nano ceramic films often provide superior thermal insulation compared to regular ceramic films.
Carbon Window Tint is a sophisticated form of window tinting film that leverages carbon particle technology to enhance the efficacy of window tints. This tint type incorporates a layer of carbon particles, which significantly improves the film's ability to block infrared rays and mitigate heat transfer. Unlike dyes, which can fade over time, carbon particles provide a stable, durable tint that does not degrade under solar exposure.
Carbon window tint provides numerous advantages over traditional metallic or dyed window tints:
Carbon window tint is particularly valued for its robustness and excellent thermal rejection capabilities, making it a preferred choice for vehicle owners looking to enhance their comfort while ensuring consistent performance over the lifespan of the tint.
Window tint films are available in a range of colors to suit various aesthetic preferences and functional needs. The most common tint colors are charcoal, black, and gray, which offer a neutral look that complements any vehicle color, providing good heat rejection and privacy while maintaining visibility. These shades are widely chosen for their classic appearance and practical benefits.
In addition to the standard colors, there are more exotic tint options that appeal to vehicle owners looking for customization and unique style. These include blue, green, gold, and bronze tints, which can enhance the exterior look of a vehicle with a distinctive and personalized touch. These colors can vary in their light transmission levels and heat rejection properties, often chosen more for their style rather than performance.
Furthermore, there are reflective or mirror-like tints that provide a high level of privacy and excellent heat rejection by reflecting sunlight away from the vehicle. This type of tint can have a more aggressive, high-tech look. There are also gradient tints, which transition from one color at the top to another at the bottom, offering both style and function by providing sunlight gradient control.
For those interested in even more specialized options, there are chameleon tints, which change color depending on the angle of light and viewing angle, and holographic tints that create a prismatic effect under sunlight. These exotic varieties are less common and can be more costly, but they provide a unique aesthetic that can set a vehicle apart from the rest.
Window tint films are classified by the amount of light they allow in, by percentage. A 5% tint is much darker - and almost universally illegal on passenger vehicles - than a 50% tint. Factory tints on rear windows tend to be in the 50-70% range, so buying something on the lighter side might not actually accomplish what you are going for.
State laws regarding window tint are quite clear, and law enforcement officers don't always have a sense of humor about illegal tint. Know the laws governing car modifications in your area. If you are going to exceed the legal darkness level, know the potential consequences of your decisions.
Window tint films of all varieties come in 1- and 2-ply thicknesses. A ply is typically 1mil (1/1000th of an inch), so 2-ply films are about 2mil. Thickness can imply quality and durability, but it isn't always necessarily true. A manufacturer could add a second ply to a cheap product, but the resulting window film wouldn't magically be higher quality. Trust product reviews and recommendations from experienced installers to make a decision on quality.
Dyed window tint film can offer that black, matte look because the dye used for the tinting absorbs light rather than reflecting it. A majority of this heat is transferred to the glass, where it is dissipated naturally. Dyed window tints won't make your car interior warmer, but the absorption means that it isn't as effective at keeping your cabin cool.
Metalized window tint film actually reflects sunlight and UV rays, which gives your windows an extra glossy look. The reflectiveness makes it the superior option for pure heat and radiation reduction.
The best window tint films reflect up to 85% of heat and ultraviolet radiation, so it's not worth settling for anything less than 50% reflection. Anything less is barely better than the performance of your factory glass.
Window tint films use two types of adhesive: dry and pressure-sensitive. Both adhesive types are common on automotive window tint film, and while they are not exactly interchangeable, there aren't many practical differences between the two.
Pressure-sensitive adhesive feels tacky to the touch, kind of like tape. A mounting solution can help to position the film in the proper position before the adhesion takes hold. Squeegeeing helps to squeeze out the solution to put the adhesion in contact with the glass surface, while simultaneously putting pressure on the film and its adhesive to help strengthen it. The adhesion is then finalized by the curing process, creating the permanent bond.
Dry adhesives don't feel sticky to the touch the way pressure-sensitive adhesives do. Dry adhesives form a chemical bond with the glass, and this bond is activated by the water in the mounting solution. Because the adhesive isn't tacky to the touch, it should be easier to avoid getting foreign particles stuck between your window film and the glass. In general, dry adhesives will last longer and form a stronger bond, but that's not to say there's anything wrong with the pressure-sensitive alternative.
When shopping for your window tint film, you will have the option of buying pre-cut sheets or whole, uncut sheets. Pre-cut sheets are a convenient way to save time in the installation process. With advanced software and precision cutting machines, pre-cut tint film will give you a great finished product with half the work.
If you are a perfectionist with a steady hand, whole tint sheets are the only way to ensure a truly custom job - custom to your vehicle because you did the cutting based on the measurements made on your own vehicle. This is a difficult trade-off, as the tools, skill and patience required to complete the job from whole sheets aren't always accessible to the average DIY-er.
Many pre-cut kits will also claim to be pre-shrunk, but don't be fooled. To get the most professional-looking results possible, you must shrink the film yourself. Pre-cut kits are cut from databases, rather than from the measurements taken on the actual vehicle. This DIY project will require a lot of work on your part, and it will never be a 100% perfect fit. Pre-shrinking the tint film before it touches your window will put you even further away from that 100% perfect fit.
Luckily, pre-cut kits can give you professional-looking results, but they depend on you shrinking the tint film once it has been applied to your vehicle. For more information on the shrinking process, see our guide to heat-shrinking window tint with a wet method.
If you have chosen a pre-cut tint, Rtint offers several added benefits. For starters, Rvinyl is the only manufacturer that warranties DIY kits. Traditionally, the DIY route led you straight into "you break it you bought it" territory. We offer you the peace of mind and confidence to tackle the job on your own, knowing that the manufacturer won't blame every defect on your inexperienced craftsmanship. If something goes wrong and it was the tint kit's fault, Rtint will make it right.
Additionally, Rvinyl window tint kits have discounted replacement parts, so you do not need to purchase an entire kit if you make a mistake. This will also help to build your confidence level as you tackle such a daunting project. Our kits are shipped in crush-proof tubes and boxes. Creases ruin tint kits and there's no way to salvage the job, so we make sure your tint kit will arrive safely every time.
A successful do-it-yourself project will instill a tremendous amount of pride in yourself and your vehicle knowing you have accomplished a difficult task, and the do-it-yourself approach will give you complete control over the quality of the materials used for your car. If you take it to a shop and have a professional do the work, they aren't likely to give you the full range of choices available. They'll use the materials they have on hand, and you can't be sure they are sitting on the correct side of the price-quality trade-off.
With our wide variety of tint levels and kit options, Rvinyl is sure to have a kit to suit your needs. If we don't offer a tint kit for your make and model, you can craft your window tint from whole sheets. Browse our huge selection of window tint above.
Excellent product but my passenger window tint had a flaw, crease toward the front of the window. Still installed great but you can see the flaw that was on the tint
Everything arrived great and looks great on the car. It all laid down good with only a minor issue with the rear defrost. I would definitely buy again!!
Easy to apply