Dyed tint films are the simplest films and can offer you the blackest tints and assortment of colors. 99% of auto tint shops sell these products as they’re cost effective and easy to work with.

How dyed films works, the dye absorbs the light energy and turns it into heat. This heat is then transferred to the glass and is then radiated off the glass by the air passing over the windows as you drive.

Because of this transfer effect, dyed films are not suggested to be installed on high end cars that have double-paned glass. The reason for this is because they have a vacuum laminate between the layers of glass. The heat will not transfer and this in time can result in a buildup of heat in the glass and cause a failure of the seal, releasing the vacuum and causing the window to form condensation between the panes.

This type of glass is found on most new vehicles like Mercedes, BMW, Subaru, Chevrolet, to name a few.

While taking advantage of the pinnacle of tint technology, Extruded films are the latest cutting edge films that never changes color. There are only 2 companies in the world who have the patented technology to produce such a film, Madico and Lintec. Don’t settle for anything less!

These 2-ply films are industry’s truest color stable films and offer an additional polyethylene terephthalate (PET) sheet to absorb more heat providing you more comfort.

Extruded films are made with colored chip pigments and are extruded into a film to give its truest colors. Unlike liquid dyes, these color chip pigments don’t fade in color and guaranteed by the manufacturer that these films will never fade or change in color. These extruded films are also known to have the clearest visibility for drivers and are preferred over Dyed films. Although dyed films can offer the blackest tints, the visibility of dyed films can be dangerous and even distracting especially if you have polarized glasses or sunglasses as you can see how/where the dyes are soaked in or sprayed on.

Extruded films is one of the nicest looking films on the market and gives you the look of a Dyed film with the performance level of a hybrid film. It’s the most durable product with no metals in it to cause interference with radio or satellite signals. With the additional polyester film, these Extruded films also offer more heat absorption, and durability.

Providing your vehicle with superior comfort while offering a classy look and luxury. The Onyx Line window treatment is industry’s installers favorite around the world.

Within the realm of metallized films there are two types called deposition technology (vacuum coating/metallizing) and sputtered technology (advanced metallizing). In both there is a deposited layer of metallic particles on the film, giving it a reflective coating. Like Dyed films where heat is absorbed, metallic films also control radiation through reflectivity. The UV rays are rejected by reflecting them before they can be transferred through the glass offering more protection and a cooler interior.

Some metallized films have more visible reflection than others, and overall they are more shiny and reflective than dyed films, but the reflectivity is of the heat, not the light.

Deposition Technology

The film is drawn through a tank containing metal ingots–usually aluminum or nickel-chrome, and occasionally copper. A vacuum is created by reducing the pressure in the tank, which is then flooded with argon gas and the ingots are heated. The heat causes the metal to give up particles that migrate to the film’s surface. The density of the metal deposition is controlled by the speed of the film through the chamber. While deposition technology works well and is relatively inexpensive, it has its limits. To be effective, the metallized coating must be fairly thick, as the particles are relatively large. What this means at a practical level is that it produces a darker, highly mirrored surface. And second, the list of metals that can be deposited evenly is fairly short, which means fewer product options.

Sputtering Technology

Sputtering is also done in a vacuum chamber and is more complicated as the metallizing is achieved at the atomic level. In brief, electromagnetic fields direct streams of ions from a chemically inert gas (usually argon) toward the metal. This ion bombardment, which is often described as “atomic billiards,” causes groups of atoms to dislodge in small bursts and scatter uniformly across the film.

The practical benefits of sputtering are that 25 to 30 different metals can be used including stainless steel and titanium and the metallized coating is much thinner and thus lighter. It’s possible to sputter metal in a layer one-hundredth the thickness of a human hair. Different metals are chosen to subtract specific bands of radiation from the solar spectrum. The result is a highly heat reflective layer with very little mirror effect, heat absorption or color shift. Because sputtering is more expensive, these films occupy the high end of the price range.

The most technologically advanced film today, offering superior protection from the sun. This type of film is used in today’s NASA Space shuttles and in several Military vehicles.

Ceramic films are made with Nano-ceramic technology, they are fairly new film design. Ceramic tinting film is a 2 ply product that is thicker than average films and it has very low reflectivity. This film blocks 2 times more heat than dyed or hybrid films, and is the most technologically advanced film today.

Customers would choose this film to achieve ultimate heat reduction without really having to darken their windows as these are generally light in color. These films are great for customers desiring a high durable material with excellent clarity, and providing superior heat reduction versus other film choices. It should be noted that this heavier film may take up to weeks longer to dry out than other film choices.

If you are looking for the ultimate in high technology, superior clarity and performance with a premium look, then Ceramic window films is for you. Ceramic films feature a multilayer optical film technology that combines over 200 layers in a film that is thinner than a paper. This unique technology is the reason a clear film can reject more heat than darker films, without changing your car’s appearance.

Solar heat comes from two primary sources, the visible light you can see and the infrared light you can feel. Ceramic window films reject up to 99% of the sun’s heat producing infrared light and block up to 90% of the heat coming through your windows. These industry-leading, spectrally-selective films are designed to keep you cool, comfortable and protected.

Designed to maintain the appearance of your car, Ceramic films allow up to 90% of the light into your vehicle. Because these films are non-metallized, you can be assured of zero interference with GPS or cell phone signals.