When you are driving a vehicle, it is typical for the car window to assist you with seeing what is happening around you while driving. However, when the UV rays from the sun get in the way of your vision, the car window is not enough. As a result, the invention of Car window tinting became an effective tool for reducing glare from the outside. There are many advantages to using this product, such as not only it protects your skin from harmful UV rays, but also providing a nice and warm feelings, which results in a nice and smooth experience.
What is Tinted Car Windows?
Adding an automobile window tint is like adding a laminated layer on the outside of your vehicle window. When a tint is added to glass, it changes the way the glass appears and is made to look like a different thing. In the case of a tint-less piece of glass, the view is absolutely clear, and you are able to see all things clearly without having distortion or a change in color. But applying a tint can be sometimes necessary.
Privacy and security are a few of those things, along with protecting against UV radiation, which is responsible for causing skin cancer and reducing solar gain, therefore reducing fuel consumption and cutting down on glare at the same time. The application of a tint to your car window is not only for aesthetic reasons, but it is also for safety reasons as well. There isn’t anything wrong with some people thinking that tinted car windows look fabulous as if they are celeb-style sunglasses on wheels.
- The tinting of a car’s windows is a thin, scratch-resistant film that adheres like glue to the inside of a car’s window and is usually made of polyester material.
- In most cases, tinting films are made from transparent polyester film coated with thin, even layers of various tinting agent.
- As a matter of fact, there are several more logical and beneficial reasons to consider tinting your car than just making it hard to see through the windows and making it more attractive.
Objectives of Car window tinting
A few basic objectives of car window tinting are as mentioned below:-
- With the tint films, the primary goal is to reflect a significant portion of the harmful visible and ultraviolet rays. This can be achieved through sputter coating which has an effect on how much light can be reflected by the tint film in order to reflect as much of the light as possible. Whenever there is more sputter applied, there will be a greater rejection of light.
- A car window tint can also help you keep warm during the winter, especially if you live in a cold climate. As a result of the heat radiation, the films prevent the heat from escaping, which keeps the car exterior warm and provides optimum comfort.
- The advantage of tinting is that it contributes to the control of temperature during driving and provides the advantage of keeping the car at the favorable temperature.
- The tints have an absorption function that prevents the transmission of sunlight inside the vehicle. The reduction of visible light and glare from other cars result from this.
- Since the tints block most of the sun’s rays, the interior of the car becomes cooler due to the fact that the tints block the rays of the sun. As a result, making the interior of the car a much more comfortable place for the passengers.
Workflow of window tint of a car
The majority of people are unaware of the fact that window tints work in order to keep a vehicle comfortably heated or cooled. There is only one thing they know about window tinting, which is that it looks cool. Many people have yet to figure out how window tinting is capable of keeping passengers cooler while traveling, however.
As a result of its use of a polyester-based film, window tinting works by allowing certain types of light rays through while reflecting or absorbing others that may not be able to be transmitted through the window. It is important to recognize that different tint shades are differentiated by the percentage of visible light allowed through the film depending on the amount and type of metals and dyes that are used within the film. Thus, different levels of visibility are blocked by different amounts and types of metals and dyes.
A few of the basic principles of window tints are as follows:-
- Providing Assimilation
- Reflecting the ultraviolet rays
- Infrared protection
- Transmission.
It is the application of a laminate film to the inside of a car’s glass windshield or window and the result is a dramatic reduction in the amount of light that passes through the window from the outside, whereas the amount of light that passes through the window from the inside is not affected by this laminate film.
There is an important thing to remember about window tinting: Unlike those cool and stylish sunglasses you wear on your face, window tinting does not obstruct your vision in the dark like those sunglasses.
A step-by-step guide to tinting the car windows
There is no doubt that tinting windows are a long and time-consuming task, but there are a few basic tools you will need in order to tint your own windows.
Basic tinting tools you need to have
- Soap water in spray bottles
- The right amount of window tints.
- Blade to cut the extra part.
- A measuring tape.
- A clean rag.
- Something with hard edges.
- Duct tape
- Heat gun.
Car window preparation before applying tint
- If possible applying the tint indoors can be an effective option because the dust available in the environment could affect the tinting process. If possible try to vacuum the interior of the house to get rid of the dust.
- However, if you plan to work outside, you should choose a dry and clean place. Then carefully start by clearing out any item on the glass.
- Depending on what vehicle you have, you may need to remove the brake light, side panel, or rear deck. When you remove any of these parts from the window, you will be able to easily reach all the different parts of it.
- The easiest way to remove dirt and dust from under the seal is to use your finger to clean it.
- Wash the exterior part of the window with soap water, and scarp out the mess using the razor blade.
- Then clean and dry up the window using a clean rag or some kind of microfiber cloth to avoid scratches, and make sure there is no wet spot left.
- As you work on the glass, roll down the windows slightly, as this will help you get to all of the parts of the glass.
- The tint works like a sticker, in that it comes with a layer that needs to be peeled off just before it can be applied to the window. While working with the tint, you need to make sure that this side of the tint is facing you as you work with it.
Applying, Calculating, and shaping the tint for your car
- For beginners in tinting jobs, you should avoid randomly using your window as a guide, particularly when you are doing the job for the first time. In place of that, you can use cardboard to create a template for the windows of your car.
- It is possible to achieve a perfect window shape by taking this step, and you can also prevent any film waste by doing so. A cardboard template can easily be switched around if there is something wrong with the shaping process.
- It is important to place the final draft of the car window film on a stable surface after it has been adapted to fit the car window. In order to get the material to have the same shape as the template, you will need to use a sharp material to cut off the edges of the tints.
- After carefully happening the outline, you should get an approx tint shape that matches the car windows. Make sure that the tints are of the right shape by placing them right on the window glass.
- Please make sure that someone stands by your side while you trim the film. It is also recommended that you cut through the edges of the rubber seal so that there will not be any gaps between the rubber seal and the edge.
Finishing the job
- Once you get the right film size for the window, you can apply some application fluid by spraying it onto the window.
- Next, the outer layer of the film should be removed as well as the liquid should be placed on the sticky edge of the film.
- During the application of the film, the adhesive end reacts to the pressure applied, so it is best to use reduced force and try to avoid creases and bubbles.
- If you apply excessive pressure to the film, it will tend to stick to the glass because of the force being applied to it. The best way to solve this issue is to start from scratch if you have this issue.
- With the squeegee, make sure the tint film is pushed onto the squeegee as the tint film is adjusted to the car window. When working on this task, you should try to use even strokes that begin in the center and move outwards as you go. Ensure, however, that the soap solution is applied to the tool before it is used.
- Keeping the air bubbles in the film intact during the application of soapy water, stroke the bubbles with the sponge and add the liquid from underneath the film.
- Keep your squeegee pointed in the same direction and maintain a minimum pressure while you squeegee. The tint will begin to bond with the window as soon as the solution is removed from the tint.
- Do not forget the edges and corners of the windows. To reach these tight spots, cut a piece of another squeegee and make the film conform to the corners and center.
- Make sure you do not forget to clean the window edges and corners as well. The film can be adapted to the corners and center by cutting a piece from one squeegee and making it conform to the corners and center of the film.
- Gradually press the window tints so that the air bubbles trapped within the tint of the car could get released. Similar to a sticker, the tint will stick completely in the window glass after the bubbles are completely released.
- In addition, corners won’t be creased, bubbled, or blank.
- When you have finished applying the film to the glass, you should leave it to bond completely with the glass. The window glass can be wound down or cleaned after roughly two to three days, depending on the conditions.
Basic safety while applying window tinting
Below mentioned a few basic safety features of car window tinting:-
- The tinting of your windows at home is not a high-risk activity, but there are a couple of opportunities for you to cut your knuckles with a utility knife during the course of the process.
- The best way to cut is to push the knife away from you while cutting and to avoid cutting rapidly or haphazardly as you are cutting. You won’t only be damaging your window tint if you make a mistake if you don’t take care of it.
- As part of the tinting process, there is also a considerable amount of soap and water used, which has obvious reasons for not going into your eyes, ears, noses, mouths, or anywhere sensitive.
- As well as not spraying too much water on the inside glass, you need to be careful not to spray so much that the water rolls down the side of the door into the doorway, where it may cause damage to electronic devices such as window switches and speakers.
- You should always make sure that your car is legally able to accommodate the tint before you apply it in your car.
Types of Car Window tints
Dyed tint type
As dye tints tend to be more decorative and aesthetic than functional, the heat and UV reductions they can provide are not to the same extent as those offered by other tints, especially when compared to others. As easy as dye tints are to use and affordable to buy, there are some downsides to them. For instance, they will fade over time, which means that eventually, they will need to be replaced.
This kind of tint is composed of the thin, multilayer film of colored plastic that adheres strongly to the windows of your car providing the desired temperature inside the car. As a result of the dye on the fabric, your car will be protected from a fair amount of UV rays and will maintain a good level of temperature. The dye tints are a good option for people who want decent protection at an affordable price, which is why they are so popular.
However, there is a major issue with this type of car tint, which is that the material fades much faster than other tints and is therefore much less durable over time. Additionally, depending on the level of darkness you require, they can be made up of different densities of dye.
Carbon layered tint types
There is nothing more powerful than a carbon-layer tint that is infused with ultra-reflective carbon particles and you don’t need to worry that it will fade over time as dyed tints do. A carbon particle embedded within the product blocks up to more or less almost all infrared light, making it both heat reflective and insulating at the same time.
Having the unique matte finish that carbon tints possess, makes them a more subtle and tasteful choice as opposed to the more flashy, metallic tints. In addition to this, they are more effective at reflecting heat than dyed or metalized options, which makes them a far superior alternative.
Furthermore, they are significantly more effective than dyed or metalized options when it comes to reflecting heat, making them a much more attractive option. Tints such as these don’t cause any signal interference, but they do come at a high price, so be prepared for that.
Metalized tint types
A metalized tint film is a type of film containing metal micro particles that are embedded within the layers of the film so that they can help reflect UV rays. In addition to strengthening your car’s windows, these particles can also help keep them from shattering when your car’s windows break.
Additionally, they have been shown to be more efficient in blocking heat and UV rays in comparison to dye tints due to the infused-metal film that they are made with. Due to the metalized particles in these tints, they have a shinier look or appearance than dyed tints, not to mention that they are far more scratch resistant than dyed tints.
There are many benefits to metalized tints, but they also have some drawbacks, including:-
- Their cost is higher than that of other tints.
- This kind of tint can lead to signal issues which mean that if you are prone to get lost and have to rely on navigation then this car window tint is not for you.
Crystalline type of tints
These tints are multi-layered films that look almost completely clear at first glance, but they can still be used as means of blocking the unwanted rays from the sun in spite of their extremely clear appearance. Unlike other window tints, crystalline window tinting uses a nano-optical film that consists of many layers.
It allows for high UV protection and solar heat reduction even in light shades, with some options allowing for the no-tint look. It is strong and durable, but it is also expensive and brand options are limited.
Hybrid type of tint
You can purchase a Hybrid tint type for your car if you are looking for a very appealing, affordable, and cost-efficient choice in terms of tint. This type of tint is nothing more than a combination of dye tints and metalized tints – a product of both types of tints being combined together. As well as providing aesthetical benefits, this type of tint also provides great solitariness as well as protects the skin from the harmful UV rays of the sun due to its unique properties.
As it combines two different tint types, so the negative factors in it are quite low for obvious reasons. It is unlikely that you will experience fewer signal issues if you apply the tint rather than if you use the metalized type of tint. The hybrid tints are also an affordable option, however, they are more expensive than the dyed tints.
Benefits of tinted windows
- In addition to providing increased privacy for the people inside the vehicle, car window tinting provides one of the most obvious advantages of tinting your car windows.
- Tinted windows offer great protection against the sun’s harmful rays, and as a result, act as protection against skin disorders.
- Additionally, car window tinting has the advantage of regulating the interior temperature of your car, which is another great benefit of it.
- You can keep your belongings safer and secure by tinting your windows to make them harder to see into.
- It is important for both drivers and passengers to have tinted windows on their vehicles.
Drawbacks of tinted windows
- Before applying window tint to your car, it is best to check whether there are any laws regarding how much and where it is allowed.
- Certain conditions may cause your vision to be impaired if you use a dark-tinted film.
