There are some fairly simple-to-understand benefits to motorists when it comes to window tinting, one of the most well-known of which would probably be heat dissipation. But with so many different varieties of tinting film available on the market, all made in a different way and with a different material and just as many different roles to play, which one should vehicle owners choose? Before that question can be answered, the driver needs to know a little more about the different tints, and the function of each one. While all tints primarily start with the tinting film which is made out of a 2-7 mil thickness of polyester, and each one is then bonded with at least 2 other film layers so that the correct barriers to different hazards (scratches, UV rays, etc), there are further processes in its manufacture which may or may not be followed, depending on the manufacturer.

Deposited Films – In this process, metal ingots such as aluminum or chrome will be held in a tank that the film will be drawn through. When the tanks pressure is reduced a vacuum is created in which the metal ingots and argon gas are heated. This process causes particles to be emitted from the metal which move to the surface of the film. This is a relatively cheap method of tinting manufacture, although there are only certain metals which can be used.

Metalized Tinting Films – Also known as sputtered films, the process for making this tint can be a little complex although it is still carried out in a vacuum. Unlike deposited films which are limited in the metals able to be used, sputtering is able to use in excess of 20 metals, giving results which can be much thinner and lighter as well as more versatile. The process is also more expensive which has a knock on effect in the price off the tinting film.

Dyed Tinting Films – This is probably one of the cheapest car window tinting options as it is also the most basic. Dyed film is layered, serving to reduce the visibility of onlookers as well as absorption of heat. Because this kind of film is applied to the window from the interior, some of the heat rejection will be stored within the window itself. This means that this type of film must not be used on thermal glass as heat can build up significantly between the different layers of the safety glass where no air can reach to cool it down.

Lu Stone is a home and vehicle cleaning consultant for a company specializing in auto window tinting. In her spare hours she enjoys spending time with her family and walking her dog.