WHAT IS WINDOW TINT & ITS PURPOSE

When you see window tint installed on someone’s car, sometimes you must wonder how window tint works. Window tinting works by using a specific type of polyester film with a scratch-resistant coating. This film allows some types of light rays to pass through while absorbing or reflecting others. In the most basic sense, window tinting refers to the process of applying a thin laminate film to your car’s glass.

The reasons people choose to tint the windows of their vehicle may vary. These generally include security or privacy, reducing solar gain (interior heat), and protection from UV rays (UV A and UV B rays), responsible for causing skin cancer.

Of course, there are purely aesthetic reasons for applying car window film as well. It doesn’t hurt that the tinted car windows look cool, like celeb-style sunglasses for your car.

Also, keep in mind that, unlike sunglasses that impair your ability to drive at night because of dark lenses, glare, and reduced visibility, automotive window tinting film reduces glare and does not impede nighttime driving.

Another significant misconception people have about window tint is that it is bonded to the outer surface of your vehicle’s glass. But, in fact, the window tint film is always applied on the inner surface, protecting the film from outside influences like flying debris.

Below we’ll describe how tint works and how you may benefit from window tinting – read on to know more.

Although there are different types of films, all of them work on the following basic principles:

• Reflection
• Absorption
• Radiation
• Transmittance

The primary objective of the window film is to reflect the major portion of the harmful visible and ultraviolet rays, with what is known as the ‘sputter coating’ (a coating of metal particles), which affects the amount of light that’s rejected by the tint. If there is more sputter applied, more light gets rejected when.

During the winter, car window tints also aim to provide heat. The heat from the sun radiates through the film and keeps it from escaping. This is how tint works to improve thermal control in your vehicle, giving you the benefit of a warmer and more comfortable temperature while driving in cold temperatures.

Another absorption function of window tints comes when a percentage of sunlight is absorbed and not transmitted inside the vehicle. This reduces the visible light and reduces the glare emanating from the sun, other cars, and glass buildings.

Depending on the amount of metal and dyes within the window film, and its utilization, window tint can block different levels of visible light. There are different configurations which vary by the percentage of visible light allowed.

Once tinting film is applied, the characteristics of how visible light comes into your car change. Standard auto glass without tint reflects about 5% of visible light (or VLR%), absorbs another 5% (or VLA%), and transmits 90% of visible light (known as VLT%) into the car.

VLT (Visible Light Transmission) is a measurement of the amount of visible light waves that transmit through a material. Measured as a percentage, VLT values for vision glazing and typically range between 40-70%. This percentage tells you how much visible light can shine into your car and also indirectly how dark the tint looks. 

These percentages can change dramatically, depending on the type and quality of the tinting film applied. Some tints are more reflective, while others absorb more light.

Bottom line: The couple hundred dollars it costs to tint your car’s windows is worth it for the many safety and comfort benefits. 

Bottom line: The couple hundred dollars it costs to tint your car’s windows is worth it for the many safety and comfort benefits.