Absorbance-

In window tinting absorbance is specific to heat and light. it is the amount of light or heat that is held within the glass, film, or car itself.

 

aIR pEEL-

in OPPOSTION TO THE PEEL BOARD METHOD, AN AIR PEEL METHOD IS EXACTLY AS IT SOUNDS. RATHER THAN PEEL THE FILM LINER FROM THE FILM WHILE ON THE PEEL BOARD, THE INSTALLER PEELS THE FILM LINER TO EXPOSE THE ADHESIVE WHILE HOLDING THE FILM IN THE AIR WITH ONLY HIS/HER HANDS AS SUPPORT FOR THE FILM. it IS A DIFFICULT TECHNIQUE THAT IS USUALLY ONLY USED BY THE MOST EXPERIENCED OF INSTALLERS.

 

annealed glass-

as opposed to tempered glass, annealed glass is heated and slowly cooled rather than tempered glass which is cooled more quickly. Annealed glass tends to break in large sharp shards.
 

bottom load installation(single stage install)-

installing window film with the release liner pulled off completely. window sweeps are taken out, door panel is pulled away, and The film is loaded bottom first. This method ensures the best possible installation.

 

Color matching-

window film comes in many types and has an unlimited range of colors, shades, and tints. In many cases, purchased or currently owned cars have existing window film on them or have an instance where the film needs replacement. when there is existing film on a car, or film that fails on one window, there is a simple process called color matching. color matching is trying to match a new piece of film with an older existing piece(S) of film. The matching process is somewhat limited as the tinter and customer can only try to match to a point of agreement on a film type that matches the existing window film as close as possible. Most Tinters and tint shops carry a limited supply of films and can only do their best to match the existing film with a film that they carry. In most cases it matches well enough to suit the customer's needs and liking.

 

Clear glass-

MADE OF SILICA SAND, ALKALINE, SODA SALTS, AND LIME POTASH SALT. THE VLT OF SILICA GLASS IS BETWEEN 75% AND 95% (2% DEPENDENT ON THICKNESS AND OTHER FACTORS.

 

Color stable window film-

many entry level window films have an issue with not being color stable due

to the lack of high-quality dyes used in the film making process. they

wear out and tend to turn blue, green, or amber as the film fades due to sun

exposure and heat. color stable window films use higher quality materials.

 

Conduction-

conduction is the movement of heat through a material when there is a difference in temperature.

 

Convection-

A movement of heat that may be transferred by wind motion. it is heat transferred through air, liquid, or gas as it seeks a temperature equilibrium. it can move from outside to inside or inside to outside in a window glazing system. Essentially the movement of the sun's heat in space is a form of convection.

 

Curing time-

When getting your windows tinted, a combination of water and soap is

used to help with the installation process. the soap and water act as a 

lubricant and also activate the adhesive on the film. The soapy solution 

is squeegeed out by the installer and whatever solution is left over 

will dry over time. The time period when the films adhesive is drying is 

called the curing time. this period is when the adhesive is conforming the 

window film to the window. Curing time can take up to three weeks in cold

climates and much less time in warm climates.

 

Daylight installation method-

the most common method of installing window film in commercial and residential installations. A daylight installation can also be used during automotive window film installations under specific conditions (generally on older cars). a daylight install is When there is a purposeful small light gap left between the window frame and the film edge itself. This installation method helps the installer have a clean and more contaminant free install because there ARE NO AREAS WHERE THE FILM PUSHES UP AGAINST THE WINDOW FRAME TO CAUSE IMPERFECTIONS IN THE WINDOW FILM APPLICATION.

 

dot matrix-

a series of black Teflon dots on the outside borders of automotive glass. Most often it is on the outside border of the rear glass and a the top of the glass on both the rear and front windshields. the dot matrix is most often located by the rearview mirror. the matrix provides no known purpose or benefit besides a small amount of shade or decoration. when tinting over a dot matrix it is very difficult to get the window film to adhere evenly. Often it is patchy and has different areas of adhesion which make it unappealing to the eye.

 

emissivity-

IN TERMS OF WINDOW TINTING, EMISSIVITY IS HOW WELL THE WINDOWS ON YOUR CAR, HOME, OR OFFICE, INSULATE. THIS INCLUDES MEASUREMENTS FOR WINDOWS WITH FILM AND WITHOUT FILM. in WARMER CLIMATES EMISSIVITY HELPS KEEP HEAT OUT AND IN COLDER CLIMATES HELPS KEEP THE HEAT IN.

 

external visible light transmittance (VLT)-

this is the visible light or percentage of light that is seen or passes through the window while outside looking into a vehicle or building. it is light penetrating w windows from outside sources.

 

Factory privacy glass-

Factory glass is not a film or tint at all. it is generally on about 50% of SUVS, trucks, and midsize sedans. it is a deep dipping of the glass that applies pigment on the inside of the factory glass. Factory tinted privacy glass does not provide protection from UV rays or IR reduction.
 

frit-

the painted flat black ceramic border on the outer edge of automotive glass. the frit provides a barrier from the sun's rays and primarily it is used as an adhesion point. without the frit the adhesive would be damaged by the UV rays and cause the adhesive to fail prematurely. the frit and dot matrix often are used together on the border of a window. 

 

gLARE REDUCTION-
THE PERCENTAGE OF WHICH VISIBLE LIGHT IS REDUCED BY
WINDOW FILM.
 

hand cut patterns-

a skilled window tint installer HAND cuts a pattern

on the exterior OF YOUR CAR'S GLASS that matches the interior DIMENSIONS OF YOUR CAR'S GLASS TO ENSURE A NICE GAP FREE INSTALLATION OF THE WINDOW FILM. a HAND CUT PATTERN CAN BE CUT AS FAST AS A PLOTTER AND, IN MANY CASES, THE RESULTING FIT IS SUPERIOR. A HAND CUT PATTERN, PERFORMED BY A PROFESSIONAL INSTALLER, CAN BE LOOKED AT AS AN ORIGINAL PIECE OF ART AS THEY ARE ALL CUT DIFFERENTLY AND SPECIFIC TO YOUR CAR.

 

Hybrid film

a film with a mixture of a grey window dye and titanium/aluminum particles which reduce nearly 100% of UVA and UVB rays. 
 

Infrared radiation (IR)-

An abbreviation for infrared radiation. IR is the type of 

solar radiation that the human body feels as heat.

ceramic and carbon films do a great job of blocking this IR and

therefore keeping your car and body feeling much cooler.

 

INFRARED REJECTION-
PARTICULAR FILMS REJECT INFRARED RADIATION. IT IS THE AMOUNT OF INFRARED ENERGY THAT IS REJECTED OR BLOCKED BY THE FILM.
 

InfraRed LIGHT-

THE wavelengths OF LIGHT THAT ARE LONGER THAN THOSE OF VISIBLE LIGHT AND SHORTER THAN THOSE OF MICROWAVES. INFRARED IS THERMAL RADIATION AND THAT IS WHAT IS PERCEIVED AS HEAT. 
 

internal Visible light transmittance (VLT)-

This is the visible light or percentage of light that is seen or passes through the window while sitting in the vehicle or building and looking out.

 

laminated glass-

A plate consisting of two or more sheets of glass with plastic sheeting

bonded between to resist shattering. Laminated glass is the most common

glass used in front windshields.

 

liner-

window films have multiple layers. each as important as the next. there is only one layer that is disposable and that is the window film liner. a clear polyester protective liner that covers the adhesive side of the window film. this liner protects the window film from contamination prior to installation. The clear liners can be used as templates to cut window film patterns.

 

Pattern-

one of the most crucial parts of the tinting process is the pattern. a pattern is a cut piece of film that matches the window's shape. patterns can be cut by hand by the window tinter, or a plotter can be used along with computer software to cut the pattern for the tinter. original patterns for the plotters are cut by hand by professional tinters and then transferred into the software for the plotter to cut. 

If the pattern is not cut correctly then the film can fail by creasing or coming off the window itself. A good pattern will fit the window well and will help ensure the adhesive on the film pattern will be in contact with all parts of the window.

 

Peel Board-

A peel board is a clean surface the window film installer uses to temporarily place the film while prepping the window or cutting the pattern for installation. IT IS ALSO THE SURFACE THAT THE FILM STICKS TO WHILE PEELING THE LINER TO EXPOSE THE ADHESIVE FOR INSTALLATION.  a peel board is Nearly always a glass surface because of its cleanliness and resistance to scratching. a clean peel board IS ESSENTIAL TO A CLEAN INSTALLATION.

 

plate glass-

also known as flat glass. PLATE GLASS is a

common type of glass used RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL

windows, doors, transparent walls, MIRRORS, AND EVEN

SKYLIGHTS.

 

plotter CUT PATTERNS-

THE NEW AND TECHNOLOGICALLY ADVANCED WAY OF CREATING A WINDOW FILM PATTERN TO

MATCH YOUR CAR'S WINDOW DIMENSIONS. The CAR'S SPECIFICS ARE ENTERED INTO SOFTWARE

AND THEN CUT TO SIZE ON A PRINTER LIKE MACHINE CALLED A PLOTTER. this METHOD IS VERY

EFFICIENT AS THE INSTALLER CAN PREP THE CAR FOR INSTALL AS THE PLOTTER CUTS THE

PATTERN. 

 

prep-

window prep and surrounding area prep are crucial when it comes to window tinting. perhaps it is the single most important step in tinting, as a clean and acceptable installation is dependent upon proper prep work. proper prep involves, wiping, Cleaning, scraping, and even cutting whatever is needed to ensure a clean and long lasting installation. the windows and area surrounding the windows must be as clean as possible for the installation to have acceptable amounts, or no contamination in the final product.

 

Privacy Glass-

A factory induced dye into the interior of the glass itself. Most often

installed on SUVS, TRucks, and some mid-sized sedans. Almost half of

production cars have factory/privacy glass installed. Privacy glass

provides no UV protection, IR rejection, security, or efficiency

improvements like window film.  People often mistake privacy glass as a

substitute for being equivalent to window film, but in truth, there is no

comparison.

 

 

Reflectance-

the amount of something(in the case of window films, light or heat) that is reflected away.

 

Shrinking-

window film is somewhat pliable and does have a memory. film is also flat and directional. a flat piece of film does not fit on a concave or convex window. so, in order to get the film to fit the curved windows, the film itself has to be heated and shrunk to fit the window's shape. the shrinking is done with a heat gun, a torch, or even a hair dryer. 

 

slip solution-

tinting windows is a wet process. the window film is lined with a very sticky adhesive that needs a solution to help glide the adhesive side of the film across the wet prepped window. in order to be able to move the film into the proper place the solution needs to have a slippery additive. in most cases the additive is either baby shampoo, dish soap, or a specifically manufactured solution. not only does the solution help ease the movement of the film during install but it also activates the adhesive for better adhesion to the glass.

 

Solar transmittance-

solar transmittance IS the measurement of solar rADIATION THAT PASSES THROUGH THE WINDOW OR FILMED WINDOWGLAZING SYSTEM. The LOWER THE TRANSMITTANCE NUMBER THE

BETTER THE WINDOW IS PERFORMING.

 

Sputtering-

A process to embed materials like gold, silver, copper, aluminum, and chromium onto the window film. this process is called vapor deposition and

it ensures a very fine and even layer of material on to the film.

 

top load Installation (two stage install)-

Installing window film with the top 2/3 of the release liner pulled. Window sweeps are kept in place and cleaned prior to install. The window is rolled down partially and the top 2/3 of the window film is applied to the top portion of the window. The window is fully rolled up, the bottom 1/3 of the window film is then installed, either on top of the sweep, or tucked underneath the sweep. 

total solar energy rejection-
Essentially Tser is the most important factor to take into consideration when looking at the performance of the window film. the number measured indicates how much uva, uv-b, visible light, and infrared radiation (IR) that is blocked and rejected.

tempered glass-
A glass produced by heating annealed glass to 
nearly 1150 degrees Fahrenheit and is then cooled.

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