How Car Windows Are Tinted | Insider Cars

Narrator: Car

windows

are

tinted

for a variety of reasons, including privacy, style, safety, or UV protection. While some people install their own tint at home, others prefer a more professional touch. That's where professionals like Elliot Baker, the founder of Tint School Online, come in. This is his process for tinting

windows

. The first step is to roughly cut the dyed film to the appropriate size. Elliot begins by spraying soapy water on the window before cutting the film and sticking it on top. The soapy water allows the film to slide off the window, so Elliot can apply the film as needed.

He adjusts it so that the bottom edge hangs about a half inch below the window. Then he will keep this under the window sill. Elliot cuts along the side of the film with a stainless steel blade to prevent scratches. He then slides it to overlap the window by about 1 centimeter. Then he cuts the opposite side of the film and slides it back so it fits properly on the window. With the window down, he cuts along the top edge and removes the excess film. To make sure the film is tight, Elliot uses a heat gun and squeegee to reduce the film to the proper size.

He then takes it out of the window and places it on a peeling board, where he cuts off the loose edges. Since the film will be installed on the interior window, Elliot prepares it by cleaning the glass and removing any contaminants that could cause imperfections in the tint. Here you can see him using a razor blade to lift any stubborn particles stuck to the surface. Once the window is clean and dry, Elliot sprays it with soap and water once again. He removes the backing from the film and wets it with soapy water before removing it from the peel-off board.

He first slides the film onto the window sill, allowing only the bottom half to touch the window. Once the bottom half is in place, the rest of the film meets the glass and Elliot carefully moves it until he perfectly covers the window, leaving a slight gap at the top, standard practice. He carefully squeezes the soapy water out of the film and attaches it to the window. Most

cars

have door drains, which prevent water from damaging the internal electronics. Elliot repeats these steps on the opposite window. The rear window follows a similar process, but due to the curve of the glass, the window tint requires more shrinkage at the top and bottom to fit properly before it can be installed.

With the film cut to size on the rear window, the "fingers", or these long bubbles, indicate where there is more film than window. Cutting down the film is a balancing act. Too much heat damages the film; If there is not enough heat, the film will not shrink. After Elliot hits the fingers with the heat gun, he uses a squeegee to carefully remove any air trapped underneath. Once the film has been reduced to size, Elliot installs it on the inside of the rear window using the same technique as before: wetting it with soap and water, removing the backing, and squeezing out the soapy water to anchor the film to window.

And now the dye job is complete.