Important points in correctly applying tint film to car windows

Tinting in the service is not cheap, so many drivers decide to do the tint themselves. In this article we will tell you how to do this.

In hot weather, tinted windows protect you from the heat, help you not turn on the air conditioning so often, and in the dark they prevent the headlights of oncoming cars from blinding the driver.

Darkening with film is the most economical way. In this case, you do not need special equipment, unlike expensive electronic tinting or spraying. Everything can be done in your garage. Moreover, for those who want to apply tint film to a car, a large selection of coatings with different light transmittance is available.

Tinting in the service is not cheap, so many drivers decide to do the tint themselves. In this article we will cover:

• what tools will be needed;
• how to cover glass in your garage;
• what are the features of this technology.

Useful tips will help you do the job faster and more accurately, without “bubbles” and lumps. Do-it-yourself tinting does not require special technical knowledge or training. The materials are inexpensive and you can practice them as they are easy to apply and remove as needed.

How to glue tint

First you need to prepare film blanks corresponding to the size and shape of the glass.
Cutting the film to the shape of the glass with a small allowance of 5-10 mm can be done directly on the glass. You need to spray water on the glass and apply a film that should stick to the wet glass. Moving the film over the surface of the glass, we install it so as to obtain minimal waste. Now you can carefully cut the film with a sharp knife along the contour of the glass, leaving the specified margin. When cutting out the film, you need to be extremely careful not to accidentally cut it in the wrong place or scratch the paint on the doors. In order not to risk the tinting film once again, you can first make a pattern from ordinary film or tracing paper, and then use scissors to cut blanks from the tinting film using scissors

After the blanks are cut and prepared, you need to thoroughly wash the tinted glass on the inside, where you are going to glue it, with glass cleaner.

The main secret of tinting masters at service stations is the product that they spray on the glass before gluing the tinting film. Without it, car window tinting is not as smooth and flawless. This product is intended to temporarily neutralize the effect of the adhesive base of the tinting film until it finally takes its place on the glass. The miracle remedy is a 10-20 percent shampoo solution, which you can prepare yourself and pour into a spray bottle.

Video: DIY tinting

Using a spray bottle, you need to cover the surface of the glass with a continuous layer of shampoo. Peeling off the protective coating of the film from one of the upper corners, stick this corner to the corresponding place on the glass

Pressing the tint onto the glass, carefully pull out the entire protective layer of film from under it. The operation can be done slowly, since the adhesive base is neutralized with shampoo for 20-30 minutes

After the protective layer of the film is completely removed, the film itself remains stuck to the glass and moves freely. You need to finally fix its position and start gluing the tint to the glass.

In order for the film to stick, you need to remove shampoo and air bubbles from the contact space. This procedure is performed by smoothing the film onto the glass using a sticker, starting from the middle to the edges. Air bubbles are clearly visible on the outside of the glass in the form of white spots. The shampoo solution, squeezed out along with the bubbles, is removed with dry wipes. The remainder of the film along the edges of the glass is cut off with a knife, not reaching 1-2 mm to the edge, with the exception of the lower part. At the bottom, the film is cut with an excess of 2-5 mm, which is tucked under the sealing rubber so that the edges of the tinting do not ride up when the glass moves down.

After finishing work, the film must dry for at least 24 hours. During this time, you must not touch the windows, lower them, or turn on the heating. The adhesive base of the tint, gradually drying, will reliably fix the film on the surface of the glass.

How to glue tinting to the rear window if its bend prevents the film from being evenly distributed?

In this case, you can apply the film in separate 2-3 strips. You need to start gluing the strips from the top, allowing overlap along the electric heating lines of the glass. Carefully cut and remove excess film exactly along the heating line so that the joint remains invisible. Gently iron the strips with a rubber spatula, removing excess water and air.

Procedure technology

Car window tinting is a labor-intensive process that consists of a number of interrelated works. The first thing to start with is preparing your work surface. To do this, remove dust and other dirt from it. Then dry thoroughly. There should be no water left on it.

Now you can proceed directly to gluing the film. To do this, it is well wetted in a specially prepared solution. It consists of water and soap. The glass must also be coated with the same mixture. Moreover, all work is first performed inside the car. This will allow you to determine the required size and shape of the film.

To fix the tint on the glass, it is dried using a hair dryer. After all the work is completed, you should not open the doors for two to three days. During this period, the tint will be firmly and securely fixed. As a result, it will have a long service life.

Selecting material for tinting

There are several ways to darken car windows, but for tinting yourself it is better to use the film method.

It is important to know how to properly stick the film and what material is best to choose. The film can be:

• simple, with a black adhesive base;
• multi-colored;
• transparent, having various patterns;
• metallized, with different levels of darkening;
• with a changing color scheme;
• “chameleon” with a mirror surface;
• silicone;
• perforated.

The quality of the tint and its service life will depend on the tinting material.

By watching the video you will learn more about the species:

A little more effort will be required to tint glass with rolled material, since you need to cut it yourself. The cost of such material depends on the density and level of darkness. The color range is presented in a wide range, so there is an opportunity to choose for every taste.

Roll tinting material has the following advantages:

• dense structure;
• strength;
• resistance to mechanical damage;
• ease of gluing;
• ease of removal.

Tinting material comes in the form of a roll (click to enlarge).
This material is called removable tinting, since the glass underneath remains unchanged and such tinting can be re-glued as much as you like.

Removable tinting is produced in a standard length, and one roll is enough to cover all car windows.

When choosing a film, it is necessary to take into account its light transmittance. Windshield tinting must transmit at least 50% of light. The film covering the front side windows must have a throughput of at least 35%, the rear side windows and trunk - 15%.

A separate issue is the headlights. Can they be tinted? Tinting can be applied to the front and rear headlights only if the color of their glow and light transmittance are preserved. With headlights tinted in any other way, there is a chance that you will fail inspection and receive a fine.

Choosing a film for car window tinting

The tinting film market is so large that to review it, we wrote a separate article about films for tinting car windows.

We do not recommend buying cheap Chinese DIY kits; instead, we recommend purchasing only high-quality roll film for window tinting.

Also listen to the recommendations of sellers who sell tint films. From them you can purchase all the tools necessary for tinting windows.

Still, it is better to see once than to hear a hundred times. Therefore, we suggest watching a video tutorial on tinting car windows with your own hands, which is located at the bottom of this article.

And for better assimilation of the material, all stages of self-tinting windows are described below and can be used as a cheat sheet.

Applying film for tinting on car side windows

Wet the surface of the side glass and use a scraper to clean its lower part. Then lower the glass a few centimeters, wet it and also clean the rest of the surface using a scraper.

Clean the surface with the blade consistently and make sure that there are no uncleaned areas.

Next, wash the glass with a hard sponge and wipe dry using a rubber pad. Wipe the edges of the glass with a napkin. Moisten and wipe the glass again with a rubber pad.

• Before applying the tinting film, wet the glass generously.
• Then it is necessary to remove two-thirds of the liner protecting the adhesive layer from the workpiece and moisten the adhesive surface. It is convenient to carry out this operation on the rear window of the car by placing the pattern with the adhesive layer facing outwards.
• It is better to cut off the excess liner removed from the workpiece before applying the tint film.

Wet your fingers. Your fingertips must be clean, since in the process of tinting the glass you will need to touch the adhesive layer of the film.

Carefully take the workpiece and place it on the prepared glass surface.

Try to ensure that the adhesive layer only touches the surface of the glass and does not touch the seals or other surfaces.

Align the tint film along the top edge. Make sure that there are no gaps or gaps anywhere, and begin to carefully squeeze the solution out from under it.

Follow a few simple rules:

• Hold the pattern with your hand, since when you initially squeeze out the liquid, the workpiece will slide along the glass.
• Squeeze water from the center to the edges.
• Use rubber and then hard forcing. Using hard distillation, expel the liquid in the same directions - from the middle to the edges.
• Then, using a forcing tool and a hair dryer, fix the film at the top edge of the glass.
• After this, use a knife to remove the excess tinting film protruding onto the upper edge of the glass - this technology allows you to avoid leaving gaps along the upper edge.

Raise the glass. Bend down the bottom part of the pattern protected by the liner and generously moisten the glass with the solution. Remove the liner completely.

Do this extremely carefully and make sure that the film without a liner does not touch anything other than the glass with its adhesive layer!

Carefully tuck the tint film under the glass seal

Squeeze out the horizontal inner seal using a force and, when inserting the film for tinting, make sure that it does not break - this operation also requires certain skills, so be especially careful (pay attention to how the master will carry out this operation in the video tutorial below)

• Squeeze the solution out from under the film using hard forcing: squeeze out the water in successive movements from top to bottom and from the middle to the edges.
• Finally remove any remaining moisture using a distiller wrapped in a napkin and a hairdryer.
• Make sure that no water bubbles remain under the film during the tinting process.

The technology for cleaning and sticking small fixed glasses will be identical.

How to properly glue film to the back

According to the principle of operation, the rear window adhesive does not differ from the curved side window. But the larger size and inaccessibility significantly complicate the process (if the station wagon is, of course, lighter).

1. Let's briefly remember the procedure.
   You can’t go anywhere without a “magic” solution. Therefore, we start by spraying it onto clean glass. We apply a roll of film to the glass and cut it with a margin of 2-3 cm. Then we even out the tint exactly on the window and cut off the excess. Smooth out from the center and remove wrinkles using a hairdryer and pressing.
2. We achieve a perfectly clean inner surface of the glass and moisten it generously with soapy water.
3. Let's move on to the last step.
   It is highly recommended to find a partner at this stage. It’s difficult to handle a large piece of film alone. Remember to constantly spray soapy liquid on the adhesive part and on the glass. All that remains is to get rid of air or water bubbles. The film should also adhere evenly. To better visualize the process, watch the video.

Working on errors: bubbles, creases, stripes and dots

It's not always possible to do everything perfectly the first time. Even professionals are not immune from mistakes. Some can be fixed, but not all. Main stumbling blocks:

1. Air bubbles. It is better to deal with them at the initial stage, before the film has dried. After completing the work, be sure to slowly inspect all the windows. If you find bubbles, get rid of them by forcing them out. When the film “sets”, you will have to first soften it using a hair dryer or clothes steamer (you can use an iron with a steam generator).
2. Speaking of the hairdryer. Without it, you will only be able to tint cars with straight windows. You won’t be able to straighten the folds without heating (550 degrees).
3. Creases should be avoided at any stage. Why? After them, a noticeable strip remains. Chinese films are particularly prone to such shortcomings; it is very easy for a beginner to spoil the material.
4. If you notice a crooked gluing in the first few hours, then you can still save the material. You can simply cut off the excess. And the shortage can be compensated by moving the film; perhaps there is a reserve left on the reverse side. Warm up and remove the tint from the window. Re-spray the solution and apply as needed.
5. Dirt getting under the film is not allowed. Pay close attention to this during the washing phase.
6. It takes at least a day for the glue to dry completely. It is better to leave the car in the garage during this time. But if you need to drive, then do not open the windows and do not heat the interior with a stove or air conditioner.
7. To cover all side windows, 2 square meters is enough. m of film. Together with the rear one it’s already 3 meters.

Applying tint film is a rather complicated process, but anyone can do it. The key to success is careful preparation and choosing the right material. Also, avoid rushing while working. Even a small spot can become an eyesore later, and the satisfaction from the work done will be incomplete.

• Author: Vladimir
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General procedure

Glass tinting occurs using a soap and water solution in the proportion of 3 to 5 drops of washing shampoo per liter of water.

It is necessary to mix this solution thoroughly; it is advisable to use an automatic sprayer.

Then the external glass cleaning is carried out. This must be done not only without fail, but also very efficiently, since the technology requires complete cleanliness of the tinted surface. Any grain of sand may end up being an air bubble.

In this way, you can tint any domestic and foreign cars.

General stages of work:

FIRST STAGE. The glass is cleaned from dust and dirt, as well as degreased. If you are going to tint the windows without removing them, it is advisable, but not necessary, to remove the rubber seals. SECOND PHASE. It consists of making a solution of shampoos or non-aggressive detergents. It needs to be poured into a special spray bottle.

Pay attention to the correct preparation of the solution. Add 5 drops of detergent to 1.5 liters of water and shake the entire mixture vigorously.

It is better to pour the resulting solution into a container with a sprayer. THIRD STAGE. Making paper patterns. They will be needed to cut the tint film into the required shape. If you are unsure of your measurements, leave a slight tolerance. They are then easily removed using a cutter. If your hand is already full, then this point can be missed. FOURTH STAGE. The pattern and the tinting process itself.

Protective films

Protective films for windows, the price of which is higher, the higher the quality, are multifunctional. They provide high-quality protection and, according to their purpose, are as follows:

• from burglary. It will protect the apartment from entry by thieves; they simply will not be able to break the window, since the film can withstand the strongest blows. If the blows are applied for a long time, only a crack may appear on it, but the glass itself will not break, but will remain on the film. Depending on the thickness, the film has an impact resistance rating of 31 kg/cm. square up to 182 kg/cm2;

• from fragments. Very durable. In case of any destruction of glass, even during an explosion, this film does not allow the fragments to fly away. It also softens the force of the shock wave;

• from weapons. A bullet fired from a traumatic weapon or pneumatic weapon will be stopped by glass covered with such a film, but, unfortunately, for a steel bullet this is not an obstacle, although it will still be slowed down;

• from listening. This film can reduce vibration from sound waves. Therefore, if there is a conversation in the room, it will not be possible to record this conversation;

• from children's pranks. Very relevant in a house where there are children. Parents can be calm about the possibility of their child falling out of a window or being injured by broken glass;

• from fire. The protection of this film protects the room where the fire occurred from air from the street, which means the flame spreads much more slowly;

• from heat loss. Reflects infrared and ultraviolet rays well. Therefore, in winter it retains heat, and in summer it provides coolness. At the same time, the film is transparent and transmits 85% of light.

Protection classes

Protective films have their own protection classes that correspond to certain thicknesses:

• film thickness 0.24 mm - class A1. Withstands impact 3.5 J;
• 0.412 mm - A2. Resists 6.5 J impact force;
• 0.6 mm - A3. Capable of withstanding a blow with a force of 9.5 J.
• The tolerance for impact force is 0.02 microns in one direction or the other.

Preparation and tools to tint your car

We've sorted out the laws, chosen the film, and now we can get to work. You immediately need to choose a suitable place for the upcoming manipulations. The street is not very suitable for this. Dust, insects, wind and direct sunlight are the main list of unacceptable conditions. A spacious garage or box is ideal.

To ensure that the execution process does not stop “at the most interesting place,” prepare all the tools and materials in advance. You will need:

1. The tint film itself is in the required quantity. Decide how many glasses you will tint and calculate the area. Allow a margin of 10–20% for adjustment.
2. Water spray in any form. Needed for spraying soap solution.
3. Liquid soap or Fairy, clean water.
4. Something sharp and cutting: an ordinary blade, a stationery knife, a scalpel.
5. Lint-free wipes.
6. Forcing is a special spatula with which you will remove the solution from under the film. Should be firm, but without sharp edges. They are usually plastic and some manufacturers include them with film. If you are unlucky, then look for them in construction or automotive stores; they are also definitely available in stores for outdoor advertising specialists.
7. Special scraper for cleaning windows (optional, greatly facilitates the cleaning process).
8. Electric hair dryer with temperature controller (we need 550 degrees Celsius).

Choosing the best film for self-window wrapping

To make the optimal choice, many parameters should be taken into account. The first is the type of film. They come in painted and metalized varieties (there are others, but inexperienced pasters should not mess with them). The second option is preferable, as it is more durable and provides good protection from sunlight, but the price is twice as high. It makes sense to take high-quality colored film for “training”. Its resource will last for 2-3 years, after which (based on the experience gained) you will decide which one to glue for the second time.

You should not take the cheapest options (most often Chinese) to learn how to tint. During installation, you will encounter additional difficulties: creases, poor glue and rapid wear. With such materials and without experience, it is unlikely that you will be able to complete the pasting process.

Recommended and trusted manufacturers (if there is a quality certificate, there may be fakes):

• SunTek - strong adhesive, high strength and excellent thermal insulation. The Standard series is suitable for beginners. An example of one of the varieties of SunTek film
• Llumar has been on the market for a long time, so the production process is mature and the quality is high. The ATR 10 LUX series has a bronze tint. The price is above average. Is one of the top manufacturers
• Sun-gard - painted films from this manufacturer have a five-year warranty due to the protective silicone coating.

  
  Most Sun-gard films are six-layer.

• SunControl has a “trick” in ultraviolet protection. The company is Indian, but the quality does not suffer from this.

  
  SunControl pleases with an abundance of tint coating colors

• SolarGard uses expensive metals (copper, aluminum, titanium) in the production of its films. This gives an excellent variety of shades not available from other manufacturers (white, blue, bright green and many others). SolarGard factories are located in the USA

Choose which brand suits your liking and wallet, and we’ll get to work.

Pros and cons of tinting

Tinting is a fashionable and widespread phenomenon nowadays. Cars that don't have a single tinted window are a rarity. Finding yourself in such a salon, you feel somehow unusual.

This is why most car owners tint the windows on their cars, and many of them try to do it themselves. What is good about tinting and what are its significant disadvantages?

Let's talk about the advantages first, among them the following can be highlighted:

• in sunny weather, the interior heats up less and does not fade;
• the sun doesn’t blind your eyes, and cars behind you don’t either;
• the driver and passengers are not so visible from the outside;
• poor visibility from the outside allows you to leave any things in the cabin;
• If a film is attached to the glass, then the glass will not fall off upon impact.

As for the minuses, they are as follows:

• in some cases you have to pay a fine for using tinting;
• It is dangerous to be in the cabin of such a car with a stranger (most often this applies to those who like to give a ride to a fellow traveler);
• It is very difficult to park in pitch darkness;
• at night, the tint becomes a mirror.

Today, the use of car tinting has become stricter, so many are thinking about whether to do it or not. Knowing about the pros and cons, it is always easier for a person to decide.

Fines for tinting. Removal of license plates for tinting in 2017. What tint is allowed?

Good afternoon, dear reader.

This article will talk about the features of car tinting in 2022, as well as possible penalties for applying tinting film to the glass (in 2022, along with fines, the removal of license plates for incorrect tinting is no longer used). In addition, we’ll talk about permitted tinting, which can be used legally without fear of fines.

Let me remind you that several articles related to auto glass tinting have already been published on PDDMASTER.RU:

• Car window tinting. Fines and documents.
• Features of checking car tinting.
• Tinting 2011. What's what?

However, these articles do not provide answers to all the questions that arise from readers. Therefore, I will continue to consider the topic of tinting and talk about possible penalties for tinting in 2017, as well as provide answers to the most common questions regarding tinting.

What car window tinting is allowed in 2022?

So, first, let's look at what car window tinting will be allowed in 2022:

1. Car rear window tinting;
2. Car rear side window tinting;
3. A strip of transparent colored film on the top of the windshield;
4. Tinting of any car glass if its light transmittance exceeds 70 percent.

How to make and stick with your own hands: instructions

To avoid mistakes when creating and then applying removable tint yourself, you should follow the step-by-step instructions. To make a film, you must perform the following steps:

Remove the pattern from the glass. First you need to glue a transparent protective layer from the film, carefully smooth it over the surface using a solution of soap and water, and using a knife, cut off the side contours and the bottom along the sealing rubber inserts. After this, you need to slightly lower the glass and cut off the film along the upper border. The result is a transparent glass-shaped sample.

Having prepared the pattern, you need to transfer it to a sheet of thick paper and insert it between the glass and the seals. Next, you will need to lift the glass all the way and fit all the parts to the seals. If the contour along the top part coincides unevenly with the edges of the glass, you need to cut off the protruding elements and ensure that the edges match exactly.

Having adjusted the pattern to the size of the glass, you can remove it and cut out plastic blanks based on it. To speed up the process, the blanks can be made in pairs, since the right and left glasses have the same dimensions and shape. After cutting out the blanks with metal scissors, it is worth sanding them along the edges.

After creating the blanks, you need to prepare patterns from the tint film. Removable tinting requires gluing the blanks on both sides, so you need to cut out two pieces of film of the same format. Then it is enough to remove the layer of protection on one side and wait for the static effect to disappear.

The entire area of ​​the polyester workpiece must be wetted with a soap solution 10–15 minutes after performing the previous step. A similar procedure is performed with a tint film using a spray bottle. If the humidity is not enough, the film may not stick securely in the future.

The treated film should be applied to the plastic blank and smoothed over the entire area using forcing. After careful alignment, the excess edges are cut off along the contour of the glass with a knife.

After applying the tint film to all workpieces, you should dry the resulting products for a couple of hours

It is important to ensure that no air bubbles appear on the workpieces. After the first side is completely dry, you need to let the second side dry.

The result is a ready-made removable tint, for gluing it you just need to attach it to the glass.

How to install and remove film on static

By making your own car window tinting, you can quickly install it on the windows and remove it when not necessary. A well-made overlay will serve its purpose for many years.

Tinting stages

No matter how much you would like to start gluing the tint film as soon as possible, you will first have to do a little preparation.

Preparation of tools and equipment

It is better to prepare everything you need in advance than to hastily look for the necessary tools and materials later. Or even worse - use various improvised means. So write down or remember right away what you will need for tinting yourself:

Tint film

On average, about 3 m² of film is used for the side windows and rear window - 2 m² and 1 m², respectively. The windshield, as a rule, is not tinted. If you are doing tinting yourself for the first time, we recommend buying a film with a reserve.

Spatula or scraper

What exactly to choose - a rubber spatula or a plastic scraper - is a matter of taste. For example, we prefer to work with a soft spatula, which, unlike a hard scraper, does not leave micro-scratches.

Shampoo

You will need it to prepare the soap solution that you will use throughout your work. The shampoo can be anything, the main thing is that it does not contain aggressive chemicals.

Construction hair dryer

This is one of the most important tools. You can also use a regular household hair dryer, but in this case the work will take much longer.

Preparing the car

After you have prepared the necessary materials and tools, wash both sides of the glass of your car on which you will stick the tint film. There should be no dirt, stains, or traces of sand on its surface.

As soon as you finish washing, make a solution: dilute a few drops of shampoo in warm, clean water. Pour the resulting soap solution into a spray bottle. This completes the preparatory work, and you should begin tinting the windows.

The entire film covering operation should be carried out in a dry, warm and clean room. Ideally, it will be a separate, well-lit box.

Tinted glass

There are 7 main stages in the tinting procedure. The main thing is to be extremely careful and strictly adhere to the instructions, then you won’t have to redo anything, and the result will meet your expectations.

Making a “pattern”

Take a roll of tint film and roll it out. To understand how much film you will need, apply it to the car window with one hand and mark the approximate edges of the cut with a marker using your free hand. After this, cut off part of the film with a stationery knife with a small margin - tolerances of a few millimeters. Then put your “pattern” aside for a while.

Removing the protective layer

Very carefully separate the protective layer from the tint film. Lubricate the side that will stick to the glass with soapy water.

We glue the film

Apply film to the wet glass surface

It is important to ensure that no horizontal folds appear. If vertical ones appear, it’s not a big deal, since they can then be quite easily straightened out with a spatula or scraper.

Some technicians believe that tinting the rear window yourself is more difficult than tinting the side windows. However, the procedure is absolutely the same: the film is glued in exactly the same way, you can see this in the video.

Leveling the film

Carefully, so as not to tear, flatten the film on the car glass. Movements with a spatula (scraper) should be from the center to the edges. At the same time, heat the film with a hair dryer - it softens and smoothes out more easily.

Since it is quite difficult to level and warm up the film on your own, ask someone to help you. For example, you smooth the film with both hands, and your assistant works with a hairdryer.

Trim off the excess

Since we took the film with a reserve, there will be excess. Cut them with a utility knife. You can step back a little from the edges of the glass so that the film does not peel off over time in these places.

Drying

The final stage is drying. Leave the car in a warm room for 3-4 hours. But remember that the film will dry completely only after 2-3 days. All this time the car must be parked with the windows open. That is why it is best to do tinting in a special closed box.

We also recommend watching video materials to see with your own eyes how each stage of tinting takes place at home.

Video Vehicle tinting technology

In this video you can learn everything you need to tint your car.

Tinting is an affordable tuning tool that significantly transforms a car. And in our latitudes, the appearance of your favorite car is of significant importance. There are many offers on the market for such a popular service - gluing tint film. But the more options there are, the more difficult it is to find a contractor who can guarantee quality. Therefore, it is quite logical to do everything thoroughly and with your own hands. And we’ll talk about the nuances of how to tint a car yourself and glue the film correctly below.

Preparing everything you need

Before applying the tint, you need to prepare a clean and dry place to work, as well as a standard set of tools:

• Tinting film that meets the requirements of GOST 5727-88. Light transmittance for the windshield should be at least 75%, for the front side windows - 70%, for the rear side and rear - any. Typically, 4 side windows require 1 roll of film filter.
• Liquid soap (without dyes) to fix the film. It is better to use special installation compounds that do not leave streaks, or a 10-20 percent solution of any transparent shampoo.
• Plastic sticker for smoothing tint. Usually it comes complete with a film filter, but if you don’t have one, you can use any elastic plastic, rubber spatula or construction rubber eraser. Also in the store you can find special distillers for removing bubbles (chisler - for hard-to-reach places, slammer - for squeezing the edges, bloomax - for forcing out liquid).
• Scrapers for cleaning glass surfaces. 12 cm products of various shapes are best suited.
• Spray bottle (manual) for applying soap solution.
• Blade or utility knife. The latter is made of mild steel, so it is convenient to cut the film without fear of the glass being scratched.
• Soft rags, clean rags or napkins made of lint-free material.
• Industrial dryer.

If you are tinting your car yourself for the first time, it would be a good idea to purchase special camouflage markers and tapes. With their help you can correct minor errors.

You should also ensure that you have easy access to clean, cold tap water. The room should be free of insects and dust.

If everything is prepared, you can start cutting the film filter.

Tinting the rear window

If you have already processed the front and side elements of the car, then you have already approximately mastered the concept of tinting yourself. The rear window is more difficult, so be sure to practice.

The main difficulty is that this window is very curved, which is why it is rarely possible to tint this area with one piece of film. In order not to suffer with insets, after applying the tint (with a protective layer) to the soap solution, you need to pull it very tightly onto the glass. Don’t be afraid to tear the tint; it has good ductility and durability.

Also, before applying the tint to the rear window, it is recommended to call an assistant. He should heat the film with a hairdryer while you stretch it. Don't be afraid to use a lot of force when "driving" the bubbles out of the rear window. This will also help the material adhere better. In all other respects, the same operations are performed as described above.

If you can’t tint the rear window in one piece, use several pieces of light filters. It is better to cut them horizontally rather than vertically, so you can hide the traces of the resulting “designer”. If you can make a cut along the line of the heating element, this will be the best option.

Characteristics of removable tinting

Removable tinting is a film that has a static effect of adhering to car glass. In terms of external characteristics, it differs slightly from ordinary film. The only noticeable difference is that after gluing it there is a clouding effect, which disappears as a result of shrinkage.

The main characteristics of removable auto-tinting include increased resistance to low temperatures and mechanical stress. During long-term use, the film is not damaged or deformed. Removable tinting perfectly protects the interior from ultraviolet radiation and does not interfere with normal illumination.

Plastic removable tint option

A distinctive feature of removable film compared to conventional film is the possibility of reusable use without loss of proper appearance and effectiveness. Regardless of the number of removals and re-installations with your own hands, it will protect the interior of the car and hold firmly to the windows.

Types of film

Depending on what functions the film should perform, it is divided into:

• sun protection;
• protective;
• decorative;
• architectural;
• automobile.

Films are used for plastic windows and those made of wood. All of them are made on the basis of polyester. This polymer provides:

• transparency;
• sufficient elasticity;
• strength characteristics of the film.

Depending on the type of film, it:

• has a different number of layers;
• different composition in each layer;
• may include a coloring pigment, and in cheap films, manufacturers make do with coloring glue, which reduces their quality.

The difference between professional films

1. The outer layer serves as protection for the inner layers - the workers;
2. There are several protective, that is, metallized layers. Their number determines strength;
3. In the production of metallized film, the sputtering method is used:

• aluminum;
• bronze;
• titanium;
• nickel;
• sometimes even gold and silver.

According to their appearance, the films are:

• transparent;
• matte;
• mirrored;
• white;
• dark;
• colored;
• plain;
• having the effect of stained glass or glass with frost;
• just with a picture.

Window tinting step by step

First, you need to dilute the soap solution and thoroughly rinse all the glass with it. Before carrying out this stage of preparation, it is necessary to remove the rubber seals from the glass. Glass treated with soapy water must be thoroughly wiped with paper napkins or a lint-free cloth.

After this, you need to spray the outer side of the glass with soapy water and attach the film to it, pointing its transparent side towards you. Using a knife, you need to outline the boundaries of the future pattern, stepping back about 1-2 cm from the edge of the glass.

Then you need to spray the inside of the tinted glass with soapy water. It is necessary to attach the film with the adhesive side to the glass, carefully cutting off the bent liner. If the film lies flat and without gaps, then you can begin to carefully squeeze out the soap solution from under it using a rubber spatula or forcing. You need to act carefully. Pressing too hard may scratch the tint.

After the tint has already been glued to the center of the glass, you need to tuck its lower edge into the rubber seal. You must act carefully and slowly. At this stage of tinting, creases and distortions should not form. After this, you need to squeeze out the remaining soap solution from under the film.

After the tint is glued to the glass, you need to trim off the excess with a knife. Excess film around the edges must be removed with sharp movements. The knife must be sharp. The final stage is drying the treated glass with a hairdryer. If it is not there, then you need to close all the car doors. There should be no drafts in the room where the car is tinted. Experts do not recommend returning rubber seals to their place earlier than two days have passed since tinting.

How to apply tint yourself

The tint coating should only be applied to clean glass. If work is carried out indoors, there should be no dust in it. Polluted air is one of the reasons for the appearance of bubbles. If you perform the steps without removing the glass, then the interior should also be clean.

If, due to complexity, you want to refuse a job, you always have the opportunity to contact the service. In addition to the fact that the window should be smooth, you should remove everything unnecessary from it, for example, the antenna.

What you will need

Before work, you need to prepare tools and material. Among everything you may need, consumables should not be neglected.

1. Tinting film. The quantity should be enough for the side windows, as well as the front and rear glass.
2. Rubber spatula and plastic scraper.
3. Shampoo.
4. Spray.
5. Stationery knife with a retractable blade.
6. Lint-free cloth, dry.
7. Clean and warm water.
8. Home or technical hair dryer.

Also, before work, the material must be prepared. Cutting out the film is not a difficult task, and involves cutting out pieces that will be 2-4 centimeters larger than the size of the surface to be tinted.

Car preparation

The next stage is preparing the machine itself. For quality work, be sure to wash the car and workplace

Even grains of sand can cause defects during operation, so attention to detail is worth paying attention to. Apply the film only to a clean surface and in clean conditions.

Therefore, car windows must first be washed on both sides using a special cleaning solution.

Even after washing, when wiping the car with a soft cloth, you must make sure that no lint remains on it - you cannot glue the tint material without bringing the coating to perfect cleanliness. Work should begin with the side windows.

Only after pasting them over can you gain experience and begin working on the rear and front glass. Then the process can go in two directions - removing the glass or not removing it. The most convenient way is to remove the glass; the effect of this is much higher, although it forces you to tinker, doing extra work.

We make the film ourselves

The advantages of tint film have already been described in detail, but the question remains: how and what is it made from? The production of car tinting is based on polyester material. The base for production must be of high quality, and very few companies produce such polyester. The classic film consists of several balls. The thickness of each is 20 microns. The manufacturing technique is quite complex; the layers are rolled at a certain temperature.

It is very important that when used, the film does not distort the appearance of things and the interior. To achieve this, much attention is paid to the same physical characteristics of the base in its different sections.

This property allows the film to be glued to any type of glass.

You can also tint your car at home. However, it is not possible to create a high-quality product that will meet modern norms, standards and operational requirements. Tinting film is made using temperature and chemical composition in a factory; recreating the process at home can be an impossible task.

Pasting technique

The methods for gluing the coating to the side, front and rear glass are not much different. Experts advise starting with the sides. Only then, having gained experience, can you begin to apply coating to the rear and windshield.

Before starting the procedures, the side windows are washed with water and a scraper, and then wiped with a rubber pad. The edges are wiped with a napkin, and hands are washed with soap before the second part of the work. The glass is moistened with soapy water, and the protective coating is removed from the pattern. The adhesive part is wetted with the solution, as are the fingers. The film is carefully applied to the glass, the absence of gaps is checked and how smoothly the applied material fits. Excess water is removed. Drying too hard can scratch the coating. Water is removed with progressive movements from the center to the edges.

The upper part of the film coating is fixed a little later. The remaining part is also moistened with soap solution. The film is tucked under the lower seal; kinks should not be allowed. The remaining liquid is removed from under the film with a hairdryer and distillation. There should be no water bubbles after finishing work. They can be removed almost immediately after applying the tint by walking over the glass with a rag or soft cloth.

Side window tinting

Initially, the seals and door trim should be removed in order to gain full access to the glass. Next, the pattern is made. There are two options: use a template from thin graph paper or cut a piece with a margin of a few centimeters.

In the second case, you should apply the tinting material on the outside of the damp glass and trim off all excess. Next, you will need to remove the transparent protective layer from the tint, while simultaneously spraying the surface with soapy water.

The final stage is gluing the film onto the glass; to smooth it out, use a spatula, expelling air bubbles from the middle to the edges. After the material has been thoroughly smoothed and taken its place, it is forbidden to use window lifters for several days until the adhesive layer has completely dried, as the edges of the material may peel off.

How to remove tint

If the film is damaged, begins to peel off, you are simply tired of it, or a traffic police officer requires it to be removed, it is quite easy to get rid of it with your own hands at home. But take your time and under no circumstances try to rip off the old film with a knife, scissors or the first objects you come to hand!

It is also prohibited to use aggressive liquids: acetone, white spirit, etc. These products will indeed dissolve the film, but the remaining particles of tint will stick even more and will be very difficult to clean them yourself.

We suggest choosing one of two effective ways to remove window tinting yourself:

Heat removal

Heat the glass with a hair dryer to 40-50°C, then pick up the edge of the film and pull it. So, gradually, with one hand, separate the film from the glass, while not forgetting to warm the surface with a hairdryer all the time with the other hand. It is very difficult to cope with this task on your own, so it is better to ask a friend to help you.

If the rear window is heated, the technology for removing the film will be exactly the same. The main thing is not to damage the heating system with sharp objects.

Car window tinting: requirements

Today, tinting is a regulated procedure. There are a number of requirements that traffic police officers place on her. If you do not comply with them, you may receive a fine.

The main indicator of tinting is the degree of its light transmittance. It depends on the purpose for which you are using the film on the car glass. To hide everything that is happening and the salon itself from prying eyes, this figure should be 5%. It is rarely used, since law enforcement agencies prohibit this type of tinting.