Two quality films that look alike on the glass, and why they feel so different on a hot day.
Ask around for window tint quotes and you will hear the words carbon and ceramic thrown about as if they were brand names. Both are a real step up from cheap dyed film, and once they are on the glass most people could not tell them apart from the footpath. The difference is in what each film does with the sun's heat, and that is the part you feel when you get back into a car that has been parked at the shops all afternoon in January.
Here is how the two films actually work, where each one makes sense, and how to compare them without getting lost in sales talk.
Every automotive tint is a thin polyester film built in layers: an adhesive that bonds to the glass, a scratch resistant hard coat on the inside face, and a working layer in the middle that controls light and heat. That working layer is what separates the three main types.
Dyed film has colour soaked into it. It darkens the glass and absorbs some heat, but the dye breaks down in UV, which is why old tint goes purple and starts to bubble. Carbon and ceramic films do not rely on dye, so they hold their colour for the life of the film. That alone puts both of them in a different class.
Carbon film uses fine carbon particles spread through the film. Carbon is good at absorbing infrared, the part of sunlight you feel as heat, and it gives a deep, matte black look that does not fade or turn purple. Because there is no metal in it, it will not interfere with your phone, GPS, keyless entry or toll tag.
The catch is that carbon's heat rejection is closely tied to how dark it is. A dark carbon film on the rear glass performs well. On the front side windows, though, Victorian rules require at least 35 percent of light to pass through, and at that lighter legal shade a carbon film gives up a fair amount of its heat rejection. For many owners that is still a big improvement over bare glass, and it is a sensible choice when budget matters.
Ceramic film uses nano sized ceramic particles that are non conductive and target infrared specifically, while letting much of the visible light through. In plain terms, a ceramic film can keep the cabin cooler than a darker carbon film, even at the same legal shade on the fronts. The view out tends to be a touch clearer too, which you notice most when driving at night or in the rain.
It also blocks UV, protecting leather and dash plastics from fading, and like carbon it plays nicely with every signal in the car. The trade off is price. Ceramic costs more up front, but it is the film we choose to install at Auto Care Expert (SunTek ceramic) because it gives the owner the most comfort you can legally get on the front windows. You can see more on our window tinting page.
Do not compare films by shade alone. Two films at 35 percent can perform very differently. Ask for the total solar energy rejected (TSER) and infrared rejection figures for the exact shade going on your car, not the darkest film in the range, which is where the headline numbers usually come from.
Then think about how you use the car. If it lives in a garage and does a short commute, a quality carbon film may be all you need. If it sits outside all day, carries kids in the back or has dark leather, ceramic earns its keep every summer. And remember the install matters as much as the film. Clean glass, tight edges, rear glass heat shrunk to shape and a dust free bay are what stop a good film looking cheap. A well installed carbon film will always beat a premium ceramic film fitted poorly.
If you are unsure what is legal, our guide to legal tint limits in Victoria covers the rules, and what window tinting costs in Melbourne explains what drives the price.
If you are weighing up the two, send us your make and model or drop into the Bayswater North studio. Henry will show you both films on real glass, explain what you would actually feel from the driver's seat, and give you an honest, no-obligation quote that fits what you want to spend.
Not much at the same shade. Both have a neutral, non reflective look. Ceramic tends to give slightly clearer optics, especially at night, but most people cannot tell them apart from outside the car.
No. Neither film contains metal, so they do not interfere with phone signal, GPS, keyless entry or toll tags. That was a problem with older metallised films.
Yes, as long as the shade meets the VLT rules. Front side windows must let through at least 35 percent of light, measured with the glass and film together. The type of film does not change that limit.
We look after everyday drivers, not just weekend supercars. Tell Henry, our owner, what you want to protect and what you have to spend, and he will put together a cost-effective option that makes sense for your car, with honest advice and no pressure.
Tell us your car and how you use it, and we will recommend a film and send an honest quote.
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