How much tint darkness is right for you?

If you are searching for the information to decide before installing window film especially, the suitable tint% for your driving, if the answer is “Yes” we congratulate you here that you are choosing the right article but if not…you can think about gaining some more knowledge here ^^ because today we will share with you the right, in-depth and yet complete information that Thai drivers are familiar with which is “Film 40/60/80” .This is not some lotto number we have randomly given to you but we bring you together to solve a popular question in this window tinted film industry, what is it ? What is the difference?

Because Thai people is familiar with how they call the tint darkness based on how large the number is, to say the darker will have higher number for example film 60 is  darker than film 40 and so on. If you want to compare based on transparent film for Thai people, it will be 0% window film for clear film and for the darkest film will be 100% 

For the reason that the number 40/ 60/ 80 is widely used in our window film industry is that the window film shop in Thailand usually import a dark tint with high heat rejection level (because Thailand is a hot country). Therefore, a popular tint we always use in Thailand will be these 3 levels which are

Film 40 = less dark, still can be visible from the outside

Film60 = medium dark, suitable for general use  

Film 80 = super dark, looked dark from exterior but with high privacy 

To call them film 40/60/80 is also how the salesperson and the window film shop always like to use because of its easy understanding but have you ever curious?

VLT is the tool to measure the amount of visible light passing through the window, the calculation is given in percentage. The low percentage means the less the light can pass through, while high percentage means more lights can transmit through glass, the clearer the tinted film will be, which now you can see it clearly that to measure by %VLT will be a lot more precise than “Film 40 / 60 / 80”method

However, if we implement Thai method of “Film 40 / 60 / 80” to compare with international standard %VLT method, the value will be as below:

Film 40 = 40 - 80% VLT  

Film 60 = 20 - 39% VLT

Film 80 = 5-19% VLT 

However, this value is not affected to the level of heat rejection as many people understand that “the darker film the better for heat rejection” If you want to know why, let’s check out our  Lamina Digital Special Series a clear tinted film with high heat rejection. You can see that it is also very good in heat rejection compared to a dark tinted film. Thus, the tint darkness or %VLT should be one of the information you decide to choose the tinted film and do not forget to check out other values which you can have a further read from the infographic “Do not rely on one measurement when choosing the tinted film” 

Right now, you know already that each series of tinted film has various %VLT (If you forget what it is, please check detail at above article) but which factor determine tint darkness? See the following:

Factor 1: dyeing procedure

In this step is to take a decided shade to dye with the film sheet which it will also affected to the tint darkness for example, the dyeing process of the Eastman Chemical factory ( leading film factory from the United States which Lamina films is the first importer in Thailand) 

At the factory, it can produce more than 4,000 shades which is the result from blending between primary colors: red, yellow and blue and in between this procedure, the UV absorption substance will be mixed into the colors.

Factor 2: Some heat rejection material will affect to the color and tint darkness

After dyeing the color into the film, the next procedure is to coat with heat rejection material like metal (e.g. titanium, gold, silver, aluminum, copper etc.) and non-metal (e.g. ceramic or carbon). Some substances can affect the color and darkness such as Carbon (C) which its natural black color, once coating the film will be a bit darker.

Factor 3: the original color of window film

Which is not caused from the film itself but resulted from the distorted color after installing the tinted film on the glass which already has its original color. Each car’s window color will have a different color, darkness, transparency thus, resulting to a bit difference outcomes after film installation.
 

Factor 4: Window car size

Another factor which affect the tint darkness is originally occurred from the car itself and does not has any results on the film features but affecting to the feeling when looking from outside is window car size (especially, the front windscreen and rear windscreen) and the quantity of the window on the car (such as the sun roof) to say..

Let’s check out this example, Ford Mustang GT350 which is the representative of the 2 doors sport car with less window and Haval Jolion which is the representative of SUV car with many windows, these 2 cars have the same model and color of film which is  L15 Digital Ceramatrix, you can see the difference as below pictures
 

Which time you drive most?

Whether at day or night …which time you drive more frequently? If your lifestyle always rely on the day, you can select dark tinted film such as front windscreen with 60, the rest area with 80 but if you are more out at night, we suggest to use 40 at the front windscreen (or Visible light transmission/VLT at the front windscreen not less than 30%) then the rest area with 60.

Do you use rear windscreen when backing up?

If you use rear windscreen when you do reverse parking, the darkness of the window should not be darker than 60. If you do not rely on the rear windscreen but prefer the LCD monitor screen to check the backside, no matter the darkness of the film you use, it will be alright.

What is your eye condition? 

If you have eyesight problems such as short sight, long sight and astigmatism, we would like you to pay attention on your visibility when selecting tinted film. Lamina suggest that you better stick with film 40 first (Visible light transmission or VLT value at the front windscreen is not less than 30%) besides, you should install less reflectivity film (Visible light rejected or VLR value is not more than 15%) in order to reduce reflectivity while driving at night because safety always need to come first

Film 40/60/80 is the measurement you call in Thailand only, the higher the value the darker it is while in contrast, international standard will use %VLT (Visible light transmission) To say,  the more % the more transparency of the film. After all, you need to select the darkness that is suitable for your use besides, the beauty but also, for your own safety.