Your Complete Guide to the Different Shades of Window Tint

Here at Elite Window Tinting, we strive to not only deliver unmatched tinting solutions to our customers but also thoroughly educate them about their options.

If you’re thinking about getting automotive window tints, you might be overwhelmed by the endless variety of available options. Window films come in a huge array of shades and materials to add a distinctive flair to your ride.

Luckily, our experienced technicians are here to help. With over 50 years of combined experience, Portland-area drivers trust us for superior results.

Here’s everything you need to know about different window tint shades.

The Basics

Before we dive into the different types of window tints, you need to understand what they are. It’s important to note that you’re not changing the color of your windows. Rather, our specialists retrofit film onto the window, enhancing both the aesthetics and your driving comfort.

If you’re leasing a vehicle, you don’t have to stress out about modifying your car. This is because window film does not permanently alter the car’s stock makeup. We can remove the film at any time, returning your vehicle to its original form.

Five Types of Tints

There are over 1,000 individual blends of window films currently available on the market. While that number might seem staggering, there are only five basic types of window tints that are important for you to know about. These different options will come with their own unique benefits and price points. These tints include:

1.Dyed Window Tint

This is the best entry-level film if you’re tinting your car’s windows for the first time. Dyed window tint blocks out sunlight and efficiently absorbs heat, keeping your cabin cool.

2. Metallized Window Tint

Instead of using dyes, metallized window film is infused with tiny particles of metal to block out light. This type of tint adds rich shine to your ride, as well as strength to reduce the risk of shattering glass.

3. Carbon Film

This type of car tint elevates the tinting effect. Carbon tint film has an attractive matte finish and blocks out 40% of infrared radiation.

4. Crystalline Window Film

This option keeps your cabin comfortable without the darkening effects of traditional tints.

5. Ceramic Tint

Ceramic-infused window film is made up of tiny ceramic-based particles that are extremely nonconductive. This film doesn’t reduce electronic transmissions from your smartphone, Bluetooth, or Wi-Fi hotspot.

Tint Percentage vs Tint Color

Now that you know about the five general types of tints, let’s explore tint percentage and color. Window tint shades determine how light or dark the window film is. The percentage, abbreviated as VLT%, is how much light the film lets inside your car. On a tint chart, the lower the percentage, the darker your tint shade will be. In Oregon, legal shades of window tint should allow 35% of light in.

The tint color is the color of the hue itself. Some of the most popular window tint colors are black, gray, gold, charcoal, and bronze.

Which Type of Window Tint is Right for You?

When choosing your tint material, percentage, shade, and color, you need to consider your style preferences and comfort or privacy needs. Do you want to enhance the look of your car or keep your cabin cool? Determining what is most important to you will better guide your decision-making process.

Some questions to consider when selecting window film are:

What is your budget?
Do you want to protect yourself from harmful UV rays?
What colors appeal to you?
How long do you plan on driving your vehicle?

If you need help picking out the perfect tint, the technicians at Elite Window Tinting are more than happy to offer our assistance.

Professional Automotive Window Tinting Services in Milwaukie, Oregon

If you want to make your car look and feel great, contact the experts at Elite Window Tinting in Milwaukie, Oregon today. We proudly serve the greater Portland area and have serviced over 35,000 vehicles.

To boost your car’s aesthetics, call us today at (503) 744-7999.

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Kenley Wallis

Owner/Founder at Elite Window Tint

Kenley started tinting in Kennewick, Washington in 2002.In 2005 he moved to Milwaukie and joined the Elite team, quickly distinguishing himself as a great innovator of creative solutions to the numerous challenges in applying film.He refined and developed his craft over the years, eventually taking the helm as owner in 2012.Kenley’s amicable and easygoing demeanor makes him very popular, and he takes great pride in delivering great customer service.