Anti-Glare Coating: A specialized layer in some windscreen protection films that reduces glare from headlights and sunlight, enhancing visibility and safety.
Automotive gems: Refer to exceptionally rare, valuable, or collectible cars. These are vehicles that are considered gems in the world of automotive enthusiasts, often for their historical significance, unique features, limited production numbers, or exceptional condition.
Automotive landscape: The overall state, condition, and dynamics of the automotive industry at a given point in time. It encompasses a wide range of factors, trends, and elements that shape the world of automobiles.
Automotive tint: A film or coating applied to the windows of a vehicle to reduce the transmission of visible light, heat, and ultraviolet radiation, offering benefits such as heat reduction, glare reduction, UV protection, privacy, and improved aesthetics.
Blackout Trim: Involves replacing or covering the shiny, metallic, or chrome trim parts of a vehicle with materials (usually vinyl wrap or paint) that are black in color. This customization option is popular for achieving a sleek, monochromatic look that can make a vehicle stand out or give it a more aggressive appearance.
Car Wrapping: The application of a specialized vinyl film to a vehicle’s surface, providing protection and allowing for customization of its appearance.
Ceramic coating: A semi-permanent or permanent liquid polymer applied by hand to the exterior of a vehicle, creating a protective layer over the vehicle’s clear-coat. This layer serves to guard against external paint damage and acts as a second skin for the vehicle’s exterior, enhancing its protection and durability; nano-coating.
Certified installer: A trained professional with the skills and qualifications to expertly apply vinyl wraps and paint protection film to vehicles. They ensure precise, quality installations for a seamless appearance and effective protection.
Chemical etch marks: Blemishes or damage to the vehicle’s paint or clear coat that occur as a result of exposure to certain chemicals or corrosive substances. These marks can manifest as discolored, dull, or rough areas on the car’s exterior, and they are typically caused by substances that can react with the paint, erode the protective clear coat, or cause chemical reactions that lead to visible damage.
Chemical stains: Blemishes or discolorations on a vehicle’s paint, interior, or exterior surfaces that result from the interaction of various chemicals or substances with the car’s materials. These stains can occur in various ways and affect different parts of the vehicle, and they often require specific cleaning and detailing procedures to remove or minimize their appearance.
Chrome Covering: Refers to the process of applying a vinyl wrap or paint over the chrome parts of a vehicle, such as trim, grilles, and door handles, to change their appearance. This technique is often used to achieve a uniform or customized look, often in colors that contrast with or complement the vehicle’s primary color.
Chrome Delete: Refers to the process of covering or replacing the chrome elements on a vehicle with a vinyl wrap or paint, typically in a matte or satin finish. This custom modification aims to give the car a more streamlined, modern appearance by eliminating the reflective chrome accents.
Clear Bra: A common nickname for PPF due to its protective nature and the transparent appearance of the film.
Clear Shield: Clear Shield is essentially a brand or type of Paint Protection Film (PPF) that’s applied over a car’s paintwork to protect it from scratches, stone chips, and minor abrasions. This transparent film acts as a durable barrier, preserving the vehicle’s exterior without altering its appearance.
Color Change Wraps: Involve covering a vehicle with a vinyl film of a different color from its original paint, allowing car owners to transform their vehicle’s appearance without permanent alterations. This process not only provides a fresh, new look but also protects the original paint underneath from scratches, UV rays, and minor abrasions.
Commercial vehicle wrapping: The process of applying vinyl film wrap on a range of vehicles such as box trucks, trailers, cars, vans, and utility vehicles. This serves as a mobile advertising strategy, turning these vehicles into constant and prominent advertisements for your business, operating 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Curing time (in vinyl application): The period required for the vinyl film and adhesive to fully set, bond, and attain their intended state, ensuring a secure, durable, and visually appealing wrap. This process ensures that the vinyl adheres securely to the vehicle’s surface, allowing it to maintain its shape, and resist environmental factors.
Custom Cut Kits: Pre-cut windscreen protection film kits designed for specific vehicle models, making installation easier and more precise.
Dazzling Light Reduction: The process or technology used to reduce the intensity of extremely bright or dazzling light, often through the use of specialized materials or filters.
De-chroming: This is the process of removing or covering up the shiny chrome bits on the vehicle. Think of it as giving your car a sleek, modern makeover. Gone are the days when chrome was the bee’s knees. Today, it’s all about that stealthy, understated look. Like James Bond in car form – suave, sophisticated, and not too flashy. Also known as Chrome Delete.
Dyed charcoal construction: A type of window film used in vehicle window tinting that is primarily composed of dyed polyester film with a dark or black color. It is chosen for its ability to reduce visible light transmission, absorb heat, and provide privacy to the vehicle’s occupants.
PPF expert craftsmanship: The skill, precision, and mastery demonstrated by a highly skilled and experienced artisan or professional in their respective trade or craft. This level of expertise is marked by the ability to produce high-quality, meticulously crafted, and often bespoke or customized products or services.
Extended bonnet: The application of PPF to cover a larger area of the vehicle’s front hood or bonnet than the standard coverage provided by typical PPF kits. This extended coverage offers additional protection to the hood’s surface against damage and preserves the vehicle’s paint finish.
Film thickness (for vehicles): The measure of the thin layer of material or coating on the vehicle’s surfaces, typically in micrometers (μm) or millimeters (mm). It’s crucial for appearance, protection, and performance in applications like paint protection films and ceramic coatings.
Fleet Wrapping:Wrapping multiple vehicles in a commercial fleet with a consistent design or branding to create a cohesive and professional appearance.
Front bumper vinyl installation: The process of applying a vinyl wrap or film to the front bumper of a vehicle. This is often done for aesthetic purposes, such as changing the color or appearance of the bumper, or for protective purposes, to shield the bumper from scratches, chips, and other minor damage.
Full Front End PPF: The application of Paint Protection Film on the entire front end of a vehicle, which includes the front bumper, full hood, front fenders, and side mirrors, to protect these areas from potential damage such as rock chips, scratches, and environmental factors.
Full Wrap: Covering the entire vehicle with vinyl wrap, including all panels and surfaces, even windows.
Glass Shield: Is a type of protective coating applied to vehicle windows and windshields. It enhances durability against scratches, chips, and environmental elements, while also improving visibility by repelling water and reducing glare.
Graphics: The images, text, logos, and designs applied to the vehicle’s exterior using vinyl wraps. They serve advertising and branding purposes, making the vehicle a mobile marketing platform.
Hard water spots: Crystalline deposits of mineral residues left behind when water dries on the vehicle’s surface. These deposits are primarily composed of minerals found in hard water sources and can appear as white, chalky, or cloudy stains on the car’s finish.
Hydrophobic: A term used to describe a substance or surface that has a strong aversion to water or repels water effectively. Hydrophobic materials are characterized by their ability to cause water to bead up and roll off, rather than wetting or spreading across the surface.
Hypercars: A specific category of high-performance sports cars that represent the pinnacle of automotive engineering and design. These vehicles are characterized by their extreme levels of power, speed, aerodynamics, and advanced technology. More on hypercars.
Liquid Polymer Sealant: Is a protective coating applied to a vehicle’s exterior. It’s made from polymers that bond with the paint, forming a protective layer against environmental damage, UV rays, and minor scratches. This sealant enhances the vehicle’s gloss and durability, offering a shield that also makes cleaning easier by repelling water and dirt.
Nano-Ceramic Protection: refers to a cutting-edge coating technology for vehicles that utilizes nanotechnology to provide superior protection to a car’s surface. This ceramic coating creates a hard, durable layer that is highly resistant to scratches, UV rays, chemicals, and extreme temperatures. It enhances the paint’s gloss and depth, offering a lasting, protective barrier that also makes the surface easier to clean by repelling water and dirt.
Overlap Technique: A method of overlapping vinyl pieces at seams or edges during installation to create a seamless and professional look.
Oxidation: on a car’s exterior occurs when the clear coat, which is a protective layer over the base coat of paint, reacts with oxygen in the atmosphere and undergoes a chemical process known as oxidation. This reaction leads to the deterioration of the clear coat’s molecular structure and results in the loss of its smooth and glossy finish.
Panel Wraps: Wrapping specific parts or panels of a vehicle, such as the hood, roof, or doors.
Partial Wrap: Wrapping only specific parts of the vehicle, leaving some areas exposed.
Patterned Wrap: A type of vinyl wrap with pre-designed patterns, textures, or graphics, offering customization without the need for custom design work.
Porsche PPF: The PPF installation involves applying a transparent, robust film to a Porsche vehicle, safeguarding its exterior from scratches, stone chips, and weather wear. This process, known as Porsche PPF installation, ensures the vehicle maintains its pristine condition. It’s an effective, economical solution for preserving the Porsche’s value and aesthetic appeal.
PPF (Paint Protection Film): The primary material which is a clear or colored polyurethane film applied to a vehicle’s paint to protect it from damage, such as rock chips, scratches, and UV radiation; clear bra.
Privacy Tinting: Refers to the application of a darker tint film to the windows of a vehicle, which serves to obscure the view into the interior from the outside, thereby providing occupants with increased privacy. This tint can also offer UV protection and reduce heat inside the vehicle.
Protective Glass Coating: Is a treatment for vehicle glass surfaces, using advanced chemical compounds to enhance visibility and durability. It creates a hydrophobic layer that repels water, reduces staining, and increases resistance to scratches and chips, improving safety and maintenance.
Rear bumper vinyl installation: The process of applying a vinyl wrap or film to the rear bumper of a vehicle. This is typically done for aesthetic, protective, or branding purposes.
PPF self-healing properties: The ability of the coating to automatically repair minor surface imperfections, such as light scratches and swirl marks, on the vehicle’s paint when exposed to heat, sunlight, or time.
Sills vinyl installation: The application of vinyl wraps on a vehicle’s lower horizontal sections, typically situated beneath the doors and between the wheel arches. These areas are often covered with protective film or vinyl wraps to safeguard against damage, enhance aesthetics, and maintain a uniform appearance.
Solar Film Installation: Involves applying a thin, transparent layer to the windows of a vehicle, designed to block UV rays and reduce heat build-up inside. This not only protects the interior from sun damage but also enhances comfort by maintaining a cooler cabin environment, improving fuel efficiency by lessening the need for air conditioning.
Squeegee: A tool used to smooth out and apply pressure to the vinyl wrap during installation.
Stone Chip Protection: Refers to a type of protective film applied to car exteriors to guard against damage from road debris like stones and gravel, which can cause chips and scratches on the paint surface. This film acts as a barrier, maintaining the car’s appearance and resale value by preventing minor cosmetic damage.
Surface slickness: The smooth and slippery feel of the coated surface. Ceramic coatings are designed to create an ultra-smooth, hydrophobic surface on a vehicle’s paint. This extreme smoothness is often described as “slick” because it makes the paint feel exceptionally smooth to the touch, like glass or a well-polished surface.
Swirl marks: Also known as swirls or spider webbing, are fine, circular or spiral-shaped scratches or blemishes that appear on the surface of a painted or clear-coated automotive finish. They are typically the result of various factors, including improper washing, waxing, or polishing techniques, as well as contact with abrasive materials.
Thermal Resistance: The ability of a ceramic coating to withstand high temperatures, making it suitable for applications where heat resistance is crucial.
UV Protection Film: Is a transparent layer applied to vehicle windows to block harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun. This film helps protect the interior of the car from fading and damage due to sun exposure, while also reducing the risk of skin cancer for occupants by limiting their exposure to UV radiation.
Vehicle finishes: The coatings or surface treatments applied to the exterior of a vehicle to protect it from environmental damage and enhance its appearance. These finishes can include paint, vinyl wraps, ceramic coatings, and galvanizing.
Vehicle Graphics: Vehicle Graphics refer to the application of designs, patterns, logos, or text on the surface of a vehicle using vinyl wrap material. These can range from simple company logos and contact information for commercial vehicles to elaborate, custom artwork for personal vehicles.
Vinyl Lettering: Using vinyl material to add text, logos, or contact information to commercial vehicles for advertising and identification.
Vinyl Wrap: The primary material used for vehicle wrapping, which comes in various finishes such as matte, gloss, satin, and metallic.
Visible Light Transmission (VLT): The percentage of visible light that can pass through the windows of a vehicle. It is a crucial specification for car window tinting. The VLT percentage indicates how much of the visible light from the outside can penetrate and illuminate the interior of the car.
Warranty: A written guarantee provided by the manufacturer or installer of the PPF or wrapping material, specifying the terms and conditions under which the product or service is guaranteed to perform or last and what remedies are available to the customer in case of failure to meet those terms.
Window tinting: The process of applying a thin, transparent or semi-transparent film to the windows of a vehicle, building, or other surfaces. This film, often made of polyester, contains properties that can control the amount of light, heat, and UV radiation that passes through the windows.
Windscreen Protection Film (WPF): A specialized, nearly transparent adhesive film applied to a vehicle’s windshield to provide a protective barrier against external factors such as road debris and rocks; Windshield Protection Film.
Windshield: The front glass panel of a vehicle, also known as the windscreen.
Wrap design: The visual layout of graphics, text, and images applied to the vehicle. This design process is crucial in customizing the appearance of the vehicle, conveying specific branding or messaging, and ensuring that the wrap fits the vehicle’s contours seamlessly.
Wrapped edges: In vinyl installation or PPF, involve securely wrapping the film around a vehicle’s edges and contours. This ensures uniform adhesion to the entire surface, including the edges, without leaving any exposed or vulnerable areas, providing a seamless appearance and added protection.
