How do LLumar ceramic and dyed tint compare on the spec sheet?
At each shade the shop sells, LLumar IRX ceramic rejects 18 to 22 percentage points more total solar energy than LLumar ATC dyed, with the same UV blocking and almost the same glare cut. These are the four shades on the menu, side by side.
| Shade code | Film | Measured VLT | TSER | IRER | SIRR | Glare reduction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 05 | ATC dyed | 5% | 44% | 22% | 29% | 94% |
| 05 | IRX ceramic | 6% | 62% | 60% | 86% | 94% |
| 15 | ATC dyed | 18% | 40% | 22% | 29% | 79% |
| 15 | IRX ceramic | 20% | 59% | 61% | 88% | 78% |
| 35 | ATC dyed | 38% | 35% | 22% | 29% | 57% |
| 35 | IRX ceramic | 39% | 54% | 60% | 87% | 56% |
| 50 | ATC dyed | 60% | 28% | 22% | 28% | 32% |
| 50 | IRX ceramic | 54% | 50% | 60% | 87% | 39% |
Every figure is LLumar’s own, from sheet LL0116NAEN (March 2026), measured to NFRC methods on single-pane 6 mm clear glass. Your car’s glass shifts the absolute numbers, so read them as a fair contest between two films rather than a promise for your windows.
Notice the 50 row. The number in a film’s name is a product code, and ATC 50 actually lets through 60% of visible light while IRX 50 lets through 54%. If you’re matching a look, go by the measured column. Picking the darkness itself is covered in what tint percentage to get.
What do TSER, IRER and SIRR mean when you compare tint?
TSER is the share of all incoming solar energy a film keeps out, and it’s the fairest single number for ceramic against dyed. IRER and SIRR are two different ways of measuring infrared, and mixing them up is how tint advertising gets slippery.
- TSER (total solar energy rejected): visible light, infrared and UV counted together. ATC 28 to 44%, IRX 50 to 62%.
- IRER (infrared energy rejection, 780 to 2,500 nm): counts heat the film absorbs and re-radiates into the car. LLumar’s sheet calls it the more complete measurement. ATC 22%, IRX 59 to 61%.
- SIRR (selective infrared rejection): solar infrared that isn’t transmitted straight through. It’s the bigger number and the one behind “up to 88% of infrared” claims. ATC 28 to 29%, IRX 85 to 88%.
The IRER column explains the whole debate. ATC sits at 22% in every shade: a darker dyed film absorbs more light, but the absorbed energy warms the glass and much of it ends up inside. IRX’s nano-ceramic layer rejects infrared at every shade, which is why the lightest IRX on the menu (IRX 50, 54% VLT) keeps out more total solar energy, 50%, than the darkest ATC (ATC 05, 5% VLT) does at 44%.
Does dyed window tint fade or turn purple?
Budget dyed film can fade to purple as sunlight breaks the dye down; LLumar ATC is sold as a colour-stable dyed film built to hold its charcoal tone. Ceramic film gets its heat rejection from ceramic particles rather than dye, so its heat performance doesn’t depend on dye holding up.
Both films carry what LLumar calls a “manufacturer’s lifetime limited warranty” with “certain restrictions” and “see dealer for warranty details” in its tint FAQ. The shop adds its own lifetime warranty on workmanship. If the purple film you’re looking at came with a used car, the fix is on purple tint removal.
Will ceramic or dyed tint affect phone, GPS or radio signals?
Neither will. ATC and IRX are both non-metallic, so cell, GPS, Bluetooth and radio reception stay as they were. Signal trouble comes from metallized films, and the shop’s menu has none.
Neither film has a mirror look either. LLumar measures visible light reflectance at 5 to 7% across both ATC and IRX, which is why a tinted car still looks like dark glass rather than a mirror from the street.
How much more does ceramic tint cost than dyed?
ATC dyed is the film in every starting price, and IRX ceramic is an upgrade quoted per package, so the gap depends on your car and how much glass it has. These starting prices cover the glass behind the driver.
| Package (LLumar ATC) | Windows | From |
|---|---|---|
| Sports coupe, rear glass | 3: both rear quarters, back glass | $220 |
| Sedan or pickup, rear glass | 5: back doors, any rear quarters, back glass or slider | $240 |
| Full-size SUV or wagon, rear glass | 7: rear doors, quarters, extended windows, hatch | $260 |
Ask for both films on the same quote and you’ll see the real difference for your vehicle; bundles usually come in under list and are quoted per car. The complete list, including other window groups, is on the window tint price sheet.
Ceramic or dyed tint: which should you choose?
Choose ceramic if you want a cooler cabin; choose dyed if privacy, the look and UV protection at the lowest price are what you’re after. Both are honest products, and the difference between them is heat.
Dyed (ATC) suits you if
- Rear-seat and cargo privacy plus a finished look is the goal.
- The car mostly does short trips, or lives in a garage or shade.
- You want the lowest entry point: rear glass from $220 on a coupe and $240 on a sedan.
- Heat in the back seats has never been a complaint.
Ceramic (IRX) suits you if
- You spend long, sunny stretches in the car. The Abbotsford climate normals from Environment and Climate Change Canada put the July mean high at 24.0 °C, and on average 8.7 days each year top 30 °C.
- Kids, passengers or a dog ride in the back.
- You want a lighter shade without giving up heat rejection: IRX 50 outperforms ATC 05 on TSER.
- The interior is dark leather that soaks up heat.
Where we stand
We’re a LLumar dealer and sell both, and we don’t push IRX on everyone. If heat isn’t a problem in your car, ATC does the job and carries the same lifetime warranty. If you tell us the car is unbearable in July, IRX is the film that changes that. Whether the upgrade pays off for your driving is the subject of is ceramic window tint worth it, and the full specs live on the LLumar IRX and LLumar ATC pages.
What does booking ceramic or dyed tint involve?
Most cars are tinted the same day, and full tints on sedans and SUVs usually run two to four hours. Film is cut on a computerized plotter to your exact model, then heat-shrunk and fitted by hand.
Ask for ATC and IRX on one tint quote and choose with both numbers in front of you. Afterwards, leave the windows closed for three to five days, expect a faint haze that clears within the first week, and clean the glass with a soft cloth and a cleaner free of ammonia. Comparing brands as well as film types? See LLumar vs XPEL window tint.