How does dyed window film work?
The dye soaks up visible light and some of the sun’s energy, so the window looks darker and passes less light. LLumar says its ATC film “is made with a premium dye that enhances privacy as well as appearance”, with a charcoal hue “integrated for optimal durability and color stability.”
Absorbing light is what a dye does well, and infrared is where it does least. LLumar’s performance data sheet shows the pattern across ATC’s range:
| ATC shade | VLT | TSER | IRER | Glare cut |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ATC 50 | 60% | 28% | 22% | 32% |
| ATC 35 | 38% | 35% | 22% | 57% |
| ATC 15 | 18% | 40% | 22% | 79% |
| ATC 05 | 5% | 44% | 22% | 94% |
Going darker raises the solar figure and the glare cut, but the infrared number never moves. Every shade still carries LLumar’s over-99% UV rating, so the lightest dyed shade is as strong on UV as the darkest.
Why did old dyed tint turn purple?
Because the dye gave out. As the shop explains it, UV wears down the dye in older films until the charcoal fades toward purple and the film stops doing much against heat; getting that film off is the job described on purple tint removal.
Film makers now sell against that. LLumar markets ATC on colour stability, and SunTek pitches its carbon films partly on not changing colour the way some dyed films do. The ATC the shop fits is backed for life on both counts: a LLumar lifetime limited warranty for the film, and Brookswood Tint’s own lifetime warranty on the installation work.
Is dyed film a good choice for a car in BC?
It is when privacy, looks and UV are the goal and heat comes second. BC allows any darkness on the glass behind the driver, so dyed film can be matched to the darkness you want on every pane from the rear doors back.
If summer heat in the back seat is the reason you’re tinting, ceramic does more at the same darkness: IRX holds 59 to 61% IRER against ATC’s 22%. Prices and specs for both sit side by side on ceramic vs dyed window tint, while the third option, film coloured with carbon instead of dye, is defined under carbon window film.
Where dyed film shows up at Brookswood Tint
In every starting price. ATC comes in 5, 15, 35 and 50%, and the window tint price list builds each body style’s rear package on it. The film’s full specification is on LLumar ATC.