(IR) Ceramic Window Tinting Arizona

In practice the two names usually describe the same thing. "Infrared" refers to what the film is designed to work on, the part of sunlight you feel as heat, while "ceramic" refers to what it is made from, a non-metallic nano-ceramic construction. Kepler's IR and IR+ ranges are nano-ceramic automotive films. So if you are weighing an infrared film against a ceramic one, the useful step is to compare the exact film and shade rather than the wording on the brochure.

Ceramic film is built to do more than darken glass. The nano-ceramic construction targets infrared energy, the part of sunlight that heats the cabin, while filtering ultraviolet light and softening the glare that tires your eyes on a bright drive. Visible light transmission, the figure attached to each shade, describes how much light passes through the glass; it is a separate measure from solar heat performance, so a lighter film is not automatically the weaker one. Ask your dealer for the published figures for the exact film and shade you are considering.

What Kepler ceramic film is designed to address

• Infrared heat
• UV filtering
• Glare control

Compared with a basic dyed film, a nano-ceramic film is chosen for how it manages solar energy rather than simply for how dark it looks. It works on infrared heat, filters the ultraviolet light that contributes to interior fading, and reduces glare, which makes long drives easier on the eyes. The construction is non-metallic, which appeals to drivers who would rather avoid metallized films. And because shade and heat performance are specified separately, you can choose a look for the car and still ask for real numbers on the film behind it.

There is no single figure. What ceramic tinting costs depends on the film and shade you choose, how many windows are being done and the vehicle itself. You can read more about the ranges on our pricing guides page, and when you are ready, send a quote enquiry. Ask a local tinter whether they carry Kepler film or can get it.

Freshly applied film needs a settling period before the windows are used, and your installer will tell you how long to leave them up. After that, care is simple: clean the tinted side with a soft cloth and a mild, ammonia-free cleaner, keep abrasive pads and scrapers away from it, and take care around the edges. An occasional look for lifting or damage is the easiest way to keep the film looking as good as it performs.

Home experiments with a lamp and a thermometer rarely tell you much, because the result depends on the light source, the glass and where the thermometer sits. A more reliable approach is to compare the published specifications for the exact film and shade on your car with the alternative you were considering, and to ask your dealer what each figure means. Keep in mind that visible light transmission describes light passing through the glass and is separate from solar heat performance. Film choice is also separate from compliance, so check the rules that apply to you on our window tint laws page.

Window tint rules are set state by state and cover how the glass on a vehicle may be treated. Because those rules are the legal side of the decision and film choice is the performance side, it is worth reading them before you settle on a shade. Our Arizona window tint laws page sets out the detail, and your dealer can talk through what it means for the film you have in mind.

The differences come down to what a film is made from and what it is designed to do. Dyed films mainly darken the glass. Metallized films add a metal layer and reflectivity. Nano-ceramic films such as Kepler IR and IR+ use a non-metallic ceramic technology aimed at infrared heat while keeping the view through the glass clear. That is why ceramic tends to be the choice of drivers who care about cabin comfort and clarity as much as appearance. Whichever category you look at, compare the exact film and shade rather than the label.

It comes down to the technology and the finish. Nano-ceramic sits at the more advanced end of the automotive film range, it keeps the view through the glass clean, and it lets you choose a shade purely for its look while the film handles heat, ultraviolet light and glare. That combination suits owners who want a car to look considered rather than obviously tinted.

Kepler supplies the film; the fitting is done by independent installers who run their own businesses and deal with customers themselves. Use the dealer locator to see the Kepler installers listed near you, or ask a local tinter whether they carry Kepler film or can get it.