A
- AAS II#
- Automatic Aligning System — the optical eye on a Jaguar V plotter that reads registration marks on printed media and corrects for skew before cutting.
- Turns a generic cutter into a panel-perfect tool. Re-calibrate once per session.
- Related:Plotter
- Anti-graffiti film#
- Sacrificial film applied to commercial glazing that takes etching, paint, and scratch damage in place of the underlying glass.
- Removed and replaced after a tag — same-day swap, no glass replacement.
- AS-1 line#
- The horizontal line stamped on a vehicle's windshield, typically 4–6 inches below the top edge.
- Most state tint laws permit any tint above the AS-1 line on the windshield. Below it, full VLT requirements apply.
- Adhesive (PSA)#
- Pressure-sensitive adhesive — the layer between the film and the glass (or paint) that bonds on contact under pressure.
- Modern window films use an aggressive acrylic PSA. PPF uses a softer urethane-based PSA so the film can be repositioned during install and removed later without paint damage.
- Related:Release linerPPF
B
- Blade depth#
- How far the cutting blade tip protrudes from the holder on a plotter.
- Tuned per film type. Too deep cuts through the release liner; too shallow leaves panels attached. Typical: ~0.25mm for tint film, ~0.30–0.40mm for PPF.
- Related:Plotter
- Blade force#
- Downward pressure (in grams) the plotter applies to the blade during a cut.
- Typical: 80–120g standard tint, 100–150g ceramic, 200–300g PPF clear, 220–320g PPF satin. Re-test when changing film or replacing the blade.
- Bubble#
- An install defect — trapped air, water, or contamination between the film and the substrate.
- Water bubbles clear out over the post-cure window. Air bubbles need a re-lift. Dirt bubbles mean a contaminated surface and usually a redo. A clean install shows no bubbles after 72 hours.
- Related:Post-cureSlip solution
C
- Ceramic film#
- Window film with nano-ceramic particles embedded in the construction.
- Highest heat rejection of any current construction, non-metallic so no GPS/cellular signal interference, color-stable (no purple shift over time). The only construction Glacier manufactures.
- Related:
- Carbon film#
- Window film with a carbon-infused construction.
- Mid-tier — color-stable and signal-friendly but lower heat rejection than ceramic. Glacier does not manufacture carbon; the gap between mid-tier carbon and direct-priced ceramic is too narrow to justify two product lines.
- Related:
- Contour cut#
- A plotter cut that follows the outline of a pre-printed shape rather than cutting from a vector pattern alone.
- Used for decals, perforated graphics, and panel-perfect PPF where the pattern was printed with registration marks.
- Related:AAS II
- CRI#
- Color Rendering Index — how accurately a light source shows the true colors of an object compared to sunlight (CRI 100).
- For film and PPF bays, spec CRI 95+ so tint depth and contamination read true. Cheap fluorescent runs CRI 70–80.
- Related:
- Cutting strip#
- The replaceable rubber/plastic strip on a plotter bed that the blade cuts against.
- Wears out with every cut. A grooved cutting strip produces inconsistent depth across the bed — replace on schedule.
- Cure time#
- How long after install the film reaches full bond strength.
- Different from post-cure (the protected period before normal use). Full cure on PPF is typically 30 days; window film is 30–60 days depending on glass temperature and humidity. Bond keeps strengthening past the post-cure window.
- Related:Post-cure
D
- Dyed film#
- Entry-tier window film that uses a dye layer for privacy and glare reduction.
- Cheapest construction, worst heat rejection. Shifts purple within 2–4 years under UV. Glacier does not manufacture dyed film.
- Related:
- Dual-reflective film#
- Window film engineered for high daytime heat rejection from outside while preserving lower interior reflectivity at night.
- Common in residential and commercial flat glass where after-dark interior glare matters. Less common in automotive.
- Related:Reflective filmCeramic film
E
- Edge release#
- When the perimeter of a film panel lifts away from the substrate after install.
- Usually a slip-solution issue (too wet at the edges) or a contamination issue (dust line near the seal). Less commonly a primer mismatch on weatherstrip. Re-trim and re-tack within the post-cure window if caught early.
- Related:Slip solutionPost-cure
F
- Film shrinking#
- Heat-forming a flat film panel to fit a curved piece of glass (typically a back window) before adhesive activation.
- Performed dry on the outside of the glass with a heat gun and squeegee. The film shrinks tangentially to match compound curvature. The actual install happens after — flat film fights compound curves and shows fingers.
- Related:Panel
G
H
- Hard coat#
- The scratch-resistant topcoat on a window film's exposed side.
- Without a hard coat, normal cleaning scuffs the film within months. Quality films spec hard-coat thickness in microns — thicker holds up better in high-traffic applications.
- Related:UV rejection
I
- IGU#
- Insulated Glass Unit — a sealed assembly of two or three panes with gas-filled space between.
- Common in modern commercial and residential glazing. Some IGU warranties exclude installed film; verify before quoting architectural jobs.
- IR rejection / IRR#
- The percentage of infrared (heat-carrying) energy rejected by the film.
- Different from TSER. Many films market IRR alone because the number sounds bigger, but TSER is the apples-to-apples spec for comparing heat performance.
- Related:TSERVLT
- Installer-grade#
- Tools, films, and consumables built for professional throughput — durable, predictable, rated for high-volume shop use.
- The opposite of DIY-grade. A pro plotter cuts 12 hours a day for years; a hobbyist plotter doesn't survive 90 days of shop duty. Same for squeegees, knives, lights, and benches.
L
- Laminated glass#
- Glass made of two or more panes bonded to an interlayer (typically PVB or SGP).
- Holds together on impact rather than shattering. Often used for safety, security, and acoustic glazing. Film installs cleanly; verify the laminate spec before quoting.
- Low-E coating#
- Low-emissivity coating applied to commercial / residential glass to reflect infrared while passing visible light.
- Some Low-E coatings interact with solar-control film differently than untreated glass. Test before specifying.
- Low-iron glass#
- Glass formulated with reduced iron content for higher visible clarity and lower green tint.
- Common in storefronts, display cases, and high-end residential glazing. Film performance is similar to standard float glass; the difference is visual baseline, not film compatibility.
- Related:Tempered glass
- Lippage#
- Visible film overlap or unevenness at a panel seam.
- Caused by mis-trimming, overstretched film, or a sloppy butt-joint. Clean shops avoid two-panel installs when a single-panel cut was available.
M
- Metalized film#
- Window film with a thin metal layer for reflective heat rejection.
- High heat rejection at low cost, but the metal layer interferes with GPS, radar, satellite radio, and cellular antennas on modern vehicles. Glacier does not manufacture metalized film.
- Related:
- Mil#
- One-thousandth of an inch (0.001 in / ~25 microns). The standard unit for film thickness.
- Typical ranges: automotive tint 1.5–2.0 mil, architectural solar film 2.0–4.0 mil, safety film 4–14 mil, PPF 6–8 mil. Thicker isn't always better — it's a tradeoff against conformability and optical clarity.
- Related:PPFSafety film
N
- Nano-ceramic#
- A ceramic film construction using particles measured in nanometers rather than microns.
- Smaller particles mean better optical clarity and more consistent heat rejection across the spectrum. The current generation of premium ceramic films — Glacier included — uses nano-ceramic technology.
- Related:Ceramic film
O
- Optical clarity#
- How distortion-free the film appears at install thickness. Measured by haze percentage and through-glass distortion.
- Cheap films show waviness, color shift, or visible haze. Premium films target <2% haze. Most relevant for windshields, storefronts, and any glazing viewed at close range.
- Related:Ceramic film
P
- Panel#
- A pre-cut piece of film sized to fit a specific vehicle panel or window opening.
- Cut from a roll by a plotter using a pattern. Most modern tint and PPF shops cut their own panels rather than ordering pre-cut kits.
- Perforated film#
- Window film with tiny pre-cut holes that allow one-way visibility — opaque from outside, see-through from inside.
- Used for storefront graphics, vehicle wraps, and transit advertising.
- PPF#
- Paint Protection Film — a thick polyurethane film (typically 6–8 mil) installed on vehicle paint to absorb rock chips and scratches.
- Self-healing topcoat closes minor surface scratches with heat. Removable; the OEM paint underneath is unchanged.
- Related:Self-healingSatin PPFGloss / Clear PPF
- Post-cure#
- The 24–72 hour period after a PPF or window film install during which the bond reaches full strength.
- PPF post-cure: no washing for 7 days, no automatic car washes, no aggressive driving for 24 hours. Window film: keep windows up for 48–72 hours so the film doesn't lift while the slip solution off-gasses.
- Related:Slip solution
- Plotter#
- A computer-driven cutting machine that converts a vector pattern into a precise blade path through film and PPF.
- Modern shops use plotters with optical alignment (AAS II), tangential blade heads, and pattern libraries covering most current vehicles. Replaces hand-cutting for accuracy, throughput, and repeatability.
- Related:AAS IIBlade depthBlade forcePanel
- Privacy film#
- Window film at very low VLT (typically 5–20%) installed primarily for occupant or interior privacy rather than heat rejection.
- On vehicles, governed by state tint law per window. On commercial glass, often paired with a frosted or decorative pattern.
- Related:VLT
- Polyester (PET)#
- Polyethylene terephthalate — the optically clear plastic substrate used in most window film.
- Stable, dimensionally consistent, and clear enough at 1–2 mil to be the standard window film base. Ceramic and metallic particles get bonded into the PET layers during manufacturing.
- Related:Mil
R
- Release liner#
- The protective backing on film that's peeled off during install.
- Plotter blades must cut through the film but not the liner — that's what makes weeding clean.
- Related:Blade depth
- Reflective film#
- Window film engineered for high exterior reflectivity — gives the mirrored or two-way look.
- Higher daytime heat rejection at lower cost than ceramic, but the reflectivity is visible from outside and can violate residential HOA covenants or commercial design intent. Pure-reflective metalized variants also interfere with cellular signal.
- Related:Dual-reflective filmMetalized film
S
- Satin PPF#
- Paint protection film with a matte / satin topcoat. Same self-healing chemistry as clear PPF; the difference is the finish.
- Converts gloss paint to a satin look without a respray. Removable; the OEM gloss underneath is unchanged.
- Related:Gloss / Clear PPFPPF
- Self-healing#
- Property of a PPF topcoat where surface scratches close with heat.
- Heals light wash swirls, fingernail scratches, and minor abrasions. Does not heal deep cuts that penetrate the polyurethane base. Trigger with hot wash water or direct sun.
- Related:PPF
- Slip solution#
- The water-and-soap (or proprietary) mix applied to the panel before laying PPF or film, allowing repositioning during install.
- Ratio changes with humidity, panel temperature, and film construction. Wetter mix for hot/dry conditions, drier mix for cool/humid.
- Related:Tack solution
- Squeegee durometer#
- The hardness rating of a squeegee blade.
- Hard squeegees for flat panels and final lock-down passes; soft squeegees for curves; contour squeegees for badges, mirrors, and tight radii. Mismatched durometer to panel = trapped slip or wrinkles.
- Related:Panel
- Safety film#
- Thicker window film (typically 4–14 mil) installed on glazing to hold the pane together when broken.
- Reduces flying glass during forced entry, severe weather, or accidental impact. Often paired with edge-anchoring systems for higher-grade impact and blast ratings.
- Related:Security filmTempered glass
- Security film#
- Heavy-gauge safety film engineered for forced-entry resistance and ballistic mitigation.
- Constructions range from 8 mil to 21 mil multi-layer. Often installed with an edge anchor (silicone bead or mechanical frame) to meet UL or ASTM impact ratings. The film resists penetration; the anchor keeps the broken pane in the frame.
- Related:Safety film
- Shade band#
- The pre-tinted strip across the top of a windshield, either factory or aftermarket film.
- Most state tint laws permit any VLT for the shade band as long as it stays above the AS-1 line. Aftermarket bands are usually 4–6 inches deep and applied as a separate panel.
- Related:AS-1 lineVLT
- Stretch (PPF)#
- Manually elongating a PPF panel during install to conform to compound curves.
- Different PPF lines have different elongation ratings — typically 100–300% before tearing. Over-stretching thins the film and weakens self-healing. A clean install uses controlled stretch at the curves and zero stretch on the flats.
- Related:PPFSelf-healing
- SHGC#
- Solar Heat Gain Coefficient — a 0-to-1 value describing how much solar heat passes through a glazing assembly.
- Lower SHGC = less heat gain. Architectural ratings and energy codes spec SHGC for new construction. Installing window film reduces the effective SHGC of an existing assembly without replacing the glass.
- Related:TSER
- Spec sheet#
- The manufacturer's single-page film performance summary — VLT, TSER, IRR, VLR, UV rejection, and warranty class.
- The signal-to-noise version of marketing. When comparing films, compare spec sheets. Marketing claims like "99% heat rejection" without a TSER number are usually IRR-only.
- Related:TSERVLTIR rejection / IRR
T
- Tack solution#
- A different mix from slip — typically lighter on soap — applied just before the final lock-down pass to help PPF bond.
- Some installers don't use a separate tack mix; they squeegee out the slip and let bonding happen naturally over post-cure.
- Related:Slip solution
- Tempered glass#
- Heat-treated glass that shatters into small pebble-like pieces when broken.
- Standard for side and rear automotive glass and for most modern storefronts. Film installs cleanly; replacement after damage is glass-only (the film comes off with the broken pane).
- TSER#
- Total Solar Energy Rejected — the percentage of all incoming solar energy (visible + infrared + UV) the film blocks.
- The apples-to-apples spec for comparing window film heat performance. Glacier ceramic hits up to 65% TSER.
- Related:IR rejection / IRRVLT
- TPU#
- Thermoplastic Polyurethane — the base polymer in modern paint protection film.
- Flexible enough to conform to vehicle curves, tough enough to take rock chips. Self-healing topcoats are applied over the TPU base.
- Related:PPF
U
- UV rejection#
- The percentage of ultraviolet light blocked by the film.
- Quality automotive and architectural film blocks 99%+ UV. Slows fade on interiors, fabrics, merchandise, and paint.
V
- VLT#
- Visible Light Transmission — the percentage of visible light that passes through the film.
- 70% VLT = lets 70% of light through (very light tint). 5% VLT = lets 5% through (limo). State tint laws set minimum VLT, especially for front side glass and the windshield.
- Related:TSER
- Vinyl wrap#
- Pressure-sensitive vinyl film applied to vehicle exterior panels to change color or finish.
- Different chemistry from PPF — thinner (typically 3 mil), less impact resistance, no self-healing. Vinyl wraps for cosmetic change; PPF for protection. Some installers offer both.
- Related:PPF
- VLR#
- Visible Light Reflectance — the percentage of visible light the film reflects back from the exterior.
- High VLR makes glass look mirrored from outside. Low VLR keeps the exterior view of the glass closer to original appearance. Usually listed next to VLT on a spec sheet.
- Related:VLTReflective film
W
- Weeding#
- The process of removing the cut-out scrap film around a plotter-cut panel before transfer.
- A clean cut weeds easily — sloppy weeding usually means blade depth is shallow or force is low.
- Related:Blade depth
- Warranty (film)#
- The manufacturer's coverage on installed window film — typically lifetime for automotive and 10–15 years for architectural.
- Glacier window film carries a lifetime warranty against bubbling, peeling, color shift, and adhesive failure. PPF: 10-year warranty against yellowing, delamination, and bubbling. Transferable between owners.
- Water break test#
- Quick installer check for surface contamination — distilled water beads on a contaminated surface and sheets on a clean one.
- Used before laying tint or PPF. Beading means more prep work; sheeting means ready to install. A 30-second check that saves a 2-hour redo.
- Related:Slip solution
- Wet install#
- The standard window film install method — substrate sprayed with slip solution, film floated into position, slip squeegeed out toward the edges.
- Lets the panel be repositioned during install before the adhesive activates. Almost all professional window film installs are wet. PPF installs are also wet, with a more controlled slip mix.
- Related:Slip solutionPPF