What You Need to Know About Automotive Solar-Control Window Films

At Elite Solar-Control Window Tinting, we often get questions about the different types of light that our window films can block. The terms UV, infrared, and visible light come up frequently, but they’re not always clearly understood, and are often lumped together as simply “sunlight”. In this article, I will explain and clarify the roles these different types of light play in automotive solar-control window films and why it matters when it comes to protecting your vehicle and your health.

Different Types of Light

As residents of Planet Earth, we are constantly bombarded by electromagnetic radiation from a nearby sustained nuclear fusion reaction – popularly known as “The Sun”. This radiation travels to us through space in what science has classified into seven different groupings or “wavelengths”. At one end of the electromagnetic spectrum are radio waves and microwaves, while the other end features gamma rays and X-rays. In the middle we have the three types of wavelengths that are relevant to solar-control window tinting. They are the infrared, visible, and ultraviolet spectrums.

Visible Light: The Light We See

Visible light is the portion of the electromagnetic spectrum that is the most readily understood – it is simply the light we can see. Our human eyes are receptive to the visible light spectrum and enable us to see a rainbow of colors. This light ranges in wavelength from about 380 to 750 nanometers (nm), and makes up the largest portion of the sun’s energy that reaches us.

When you’re driving, visible light is what illuminates the world around you. It’s what allows you to see the road, the landscape, and other cars. However, while it’s essential for vision, visible light can also be blinding when it’s too intense—especially when the sun is low on the horizon or when you’re exposed to strong headlights at night.

This is one of the primary reasons why people opt for window tinting: it can reduce glare and improve visibility, making driving safer and more comfortable.

Infrared Light: The Heat We Feel

Infrared or “IR” wavelengths sit just beyond the visible light spectrum, with wavelengths ranging from about 700 nm to 1 millimeter. Infrared light, therefore, is invisible to human eyes. However, humans can still detect the presence of infrared wavelengths from the sun with their skin because they are felt as heat.

While infrared light doesn’t directly damage your skin, it still affects your comfort and the temperature inside your car. We have all had the experience of getting into a car that has been sitting in the sun, and are shocked to discover that the interior of the car is much hotter than the ambient temperature outside.

This is the greenhouse effect in action. Because infrared radiation can pass easily through glass, it heats up surfaces inside the car. Those surfaces then begin releasing that heat to the surrounding air in the car. But that radiant heat cannot escape, so the temperature inside the closed environment of a vehicle climbs substantially higher than the outside temperature, where air currents can carry some of that heat away.

Infrared radiation can significantly elevate the interior temperature of your vehicle, making it uncomfortable to drive or even damaging to your car’s upholstery and electronics.

That’s where automotive solar-control window films come in. What makes high-end 3M films like the Ceramic IR Series or the Crystalline Series so fantastic is the fact that they are specifically engineered to block infrared wavelengths, so that heat never gets in the car in the first place.

In fact, the 3M Crystalline Series can block up to 97% of infrared heat, keeping your car cooler, more comfortable, and reducing strain on your air conditioning system. Not only does this enhance comfort, but it also helps protect your car’s interior from fading and cracking over time.

UV Light: The Invisible Enemy

Ultraviolet, or “UV” light is a type of electromagnetic radiation that has a shorter wavelength than visible light—ranging from about 10 nm to 400 nm. UV wavelengths are also invisible to human eyes, nor can they be felt with the skin, at least, not immediately. But humans can still detect an overdose of UV radiation in the form of a sunburn that comes later.

That’s what makes UV particularly insidious – it damages our bodies without us realizing it until it is too late. Because we can’t see it, we tend to underestimate its danger. Humans can handle small amounts of UV without ill effect, but in larger doses, ultraviolet radiation is a potent carcinogen. UV overexposure is responsible for most types of skin, lip and eye cancers.

UV light is further divided into three types:

UVA: These rays have the longest wavelength and account for 95% of the UV radiation that reaches the Earth’s surface. UVA rays penetrate deeply into the skin and are primarily responsible for skin aging and wrinkle formation. They can also damage DNA, leading to skin cancer.
UVB: These rays are medium-length in wavelength and cause sunburns. UVB rays are responsible for the more immediate effects of sun exposure and can damage the outer layers of skin, leading to skin cancer and skin aging. UVB rays are responsible for about 5% of the UV radiation that reaches the Earth’s surface, but they are much more intense than UVA rays.
UVC: These rays have the shortest wavelength and are the most dangerous. However, UVC rays don’t actually reach the Earth’s surface because they’re absorbed by the atmosphere’s ozone layer. Despite this, they can still pose a danger in certain environments, like industrial settings.

Most people are aware that UV light can have powerful effects on our skin, but this point cannot be overemphasized: UV rays from the sun cause cancer, but they cannot be seen or felt! UV can also reflect off other surfaces and penetrate clouds. For these reasons, it is crucial to stay protected at all times.

One of the easiest ways to do this is to have 3M auto window tint applied to your vehicle. All 3M films are endorsed by the Skin Cancer Foundation as effective UV protectants. This is because every 3M window film product line blocks 99.99% of both UVA and UVB. 3M films from Elite Solar-Control Window Tinting help substantially reduce the risk of skin cancer and premature aging caused by prolonged exposure to UV light while driving.

How Do They All Work Together?

Sure, they are all technically “sunlight”, but now you know that sunlight is made up from different components that affect humans in different ways. UV and infrared light are both invisible to the human eye and therefore easy to accidentally underestimate. UV rays damage our skin and contribute to skin cancer and aging, while infrared rays provide heat and can make your car uncomfortable to be in. Visible light, on the other hand, is what we rely on for vision, but it can also cause glare and distraction while driving.

All these problems can be addressed with window films from Elite Solar-Control Window Tinting: You can block out harmful UV rays to protect your skin, reduce infrared heat to keep your car cooler, and still allow visible light to pass through so you can see clearly.

I hasten to add here a little-known fact about our 3M films: because visible light is a separate wavelength from UV and IR, it means that an automotive window film need not be dark to offer great protection. Even materials that block almost no visible light can still block UV and IR. The film can be virtually clear and still keep your car cool! Amazing!

Why It Matters: More Than Just Tinting

When you choose to tint your car windows, it’s not just about making your ride look sleek or having a bit more privacy. It’s about making an investment in your health and your comfort. Here’s a review of how solar-control window films can help:

Skin Protection: By blocking out UV radiation, window tinting helps protect you from the long-term effects of sun exposure, such as skin cancer, sunburn, and premature aging.

Comfort: Blocking infrared radiation means a cooler interior and less reliance on air conditioning, which can save you fuel and keep your car comfortable, especially on those scorching hot days.

Interior Preservation: Window tinting helps protect your car’s upholstery, dashboards, and electronics from fading or cracking due to prolonged exposure to the sun.

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Understanding the difference between UV, infrared, and visible light can help you make more informed decisions when it comes to protecting your vehicle and the health of everyone riding in it. Whether you’re concerned about skin cancer prevention, keeping your car cooler, or simply reducing glare, the right window film can provide the protection and comfort you need.

At Elite Solar-Control Window Tinting, we offer high-quality 3M window films that can block up to 99% of UV rays and substantially reduce infrared heat. With a variety of options available, you can find the perfect solution to meet your needs.

Want to learn more? Call us today at 503-659-8468 to discuss your options!