Matte or gloss protection film?

Same protection, different look

Matte and gloss protection film are the same TPU material, the same thickness and the same self-healing top coat. The only difference is the finish of that top coat: matte film scatters light and gloss film reflects it. STEK DYNOmatte and DYNOshield are two finishes of the same series. Both protect against stone chips, scratches and UV in the same way.

What matte film does to a colour is a bigger change than pictures suggest. Gloss black becomes satin black, which reads deeper and calmer; light metallics soften and hide their effect pigment. Before deciding, look at a matte-filmed car in person, in sun and in shade.

When to choose gloss

• You want the car to look exactly as it left the factory. A quality gloss film is invisible from half a metre away.
• The car has an effect paint, pearl or a three-stage colour whose depth is part of its look.
• You plan to sell the car in a few years: gloss film is easier for a buyer to understand than matte.
• You use brush washes: fine swirls in gloss film are smoothed by the self-healing layer and can be polished if needed.

When to choose matte

• The paint is matte from the factory. Matte paint is the most expensive paint to repair and the only sensible protection for it is matte film. Gloss film on matte paint turns it into a gloss car.
• You want a change of look without paint and without vinyl. Matte PPF gives a satin finish and protection in one, and it is removable.
• The car is dark and wash scratches bother you: a matte surface does not show swirls and fine scratches the way gloss does.

Care is different

Matte film is not harder to care for, but it is different. Waxes, gloss-enhancing shampoos and ordinary quick detailers leave shiny patches on a matte surface that cannot be taken off. Use only products made for matte, or simply a pH neutral shampoo and water. Oily marks such as fingerprints and insects are harder to remove from matte without a trace. Gloss film takes ordinary waxes, spray ceramics and light polishing. The general care rules are the same and are on the PPF care page.

Price and removal

Matte film usually costs 15–25% more than gloss, because the material is dearer and the installation more demanding: on a matte surface every speck of dust and every stretch mark shows. On full coverage that is a difference of several hundred euros. Partial matte film is not a good idea, because a matte bonnet with gloss wings looks like a repair rather than a plan. Price ranges are on the wrapping prices page. In removal both behave the same: the film is warmed and peeled, the paint stays, including gloss paint under matte film.

Matte film in everyday life

A matte surface behaves differently in the sun than gloss. It does not reflect the surroundings or the sky, so the car reads as one even colour where a gloss car would be full of reflections. For the same reason small dents and ripples that catch the eye on a gloss car do not show on matte. In photos a matte car often looks better than in person, so look at a sample yourself. Fingerprints around the door handles and insect marks on the front are more visible on matte and need gentle washing without rubbing.

Three questions before deciding

1. Are you happy with the care rules of a matte surface, no wax and no polishing? If the answer is no, choose gloss.
2. The whole car or only a zone? Matte works as a whole. If the budget covers only the front, choose gloss and add matte later, if you want it, to the whole car.
3. Is the car leased or likely to be sold? Both films come off and the paint stays, but gloss film is easier to explain to a buyer or a leasing company.

A third option: coloured PPF

If a change of look is the reason rather than protection, coloured protection film is the third option. DYNO colour, pattern and chrome films change the colour and protect at the same time, and are up to twice as thick as vinyl. The comparison with vinyl is on the car wrap page and the range on the DYNO product page.

Frequently asked questions