Developed by Defcon Films Australia
GLOSS VS SATIN PPF
Two finishes, two quotes, one spec sheet.
What The Finish
Actually Changes
Gloss PPF is built to vanish on the paint: once it is down the customer sees the colour, not the film. Satin PPF changes the way light leaves the panel, turning a gloss car matte or keeping a factory satin finish protected without adding shine.
Where Gloss
Earns Its Place
Bonnets, bumpers and mirror caps on a customer who wants the car to look untouched: that is gloss work. The 13-micron self-healing coat on Glanz clears the light marks washing leaves, and the film is warranted for 10 years, with Defcon ONE at 12.
Gloss also installs over factory satin paint when the customer wants to go the other way, though most satin owners bought the car for the finish and want it kept.
Where Satin
Earns Its Place
Satin is the film for factory matte paint, which cannot be polished, and for customers who want a colour change in finish without a colour change in paint. Frozen carries a 10-year limited warranty and ships in 1.52 m x 15 m rolls. The satin quoting guide covers the traps.
Quoting The
Two Finishes
Gloss and satin take different care at the edges. Satin shows every wrap line and every patch of stretched film, because the surface scatters light rather than reflecting it, so panel time runs longer and the quote should say so.
Gloss forgives more on flat panels and less on finish: dust under the film, moisture haze and water pockets are visible at once. The warranty guide classes those as installation related, so they come out of the installer's margin, not the warranty.
Warranty And
Self-Healing
Glanz carries a 10-year limited warranty, Frozen 10 years and Defcon ONE 12 years, under normal use and proper installation. Full terms are on the warranty page.
Both finishes self-heal under heat from sunlight or warm water. The clear coat is about 13 microns thick; scratches contained in that layer recover, and anything that cuts through it is permanent.
Every roll is serialised and every installation registered through e-Warranty within 7 days of invoice, whichever finish is on the car.
Colour As The
Third Option
When a customer asks for satin because they want the car to look different, Spectra colour PPF is often the better answer: 200+ colours in gloss and satin finishes, with a 7-year limited warranty.
The PPF vs vinyl wrap guide explains where colour film replaces a wrap outright.
Test Both
On One Panel
A free sample roll of either finish can be laid on a practice panel first. Rolls are listed ex. GST in the online shop, and orders over $1000 ex. GST ship free Australia-wide.
Installers new to satin can build panel time on the Practice Pack before the first paid matte job.
FAQ
-
Is satin PPF harder to install than gloss?
It is less forgiving on finish: satin scatters light, so stretch marks and wrap lines show more than on gloss. Allow more panel time in the quote and finish edges carefully.
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Can satin PPF go over gloss paint?
Yes. Frozen satin film gives a gloss car a matte finish without repainting, and it can be removed later. Factory satin paint should also be protected with satin film, since matte paint cannot be polished.
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Does the warranty differ between gloss and satin?
Glanz gloss and Frozen satin both carry a 10-year limited warranty, and Defcon ONE gloss carries 12 years, all under normal use and proper installation. Terms are on the warranty page.
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Do both finishes self-heal?
Yes. The self-healing clear coat is about 13 microns thick on both; light scratches in that layer recover with heat from sunlight or warm water.
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Can I wash satin PPF the same way as gloss?
Wash with pH-neutral products and avoid polish or wax on satin film, since both can add gloss patches. Customers should be told this at handover.
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Which should I stock first?
Most shops stock gloss first because bonnets and bumpers are the volume work, then add a satin roll once matte enquiries become regular. Both are in the online shop, listed ex. GST.
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Do you offer support in Chinese?
Yes. Bilingual consultation in English and Chinese is available through our WeChat channel, covering product selection, ordering and technical questions. 我们提供中英双语咨询。
Developed by Defcon Films Australia
Every Defcon film is built for Australian conditions: materials selected globally, proven on local roads, and made to install well.
