Glossary
The PPF, tint & detailing glossary.
Plain-English definitions for the words that fly around a detailing, PPF, wrap, tint or ceramic shop — the products, the techniques, and the owner-side numbers that decide whether a busy shop actually makes money. No jargon for jargon's sake — and every term has its own page, so you can link a customer or a new hire straight to the one word they asked about.
38termsDefined here
- Span
- A–W
- Letters
- 14 of 26
- Topics
- 4
By topic
- Films & coatings
- The products themselves — PPF, ceramic, tint and wrap vinyl.
- 10 terms
- Techniques & prep
- How the work actually gets done in the bay.
- 9 terms
- Shop business & metrics
- The owner-side numbers that decide whether a busy shop makes money.
- 10 terms
- Software & workflow
- The terms you'll meet running the shop on software.
- 0 terms
A to Z
A
C
Ceramic coatingA liquid polymer (often silica/SiO₂-based) that cures to a hard, hydrophobic layer bonded to the paint or over PPF. It adds gloss and makes the surface easier to clean, but — unlike film — it does not stop rock chips.Clay barA malleable resin bar (or mitt) dragged across lubricated paint to pull off bonded contaminants the wash missed, leaving glass-smooth paint ready for correction, coating or film.Clear braAn everyday name for clear paint protection film, especially a partial-front kit over the bumper and leading edge of the hood. Same product as PPF — the term predates today's full-coverage installs.Clear coatThe transparent top layer of a factory paint system that provides gloss and UV protection. Paint correction works within the clear coat; cutting through it exposes the colour layer and means a respray, so measuring paint thickness matters.Close rateThe share of quotes or leads that turn into booked, paid jobs. A low close rate usually points at slow follow-up or unclear pricing more than at price itself — which is why quote follow-up and speed-to-lead move it the most.Cure timeThe window a coating or adhesive needs to fully harden or bond before the vehicle is exposed to water or delivered. Ceramic coatings need protected cure time; PPF adhesive keeps bonding for days after install. Scheduling has to leave room for it.Cutting plotterA computer-driven cutter that cuts PPF or tint to a vehicle-specific pattern from a software library, instead of bulk hand-cutting on the car. It speeds installs and reduces waste, though every job still leaves some offcut. Service VIN does not cut film and does not replace a plotter: it prices the job, tracks the roll the pattern comes off, and books the bay the cutter feeds.
D
DecontaminationThe prep step that removes bonded contaminants — iron fallout, tar, industrial fallout — that a normal wash leaves behind, often with a chemical iron remover and a clay bar. Skipping it traps grit under film or coating and ruins the finish.DepositA payment collected when a customer books, to hold the bay and commit them to the job — the money you order film against. Deposits turn a hopeful maybe into a committed booking and are the single biggest lever against no-shows.
F
Film tracked to the footInventory that counts film by the linear foot remaining on each roll, at the real cost you paid, with lot numbers and reorder points — instead of treating a four-figure roll as a single line item. It's what makes true material COGS and reorder alerts possible.Full front (PPF)A common PPF package covering the full hood and fenders, the front bumper, side mirrors and often the headlights — the panels that take the most highway rock damage. Broader than a partial front, narrower than a full-body wrap.Full-body PPFPPF coverage of essentially every painted panel on the vehicle. It uses several times the film and days of install time versus a full front, so it should be quoted from real film feet and labour hours rather than a flat multiple of the front-end price.
G
L
M
N
O
P
Paint correctionMachine polishing that removes swirl marks, scratches and oxidation from clear coat to restore gloss and clarity. Graded by steps — a 1-step refines, a 2- or 3-step removes progressively deeper defects — and priced off the paint's condition and the bay hours it takes.Paint protection film (PPF)A clear (or coloured) thermoplastic urethane film applied over a vehicle's paint to absorb rock chips, scratches and road debris. Also called a clear bra. Sold and installed by the linear foot off a roll, usually 60 inches wide.
S
Self-healing filmPPF with an elastomeric topcoat that flows back to smooth when warmed, so light swirl marks and fine scratches disappear with heat from the sun or warm water. It repairs the topcoat only — not a deep cut through the film.Speed-to-leadHow fast you respond to a new inquiry. The shop that answers first usually wins the job, so replying in seconds — even with an AI lead responder after hours — beats a polished reply that lands the next morning.Swirl marksFine, spider-web scratches in the clear coat, usually from improper washing and drying. They're most visible on dark paint under direct light and are removed by paint correction, not by wax or a quick polish.
T
V
VIN (vehicle identification number)The unique 17-character code that identifies a vehicle. VIN capture is the step that turns it into a record: Service VIN reads it from a photo of the door jamb, from a typed entry, or from the job's intake card, decodes the year, make and model, and files it against the customer so the next quote, warranty claim or top-up starts from the right car.Vinyl wrapAn adhesive-backed vinyl film applied to change a vehicle's colour or finish (gloss, matte, satin, chrome, colour-shift) or to carry commercial graphics. Reversible, unlike paint. Cast vinyl conforms to curves; calendered vinyl is cheaper but flatter.VLT (visible light transmission)The percentage of visible light a tint lets through the glass. A lower VLT is darker (5% is very dark 'limo'; 70% is very light). Legal VLT limits vary by jurisdiction and by window, so always verify the local law before quoting.
W
Window tintA thin film applied to glass to reduce light, glare and heat. Common types are dyed (budget), carbon (no signal interference, better fade resistance) and ceramic (best heat rejection). Darkness is measured as VLT.Workmanship warrantyThe shop's own guarantee covering install quality — lifting edges, bubbles, peeling from application error — as opposed to the film manufacturer's warranty on the product (yellowing, cracking). Customers benefit from both; put what you promise in writing.
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