Now and again we still run into 3M Window Film proposals either directly from a 3M dealer or through their Home Depot or window genie furnished sales program.
You might think that an “apples to apples” comparison between 3M Prestige Films and our Vista, Huper Optik would be a simple task.
We instead find ourselves competing against illusions, confusion and hyperbole.
Realistically the average consumer has no idea what features relating to performance and aesthetics are critical to compare.
- They have heard of 3M. They assume they make the best window film.
- They assume that the Prestige Film blocks 97% of the heat or IR because the dealer told them so.
We’ll combat the halo effect of 3M’s good will, based on their many fine products, to point out that Eastman Chemical is the world leader in window film sales, technology and market share.
Their Vista, Llumar, Gila, Huper Optik, V-Kool and SunTek brands are the leaders in their category.
You might assume that 3M makes the best window film but that is an incorrect assumption.
“Best” of course, is a nebulous term. Many of the films that the 3M dealer presented are not made by 3M.
“Their” ceramic series (for example) is a notable example of a film being repackaged by 3M.
In terms of performance, optical clarity, NFRC ratings, durability and aesthetics our Huper Optik Films win hands down.
- Works better at an angle?
This is almost too silly to debate.Factually all
window films and glass itself work better when the angle of incidence is acute rather than perpendicular. It’s akin to saying that biking down a mountain is easier than biking up the mountain!
- 97% Heat or IR rejection?
I won’t belabor the point. The Prestige films does a good job of factoring out IR wavelengths as does Huper Optik.IR represents a bit less than 50% of what comprises heat. The remaining approximate 50% is determined by the visible light transmitted through the glass.
- The window film industry has attempted to educate the consumer market through white papers and advisories that highlight this function of IR. Notably the NFRC ratings provide a documented lab tested performance rating that encompasses the actual total heat rejection for our films and 3M Prestige Films.
- Windex?
That’s another misrepresentation and the fact that we heard this statement just today reminds me of the silliness of sales-speak. The 3M Prestige Film has no demonstrable or quantifiable advantage over any Eastman film in terms of abrasion resistance.It is recommended to avoid ammonia but our Huper Optik, Vista and LLumar are equal and in many cases superior to the prestige series, in particular.
More importantly the color and shade of the Huper Optik is built throughout the film rather than the top layer in Prestige.
Unlike Prestige there is absolutely no dyes in our Huper Optik.
