Here's Matte PPF on Red Mist
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 13,599
Likes: 12,854
From: Virginia
Like I stated in my previous post, successful project completion typically start with good communication.
I don't know what I find more odd, the fact that the shop removed the stripe without consulting the OP, or that the OP didn't give them specific direction as to what he wanted to do with the stripe.
I don't know what I find more odd, the fact that the shop removed the stripe without consulting the OP, or that the OP didn't give them specific direction as to what he wanted to do with the stripe.
Pro
Joined: Apr 2020
Posts: 741
Likes: 717
From: Nashville, TN
2022 Corvette of the Year Finalist -- Unmodified
Unmodified C8 of the Year 2021 Winner
Darker?! Yes....looks nice darker. If darker was your goal, you should have gone with black like me! Doesn't get much darker and didn't have to add PPF to enhance the darkness! Lol.
Love the gloss in red mist. And think the matte PPF works with black well.
Love the gloss in red mist. And think the matte PPF works with black well.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 6,337
Likes: 5,108
From: Charles Town WV
2024 Corvette of the Year Finalist - Modified
2023 C6 of the Year Winner - Modified
2022 C6 of the Year Finalist - Modified
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!
Joe Kucinski
5 MOST and 5 LEAST Popular Corvette Model Years in History!
Joe Kucinski
2027 Corvette Buyer's Guide: Everything You Need to Know!
Joe Kucinski
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2021
Posts: 1,020
Likes: 761
From: Tampa Bay, FL
I like the matte, but would be nice to see some good pictures of it, in better lighting. Looks almost like it was foggy in your pics! I am surprised you didn't notice the missing stripe sooner... seems pretty obvious, its a big stripe!
I don't think I can bring myself to spend $9k on it, but I do like the concept, and the protection too. What I am curious about is if the matte enhances the metallic already in the paint, or does it add a metallic sheen to it because of the matte finish? I ask because I am getting Rapid Blue, which I love, but I wish it was metallic. If the Stealth wrap gives it that sheen, I think it would look killer.
I don't think I can bring myself to spend $9k on it, but I do like the concept, and the protection too. What I am curious about is if the matte enhances the metallic already in the paint, or does it add a metallic sheen to it because of the matte finish? I ask because I am getting Rapid Blue, which I love, but I wish it was metallic. If the Stealth wrap gives it that sheen, I think it would look killer.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 6,337
Likes: 5,108
From: Charles Town WV
2024 Corvette of the Year Finalist - Modified
2023 C6 of the Year Winner - Modified
2022 C6 of the Year Finalist - Modified
I like the matte, but would be nice to see some good pictures of it, in better lighting. Looks almost like it was foggy in your pics! I am surprised you didn't notice the missing stripe sooner... seems pretty obvious, its a big stripe!
I don't think I can bring myself to spend $9k on it, but I do like the concept, and the protection too. What I am curious about is if the matte enhances the metallic already in the paint, or does it add a metallic sheen to it because of the matte finish? I ask because I am getting Rapid Blue, which I love, but I wish it was metallic. If the Stealth wrap gives it that sheen, I think it would look killer.
I don't think I can bring myself to spend $9k on it, but I do like the concept, and the protection too. What I am curious about is if the matte enhances the metallic already in the paint, or does it add a metallic sheen to it because of the matte finish? I ask because I am getting Rapid Blue, which I love, but I wish it was metallic. If the Stealth wrap gives it that sheen, I think it would look killer.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2022
Posts: 315
Likes: 132
You don't want to have stripes under PPF because it makes the PPF more visible, which you don't want. They should have told you this before install. You can't reapply a vinyl stripe. If you want it, you will need to buy a new one - but I wouldn't do it personally. Vinyl should always go on top of PPF, not under.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 2,547
Likes: 1,747
From: Mandalore
That would be the fault of amateur installers, not fault inherent to the PPF. That's like saying factory suspension is trash and caused you to crash because the technician setting it up for factory race alignment didn't torque everything to spec. It was the technician, not the product. I consult with XPEL-certified installers who use all precut film from XPEL templates. Not cut while on body.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 13,599
Likes: 12,854
From: Virginia
That would be the fault of amateur installers, not fault inherent to the PPF. That's like saying factory suspension is trash and caused you to crash because the technician setting it up for factory race alignment didn't torque everything to spec. It was the technician, not the product. I consult with XPEL-certified installers who use all precut film from XPEL templates. Not cut while on body.
However it still doesn't change the fact that you don't always have an immaculate finish left behind after removing wrap/PPG as you implied in your previous post.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2022
Posts: 315
Likes: 132
Usually when you see issues like you are describing - its because someone called around and found the cheapest price and went with that. Those will be the not-so-good installers which cause problems like knife marks, not cleaning off the PPF properly after removal, etc.
PPF is one of those things where the installer almost matters more than the PPF product itself.
Last edited by CamALot; Aug 5, 2022 at 03:07 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 2,547
Likes: 1,747
From: Mandalore
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 13,599
Likes: 12,854
From: Virginia
I agree with @switchlanez ... This all comes down to the installer. I did months of research on installers in my general area to find the best one. I went to each of their shops, looked at their work, checked out their facilities, etc. It is a lot of leg work, but when I am spending $10k on wrapping my car in PPF and window tinting, etc. - I want the best of the best.
Usually when you see issues like you are describing - its because someone called around and found the cheapest price and went with that. Those will be the not-so-good installers which cause problems like knife marks, not cleaning off the PPF properly after removal, etc.
PPF is one of those things where the installer almost matters more than the PPF product itself.
Usually when you see issues like you are describing - its because someone called around and found the cheapest price and went with that. Those will be the not-so-good installers which cause problems like knife marks, not cleaning off the PPF properly after removal, etc.
PPF is one of those things where the installer almost matters more than the PPF product itself.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 2,547
Likes: 1,747
From: Mandalore
AGAIN, I AGREE AS WELL, however that does not change the fact that you don't always have an immaculate finish left behind after removing wrap/PPG as was implied in the previous post. There's probably more installers out there who do poor work than those who do good work.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 2,789
Likes: 500
To people who don't understand:
1) Gloss reflects surroundings and hides the body lines that get lost in the reflections. Matte filters all that reflective noise out and brings the body lines to the forefront. Matte is mostly useless on curvaceous cars with no hard lines (think bloated 90s/2000s cars) but is especially applicable for emphasizing the C8's edgier character lines.
2) There will be thousands of Red Mists in existence. But only a tiny percentage of them (or even the entire C8 production run) will be Stealth. Not repainted, all original factory paint. And preserved almost like they're always garaged even when driven out.
This has like all the upside of what the old guard Corvette fans want (one-of-a-kind yet all-original paint showing through with garage queen preservation) without the downside but apparently they don't want what they've been chasing for decades, especially if it accentuates the body lines?
1) Gloss reflects surroundings and hides the body lines that get lost in the reflections. Matte filters all that reflective noise out and brings the body lines to the forefront. Matte is mostly useless on curvaceous cars with no hard lines (think bloated 90s/2000s cars) but is especially applicable for emphasizing the C8's edgier character lines.
2) There will be thousands of Red Mists in existence. But only a tiny percentage of them (or even the entire C8 production run) will be Stealth. Not repainted, all original factory paint. And preserved almost like they're always garaged even when driven out.
This has like all the upside of what the old guard Corvette fans want (one-of-a-kind yet all-original paint showing through with garage queen preservation) without the downside but apparently they don't want what they've been chasing for decades, especially if it accentuates the body lines?
Racer
Joined: Apr 2022
Posts: 315
Likes: 132
AGAIN, I AGREE AS WELL, however that does not change the fact that you don't always have an immaculate finish left behind after removing wrap/PPG as was implied in the previous post. There's probably more installers out there who do poor work than those who do good work.
https://cactustint.com/5-ridiculous-...bably-believe/