What is the difference between Color PPF and vinyl wrap?

Color PPF combines the benefits of two very different, yet complimentary products, into one – paint protection film and vinyl wrap film.

Paint protection film, shortened as PPF and often referred to as clear bra, is a nearly invisible urethane film that is installed on the painted surfaces (hood, fenders, grille, bumpers, mirrors, roof, doors, rocker panels, and decklid) of a vehicle to protect them from road rash (gravel, salt, tree sap, bugs, and bird droppings). It is designed to eliminate rock chips and other paint damage. Think of it as a near invisible protective skin for your car to keep its paint looking factory fresh.

Like PPF, 3M Company is a leading manufacturer of vinyl wrap film. Vinyl wrap film, also called color change film, is designed to change the appearance of a vehicle. It is for those motorists wanting to customize their car and is an alternative to paint. From accent stripes down the hood, roof, and decklid, to full color change, once installed, wrap film looks just like factory paint and is available in gloss or matte finishes. It can also be removed so any color change can be reverted back to original.

Traditional PPF is intended to protect vehicular paint without changing its appearance. Wrap film is designed to transform a vehicle’s appearance. While wrap film offers some degree of paint protection, it is not to the same level as PPF. As such, motorists seeking to transform and protect paint are often forced to have two films installed on top of each other.

First, a color change film is applied to a vehicle. Then, PPF is installed on top of that to protect the color change film. The drawback of a double application is that it is labor intensive, costly, and often not warrantied.

Color PPF represents the best of both worlds – color change and paint protection. It is one film that changes a vehicle’s color while protecting its paint. It is available in multiple colors, finishes, textures, and designs while being constructed of durable urethane to protect the vehicle’s underlying paint, just like traditional PPF. And since it is one film, it is not as labor intensive and is also warrantied.