Three films, one roll size. Here is how to pick the finish that fits your car and your style.

Paint protection film (PPF) is a thermoplastic urethane film applied over your paint. It takes the rock chips, light scratches and stains that would otherwise land on the clear coat, and it can be removed later without harming healthy factory paint. The real decision is not whether film works, but which finish you want to see every day.

Gloss PPF: keep the look you already love

Gloss film is optically clear with a high-gloss topcoat. On a well-prepped car it reads as paint, not plastic, so your factory color and shine stay exactly as they are. It works on every paint color, which makes it the default choice for most owners.

Ascend Gloss PPF also comes in Gloss Black for roofs, mirrors and chrome delete, and in Light Smoke and Dark Smoke for head and tail lights. Every option is the same price: $700 for a standard 60 ft roll.

Satin PPF: a new finish without a repaint

Satin film is still clear, but its topcoat diffuses light. Applied over gloss paint, it gives a smooth, low-sheen satin look while keeping your original color. Applied over factory matte or frozen paint, it protects a finish that is notoriously hard to repair, because matte paint cannot be polished to remove scratches.

Remove the film later and the gloss paint underneath is still there. Ascend Satin PPF is $700 per 60 ft roll, in Clear Satin, Satin Black and Satin Smoke.

Color PPF: change the color, keep the protection

Color PPF adds pigment to a protection-film body. You get a full color change, and the original paint is covered by a thick urethane layer rather than a thin vinyl one. Ascend Color PPF comes in 349 colors across eight finishes: gloss, satin, matte, metallic, pearl, color shift, liquid metal and textured carbon. Every color is $900 per 60 ft roll.

Questions to ask before you order

  • Which panels do you want covered? A full front needs far less film than a full body.
  • Who is installing? Film is a professional-grade product; an experienced installer makes the biggest difference to the result.
  • Is your paint in good shape? Film locks in whatever is underneath, so swirls and defects should be corrected first.
  • How many rolls do you need? Coverage depends on the vehicle and the installer's patterns, so ask our team before you order.

Not sure yet? Use the live preview on each product page to compare finishes, then send us a note from the order form and we will help you plan it.