Metallic Gloss Frozen Blue

3M Metallic Gloss Frozen Blue is a metallic blue film, catalogued as PWF-G137. 3M lists 5 other blue shades, so it is worth seeing them side by side before you settle on one.

This is color paint protection film from 3M's catalog, not a vinyl wrap. The color sits inside the film itself, so one layer changes the car and shields the paint from rock chips at the same time. It is thicker than wrap vinyl, the top layer is elastomeric so it absorbs impact instead of transmitting it, and light swirls and scratches self-heal with heat. It costs more than vinyl in the same shade, and it is the choice when you want the color change to also be the protection.

The metallic finish

Metal flake is suspended in the film, so the color sparkles under direct sun and settles into a deeper, flatter shade indoors and under overcast. It photographs unusually well and hides light road film better than a flat color does, which is worth something on a Pacific Northwest commute.

Living with blue in the Pacific Northwest

Blue reads very differently under Seattle overcast than under direct sun, often shifting several shades darker and flatter. It is worth seeing the sample outdoors on a grey day, not just under shop lighting. Mid-tone colors are the easiest to live with here: they hide both road film and water spotting better than either black or white.

Care: hand wash with a wrap-safe soap and a soft mitt, and dry the car rather than letting it air dry.