Matte Black

CheetahWrap Matte Black is a matte black film from CheetahWrap's CheetahPCC range, catalogued as CWPCC60295. CheetahWrap lists 6 other black shades, so it is worth seeing them side by side before you settle on one.

This is color paint protection film from CheetahWrap's CheetahPCC line, 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 matte finish

Matte kills reflection completely, which makes body lines read sculptural instead of shiny. It is the most demanding finish to own and the rules are simple but absolute: hand wash only, no wax, no polish, no machine buffer, and no automatic car wash. Any of those will burnish shine into the surface permanently, and the shiny patch cannot be undone.

Living with black in the Pacific Northwest

Black is the hardest color to keep looking perfect and the best looking when it is. Every swirl and every water spot shows, and in Seattle that means drying the car rather than letting it air dry after rain. Dark colors show water spots, dust and wash marks sooner than light ones, and our rain leaves spots the moment it dries on a panel. Drying the car after a wash rather than letting it air dry is most of the battle.

Care: hand wash only. No wax, no polish, no machine buffer and no automatic car wash — all four permanently burnish shine into a matte surface.