Capital PPF_Norm

Finish your edges with a hot-mix of alcohol? (14oz of 70% in a 32oz squirt bottle, the rest distilled water)  I have not had any headlights, etc peel, so maybe that is the issue?  I suggest and do as many headlights as possible. NO soap at all, just that mix of alcohol for the installation, no problems sticking. (Other than Porsche headlight which I never do because of the stupid hard coat that peels off the headlights)
 
I often spray the last 2 or 3 inches of whatever with that alcohol.  Who's film are you using?  All the top brands should be fine, Suntek, Xpel, 3m, etc...

So I sometimes will need a simple rectangle with rounded corners for the door steps, where your shoes could scuff the area where you step into the vehicle.  I measure it and then design it quickly with inkscape, or the GreatCut program that comes with the GCC plotters.  I like this to be a pattern so that it matches from the drivers side to the passenger side and it's simple.
 
Or, I make a pattern for the B pillars on cars/suv vehicle, where your hand grabs the back of the drivers door when you swing it closed.  Don't see this included in a lot of patterns out there.
 
I never use full bumper patterns, but I do use patterns for the trim pieces if they are available.  But I use the patterns for headlights a lot, because it's hard to improve on such a small, simple piece.
 
So...  wondering if anyone out there has an idea of how we, the installers can upload these quick type of patterns into an online database that would be searchable, and FREE to other installers just to help out, supported by the installers for the installers.  Maybe if we have a 'how to make patterns' section of the database/forum, then more and more installers get in on the program to build it on up.
 
The reason I think this would be great for a larger group is that I might (And did) make a pattern for the B pillars, and the little triangle piece in front of the drivers/passengers window on a 2020 Audi RS3 because my customer wanted those done, along with the whole rest of the car.  But I may never use those patterns again, so it seems a shame to have put that time into it and not use it again.
 
Ideas from those who have internets knowledges?

I'm still testing the spray-on tack enhancer... Jury is still out.  What I need to do is to use a couple of pieces of film, maybe 2" wide x 6" long right next to each other.  One on the tack area and one without.  Squeegee both down for like 2 minutes and see if one is harder to pull away than the other.  I can confirm it doesn't seem to damage the adhesive.

Sorry, but I have to disagree that precut kits create a 'no risk to cutting the paint'.  Because sooner or later, that pre-cut kit isn't going to line up quite right.  Sometimes.. Not even daily, it is going to need to be trimmed by the installer.  IF (this is the important part, this IF) the installer does not have very good knife skills, then it's far more likely he WILL cut into the paint because he does not practice using the knife day in and day out.
 
Bulk installers ALSO can get into the paint.  I'm not saying they can't just that you can't say the opposite is true with pre-cut kits.
 
On the other hand, I've installed and trimmed out a number of bumpers, mirrors, etc, etc where you might find a hunk of schmegle after the installation is finished.  It's in a spot where I simply could not sneek under the film to remove the contamination, so off came the whole bumper installation (Mirrors are more likely to take 2 installs as I try to cover as much as possible for a 'seamless' look).  I look carefully at all my cuts areas to check if there are any paint cuts just to be sure I haven't lost 'the touch'.

Sorry, but I have to disagree that precut kits create a 'no risk to cutting the paint'.  Because sooner or later, that pre-cut kit isn't going to line up quite right.  Sometimes.. Not even daily, it is going to need to be trimmed by the installer.  IF (this is the important part, this IF) the installer does not have very good knife skills, then it's far more likely he WILL cut into the paint because he does not practice using the knife day in and day out.
 
Bulk installers ALSO can get into the paint.  I'm not saying they can't just that you can't say the opposite is true with pre-cut kits.
 
On the other hand, I've installed and trimmed out a number of bumpers, mirrors, etc, etc where you might find a hunk of schmegle after the installation is finished.  It's in a spot where I simply could not sneek under the film to remove the contamination, so off came the whole bumper installation (Mirrors are more likely to take 2 installs as I try to cover as much as possible for a 'seamless' look).  I look carefully at all my cuts areas to check if there are any paint cuts just to be sure I haven't lost 'the touch'.

My take is similar to Josh's...  I just bought a plotter but I still typically do bulk.  So the plotter is for the A-pillars, trunk ledge, headlights/foglights, maybe for leading edge of the roof, door cups, and door edge material... Basically smaller bits where bulk installation will give the same results but take longer.  But like Josh, I bulk the hoods, fenders, doors, and bumpers.  The trade-off is time, plain and simple.  You can install a fender or bumper in 1/2 the time or even faster with a pre-cut.  BUT I'd put my bulk install against any kit in quality any day. (Quality in my definition, is getting coverage all the way to edges, including parking sensors, around headlight sprayers, around side marker reflectors, etc.  Rolling edges everywhere possible, not just on the leading edge of the hood but around all 4 sides of the hood, plus into the wheel well, and around the back of the fender where the door-edge gap is.)
 
Ultimately,  it comes down to if the customer cares or not.. Car dealership?  Do a kit, make the $$ and move along.  But for my picky detail oriented customer, a bulk installation looks better with smaller edge-gaps where they have to be or non existent where I can wrap it around edges.
 
Last I was told by Jeff at Xpel, you have to be exclusive to buying Xpel film to use the Xpel Dap software plus you have to be exclusive to Xpel film to get Xpel film in the first place.  I do not approve of this business strategy but it's not my company and I've been more than happy with Suntek products and software for many years.
 
Back to the original topic, Applying the film clean, smooth, invisible way takes a pretty huge amount of practice and patience.  Meanwhile, you will throw away an expensive hunk of film here and there.  It especially hurts when it happens 2 times in a row due to frustration, haha.  So that is probably why a lot of installers give it a 2 or 3 week try and then quit.  The other problem is when an area has too many installers, all undercutting on price and kill the market with crappy rushed installations because they are going for Fast, Fast, Fast installations, while giving the film a bad reputation because of those fast, dirty installations.  Now the customers in those areas think that low prices are standard unfortunately, making it difficult to explain that a quality installation can't be price-shopped against a speed installation.

Having a history going back to 2002 doesn't matter either.  Clearing them access to get Audi R8 patterns nine months before the car is released doesn't matter.  Allowing them to use my shop to get the original Porsche Panamera patterns doesn't matter.  Taking a crew of three to Birmingham Rolex Grand Am race and spending three days filming the entire grid for free doesn't matter.  Discovering they literally stole my slogan and asking them to stop instead of taking them to court over trademark infringement doesn't matter.  Opening up a corporate store a half a mile away from my shop and using my DAP history to target my dealership account undercutting my prices by 20% resulting in lost revenue for me doesn't matter.  Reporting dozens of incorrect patterns or mislabeled shapes over 18 years doesn't matter.  Knowing there will never be a warranty claim for a pattern doesn't matter.  Giving up thousands of dollars a month (just from me) to cut patterns that are already costed out so its as close to free money as it gets doesn't even matter.
 
There are laws that don't matter too.  A company that supplies parts to venders has to make replacement parts available for seven years after that business relationship is ended.  "Tying" the software access to film purchase is illegal (I have a customer that is a  board member legal advisor from a world wide privacy management software company) doesn't matter.
 
Maybe if we were black Norm, it would matter.
 
The Core software will be ready soon and the Film Wraps patterns are better than Xpels' ever were.  

Hi Ric, Long time!  I think I used to be Quest49s on here many years ago, but took the last 5 years off to kick up my heels in south america.  Getting things up and going again in North Carolina now.

Excellent!!!
 
Some folks just have to force their opinion on other folks.  I've never understood this.  Live & Let Live people.  You don't like what someone somewhere else is doing, then it's ok to let people know once and then let it ride.  Unless your neighbor is having block parties every single night and dumping garbage on YOUR lawn, let it go!
 
Anyways, I'd typically be a bit less than $3k on a full front end, but again if it's a Porsche Macan or maybe Audi R8 with a more than average challenge, then I probably wouldn't be there.  But, again your area could have a lot to do with prices.

Excellent!!!
 
Some folks just have to force their opinion on other folks.  I've never understood this.  Live & Let Live people.  You don't like what someone somewhere else is doing, then it's ok to let people know once and then let it ride.  Unless your neighbor is having block parties every single night and dumping garbage on YOUR lawn, let it go!
 
Anyways, I'd typically be a bit less than $3k on a full front end, but again if it's a Porsche Macan or maybe Audi R8 with a more than average challenge, then I probably wouldn't be there.  But, again your area could have a lot to do with prices.

Positive feedback from  two distributors... Maybe accurate, but biased much?
 
Any other actual installers out there who could compare with Suntek or Xpel, etc?

Thanks Jeff,
 
So basically, I'd tell a customer that the risk is all on them, and that there is a possibility (Probability if using adhesive promotors) that their paint could get jacked up if matte paint.
 
I'll take that as an official 'I don't apply film to matte paint jobs' on into the future, as you can still get bad feedback from a customer or even sued, even with a disclaimer signed, and I don't need that additional hassle or the money from the rare 1 or 2 times a year it might come up.