Customised PPF vs. pre-cut PPF: what's the difference for your vehicle?

PPF (Paint Protection Film) is a transparent plastic film made from polyurethane applied to the bodywork to protect it from external damage: stone chips, scratches, rubbing, etc. The level of protection is the same whether it is custom-made or pre-cut.

The level of protection is the same whether the film is custom-made or pre-cut. What changes is the technique used to cut and apply the film. In fact, it cannot be applied to plastic or porous elements such as bumper blades or certain raw plastic diffusers, as its level of adhesion will not be sufficient on this type of surface.

 

What is pre-cut?

It's a film cut using a plotter (digital cutting) from digital models (based on 3D scans of the cars), perfectly adapted to the shape of each part of your car. No manual cutting is required on the vehicle. However, using this technique, a few millimeters at the edges of certain body components may not be covered.

Why pre-cut?

• There's no risk of the blade hitting the bodywork: everything is cut precisely beforehand.
• Ideal for complex parts: bumpers, bonnets with air intakes, wings with pronounced, protruding curves, etc.
• Optimised to prevent delamination: for example, on a Porsche 992 GT3, the pre-cut models include precise incisions to release the film tension around the air intakes on the front bonnet - something that would be complicated to do symmetrically on the two scoops using bespoke methods.

 

Key points:

✔ Clean, safe and reliable over time

✔ Perfect for elements that are difficult to cover without tension

✔ Produced using dedicated cutting software

What does it involve?

The technician works directly on the vehicle, adjusting the film by hand. He or she cuts the edges, reverses the film and adapts it to the shape of the car.

Why made-to-measure?

• Allows larger returns on visible edges or corners
• Ideal for simple, flat surfaces: bonnets without raised areas, doors, rear wings without complex cut-outs
• Provides installation flexibility on certain models where pre-cut is not yet available

Warning:

This type of application does not always allow you to manage film tensions on complex parts. At Shiftech, we always favour the most durable solution.

Things to remember:

✔ More flexibility in certain areas

✔ Suitable for simple parts

✔ Careful manual installation adjusted on site

At Shiftech, we don't impose a particular method: we adapt the technique to each part of the vehicle, to ensure the best possible finish over time and the cleanest possible finish.

For example:

• For a complex front bumper or bonnet, we prefer pre-cutting to avoid any risk of tension or delamination.
• For a door or a flat element, made-to-measure is often quicker and just as effective.

Our aim is for you to understand clearly what is being done to your car, and for you to be fully satisfied with the result, with no surprises once the service is complete.

It's not a question of price or prestige, but oftechnical adaptation. And that's precisely where our experience makes the difference: each part is analysed to determine the most appropriate method, between made-to-measure and pre-cut.

The result: discreet, durable and sometimes even invisible installation, whatever the model of your vehicle.