Provided are tinted or tintable and clear films formed from liquid tint material, and methods of making and using the same. Such films are useful to application to substrates such as glass, specifically windows on vehicles, to reduce glare from the sun, reject heat, provide protection from UV rays, and create a unique or decorative look to the vehicle. The films dry into a smooth and clear thin film. The film-forming liquid tint materials comprise: an aqueous polymeric dispersion; a tinting agent dispersed in the aqueous polymeric dispersion; wherein upon contact with a substrate, the film-forming liquid tint material dries to a film that is clear and tintable. The tinting agents, in particular, photoactive components, can be encapsulated in a plurality of ORMOSIL nanoparticles.