Abstract: An apparatus for applying the film to the substrate includes a bed having a substrate placement surface and a selectively positionable tack bar, a roller support moveable over the span of the bed, and including the location of the positioning bar, and a roller rotatably supported to the positioning bar and moveable over the bed in response to movement of the roller support with respect to the bed. In another aspect, the tack bar is of the same thickness, or slightly less thick, as the substrate onto which the film is to be applied, such that a portion of the film to be applied can be secured thereto and not on the substrate before the backing is removed from additional portions of the film, such that the tack bar supports an end of the film in substantially the plane of, or slightly below the plane of, the substrate.