I have done it myself using silicone and watched pros do it using some black goo from a tube. They did pretty much just push until the goo squeezed out, but the applicator nozzle was precut to a particular diameter, so the volume/inch was sort of controlled. The film ended up being ~2 to 4 mm thick.
... But that was a while ago. I suspect that OEMs try harder to get flush glass now for aero purposes, and I'm not sure how they do it.
Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA