Glass and Framing

The glass on the left is museum glass
and almost invisible!

 Though glass has been around for a long time, all glass is not created equal.  The earliest records mention glass being produced in Mesopotamia around 3,500 BC, about the same time that Job 37:18 was written, the oldest book in the Bible.

The word “glass” was coined by the Romans during the 1st Century, and slowly the uses and techniques for producing glass have increased exponentially from then until today.

Certainly when framing a photo or print, glass is an important consideration, particularly if you are going to have your treasure custom framed.  When you bring your photo, print, needlework, or object into to our framing shoppe, helping you choose the right colors and styles for your mat and frame is important.  Most importantly is choosing the right glass!

The example in our shoppe of reflective glass on the left
and non-reflective on the right!  Big difference!

Glass?  You mean choose a frosted glass (non-glare), or regular glass?  No, in order to preserve, protect and get the most out of your artwork or memories, you have several choices to make regarding the glass.  And with a little knowledge and the assistance from our expert framers, you may select the right glass for your project.

The very fact that you are having your item framed indicates its value, and the desire to preserve that for years to come.  However, perhaps you will display your piece in a very bright room opposite or near a window or lamp.  Then reflection will play a part in choosing a glass with reflection control.  In the past low-tech “non-glare” was produced.  Now reflection control employs minute etching that eliminates reflection but does not compromise clarity.

Conservation glass on the left and
regular on the right allows the fading.

Of late we have all heard of the dangers of UV light to our skin, eyes, and really any organic matter, which when exposed to light breaks down.  This is particularly visible in the fading colors of a photo or print, and yellowing of other materials.  Once breakdown has begun, the effects are irreversible.  

The best protection against fading or yellowing is to use conservation or museum glass, the highest quality glass available.  Museum glass effectively blocks 97% of UV danger, protecting your colors and images for years to come.  Also do not hang your art in direct sunlight or spotlight it with fluorescent light.  We can also provide you with excellent lighting suggestions—another whole blog to come!

Actually, the single most important step to take in protecting your framed artwork, is choosing the right glass.