One standard defintion of glazing is: The transparent or translucent material in a window that admits solar energy and light through the window.

On this website "Glazing" referrs to either the glass or plexiglass material placed in the picture frame to seperate and protect your artwork or photograph from the viewer and the atmosphere.

At least one mat should be placed between the the glazing material and the artwork. This will prevent the art work or photograph from adhering to the glazing over time. If a mat is not used moisture can form between the photograph and the glazing material when changes in humidity and temperature occur. Mold can then grow and spread in this moisture ultimately permanently damaging the art work or photograph.

90% of the world's flat glass is produced by the float glass process invented in the 1950s by Sir Alastair Pilkington of Pilkington Glass, in which molten glass is poured onto one end of a molten tin bath. The glass floats on the tin, and levels out as it spreads along the bath, giving a smooth face to both sides. The glass cools and slowly solidifies as it travels over the molten tin and leaves the tin bath in a continuous ribbon. The glass is then fire-polished. The finished product has near-perfect parallel surfaces.

The color of "natural glass" is green to bluish green. This color is caused by the varying amounts of naturally occurring iron impurities in the sand. Common glass today usually has a slight green or blue tint, arising from these same impurities. This color can be seen by viewing the glass along its edges. White glass has a very low iron content providing increased image clarity.

Annealed glass is considered a hazard in architectural applications as it breaks in large, jagged shards that can cause serious injury. Building codes across the world restrict the use of annealed glass in areas where there is a high risk of breakage and injury, for example in bathrooms, in door panels, fire exits and at low heights in schools.

Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) or polymethyl-2-methylpropanoate is the synthetic polymer of methyl methacrylate. This transparent plastic is sold by the tradenames Plexiglas, Perspex, Acrylite, Acrylplast, and Lucite and is commonly called Acrylic glass or simply Acrylic. The material was developed in 1928 in various laboratories and was brought to market in 1933. Meets Photographic Activity Test (PAT) ANSI NAPM IT9.16-1993 (ISO 10214-1992).

This material is often used in place of glass. Differences of the two materials include:
  • Plexiglass is lighter: its density (1190 kg/m3) is about half that of glass
  • Up to 17 times stronger than single-strength glass
  • Plexiglass does not shatter
  • The softness of Plexiglass leads to it being easily scratched when compared with glass
  • Plexiglass transmits more light than regular glass

This is the highest quality picture framing glazing available. It combines Anti-reflective (AR) technology with ultra-violet (UV) blocking properties combining the ultimate viewing experience with ultimate protection of the art work or photograph.

GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS
  • Filters 98% of UV light (300-380 nm)
  • Decreases harmfull rays by 70% in the 300-550 nm wavelength range
  • Allows 97% of light to pass through to the art work and reflect about 1%
  • Greatest clarity for true color transmission
  • Meets museum standards as set by F.A.C.T.S. and F.A.T.G.
  • 2.5mm thick

INTENDED USES
  • Valuable works of original art
  • Rare and antique documents
  • Items of historical importance
  • Fine art prints, limited editions
  • Valuable documents and photographs
  • Heirloom textiles

UV glazings blocks 98 percent of the harmful ultraviolet rays (300-380 nanometers) that can damage or fade framed photographs, prints, or artwork. UV glazings have a neutral color and clarity that will not alter the viewing appearance of framed pieces.

Ultraviolet ("UV") light is terribly damaging to art. And this damage is cumulative; the longer the exposure to the UV light, the greater the damage. There is a progressive loss of color. Worsening paper embrittlement. And an overall washed-out look.

GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS
  • Filters 98% of UV light (300-380 nm)
  • Allows 96% of light to pass through to the art work and reflect about 1%
  • Meets museum standards as set by F.A.C.T.S. and F.A.T.G.
  • 2.5mm thick

INTENDED USES
  • Fine Art Prints
  • Limited Editions
  • Valuable Documents
  • Photography

The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) defines antireflective glazing as having significantly reduced reflection, or glare, and a significantly increased light tranmission or clarity.

Anti-reflective glazing typically has either a film coating, or a chemical etching applied either one or both sides of the glazing material.

GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS
  • Filters 78% of UV light (300-380 nm)
  • Allows 96% of light to pass through to the art work and reflect about 1%
  • Meets museum standards as set by F.A.C.T.S. and F.A.T.G.
  • 2.5mm thick

INTENDED USES
  • Fine Art Prints
  • Limited Editions
  • Valuable Documents
  • Photography

Window glass is not manufactured to the same high quality standards as picture framing glass. Pictures framed with window glass usually show very wavy reflection lines all over it when the light strikes it at certain angles. Window glass has other impurities, and small faults and marks in the glass itself. These impurities show up readily on framed works of art.

The next best glass after window pane glass is a product called Regular Glass. This is a thin glass used in almost all of the ready-made frames you find in department stores, and even many frame shops. This glass is probably the cheapest picture framing glass available today.

GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS
  • Filters 40% of UV light (300-400 nm)
  • Allows 91% of light to pass through to the art work and reflect about 8%
  • 2.5mm thick

INTENDED USES
  • Decorative framing and general presentation.
  • Open ended reproductions.
  • Posters and decorative art.