While this special type of glass is dearer, it has been proven to block over 97% of the harmful “UV” rays. However, to retard fading, as absolute prevention is almost impossible, picture framers can use “UV” filtering glass. This type of glass blocks only about half of the UV rays and will not conserve colours or prevent fading. All light contains ultraviolet or “UV” rays and most picture frames are glazed with ordinary, clear picture framing glass. Glazing with Ultra Violet (UV) Blocking, Conservation, or Museum GlassĮven weak daylight rays will slowly but surely fade the inks in a photograph or print by “bleaching” the colours. It filters out only about half, or, pretty much the same as clear glass. Lastly, and contrary to popular belief, non-reflective glass does not block out all UV rays. It cannot be used for 3-dimensional artwork because, when raised for the surface of the art, it will completely dull it making it too opaque to be viewed. Thirdly, and because of the refraction loss, it can only be used when pressed directly against the art. In other words, your art will look 13% duller, or more opaque, than when using clear glass. Non-reflective glass has a refraction loss of up to 13%. Picture framers will price non-reflective glass at least 2 to 3 times the price of clear glass because that’s what it costs them to buy it. There at least three distinct drawbacks to having your pictures framed with non-reflective glass. This light rays scattergun effect virtually eliminates the glare form halos and bright spots, thus making viewing easier, less distracting and more pleasurable. The acid immersion renders the glass surfaces a little rough, as though sanded, so that when the light hits it, it scatters in all directions. This is the most common manufacturing method, because it’s the cheapest. This glass has one, or both surfaces, slightly etched by immersion in an acid bath. This problem was recognized long ago and the invention that remedied it, to a great extent, albeit not, completely, is called Non-Reflective Glass, or Non-Glare Glass, or Diffused Glass, or Matte Glass, take your pick although the first name is the one used most here in Australia. These are the reflections that can spoil, distract and detract from our viewing pleasure. When this happens, dazzling halos, or bright spots, of intense light are created. Unfortunately, and at most angles, the light is also reflected by the glass, much like a mirrors do. The brain then decodes this visual information in recognizable and familiar shapes, colour tones, tints and shades. With regular, reflective, clear, float glass, the available natural or artificial light, illuminates the artwork, penetrates the glass and then filters back into your eyes. Glazing with Non-Reflective, Diffused or Non-Glare Glass However if the picture frame, or photo frame for that matter, contains rare, valuable or significant art then this type of glass should not be used because UV rays will visibly damage and bleach the art in as relatively as short a time span of five to seven years.Ĭlear float glass is also highly reflective, a quality not always appreciated by Customers and remedied by only by having artwork glazed with non-reflective glass. This matters little when the framed art is inexpensive, common, cheap, disposable reproductions and commercial art of little value to the customer. This means that round about half of the diffused, harmful UV, are capable of penetrating and damaging artwork. It has excellent clarity and blocks about 55% of harmful Ultra Violet (UV) light absorption. This type of glass is the cheapest of all picture framing glazing materials and this is another reason why it is the most used and most popular. Asahi standards help to ensure that glass is of high clarity, light transmission, manufactured in uniform good quality and free of seeds, cords and other defects. There are no picture framing glass manufacturers remaining in Australia because our high manufacturing costs make glass manufacturing uncompetitive. Nearly 100% of this is imported glass and generally it is made to conform to Asahi glass standards. Picture frames and photo frames glass panes are cut down to size by picture framers from large sheets, commonly 1800 x 1200 cms x 1.8mm thick which framers buy from glass wholesalers. It is called float glass because it is made by floating molten glass on a bed of molten metal, usually tin during the Pilkington process.ĭepending on where the silica sand is mined from, it may have a greenish, yellow or even pink tinge. This is the most common of glazing (to glaze means to furnish, cover or fill with glass) materials used in both commercial picture frames and custom picture frames. Glazing with Regular, or Clear Float Glass
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |