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Glazing

With many different glazing options its useful to discus about how and where you plan to hang your artwork.

Glass or Acrylic?

Standard glazing or UV resistant conservation glazing?

Anti-glare glazing, Humidity resistant glazing, Art glass...

Often the answers to these questions are very quick and simple, but they are always worth talking through.

It is likely you are getting something special framed, so now is the time to make sure it is done to a standard that will ensure its lifetime is maximised.

Glazing is an important aspect of framing that often overlooked.

Glass and Acrylic are the two primary materials to consider, both of which we offer in our bespoke frames.

Acrylic has gained popularity for several reasons which we have listed below. But in particularly you can't tell it is an acrylic and it is more transparent with no tint (unlike some glass).

Glass

The go to option is often 2mm float glass. 3mm and 4mm ca also be used on larger pictures but adds weights and cost. Glass has been used for hundreds of years and will protect your picture for generations, however there are now some viable alternatives.

Guide Cost - £

Pros:

Relatively inexpensive
Consistent, it will not degrade over time
Is easy to clean
It is fully recyclable

Cons:

Very reflective
No UV protection - which can cause art to deteriorate.
Slight green colour cast and less transparent than acrylic.
Very fragile making it difficult and expensive to ship without damage.
It is not safety glass and when it breaks, sharp shards can be dangerous which has an implication on where the art will hang, in a children's bedroom or nursery for example.
Glass is vulnerable to condensation as it is a good insulator, creating a risk of moisture which could damage your artwork and limits where it can be hung.

Anti-Reflective Glass

This type of glazing is an exceptional option when the artwork is to be mounted in a well-lit or sunny area which is prone to cause reflection.

The coating minimises glare and blocks 90% of UV light from reaching the artwork, therefore preventing fading and prolonging its life considerably.

Guide cost - ££

Pros:

- Can stop a lot of reflection
- Can stop in excess of 90% of UV light hitting the artwork

Cons:

- More expensive than standard glass

Conservation/Museum Grade Glass

99% UV protection glass, often termed "conservation grade" or "museum glass," prevents fading and protects artwork or delicate items from UV damage by blocking over 99% of harmful rays. Popular options include Artglass UV99, Tru Vue Conservation Clear, and anti-reflective, high-clarity museum glass, typically available for custom framing and display

Guide Cost - £££

Pros:

- Prevents Fading: Protects paper, dyes, and pigments from breaking down, reducing the risk of yellowing and brittleness.
- Safety Standards: Meets requirements for preservation, including the Photographic Activity Test (PAT)

Cons:

- More expensive
- More caution required when cleaning
- More scratch prone than glass

Artglass is one of several brands that offer the highest grade of UV and anti-glare protection and is the go-to option for top end framing for very precious pieces of art.

Guide Cost - £££££

Pros:

- Highest possible protection from UV damage
- High Clarity: Many, like Artglass AR99, offer less than 1% light reflection for superior, clear, and crisp image resolution.
- Broad range

Cons:

- Most expensive
- More caution required when cleaning
- More scratch prone than glass

2mm Acrylic

Acrylic Glass allows 92% light transmission, more than that of float glass which tends to be 90% or lower. Acrylic Glass, unlike 2mm float glass is also tint free and visually colourless and has 66% inherent UV resistance due to the UV stabilizer that is added to protect against ageing. This absorbs many of the damaging UV wavelengths in natural and artificial light.

Guide Cost - £

Pros:

- Inexpensive
- Reliable, it will not degrade and can last for generations
- Excellent clarity, 92% transmission showing the true colours
- Tint free, virtually colourless unlike Float glass and Styrene
- Shatter resistant and safe
- Lightweight
- Safe for shipping to clients
- Safe for commercial / high traffic areas

Cons:

- Reflective
- It can scratch when cleaning, care should be taken
- Slightly more expensive than 2mm float glass

2mm Acrylic Glass Archival UV Protection

This is the go-to option for art that is more valuable or irreplaceable . Think, original artwork, certificates or awards.

It has all the benefits of normal acrylic in terms of reduced weight, high clarity and tint free with the additional benefit of blocking 99% of UV-A rays, which means it can be hung in direct continuous sunlight and your artwork will remain undamaged.

As it is made of marine cast acrylic it has a harder surface which creates a more robust and scratch resistant finish.

Guide Cost - ££

Pros:

- Cheaper than its glass equivalent
- Excellent clarity, 92% transmission showing the true colours
- Tint free
- Lightweight
- Safe for commercial / high traffic areas, shatter resistant
- Ideal for artwork hung in direct sunlight
- Scratch resistant

Cons:

- Reflective
- Slightly dearer than 2mm Acrylic Glass
- Can be damaged by direct heat

Museum Grade 3mm Acrylic

Museum Acrylic glass is the perfect choice when you want to preserve your finest and most important art with conservation standard framing. The high-quality cast acrylic is coated on both sides with a special Moth Eye laminate to block 99.8% of damaging UV rays while allowing 98.6% of light to pass through, minimising all reflections.

Guide Cost - ££££

Pros:

- 99.8% UV protection to shield valuable artwork from fading and deterioration caused by ultraviolet rays.
- 98.6% light transmission rating makes it virtually invisible
- The non-reflective coating technology means it is virtually reflection free
- 10 times the impact strength of glass - protects valuable artwork from damage in the event of an accident and makes frames safer to ship
- Safe for commercial / high traffic areas, shatter resistant
- Cheaper than its glass equivalent
- Ideal for artwork hung in direct sunlight
- Scratch resistant
- 50% lighter than glass – makes frames easier to handle, ship and hang.

Cons:

- Significantly more expensive than other Acrylic Glass
- Can be damaged by direct heat

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