Glass or glazing, as it is commonly referred, serves many beneficial purposes in the custom framing of artwork and documents. It protects the artwork or document from airborne acidic particles, slows humidity transfer, prevents the occasional touching or brushing of the art surface and most importantly, it can protect against light damage. Bright light and direct sunlight are among the most damaging agents to artwork and documents. Below, some of the more frequently used glazings along with their relative benefits and problems will be explained.
First of all, not all glazing is the same. Window glazing (clear glass), while greatly improved over the past centuries, is still permitted by the glass manufacturing industry to have a small number of flaws such as scratches and blisters. Because of these flaws, window glazing is not an acceptable form of glass for custom picture framing.
These imperfections become very apparent with framed pictures having dark content and/or dark colored matting.
Regular glazing (clear) is the most commonly selected type of glass for custom framing and is the lowest in price. This glass is very clear, polished and has been inspected for quality. The framed artwork within will have very little color distortion. At Hope Framing we recommend this type of glazing when the artwork is light in color along with selected light colored matting. We would not recommend this choice of glazing if the artwork and matting are dark as this creates an extremely reflective effect much like a mirror. If the artwork is to be placed in a brightly lit room, regular glazing will provide little if any protection against the aging process produced by light. For conservation framing this type of glazing would not be a choice due the absence of any UV (ultraviolet radiation) protection.
Single and double sided non-glare glazing are sheets of glass that have undergone an acid etching process on one or both sides to create a pattern on the glass surface which breaks up light that would otherwise be reflected. Both types of glass result in a presentation void of most light reflections. Double sided non-glare glazing has greater glare reduction than single sided non-glare; however both types of glazing cause some viewing distortion (double sided non-glare having greater distortion) to the artwork. Improvements in these types of glazing continue. At Hope Framing we currently favor the usage of the single sided non-glare when the issue of light glare arises.
In recent years many improvements in the clarity and UV protection of conservation glazing have occurred. This type of glazing is available in both clear and non-glare with either a thin UV protective film between the layers of glass or a UV film on one side. This glazing is highly recommended for artwork and documents that are presented in a brightly lit room, be it from artificial or natural light. Due to the extensive care and time in the manufacture of this glazing, the price is usually several times more than the price of regular clear and non-glare glazing.
Museum glazing was designed to give maximum protection to artwork and documents from UV light. This type of glazing is the highest quality conservation glass available in the custom framing industry. While providing superior protection of the artwork or documents, museum glazing is known to create a greenish cast due to the very low iron levels allowed in its manufacturing. Needless to say, museum glazing is very expensive and is usually used with highly valued art and documents.
At Hope Framing our preferred plastic glazing is acrylic. Acrylic glazing presents the artwork with excellent clarity and will not yellow over time. Acrylic Glazing is often recommended at Hope Framing when framing very large prints, maps and charts because of its strength, lighter weight and for safety. Often parents wish to frame artwork that is to be in a child's room with acrylic glazing. This is fine provided the medium used in the artwork is not dusty such as with charcoal. The acrylic glazing creates static electricity which draws the dust from the artwork to the back of the glazed surface.
When framing artwork which requires glazing, always keep in mind the value of the framed picture or document as it relates to you, your family and possibly, to others. Is it a historic document, a cherished family art piece, a valuable artwork by a noted artist, or a priceless family record? These are all factors you need to consider when choosing an appropriate glazing for your custom framed piece.
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