What are the different types of picture framing glass?
How to choose the right glass for your artwork?
The type of glass you choose to frame your artwork with can make a huge difference in the final product and can help preserve your artwork for years to come. There is no one-fits-all solution when it comes to glass, it depends on where you plan on putting your artwork, the value of the artwork and of course, your vision of how the art should be displayed. We have listed many of our most popular glass types below, feel free to visit our shop in Midtown East, NYC if you would like to see glass samples and would like some guidance as to which glass type is right for your unique needs.
Ref No | Name | Shatter Resistant | Scratch Resistant | Visbility | UV Protection | Price Range | Maximum Size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Glass | |||||||
1G | Tru Vue Museum Glass® | No | No | Virtually Invisible | 99% | $$$$ | 48″ x 68″ |
2G | Tru Vue Conservation Clear® Glass | No | No | Normal | 99% | $$ | 48″ x 68″ |
3G | Tru Vue AR Reflection-Free® Glass | No | No | Virtually Invisible | 78% | $$ | 40″ x 60″ |
4G | Tru Vue UltraVue® UV70 Glass | No | No | Virtually Invisible | 70% | $$$ | 48″ x 68″ |
5G | Tru Vue Conservation Reflection Control® Glass | No | No | Less Glare but Not Invisible | 99% | $$$ | 40″ x 60″ |
6G | Tru Vue Reflection Control® Glass | No | No | Less Glare but Not Invisible | 0% | $$ | 40″ x 60″ |
7G | Tru Vue Preimum Clear® Glass | No | No | Nornal | 0% | 40″ x 60″ | |
Acrylic | |||||||
1R | Tru Vue Optium Museum Acrylic® | Shatter Resistant | Scratch Resistant | Virtually Invisible | 99% | $$$$$$$$ | 72″ x 120″ |
2R | Tru Vue Optium Acrylic® | Shatter Resistant | Scratch Resistant | Virtually Invisible | 99% | $$$$$$$ | 48″ x 96″ |
3R | Tru Vue StaticShield® Acrylic | Shatter Resistant | Scratch Resistant | Normal | 99% | $$ | 72″ x 96″ |
4R | Tru Vue Conservation Clear® Acrylic | Shatter Resistant | No | Normal | 99% | $$$ | 48″ x 96″ |
5R | Tru Vue Conservation Reflection Control® Acrylic | Shatter Resistant | No | Less Glare but Not Invisible | 99% | $$ | 48″ x 96″ |
6R | Tru Vue Reflection Control® Acrylic | Shatter Resistant | No | Less Glare but Not Invisible | 0% | $ | 48″ x 96″ |
7R | Tru Vue Standard Acrylic® | Shatter Resistant | No | Normal | 0% | $ | 48″ x 96″ |
Glass Types
Museum Glass®
This is the best-quality glass that you can get. It is unmatched with its clarity and protection. Museum Glass blocks 99% UV rays, it eliminates reflection so that it is virtually invisisble. It has premium 2.5mm thickness which provides better strength and rigidity. Museum Glass is perfect for original works of art, limited edition prints, shadowboxes with family heirlooms, etc. It is highly recommended for any valuable artwork.
Conservation Clear® Glass
This glass is the most frequently used glass in custom framing – it blocks 99% UV rays, it has no ripple effect on glass surface and with its 2.5mm thickness provides better strength and rigidity. It preserves well from any damaging UV rays, so it is a good solution for original works of art, as well as less valuable items.
AR Reflection-Free® Glass
This product gives a perfect anti-reflective coating that eliminates completely your reflection in the glass and leaves you to enjoy the finer details of the art. AR Reflection-Free Glass filters only up to 78% of UV rays, so it is not a good solution for valuable art that is exposed to sun light.
UltraVue® UV70 Glass
The most important feature of this type of glass is that it provides crystal clear color transmission and an almost invisible, anti-reflective surface for best clarity. It is not meant for valuable, original works of art since it filters only up to 70% of UV rays, but for less expensive items that are not exposed to UV light, this is a glass that will give you brightest colors and contrasts.
Conservation Reflection Control® Glass
This is a version of Conservation Clear Glass with excellent anti-reflection feature. If you want to have a matte finish which reduces glare, in rooms with a lot of uncontrolled light, this is a perfect glass for you. 99% UV protection preserves any artwork from unwanted effects of sun rays.
Reflection Control® Glass
This is a matte finish glass that does not have unwanted glare. It is best for works that are not sensitive to UV damage, since it has no UV protection. This is a best solution for items that can be reproduced easily.
Premium Clear Glass
This is a version of Conservation Clear Glass with excellent anti-reflection feature. If you want to have a matte finish which reduces glare, in rooms with a lot of uncontrolled light, this is a perfect glass for you. 99% UV protection preserves any artwork from unwanted effects of sun rays.
Acrylic (Plexi-Glass)
Optium Museum Acrylic®
Used by biggest museums in the world, this state-of-the-art acrylic has 99% UV protection, which preserves valuable artwork from damaging sun rays and fading. This material is shatter and scratch resistant, which makes it useful for showcasing art in family homes with smaller children, traveling exhibits, earthquake prone areas and fine art and cultural heritage collections in general. Optium Museum Acrylic has anti-reflective coating which makes it almost invisible, showcasing finest details with crystal clear color. It is alos abrasion resistant and anti-static for optimal preservation. If you have oversized works that are irreplaceable, this would be a perfect solution for your custom framing design.
Optium Acrylic®
This is virtually invisible acrylic product, with high level of anti-reflection and anti-static protection. It provides clarity of colors and contrast and it is perfect for works with fine details. Shatter resistance protects against damage to artwork and it cleans like a glass, with no special acrylic cleaners needed. It filters up to 93% of UV rays, which means that it is best for environments that do not have high sun light exposure.
StaticShield® Acrylic
This acrylic product is perfect for delicate pastels and other sensitive media, and it is created to disperse static. It has also 99% UV rays blockage. Besides anti-static protection, this acrylic product is shatter and scratch resistant so that it is perfect for traveling exhibits, oversized works and highly valuable artwork.
Conservation Clear® Acrylic
This is an acrylic version of Conservation Clear Glass, so besides all the advantages of the latter, it adds shatter and scratch resistance as well. It is very usuful for traveling exhibitions, or any artworks that can be in danger of shattering. It also blocks 99% of UV rays, which makes it safe for valuable artworks as well as for items that can be replaced.
Conservation Reflection Control® Acrylic
This is a combination of high-level conservation and non-glare reflection control acrylic product. While it provides 99% UV control and reduces glare in rooms with a lot of uncontrolled light, it is also a shatter resistant product, excellent for fine art collections, oversized art and earthquake prone areas or high-traffic areas where safety is a concern.
Reflection Control® Acrylic
This product is an acrylic version of Reflection Control Glass, with matte finish that reduces glare and shatter resistance that protects against damage to artwork. It is best for custom framing items that are less expensive and not exposed to sun light, since it has no UV protection. It is recommended for framing for earthquake prone areas or areas where high traffic is a safety concern.
Standard Acrylic®
This plexi-glass was engineered specifically for face mounting and direct printing on the substrate which would deliver the highest resolution viewing experience possible. With this acrylic you get lifelike colors, incredible depth and clarity so your photo is displayed the way it was meant to be viewed. Like other Acrylics this glass also provides durability and shatter and abrasion resistance. This option is perfect for facemounting and features 99% UV protection, anti-static and easy cleaning.