Glass Options
Your choice of glass options should be guided by your art and where it hangs. While standard glass works for casual home displays, museum glass offers superior clarity. For art placed in bright areas, UV-filtering glass is essential to prevent fading.
Matte Glass (Non-Glare)
Matte glass, often referred to as non-glare glass, is specifically etched to scatter light and minimize distracting reflections. This is achieved through a delicate acid-etching process on one or both sides of the pane, giving it a soft, satin-like finish. While it is excellent for bright rooms with heavy overhead lighting or windows, it works best when pressed directly against the artwork or used with a single mat. Because of its textured surface, placing it too far from the image (such as with deep shadow boxes) can cause a slight loss in sharpness and “clouding” of the details.
Standard Clear Glass
Standard clear glass is the most common and economical choice for framing, prized for its unmatched clarity and “true-to-life” color transmission. Unlike matte options, standard glass has a smooth, polished surface that doesn’t distort the image, making it ideal for high-detail photographs and fine-line illustrations. However, its primary drawback is its high reflectivity; in certain lighting conditions, it can act like a mirror, reflecting the viewer and the room back at them. It also offers minimal protection against environmental factors, making it a “entry-level” choice for decorative pieces rather than heirloom art.
UV-Protective Glass
UV glass is the gold standard for preservation and longevity in the framing world. This glass is treated with a specialized microscopic coating—often on the inside—that blocks up to 99% of harmful ultraviolet light rays. Since UV exposure is the leading cause of “light fading” and the brittleness of paper, this glass is essential for protecting original watercolors, limited edition prints, and sentimental documents. While it may look identical to standard glass to the naked eye, its ability to act as a sunscreen for your art ensures that colors remain vibrant for decades rather than years.
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