Let’s Be Clear About Glazing

Glazing is the fancy term we used for glass. Because we’re talking about framing, I’m going to include Plexiglass in this category. 

​Remember that framing a work of art on paper has several purposes. One purpose is to protect the art. Another function of a frame is to display the art in a way that complements it. This is why we use archival and acid-free materials. It’s also why we offer several glazing options.

Protection
Most works of art require some sort of glazing. Here at Gilded River we offer a wide variety of glass and Plexiglass. Glazing keeps moisture, dust, pollution, and light from damaging your art. Now, you might be thinking, “I understand moisture, dust and pollution – but LIGHT?” 

Yes. Light.

We put sunscreen on our bodies to protect our skin from UV rays from the sun. The right glazing can act like sunscreen for your art. 

All Light is the Enemy of All Color
Most of the art we choose to frame is printed on paper. (Paintings are different. We’ll discuss that in the future.) The inks that are used to print art can fade over time as they are exposed to UV rays.  Yellow tends to drop out first. This is why you may run across a framed landscape that has a green mat, but the art appears to be blue and purple. (Blue and yellow make green. Purple and yellow make brown.) The glass in that frame will be the standard glass - similar to what is used in windows.

“But the sun won’t hit it.” Again, when it comes to art on paper, all light is the enemy of all color. That means that the lights in your home will affect your art as well. This is why we only offer glass and Plexiglass that offer UV protection. At Gilded River, we want you to love your framed piece for many years to come.

See Your Art, Not Your Reflection
When it comes to choosing the proper glazing for your frame, we walk you through the options.  If the art will be in a room where there are a lot of windows or light sources, we start by recommending Museum glass. This is because Museum glass offers the best clarity with the least reflection. That said, no glass is completely reflection free. However, in most situations, Museum glass has low or no reflection. We have many samples throughout the shop so that our customers can make a fully informed decision. If the art you are framing is very dark or has a black background, glass with a regular reflection will act like a mirror. You’ll see yourself, your room, the windows and everything in the room reflected in the glass more than you will see the art that is behind the glass.

We also offer glass that has regular reflection as well as non-glare glass. These both offer the same level of UV protection. I’ve already discussed the regular reflection option. Non-glare glass can tone down glare, but it also adds a haze to the art that can make the colors look less vivid. We have examples of these as well.

That’s Heavy
There are times when glass is either not appropriate or not available and this is when we recommend Plexiglass. If the art is in a space where you might be concerned about glass shattering, Plexiglass is the solution. Plexiglass is also used when the weight of regular glass is an issue. Glass doesn’t come in sizes as large as Plexiglass does.
We have all the same options in Plexiglass as we do in glass.  

We look forward to working with you to come to the perfect solution for your glazing choice. After all, we want you to:

Frame What You Love. Love What You Frame.
Visit Gilded River and See What We Can Do With Your Art

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