Glass Options For Your Custom Picture Frames

When a customer enters a custom picture framing store, they are often unaware that they have choices beyond using regular glass over their artwork. To begin, not all pieces need glass at all. Many people will chose to leave out glass altogether if framing an oil painting on canvas or a textured tapestry. This of course is up to the customer and may depend on the value or condition of the art being framed. If glass is indeed desired, as it is with the majority of picture frames, the customer may want the option of a specialty glass. Regular glass is often the most affordable, and is the standard type used if no other glass type is requested. However, some pieces of artwork need a little extra protection depending on where they are going hang or the size of the frame.

A good rule of thumb for custom picture frames is that if they are going to be larger than a typical piece of wall art, it is good to use plexi rather than regular glass. Plexi is far less likely to break in large frames that dont have quite as much structural support as smaller pieces. It also is far lighter in weight than regular glass, so with extra-large frames, it is both easier to hang and less likely to fall. While a little more expensive than regular glass, it is often advisable or even necessary to use this stronger and lighter material. People also often request plexi on smaller picture frames if they live in earthquake-prone areas, are putting the piece in a childs room, or for those who plan on shipping their art to another location. It is also an excellent option for hospitality and hotel artwork. And while those who are purchasing custom pictures frames and have yet to use plexi are often concerned about its appearance, it does indeed look the same as using regular glass.

Whether using plexi or glass, a customer has additional options to choose from if concerned about preserving the artwork. If a piece art is an original print, painting, or simply has enough sentimental value to preserve, a custom picture frames customer has the option of using UV protective glass or plexi. UV protective material is coated to protect a piece of artwork from sun and UV ray damage. It is the best option if hanging a frame in an area that gets a lot of direct sunlight or if a customer is concerned about fading. It is also commonly used for gallery pieces that need to be preserved at the best quality before sale.

Another custom picture frames option that is available in both glass and plexi is that of non-reflective material. This is less commonly used, as it does not add any extra protection to preserve the artwork. However, especially if the art will be hanging in a brightly-lit area, reflection control glass or plexi can make the art easier to view. It prevents pesky glares on the glass that can make the artwork difficult to see. When doing picture framing, reducing glare is particularly helpful when the artwork is set further back in the frame away from the glass, such as when there are multiple mats or spacers in the frame.

All these glass choices can be mixed and matched with custom picture frames. Getting either UV, reflection control, or both together in either glass or plexi. But there is one last type of glass a customer may choose: museum glass. While it is generally the most expensive option, museum glass not only filters out UV rays, but also is of such high quality that it can barely been seen. It is thin and delicate, but museum glass is generally used when a customer wants the highest quality in protection for their art while also allowing the art to appear as if there is no glass at all. As you can see, the many options in custom picture framing are inclusive of more than just ordinary glass.