Glass or acrylic? When it comes to framing prints and photos, it's a tale as old as time.
While the decision can come down to personal preferences, different applications and situations may require a little more thought.
We'll outline the basics, specialty products and the required care for both glass and acrylic.
Framing with Glass
- Glass has high clarity, but it often has a slight color tint and can be highly reflective.
- Glass can be manufactured with a UV-filtering layer to protect items on display from light damage.
- Glass is heavy and can be cumbersome if used for oversized frames.
- Glass is fragile and requires careful handling but does not mar or scratch easily.
Specialty Glass Products
-
- Water white glass, also known as low-iron glass, lessens the color tint and is antireflective.
- Laminated safety glass doesn't break into pieces; impact creates the classic spiderweb pattern but it remains in one piece.
Caring for Glass
Glass is easy to clean with a standard glass cleaner without concern for damaging the finish.
Framing with Acrylic
- Acrylic is lighter in weight making it ideal for oversize frames
- Acrylic can have a UV-filtering layer to protect the artwork on display from light damage.
- Acrylic is a static generator, it should not be used with charcoal, pastel or any medium that has particles that may pull loose from the paper surface.
- Acrylic does not shatter; however, it can be scratched.
Specialty Acrylic Products
-
- Abrasion-resistant acrylic has a special coating that prevents scratches and dulling, allowing for a clear viewing experience.
- Tru Vue® Optium Museum Acrylic® is UV-filtering, antireflective, antistatic and abrasion-resistant. It is virtually invisible allowing for an optimal viewing experience.
Caring for Acrylic
When cleaning acrylic, use a product specifically made for acrylic with a nonabrasive, low-lint cleaning cloth. (This does not apply to specialty acrylic products.)