Convex Glass and other Glass Options for Picture Frames

At Victorian Frame Company, you have the option to buy picture frames with or without glazing. There are some pictures and acrylic paintings that do not need glazing. However, most pictures need to be protected from the presence of dust, grime, moisture and curious hands of children and pets.

Indeed, glazing is an all-important component in a frame’s protective capability. The good news is that there is a wide range of glazing options available, depending on your needs. Here are some glazing types you may need:

• Convex glass. The Victorian Frame Company is famous for its convex glass. Convex glass is curved glass that was popular during the early 1970’s. Also referred to as bubble glass or domed glass, this was used to prevent water damage to antique photographs, since it prevented much of the surface of the photograph from making contact with the glass. This minimizes damage caused by the photograph sticking to the glass. You can order convex glass together with an antique picture frame to achieve that vintage look.
• Acrylic domes. This works with a picture frame base that holds the dome and the 3-dimensional object being displayed. The Victorian Frame Company provides domes that up to 7” deep, perfect for personal mementos such as bridal bouquets or collections of small items. The dome can be used not just with oval picture frames, but also round, rectangle, heart-shaped, cathedral-shaped and oblong shaped frames.
• Regular flat glazing. This is the clear, flat glass that usually comes with the picture frame.

These glazing options also come equipped with other features, such as:

• Clear glass. This is the cheapest and most common glazing option. It provides basic protection against dust and grime. Glass remains popular because of the clarity it provides. However, it is ideal only for small-sized frames, as its weight may be too much for bigger frames. Also, glass is vulnerable to breaking.
• Acrylic glass. This type of glazing is also referred to as Plexiglass. It is more durable since it is shatter proof. However, its surface may be prone to scratching. It is also considerably lighter than glass so that it minimizes the possibility of the frame falling down and causing more damage. The drawback with acrylic is that it is more prone to scratching.
• UV protection. The UV rays of the sun (and even artificial light) can cause the photograph paper to turn brittle or to be discolored, over a period of time. UV protective glazing minimizes the damage by filtering the entry of light into the frame.
• Non-glare glass. This prevents light reflections from affecting the way one views the image or artwork. However, watercolor artists and enthusiasts of other art mediums do not like to use non-glare glass as it may sometimes provide a fuzzy or softer version of the image when viewed. Also, if you plan to use non-glare glass, be sure to only use a single matting layer as multiple matting can also cause some blurring.
• Conservation glass. This offers the maximum UV protection.
• Museum glass. This provides both UV protection and glare-free viewing. Because this costs more than the other glazing options, this is more commonly used for museums or galleries, where you are able to stand in front of the frame and clearly see the picture without worrying about glare.