How to Choose Picture Frame Glazing

Different artwork, posters, diplomas, or other framed items require different glazing, aka glass. This article will help answer the questions about clarity, UV ratings, and best glazing uses for you.

 At The Frame Room, our core philosophy is to educate and inform our customers during the picture framing decision process and empower them to make the best decision for their personal needs. For many of our customers, they are picking out framing and/or matting for a highly personal, sentimental, and valuable object. To some, they are simply framing a poster, print, sports jersey, or diploma to protect it from the elements and ravages of time. This article will help to outline the differences of the kinds of glazing, also know as glass or acrylic, we carry and shed light on their recommended uses to ensure the best job for your framing dollar.

So, you've selected your frame, mounting, and/or matting. What kind of glazing will adequately protect your finished piece?

First of all, we truly believe in not overselling our products relative to your needs. We understand that sometimes how much you spend is important, so let's look at our glazing and we'll make some recommendations in this article. One caveat, if something is sentimentally important regardless of financial value, err on the side of too much protection. The glazing really matters, and the right glazing will protect you framed piece forever. We proudly use Tru Vue glazings.

Tru Vue Premium Clear

This is our base glass and is used on about 70% of our overall production. It is a non-conservation glazing that while it products, will not protect against fading from uv light sources like the direct sunlight or florescent lighting.

Here is an image to illustrate the benefits and limitations of this glazing option.

When to use:

• Works well in any presentation hung in a controlled lighting environment
• Can be used with any number of mats
• Great glazing solution for posters, art prints, and shadowbox framed jerseys and t-shirts

Tru Vue Reflection Control©

This is our base reflection control, aka non-glare, glass. It gives a great finished look and at some angles appears like there is no glass. This is achieved by a matte etching on one side to provide a non-glare surface without distorting. It provides virtually the same protection as Premium Clear.
Here is an image to illustrate the benefits and limitations of this glazing option.

Tru Vue UltraView©

Deeply framed artwork, such as multiple-mat and shadowbox presentations, require reflection-free viewing. Tru Vue meets this need using a proprietary manufacturing process called Magnetron Sputtering to create Tru Vue® AR Reflection-Free™ Glass. This advanced technology deposits precisely controlled layers of highly energized metal oxides onto a color neutral substrate. The result is consistent, durable quality and the most attractive display for artwork.

Here is an image to illustrate the benefits and limitations of this glazing option.

When to use:

• Any artwork that would benefit from reflection-free viewing
• shadow boxes, multiple mat, or deep framing projects

Tru-View Conservation Clear©

Tru Vue uses a proprietary coating process of microscopic, silica-based UV blocking agents that are cured onto the surface of a glass substrate to produce an ultra protective lite of glass that enhances true colors and protects art from fading. Over time, indoor and outdoor ultraviolet rays take a toll on artwork and cause fading. Paper can become faded, discolored, and brittle, causing irreversible damage that ruins the artwork. Conservation Clear framing glass with 99% UV protection helps protect art from fading by blocking harmful indoor and outdoor light rays, preserving art for years longer than regular glass.

Here is an image to illustrate the benefits and limitations of this glazing option.

When to use:

• Works well with all framing applications
• Can be used with any number of mats

Tru Vue Conservation Reflection Control©

Conservation Reflection Control© with 99% UV Protection is chemically finished on one side, scattering light as it strikes the glass. This matte-like finish enhances the beauty of the artwork by protecting the piece from unwanted glare or distortion. Additionally, the UV protection helps protect fading, discoloration and embrittlement caused by harmful light rays.

Here is an image to illustrate the benefits and limitations of this glazing option.

When to use:

• Can be used with up to two mats away from artwork without significant resolution loss

Tru Vue Museum Glass©

Museum Glass© is the best glazing option for all framed works of art. Museum Glass is the highest quality anti-reflective picture framing glass available in the industry. Tru Vue® has a proprietary manufacturing process, called Magnetron Sputtering, which produces an ultra protective, nearly invisible finish. It protects against 99% of harmful indoor and outdoor UV light rays and has the highest light transmission along with the lowest reflection rating of any other glass product. The result is consistent, durable quality and the most attractive display for artwork.

Here is an image to illustrate the benefits and limitations of this glazing option.

When to use:

• Any artwork that would benefit from reflection-free viewing with UV protection
• Shadow boxes, multiple mat, or deep framing projects

Tru Vue Premium Clear Acrylite©

Tru Vue Premium Clear Acrylite© acrylic sheet is a general-purpose glazing for indoor framing.

Here is an image to illustrate the benefits and limitations of this glazing option.

When to use:

• Any framing project that would benefit from lightweight acrylic

Reflection Control Acrylite©

Highly reflective surfaces can act like a mirror, causing glare and distracting viewers from the artwork you want to display. Reflection Control® Acrylite® acrylic sheet is designed to minimize reflection and show the art from almost any angle.

Here is an image to illustrate the benefits and limitations of this glazing option.

When to use:

• Any framing project that would benefit from lightweight acrylic with glare reduction

Conservation Clear© Acrylite©

Conservation Clear© Acrylite© acrylic sheet with OP-3 UV Filtering Technology protects works of art from the harmful effects of indoor and outdoor UV light rays. Over time, the ultraviolet rays in everyday indoor and outdoor light take a toll on artwork. Paper can become faded, discolored and brittle, causing irreversible damage that ruins the works of art. Conservation Clear Acrylite with 98% UV protection helps protect art from fading by blocking harmful indoor and outdoor light rays, preserving art for years longer than regular acrylic.

Here is an image to illustrate the benefits and limitations of this glazing option.

When to use:

• Any framing project that would benefit from lightweight acrylic with glare reduction and 98% UV protection

Conservation Reflection Control© Acrylite©

Conservation Reflection Control© Acrylite© acrylic sheet with OP-3 UV filtering technology protects artwork from the harmful effects of light and distortion of glare. Over time, the ultraviolet rays in everyday indoor and outdoor light take a toll on artwork. Paper can become faded, discolored, and brittle, causing irreversible damage that ruins the artwork. Conservation Reflection Control Acrylite with 98% UV protection helps protect art from fading by blocking harmful indoor and outdoor light rays, preserving art for years longer than regular acrylic. The reflection control matte finish gives you glare-free viewing, allowing a clear view of the framed artwork without distortion.

Here is an image to illustrate the benefits and limitations of this glazing option.

When to use:

• Any framing project that would benefit from lightweight acrylic with glare reduction and 98% UV protection

Optimum Acrylic© (Anti-Reflective)

Optimum Acrylic© is a lightweight, anti-reflective, anti-static, clear-coated acrylic that provides greater security than traditional glazing.

Optimum Acrylic© products are manufactured utilizing a clear, hard-coated abrasion-resistant acrylic sheet. A magnetron sputtered thin film multi-layered anti-reflection coating is applied to both sides of the acrylic sheet using a patented Tru Vue® Optium® technology. The coating is engineered for demanding optical requirements, durability, and strength.

Here is an image to illustrate the benefits and limitations of this glazing option.

When to use:

• Ideal for pastels, charcoals, & static sensitive pieces
• Large-scale framing projects – ideal for sizes over 40”x60”
• Shadowboxes
• Any artwork that would benefit from reflection-free viewing and 99% UV protection

Optimum Museum Acrylic© (Anti-Reflective)

Optimum Museum Acrylic is durable and strong, Optimum is produced using a patented Tru Vue technology. A magnetron-sputtered anti-reflective, anti-static coating is bonded to an abrasion resistant, UV filtering acrylic sheet at an atomic level. This ensures long-lasting protection that doesn’t oxidize and degrade over time.

Here is an image to illustrate the benefits and limitations of this glazing option.

When to use:

• Ideal for pastels, charcoals, & static sensitive pieces
• Large-scale framing projects – ideal for sizes over 40”x60”
• Shadowboxes
• Any artwork that would benefit from reflection-free viewing and 99% UV protection

Optimum Museum Display Acrylic

We are proud to add Optium® Museum Display Acrylic™ to our product line. Available in three thickness options, 4.5mm, 6mm, and 9mm, Optium Museum Display Acrylic is perfect for display cases, vitrines, and frames. This product can be easily fabricated and cemented for museum-quality joints.

Here is an image to illustrate the benefits and limitations of this glazing option.

When to use:

• Ideal for vitrines with invisible seams

We hope you have found this article informative. This article is part of a 6 part series intended to introduce you to all the components and levels of framing. The series includes:

1. Picture Frame Matting. How do I Choose?
2. Wood or Metal Frames. How to Choose a Frame.
3. How to Choose the Correct Picture Frame Glazing.
4. How to Choose Custom Frame Mounting.
5. What Exactly Does Conservation Framing Mean?
6. What the Heck is a Shadowbox Frame Anyway?

We look forward to being there to serve all your custom picture framing needs.