Glass vs. acrylic: It’s not even close- American Frame (2024)

FAQs

Is it better to frame with acrylic or glass? ›

Today, acrylic is significantly better. Here's why: Acrylic is lighter than glass. It makes hanging framed artwork easier and less risky.

Acrylic, also known as plexiglass, is a type of shatter-resistant, flexible plastic — this material is strong and unlikely to break, whereas glass is easily damaged and potentially dangerous. Acrylic also tends to be even more transparent than glass.

Glass is heavier than acrylic and this can be helpful for some applications. Constructions using glass are more stable than acrylic ones. Unlike acrylic, glass is not easily scratched and it is also inflammable and more resistant to heat.

In short, oil paintings and acrylics do not need glass, unless it has been painted onto paper or a similar thin substrate. Glass is required when a painting has been done in a more vulnerable medium such as watercolour, ink, pencil (graphite), pastel and charcoal.

Disadvantage: Acrylic is not resistant to heat

Acrylic sheet should never be used for safety applications such as windows in trains and buses. This is because acrylic panels aren't heat resistant. If you need a substitute for standard glass that will withstand high temperatures, opt for clear polycarbonate.

Clear glass transmits 91% of light to the artwork, while Museum Glass and Optium Museum Acrylic transmit more than 97% of light to the artwork while filtering out the harmful UV wavelengths. This improves both color intensity and clarity.

Acrylic Frames Acrylic can actually be more expensive than glass, but offers many advantages. Acrylic is often clearer than glass (which can have a green tint), and due to its lighter weight, acrylic is also more cost effective to ship. Acrylic is also flexible, making it less likely to break than glass.

So, does acrylic plastic look like glass? Yes, but there are different kinds of acrylic which are more suitable for different applications. Standard clear acrylic may look too much like plastic to pass as glass where the edge of the sheet is visible, but when it is used as a glazing material acrylic is very effective.

Drilling/Machining: Acrylic will crack if it is drilled near an edge or with a drill bit not designed for plastic. Polycarbonate typically does not crack when being drilled 0 even if drilled close to the edge with a standard drill bit.

Soft hardwoods, including mahogany, basswood, pine, cedar, and redwood, are popular choices. However, dense hardwoods such as walnut, oak, ash, and cherry are more durable. Wooden frames are a little more rugged than metal frames and feature intricate detailing for adding more beauty to your artwork.

What kind of glass should I use in a picture frame? ›

Standard picture framing glass type, to a picture framer, is a 2mm clear float glass. It is relatively inexpensive and will protect your artwork from dust and physical damage.

Acrylic is often clearer than glass (which can have a green tint), and due to its lighter weight, acrylic is also more cost-effective to ship. Acrylic is a thermoplastic developed in 1933, and its main disadvantage to real glass is its higher likelihood of being scratched.

After using acrylic paint on glass, you want your masterpiece to last. That's why a final essential step is sealing acrylic paint on glass, which is easier than it sounds. First and foremost, you should let your art completely dry before even thinking about sealing it.

Acrylic paint, tempera paint and other types of paint that you might use on rocks cannot be sealed with hairspray. Hairspray is neither permanent nor waterproof and some formulations of hairspray and paint react badly to each other and could cause your paint to melt or get gooey!

Glass performs a vital function for a whole array of types of artwork and media. However, it's not necessary, or even desirable, for all. Paintings on canvas or panel are generally better served by not being in glazed frames.

Acrylic products can cause damage to the nails themselves. They may cause a condition called “worn-down nail syndrome,” which involves the thinning of the nail after exposure to acrylics and nail filing. One 2020 case study examined a woman with nail damage after acrylic use.

Durability: Acrylic sheets are strong - in fact, they are around 17 times stronger than glass. Acrylic mirrors, too, are more durable than traditional glass ones.

Advantages: acrylic paints are water-based, which means they can be thinned with just water (no toxic spirits are required). In addition, wet paint can be cleaned off of brushes using just soap and water. Disadvantages: acrylic paints can contain toxins within their pigments, just like some oil paints do.

08. What kind of glass do you use? All online orders of our framed prints come with a UV-protective acrylic. In-store, we offer several UV-blocking glass and acrylic options to choose from.

Museum glass is a clarity, reflection control glass (often referred to as non-reflection glass or art glass). Where normal sheet glass is just that, normal glass, Museum Glass controls reflection from surrounding light sources, as well as being super clear so you can see more detail on your piece.

Can acrylic replace glass? ›

Acrylic windows are ideal glass alternatives when your project includes several large windows. Better Light Transmission: You might be surprised to learn that clear acrylic sheets are more transparent than glass. In fact, clear acrylic sheets allow for more than 90% of light to pass through them!

However, 5 to 10 years seems to be the most accurate, Acrylic will resist fading/degrading within this time period.

Scratching. Also, acrylic scratches very easily. Even if you accidentally clean it with paper towels, that can permanently damage acrylic. Glass on the other hand, is relatively scratch resistant.

Acrylic (also known commonly by the brand name Plexiglas) boasts a strong resistance to scratching, which is why it's doubly annoying when an element manages to break through that resistance and blemish the material.

Acrylic is derived from natural gas and is completely inert in its solid form and will NOT yellow in the sunlight.

An even temperature of around 20 degrees and a humidity of 40% is ideal in avoiding damage. Acrylic pour art may crack due to the consistency of the paint itself, this can happen if it is too thick or too thin. The best consistency is similar to cream or honey.

Acrylic in the modern era and in general is used for a variety of applications that typically take advantage of its natural transparency and the impact resistance of certain variants. Common uses include lenses, acrylic nails, paint, security barriers, medical devices, LCD screens, and furniture.

When acrylics come into direct or indirect contact with harsh solvents, the liquid or fumes may cause a drying effect that stresses the material to the point where it becomes brittle and suddenly cracks and/or crazes. This is due to a chemical reaction occurring between the solvent and the acrylic.

Plastic. Sometimes, people choose to use plastic-type materials for their frames, including polystyrene. They're the cheapest option out there and are designed to be functional rather than genuinely decorative.

All things being equal – the larger the frame the more expensive it will be. This is mainly down to the amount of the material required to produce the item. More meters of moulding are used to complete the perimeter of the frame, and the amount of glazing and backing board needed increases too.

What is the best thickness for picture frame glass? ›

A picture glass should be at least 2 mm thick, preferably a little more, depending on the material and requirements with regard to stability and break resistance. The stronger the glass, the more stable it is.

Acrylic is used almost exclusively by mail order or Internet framing companies, because it usually will not break during shipping. It perfectly serves the needs of most normal framing applications. Most acrylic glazing is about 1/10” thick, while extra clear and regular glass are about 1/16” thick.

Humidity is usually the main reason why pictures stick to glass. If the picture is placed in a frame that has no space between the glass and the picture (even a bit), this causes the picture to stick. This is especially common with glossy images.

Polycarbonate is the stronger material at 250 times the impact resistance of standard glass. Polycarbonate offers much more resilience than acrylic, making it ideal for highly demanding applications like bullet-resistant windows.

Acrylic paints work better on porous surfaces so they can be tricky to apply on glass surfaces unless you use a primer. Without a primer, your paint will tend to slip loosely around the glass and not adhere very easily.

Absolutely! Here are my best tips, including how to paint and prep your glass for the perfect results. If you've always wanted to learn to Mod Podge, there's no time like the present.

Just as water is the “universal solvent” to chemists, mod podge is considered to be a “universal sealant” of sorts. You can use it to seal acrylic paint on anything from paper to metal or even fabrics.

Mod Podge Clear Acrylic Sealers can be used over water-based and oil-based paints, glazes, lacquers and varnishes . They dry clear, are waterproof, and non-yellowing .

Although acrylics dry quickly on the surface, you should wait at least a week before varnishing to make sure that the acrylics have dried through all the way. Even if an acrylic painting is dry to the touch hours after painting, it is often still a bit wet underneath.

Three brands of acrylic polymer varnish that I would recommend are: Golden Polymer Varnish, Liquitex Acrylic Polymer Varnish, and Lascaux UV Varnish. As you know, Golden is my favorite, but that doesn't mean the other ones aren't just as good.

Does glass protect paintings? ›

Ultraviolet rays are responsible for damage to treasured paintings when they are left exposed. Commonly referred to as UV rays, these can be avoided with UV proof glass, UV filtering blinds and even UV film to place on your windows.

Durability: Glass is a notoriously fragile material that can easily shatter if dropped or knocked. As a result, a broken glass frame could potentially damage and tear your photos or artwork. On average, acrylic frames are 10 times stronger than traditional glass ones, and so offer high levels of protection.

To protect the glass, you can use masking tape or a wipe-on protective film that is dispensed much like deodorant. Another option is to skip this step and scrape off any excess paint from the glass with a razor.

In general, frames made from metal, titanium or alloys (a mixture of metals) stand up well to wear and tear. Titanium frames are very strong, lightweight and corrosion-resistant. They are hypoallergenic – an important consideration for people who are allergic to certain metals, such as nickel.

Glass performs a vital function for a whole array of types of artwork and media. However, it's not necessary, or even desirable, for all. Paintings on canvas or panel are generally better served by not being in glazed frames.

Most works on paper will require framing under glass for protection; using a decorative mat with the frame and glass is optional. (Matboard, with a cutout window, is laid over the art and prevents the glass from touching the surface of the artwork.)

1) Standard Frame

As the name suggests, this is the most common type of picture frame. It's usually made from a combination of wood and glass and has a simple, classic design that works well with any decor style.

The triangle is the most rigid frame structure. Engineers have known for a long time that whenever they need a light, strong, rigid structure they cannot do better than use a framework of triangles.

Two popular kinds of oil finishes used are linseed oil and tung oil. Both of these finishes can take a long time to dry unless they are mixed with drying additives. Varnishes: Varnishes are probably the most effective finishes on the market when it comes to protecting wood.

Look for rounded, thinner frames that are wider than your cheekbones, while remaining proportional to the length and width of your face: Round frames: Bring contrast to angular features. Oval frames: Soften and balance defined square face lines. Coloured frames: Draw attention to the eyes.

Do paintings in museums have glass over them? ›

Climate controls: Many works of art are contained in special climate-controlled glass boxes, protecting them from extreme temperatures and moisture in the air, much of which is a byproduct of breathing.

Museums will often put glass in front of certain paintings and types of art where the glass doesn't dramatically reduce the ability to see brush strokes. But it does in others, and so they won't glaze where it might reduce the educational value of the painting by blocking the view.

Frankly, if you are selling your art online, it can be easier to sell unframed so you can package it in a good solid tube or flat pack. You can always add a frame to close a sale if the customer would like you to do that. But if you are going to show it, yes, you should frame it.

Fortunately, it's easy to frame art without glass. What is this? In fact, I sometimes prefer photo frames without glass because there won't be any glare on the art. Cheap picture frames usually have a terrible glare and it almost ruins the art completely.

Offering excellent levels of optical clarity, acrylic is an excellent alternative to glass for use in picture frames. Unlike glass, acrylic is shatterproof so safe for use in all environments, it's also incredibly lightweight so easy to work with and install.