Anti-reflection glass for framing

[glenn_kroeger]

This isn't really a large format question, but the audience here is into this sort of thing.

 

<p>

 

I am looking for an anti-reflection glass for framing prints. I have seen a product called CrystalView, but none of my local shops seem to know anything about it.

 

<p>

 

Apparently there are two similar products. At the high-end, Denglas, and another product with a slightly different technology, ImagePerfect.

 

<p>

 

Has anybody had experience with any of these glasses, or had a chance to compare them.

 

<p>

 

Thanks.

[sal_santamaura]

Everything hanging in my house is behind Denglas. It's just plain old

float glass with an AR coating. Certainly not cheap, and you'd be

well advised to open and inspect every sheet before taking it away

from the shop where you purchased it. Both coating defects and

handling damage are common. However, once you overcome those hurdles,

there's no better way to deal with glare otherwise unavoidable in

modern "flooded with natural light" homes.

 

<p>

 

I saw CrystalView at a show once If memory serves, it was

manufactured in Germany. It seemed to be the same AR-coated float

glass as Denglas, and at that time was even more expensive. Makes

sense given the extra transportation and import duty costs.

 

<p>

 

ImagePerfect is a new one on me. I'd be interested in hearing

anything about its design, cost and availability. Competition is

good!

[cameron_mosley1]

I used to work in a picture framing shop. We carried ImagePerfect. It

is expensive, but it is far superior to regular or non-glare glass.

We had a sample picture with three strips of glass- regular, non-

glare, and ImagePerfect. The IP section appeared glassless compared

to the other two. The only downside other that price is that it is

difficult to clean. It is porous and fingerprints and smudges "soak"

into it. You have to saturate it with an alcohol based cleaner to

clean it, but its no big deal if you don't plan on handling your

pictures alot.

[pat_raymore]

"expensive"??? What kind of cost are speaking about here. Give us a

ball park figure per square inch.

[cameron_mosley2]

Just a guestimate - approximately 50-60 bucks for 11x14/16x20. I

don't remember any exact figures, that was three or four years ago.

Hope that helps.

[chad_jarvis1]

In my experience any glass shop or glass supplier carries this

stuff. In fact the one near me, and I live kinda outta the way, has

multiple grades of AR glass. Sorry I can't recall the prices

offhand, but I'm sure only few phone calls to the folks near you will

get you all the info you need.

[ray_dunn1]

For ABSOLUTE clarity, I had my last three pieces done with museum

glass. VERY expensive, but is as breathtakingly clear as lead-

crystal glassware. In the neighborhood of $135 for a matted 16x20

photo. I picked this over the conservation AR glass. Placed side by

side over my Cibachrome prints in good light, it was no contest. I

don't know the trade name, but I can contact the gallery where I had

it done if anyone is interested.

[dan_smith]

Denglas is a good product, but just one of the options in todays

market. TruVue Glazing has their premium series and conservation

series, both of which also block the UV problem rays. The AR premium

glass trasmits about 97% of the light while blocking 78% UV. The

Conservation Museum Glass has light transmission of 97% and UV

blocking capacity of 97%. The TruVue UltraClear is like the denglas

water white, it doesn't have the green tint of normal framing glass,

a real benefit in letting ones images look their best. If you want

the best, this is the glass to use. I do custom photographic framing

as as specialty & this stuff does make images look their best. Sandel

CrystalView is also a good glass product.

Pricing for these will not be cheap. Also, NO glass will stop fading

of your images, they can only slow it down. Exposure to light fades

images, it is only a matter of time. Using glazing designed

specifically to slow the process makes sense, especially when the

work is valuable for whatever reason.

At the same time, why pay for the finest glass to protect the images

while using inferior matting, mounting and framing materials? All

wood frames give off gasses and have to be sealed with a metallic

type tape to keep the problem at a minimum. Specifid mat board, such

as Bainbridge Alpharag Artcare, actually has a micropore trapping

system that helps protect images even from their own outgassing.

Cheap mat boards and mount materials both kill images quickly. So

does mounting or matting Ilfochromes and albumen prints on ANY kind

of buffered mat board. Buffered boards are alkaline while the two

kinds of prints are acidic-a mixture that hastens the death of your

image.

If you want it to last, conservation framing from start to finish is

what is needed. Let down anywhere and you negate the protection you

pay for with the highest grades of glass.

 

<p>

 

Pricing for this stuff isn't cheap, but then images framed to display

at their best do sell for higher prices, last longer and look better.

[sal_santamaura]

Dan, thanks for all that good information. One question: do you

frame a lot of Dye Transfer work? Otherwise, according to Wilhelm's

book, UV isn't much of a consideration for photographic prints, color

or black and white.

[bill_glickman]

Glen, I went to a framing trade show last year and was quite amazed

at how well this glass appeared. I knew I had picked up some

literature on it, but knew it was burried in piles of paper. Knowing

what a good poster you have been, I went and serached for hours till

I found the literature... here is what I found...

 

<p>

 

Sandel clearly perfect 877-726-3352 I don't remember their display.

 

Image Perfect 800-876-6098 This one I saw and was blown away by

the clarity... you felt there was no glass on it at all! Good luck

Glen, let me know how you make out!

[bill_glickman]

Glen, the June 2000 issue of Picture Framing Magazine has a few pages

dedicated to the different glass makers and the benefits of each.

YOu definetly should get a copy of this if you are interested in the

different glasses and their capability... 732-446-4900

[glenn_kroeger]

To help answer my own question, here are some web sites I have found:

 

<p>

 

http://www.tru-vue.com (AR and Museum AR glass)

http://www.framingsupply.com (Image Perfect glass)

[e.l.]

I can't remember seeing an actual gallery show that wasn't behind

some sort of plexiglass. I have heard it is used because it is not

subject to shattering into a billion pieces if dropped. The print is

protected from being ruined that way. I guess the glass people have

really expensive glass to sell you, but museums I have seen are far

more concerned about not slicing the piece to ribbons if it falls.

The plastics are also not as shiney as glass, and way lighter, the

reason I like them.