Glass vs. Acrylic in Picture Frames
A common question by those new to framing is whether glass or acrylic would be the better finishing material. But before going there, there are generally three types of finishes for both glass and acrylic. There are clear, matte-finished (sometimes referred to as non-glare or frosted), and UV-protected coating. Clear finish is the least expensive and definitely the most common. As the name suggests, a clear finish allows you to see the photograph more clearly.
A matte finish costs a little bit more and functions as a non-reflective surface and actually softens the look of your photograph. This is mostly used on images where you don’t want to have a clear, reflective surface. UV-protected coating, meanwhile, helps block ultraviolet light from damaging your framed images or artworks. UV finishes are typically used to protect priceless artwork and photographs and cost even more money.
The answer to the above question largely depends on what they will be used for. Glass is more commonly used because of its inexpensiveness and used almost exclusively for off-the-shelf, ready-made frames. Apart from its low cost, glass is resistant to scratching and is easy to clean. Glass, however, has a slight green tint to it because of its iron content. You can also purchase a high-end water white or museum glass, which costs more than acrylic.
Shipping poses a problem for glass not only because of its weight, but because it cannot travel reliably with any carrier. Even glass on well-packed wood picture frames is not immune to being shattered during transit. Some glass edges are also not smooth and one slip when handling may result in irreparable cracks. But for those not doing any shipping of handling of their own glass, it remains the best choice.
Acrylic, sometimes referred to as plexi-glass, is more shatter-resistant than ordinary glass. This makes it the better alternative when you need to ship your wood picture frames to a client or friend. It also means it’s much safer to use in case you have to do the glazing yourself. Furthermore, acrylic is much lighter than glass–about 50 percent lighter depending on the thickness you choose. This makes carrying or hanging large pieces of artworks much easier and effectively reduces your shipping costs.
Acrylic also lets in more light than standard glass, making the image inside your unique picture frames clearer. While standard acrylic glazing offers little UV protection, there are options to counter this. Acrylic can be quite prone to scratching, which means more effort is required to clean the surface. It is also susceptible to static, thus making it unsuitable for chalk and charcoal artwork. Finally, acrylic is more expensive than standard glass.
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