Glass vs. Acrylic Learn the differences between glass and acrylic glazing for picture framing.
Framing artwork involves more than just a frame and a couple of nails. It also involves the framing glass, which doesn’t always necessarily have to be glass — it can be acrylic, too! Choosing the framing material is an important consideration as it can both protect the artwork and allow you to view the piece unhindered (or hindered, depending on which you choose). There are many different types, all offering their own benefits: specially made glass can feature anti-reflective properties or UV protection. Similarly, acrylic can be made with UV filters or non-glare properties. However, each glazing material has its drawbacks. Glass can easily shatter and it is heavy; acrylic, on the other hand, can build up static and is easily scratched, so care must be taken when cleaning. Whichever framing material you choose, it is best to weigh all options — and ask yourself the right questions — before making a decision.
Acrylic
Pros
- Lightweight - acrylic is lightweight, making it easier to transport than glass. It is the preferred glazing for large picture frames because the weight of glass can be problematic for the frame's moulding, hanging hardware, and even the wall itself.
- Shatter Resistant - acrylic is the ideal glazing to use if you are shipping your artwork; especially pieces in larger picture frames. Very safe for picture frames in high activity areas such as children's rooms or recreational areas. Some art galleries insist that the artwork be framed in gallery picture frames with acrylic for liability reasons, and many museums utilize acrylic because broken glass can permanently destroy rare artwork.
- Optically Pure - acrylic is more optically pure than glass with the exception of expensive reduced iron glass such as Tru Vue Museum glass. Regular glass, especially less expensive non-framing grade glass, has a green tint. UV filter acrylic and UV filter glass both have a yellow tint (including the Museum glass). The yellow tint is due to the UV filter and it may create a slight warming effect. In the case of acrylic it is built into the material. In the case of glass, it is coating that may deteriorate and lose effectiveness depending on the quality of the brand.
- Insulating - acrylic is a better thermal insulator, so condensation is less likely to occur inside the frame.
Cons
- Expensive - glass and acrylic have several different quality levels. Standard acrylic typically costs more than standard glass. Glass with reduced iron, UV-filtration, and anti-reflective technology will cost more and perform better optically than acrylic with UV-filtration and non-glare technology. Acrylic with UV-filtration, anti-reflection, and abrasion resistance will cost even more than that glass.
- Lack of scratch resistance - with the exception of expensive abrasion resistant versions, acrylic is more sensitive to scratching than glass and requires special care. Only soft cloths, such as microfiber cleaning cloths, should be used to clean it. Paper towels are essentially ground up wood pulp and can damage acrylic. If you are reselling framed artwork with acrylic as the glazing, educate your customers about the proper way to clean it.
- Susceptible to bowing - acrylic is more flexible than glass and larger sheets can bend or bow depending on the thickness, temperature and humidity. In general, however, this is not an issue for smaller pieces. Must be stored properly.
- Static charge - acrylic is susceptible to higher levels of static charge than glass, and for this reason it should not be used to frame chalk pastels. The static charge can be a nuisance during frame assembly since it will attract dust into the frame. Products such Brillianize as and other static removal tools are very effective at neutralizing static charge.
- Removal of protective paper/film - acrylic is sold with a protective paper or film coating that must be removed during the final frame assembly. The film is easy to remove, but provides little protection resulting in the possibility of increased scratching during processing and handing. Paper provides very good protection, but is much more difficult to remove.
Glass
Pros
- Less expensive - while there are many different quality levels of glass and acrylic, overall glass is typically less expensive than acrylic.
- Scratch resistance - standard uncoated glass is very scratch resistant and therefore does not require special care like acrylic. It is also resistant to solvents. If you are reselling framed artwork, you do not have to educate your customer about the proper care of glass.
- Less static charge - static charges will attract dust into the framing package. Normally, glass will not build up static charges like acrylic glazing.
- Does not bow - glass is very stiff and will not bow, and does not respond to changes in relative humidity.
- No protective covering to remove - glass does not require a special protective coating. Final frame assembly only requires cleaning the glass.
Cons
- Heavy - glass weighs considerably more than acrylic resulting in increased shipping costs. In addition, using glass as the glazing may require stronger and larger frame moulding and/or braces, and heavy duty picture frame hanging hardware.
- Easily broken - glass must be transported carefully and it has a much greater potential for damage during shipping than acrylic. Buying glass locally will eliminate shipping damage issues.
- Not optically pure - the iron content of standard glass creates a green tint. This tint reduces the light levels and creates a green tint on the artwork. Glass is available with reduced iron content making it much more optically pure. This type of glass will often have a UV-filter causing it to have a slight yellow tint. It will also cost more than most types of acrylic.
Infographic
Frame Profile
Choosing the right frame profile is important which is why we put together this graphic covering the different types of frame profiles.
Acrylic Glazing
Learn how to choose the right type of acrylic for your framing project, as well as how to care for and clean it, and how it differs from glass.
Mat Board
Learn about the different types of mat board we carry, including cotton rag, cellulose and paper, and how they can affect artwork.