Glazing (glass + acrylic)
Also known as: Frame glass · Picture glass · Acrylic glazing · UV-filtering glass · Museum glass
The transparent material in front of a framed print — usually glass or acrylic. UV-filtering grades protect the print from fading; anti-reflective grades reduce glare.
Glazing is the transparent panel in front of a framed print — the layer between the artwork and the room. Two materials are commonly used: glass and acrylic (plexiglas / Perspex). Each comes in standard, UV-filtering, and anti-reflective grades, which can be combined.
Standard picture glass is the cheapest option. Optically clear, lets through most visible light, lets through almost all UV. Suitable for prints displayed in spaces with no direct sun and no long-term display ambition. Heavy at large sizes, breakable in fall-risk environments. Most commercial framers default to standard glass unless asked otherwise.
UV-filtering glass blocks 90-99% of incident UV while staying optically clear. The cost premium over standard glass is modest at small sizes, more significant at large sizes. Worth it for any print intended for long-term display — UV is the single biggest driver of fade, and standard glass barely slows it.
Acrylic glazing (often branded as Plexiglas or Perspex) is the modern alternative. Lighter, doesn't shatter, optically equivalent to glass at the same quality grade. UV-filtering acrylic is now the default in many galleries and museums; the cost is roughly comparable to UV-filtering glass at most sizes. The optical clarity of modern museum-grade acrylic is indistinguishable from glass to the eye.
Anti-reflective treatments are available on both glass and acrylic, at additional cost. The premium grades (Museum Glass, Optium Acrylic) reduce reflection to under 1% and effectively disappear under most lighting. Worth specifying for high-value framed work in spaces with challenging light.
Our framed prints use UV-filtering acrylic by default. Acrylic is the right call in occupied rooms (it doesn't shatter), at typical print sizes (lighter than glass), and for prints intended to last (UV-filtering at standard). Museum-grade anti-reflective acrylic is available on request.
Common questions about glazing (glass + acrylic)
- Should I frame a print with glass or acrylic?
- Acrylic for almost every case. It's lighter, safer (doesn't shatter), and optically indistinguishable from glass at museum grades. Glass is fine for small prints in low-risk display locations; acrylic is the default for larger pieces and for any print in a family room.
- What is UV-filtering acrylic?
- Acrylic glazing with an embedded UV absorber that blocks 90-99% of incident ultraviolet light while staying optically clear. UV is the single biggest driver of print fading, and standard glazing barely slows it; UV-filtering grades restore most of the archival rating quoted on the print. We use UV-filtering acrylic by default on framed orders.
- What is museum glass?
- A high-end glazing grade — typically anti-reflective glass or acrylic with a UV filter — that reduces surface reflection to under 1% so the glazing effectively disappears under most lighting. Useful for high-value pieces, prints in heavily-lit rooms, or any framed work where reflection is competing with the image. Available on request as an upgrade from our standard UV-filtering acrylic.