Understanding Glass Color

The Color of Glass

The term “Stained Glass” gets its name from the process in which the glass is made.  For hundreds of year the introduction of various elements are introduced into the glass as it is heated. Glass is made from silica sand and other ingredients to give it the proper color and clarity and strength depending on the melting and cooling temperatures applied.

Glass is colored by adding metal oxides or metal powders to molten glass.  Depending on the metal, the glass takes on a particular color.   The chart below shows in general what oxides are used for the most common colors.  The exact chemistry, temptations and process are highly guarded secrets with most glass manufactured, passed down over generations of application an iteration.  

	Iron Aqua, Turquoise and Blue-Greens
	Iron-Sulfur Dark Amber, Marigold and Oranges
	Copper Baby Blue, Light Blue and Sky Blues
	Chromium Fern, Emerald and Rich Greens
	Nickel Chestnut, Chocolate and Dark Browns
	Gold Fushia , Bubblegum and Deep Pinks
	Copper-Tin Berry and Magentas
	Manganese Grape, Plumb and Deep Purples
	Cobalt Cobalt, Ocean, Deep Blues
	Neodymium Lilac, Light Lavenders
	Erbium Blush, Flamingo and Light Pinks
	Sodium-Cadmium Cherry, Ruby and Deep Reds
	Cadmium Lemon, Mustard and Yellows