Stained glass comes is a variety of Textured and Effects. There seems the a limitless combination of colors, style and finish that make up the world of stained glass. In this blog post we’re going to cover a few common style that we frequently use here at SCW Glassworks.
Textures
Todays stained glass manufactures each offer both common fish style along with tier own unique offerings to differentiate themselves within the broader market. Finches are usually applied to one side creating a front and back to the glass. As glass artiest we usually refer to the back as the smooth side (the one most easiest to score and break) but either side can be used on the dominant side of the final piece depending on the look the artist is after.
Artique
Often called GNA (German new Artique) is a machine-made glass which resembles very expensive, hand-made 'antique' glass. Artique glass has a surface texture of fine lines that lightly distorts the optical clarity. Artique glass is most often used as a background glass where some distortion is desired.
Baroque
This unique textured glass has a heavy surface texture and lots of swirls. Most often made up of light colored cathedral glass or a combination of a darker opalescent color swirled into a light cathedral background glass. Baroque glass is generally used as a background glass where some distortion is desired.
English Muffle
English Muffle glass is known for its traditional muted colors, highly refractive texture and crystalline quality. The texture appears as a non-directional ripple. This is a modern reproduction of glass originally used in Victorian windows and used today in both restoration of older works and contemporary stained glass work. This glass is often used as a background element in planned in random colors in Victorian stile windows.
Fluted
Also called Ribbed glass is often consists of parallel line running the length of the glass in a uniform pattern. The flutes come in variety widths that could be pointed, boxed or rounded. This text is used for boards and accents in most cases. Large amounts of fluted glass are commonly found in Artdeco influenced designs.
Glue Chip
AS the name implies, this texture created by applying glue to surface of cathedral glass. As the glue dries, the glue shrinks and bits of glass are chipped away, producing a 'fern-like affect. Used most often for background. Clear glue chip glass is often used with bevels in windows.
Hammered
This surface texture is similar to hammered brass or copper. Small, round, smooth bumps are applied to one surface of cathedral glass. Used most often as a background glass where a very heavy texture with significant optical distortion is desired.
Krinkle
This texture is available only in clear or mirror glass. It has a very heavy random line pattern on the surface that often resembles paper after being crumpled up into a ball then open back up. Light diffusion and distortion is extreme. The heavily textured Krinkle glass is primarily used as a background glass
Reeded
This texture consists of bending lines running the length of the glass, taking on an organic look like reeds or tree branches. This text is used as a background element.
Rough Rolled
This is a very slight texture added to the surface with a rough roller while the glass is molten. Most often used on cathedral glass. Smooth cathedral glass is often considered "one dimensional" as it has a somewhat flat look to it. Rough rolled cathedral glass is often used instead of smooth glass, since it has a very mild texture giving it another dimension and a very slight distortion to images seen through the glass.
Seedy
When cathedral glass is made small air bubbles can be introduced and trapped into the class, these bubbles are called seeds. Different manufactured make glass with varying amount of seeds today, so appear a bubbles, other look lick shooting stars in the glass. Other manufactured produce glass with so many bubbles the the glass almost becomes opaque. Light and medium seedy glass is usually used as background white very seedy glass is often used as an accent. Seeds can be introduced to clear or colored glass. Small amounts of seed is often and indication of older hand blown glass,
Waterglass
One of the most popular surface texture. Surface resembles the rippling effect of water in light wind. Used most often for background glass where a very light texture and medium optical distortion is desired. Waterglass is a Registered Trademark of Spectrum Glass Company.