How Thick Is Picture Frame Glass?

Picture framing glasses are frequently used to protect the artwork or pictures from any environmental issues like heat, humidity, light, and soiling. Framing glasses are perfect for delivering protection from any physical matter, but how thick is picture frame glass?

This framing glass often comes in different sizes, and other finishes are incorporated into the Glass to protect it from UV damage and radiation. Apart from all these, picture-framing glasses are also popular in regular households. You can just frame and put the pictures on the wall, ensuring that the picture stays intact for ages. Picture framing glasses are truly a lifesaver.

Picture framing glass is mostly 2 mm to 2.5 mm thick. It comes with different glazing like anti-reflective coating, UV coating, low ironing glazing, anti-soiling finishing, waterproofing, heat, and humidity-resistant coating, etc. So the glasses can be up to 8 mm to 8.5 mm thick with all the glazing and coating. How thick is picture frame Glass in inches? The thickness starts from 0.07 inches to 0.3 inches. For extra purpose and protection in the museums and galleries, a thickness of 6mm is put on the picture-framing glass.

Key Takeaways

• The majority of picture frame glass is 2 mm to 2.5 mm thick.
• With all of the glazing and coating, glasses can be up to 8 mm to 8.5 mm thick.
• The purpose of framing a photograph is to safeguard it from any physical damage. When you place a frame around a photograph, you are just protecting the picture’s edges.
• Plexiglass is similar to acrylic Glass. However, it is more transparent. Plexiglas is comprised of poly methyl methacrylate and has all acrylic benefits.

Do picture frames need glass?

Yes, picture frames do need glass. The idea of framing a picture is to protect it from all physical problems. When you put a frame around a picture, you are just protecting the edges of the image. But when you put Glass on the front part of the picture, you are securing the picture from all the physical attributes that could harm the artwork. It is like putting a seal on the picture. So here are some reasons why picture frames need glasses.

• With a glass in front, you see the artwork on display while still putting a barrier between you and the physical harm.
• UV protection and infrared protection on the Glass put around the artwork save it from discoloration and maintain the integrity of the pigments and dyes.
• Some glasses are treated with glazing, so when light is reflected on the Glass, they tend to illuminate the artwork twice as much. These glasses are mostly used in conservation areas for expensive and renowned paintings.
• Some of the glass pieces also work as light reflectance and light absorbers for different needs.

What type and thickness of glass should I use in picture frames?

There are different thicknesses of glass. But in general, there is only a thickness of 2 to 2.5 millimeters of glass in common picture framing. But due to glazing and other facts, the thickness of the glass can increase.

How thick is picture frame glass in inches? In general, the thickness of picture framing glass can range from 0.07 to 0.09 inches.

Regular glasses(2-2.5MM thickness)

Regular glasses are mostly used when you have to secure a picture from regular problems. Soda lime glasses are one of the most common examples of regular glasses. They have the following types of glasses:

• Light transmission of 90%
• 8% reflection and
• There is approximately 2% light absorption.

But if there is the use of an anti-reflection coating, then the absorption can be increased.

Extra clear glasses (2 MM in thickness)

These glasses are also known as low-iron glasses or white water glasses. The glasses are made of iron-free silica, and there is an increased amount of reflection and low absorption quality due to the low iron quantity.

• 91.5% light transmission
• 8% reflection and
• less than 2% of light absorption

These glasses are perfect for small framing and can mostly not fit a mat or a frame fillet. How thick should a picture frame be? 2.5 mm, at least. So you can say that the glasses are shallow, and only a thin board can be used for the backing. You will get the frames in regular photo hanging frames.

For large frames (2.5 mm thickness)

These frames are much more dependable and are ideal for film widths ranging from 10 to 12 inches. But the artwork size can go up to 30 to 40 inches if desired. Compared with all the picture framing glasses, the 2.5 mm thick glasses are the most inexpensive and can be used in between the regular Glass and conservation glass. Moreover, if UV coating is done on the Glass, it protects the pictures from 99% of ultraviolet rays.

Safety glasses (3, 4, and 6 mm thick)

When the picture framing glasses need extra environmental protection, then safety glasses with a thickness of 3mm, 4mm, and 6mm are perfect. These glasses are used in places like schools and museums and tend to last a long time; you can put different glazing based on the need.

Can you put glass in the picture frame?

For picture frames with or without glasses, there are some benefits on both sides. But as for the non-glassed frame, you can see the real picture, which will look clearer than a glassed frame. Glasses have a reflection problem that might affect the picture’s real look. And if you have a light source in front of the glass frame, it’ll ruin the whole idea.

But for a picture frame with glasses, you get:

• Durable frames: the glasses on the picture frame will protect the pictures from soiling and the overall environment. The Glass does not add much extra weight to the frame, and it keeps it secure from everything.
• Cleaning: when you put a glass in the picture framing glass, you can just clean the glass of the frame. The cleaning product will not touch the picture, and you will have a new-looking glass frame.
• Fading: glass frames will protect the pictures from discoloration and fading as UV and humidity tend to take a toll on the pigments and colors of the pictures.

Is plexiglass good for picture frames?

Plexiglass is a sort of acrylic Glass, but it is transparent. Plexiglas is made of polymethyl methacrylate and bears all acrylic’s good qualities. Plexiglas is stronger than regular Glass, and when it hits the ground, it will not shatter like standard Glass. The main problem with plexiglass glass is that it tends to turn yellow when UV light is reflected on it. But like glass, this transparent acrylic glass can be bent, sawed, and molded. Plexiglass is perfect for picture frames as they are:

• Lightweight
• When dropped, it does not shatter
• High light transmission

Does plexiglass look like glass?

Plexiglass has similar attributes to regular glass. Glass is a unique silica substance found in opaque, translucent, and transparent forms. But as for Plexiglass, is an artificial polymer or methyl methacrylate, and Plexiglass is just the generic name for acrylic.

• Both Plexiglass and glass are non-crystalline and transparent materials.
• They can be introduced to different kinds of glazing, which will help improve their quality.
• With Plexiglass, you can get UV-resistant, anti-glare coating, stain-resistant coatings, etc.

Can you get non-reflective glass for pictures?

Non-reflective glasses are also known as anti-glare glasses, designed so there is a diffused reflection. In terms of diffused reflection, the material is supposed to make the material matt, but with non-reflective glasses, you can see the pictures even in a very well-lit area. So with anti-glare glasses, the picture will eventually be very visible even when there is direct sunlight or a camera flash.

With non-reflective glasses, there is a chance that the detail of the artwork will diminish. But to solve that problem, the picture frame’s Glass is placed in a space, and sometimes picture mats are used in between.

Is acrylic glass better than glass?

How thick is the Glass in a picture frame if we are to think? Then one would probably say 2.5 mm in general, but with an additional coating, the thickness of the glass will vary. But what of acrylic glass or plexiglass? Plexiglass is very similar to normal glasses and is more expensive than regular glasses. Is plexiglass better than acrylic glass? Not really. And we have included some points regarding the two:

• Plexiglas is a lot lighter than acrylic glass. The weight is almost half that of Plexiglass  
• Acrylic is robust and resistant to strokes and scratches.
• Acrylic glasses are durable, and when the glass shatters, there is a very large blunt piece superior to regular Glass.
• Acrylic glasses offer a softer reflection than normal Glass, turning yellow when exposed to UV.
• Acrylic glass is antimicrobial, and Plexiglass is not, as it is made of porous matter.
• Acrylic glass is resistant to almost everything, and plexiglass glass can be cleaned with only soap and water.

See Also: How Long Does It Take To Get A Picture Framed?

Is plexiglass thicker than glass?

Glass is evidently thicker than plexiglass, and it is much heavier. But Plexiglass is much stronger than the regular Glass used in picture framing. Handling acrylic is also easy.

See Also: How Much Does A Picture Frame Weigh?

What plastic is used in picture frames?

The most common plastic or polymer used in picture frames is standard clear acrylic, and this is also known as Plexiglass. Glass is lightweight and much more robust than Glass.

See Also: How to Paint a Picture Frame Without Removing the Picture?

FAQs

Final Thoughts

Picture framing glasses have definitely had a revolution in the last couple of years. There were a lot of changes, and people also started to become adept at new technologies when it came to framing their precious pictures. One might say that picture frames are uncommon with all digital images. But what sets picture framing glasses apart is their use of them in saving artwork. Some glasses have also been invented that will illuminate the artwork. But above all, different picture framing glasses have different outputs. So everything works to serve their each purpose.