What is anti-reflective glazing?
Anti-reflective coating is applied to the glazing and significantly reduces light reflection from the glass or acrylic. By stacking materials with specific refractive indices, light is forced through the substrate in the visible spectrum, while destructive light waves cancel out reflections. This results in lower reflection and higher transmission. With correct lighting, this glass or acrylic is virtually invisible with direct viewing. Normal 2.0mm – 3.0mm picture frame glazing reflects about 8% of visible light and transmit from 89% - 92%. Tru Vue anti-reflective products, including Museum Glass and Optium Acrylic products, reflect less than 2% of visible light and transmit over 96%.
What type of anti-reflective coating does Tru Vue use?
Tru Vue uses a magnetron sputtering, a powerful and flexible technique which produces denser and more durable optical coatings, to apply its anti-reflective coating. Our past experience has shown that sputter coatings are harder, more resistant to scratches, and provide more color uniformity than dip coatings.
What is UV Filtered/UV Blocking glazing?
UV filtering glazing is picture framing glass or acrylic designed to filter damaging ultraviolet (UV) light in the damaging 200-400 nanometer range. The UV protection may be a coating, imbedded into the acrylic, or fit between the layers of laminated glass. UV protection varies by glazing product.
Why do I need UV filtered glazing? Indoor and outdoor UV light rays contribute to severe color loss, paper embrittlement and deterioration of artwork. These effects are both cumulative and irreversible. The materials that make up the artwork, the paper or fabric on which the image is displayed, may become brittle. Photos may appear yellow or stained with ghostly silver deposits rising to the surface. Once damage from light has occurred, it can never be reversed. That’s why it is important to understand what you can do to minimize this type of damage before it happens.
When should UV Filtering glazing be used?
UV Filtering glazing should be used to frame artwork, since damage from UV light rays happens whenever your art is exposed to non-UV filtered light sources.
What type of UV coating does Tru Vue use for glass products?
Tru Vue’s UV protective coating contains a UV absorbing agent and is formulated with a color correction to provide optimum neutral color transmittance, which mitigates the greenish tint from a clear float glass substrate.
What percentage of UV rays does UV Filtering glazing block?
All of Tru Vue conservation series glass products effectively blocks out 99% of all harmful indoor and outdoor UV light rays between 300-380 nanometers, and Optium Museum Acrylic and conservation series ACRYLITE products filter out 98%. Protecting your artwork from harmful UV rays will help protect the works from yellowing and fading.
Can fluorescent light harm artwork?
While fluorescent lighting can have a higher output in the UV compared to incandescent lighting, the more important factor is the overall brightness of light. To minimize light damage, avoid placing artwork near sunlit windows or bright sources of light.
The windows in my institution have UV coating. Should I still use UV blocking glazing?
Yes, unfortunately, the sun is not the only source of harmful UV light rays. All light sources, whether natural or artificial, have some of their components in the ultraviolet range.
When should I use acrylic?
Tru Vue recommends using acrylic for hanging and shipping heavy, oversized artwork, earthquake zones, high traffic areas, traveling exhibits, or anywhere extra care is required.
What is non-glare glass and non-glare acrylic?
Non-glare picture framing glass is finished to diffuse reflected light. This process also gives the glass surface a matte finish. Non-glare acrylic is embossed and offers the same visual matte finish as picture framing glass. Non-glare is not as clear as anti-reflective glass or acrylic and can be used in applications with up to 2 mats.
What is OP-3 Conservation UV Filtering acrylic?
OP-3 is picture framing acrylic designed to protect artwork from the irreversible effects of both natural and artificial UV light. Our 3.0mm Optium Museum Acrylic uses an abrasion resistant (AR) OP-3 UV Filtering acrylic.
Does acrylic have out gassing?
No framing grades of acrylic have out gassing. However, to be certain, we recommend you buy only acrylic made in North America. All Tru Vue Optium Acrylic® Products and ACRYLITE® acrylic sheets are out-gassing free.
Which side of Tru Vue Optium Acrylic Products should face the artwork?
Either side of Optium Acrylic Products can face the artwork. Both sides carry the protective technology.
What is the visual color impression of Optium Acrylic Products?
Reflection varies with viewing angle. The non-reflective properties of Optium are optimized for direct viewing. Transmitted color appears color neutral to pale yellowish. However, if the angle of view changes, so does the amount of reflection. Up to a viewing angle of about 35 degrees the non reflective, color neutral properties remain. Beyond that, reflections may become visible in a reddish/purplish color and certain lighting conditions may make this more noticeable. The amount of reflection however is significantly lower than the reflection of regular uncoated glass or acrylic.
Do Optium Acrylic Products self-extinguish?
No acrylic will self-extinguish. Optium Acrylic Products are combustible and usually burn to completion if not extinguished. Precautions should be taken to protect this material from flames and high heat sources.
How can I learn more about Optium Acrylic Products?
To learn more about Tru Vue Optium Acrylic Products, contact your authorized Optium supplier.
When should I use 3mm acrylic instead of 2.3mm?
You should use 3mm acrylic when the frame’s size exceeds 36” x 48”. 3.0mm Optium Acrylic® Products are ideal for sizes under 40”x60”. Our Optium Acrylic Products are currently only available in 3.0mm and 6.0mm.
What acrylic product should I use for 40”x60” and larger frames?
Our 6.0mm Optium Museum Acrylic is ideal for sizes greater than 40”x60” and is available in 72”x120” sheets. To prevent bowing, twisting, and/or warping of framed 40”x60” and larger acrylic sheets, provide reinforcing support of the acrylic sheet during framing.
What type of glazing should I use for pastel or charcoal based art?
Pastel or charcoal based art can become damaged using most glazing products due to the inherent static charge of the substrate. Tru Vue Optium® Museum Acrylic™ and Optium® Acrylic provide anti-static as well as anti-reflective properties to help protect art from damage and to help showcase your art the way it was intended.
How much space do I allow for expansion and contraction?
The standard 1/16” is recommended for each 12” of frame length. In conditions of extreme humidity or temperature, greater allowance may be necessary.
How do I remove the protective masking?
To remove the masking, start at one corner and pull towards the opposite side of the sheet slowly and evenly without stopping. Clean after removal of masking film to remove plasticizers and appearance of scratches left from the masking.
How do I clean Tru Vue Optium Acrylic products?
Use ammonia-free glass cleaner and a clean, soft, lint-free or micro-fiber cloth. Do not use coarse or abrasive cleaning agents or dirty cloths. Spray solution on the cloth and then apply to the acrylic. Do not use regular acrylic cleaners on this product.
How do I clean Tru Vue ACRYLITE acrylic sheets?
See the care and handling section of this website. Use acrylic cleaner to clean ACRYLITE® acrylic sheets, never use glass cleaner.
How do I control static on acrylic products?
All of our Optium Acrylic Products are anti-static. For all other acrylic products, spray with a de-ionizing air gun, then wipe with a clean, damp, high performance cleaning cloth.
How do I cut Tru Vue Optium Acrylic products?
For 3.0mm Optium Acrylic products, place Optium on a clean dust-free work area. Cover the work table with a soft, clean, lint-free felt. Use a Multi-Material cutter “scribe and break” method. For 6.0mm Optium Museum Acrylic, fabricate using a power saw with a blade specifically designed to cut acrylic. See saw blade recommendations in this website.