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Once you decide to have something framed, you begin to think of how you'd like the finished piece to look. What type of matboard and frame will look the best? Where will you hang it? Should it match the rest of that room? But, for most pieces you get framed, another important consideration is the glazing.

Glazing, which can be either glass or acrylic, provides protection of the framed piece. Prolonged exposure to sunlight can cause fading and other damage over time. Dust, spills and splatters also pose a threat to treasured objects.

There are several types of glass:

• Regular: this does not offer protection from light damage but does keep out dust, fingerprints and other hazards.
• Ultraviolet (UV) Filtering (Conservation Glass): A coating of UV filtering protection is added to the surface of the glass. It protects the art and mats from the sun.
• Non-Glare: Etched on one or both sides and scatters reflections; it both lowers reflection and light transmission. It also comes in UV Filtering.
• Anti-Reflective (AR): Either coated or non-coated and absorbs light to reduce reflection; it lowers reflections and increases transmission for a higher clarity.
• Museum: Same as the anti-reflective but has UV Filtering.

Acrylic: This is another option. Often, this is a good choice if you are concerned with safety, since it is shatter resistant. Acrylic comes in different thicknesses, clear, non-glare and UV Filtering. Also, acrylic is more lightweight than glass. It's drawback is that it scratches easily and should be cleaned with a special cleaner.

The various options range in cost. Your choice depends on the needs of the specific piece. Come in, talk to us. Together we can decide which glazing is best for your project.