Picture Frame Glass Options
Typically in the picture framing world, you will have your choice of glass, styrene or Acrylic. Learn about Frame USA's picture frame glazing and glass options for protecting your images in their frames.
What Our Frames Each Come With:
- Picture Frames 12x16 and smaller (including 12x12) will come with Real Glass
- Picture Frames 11x17 and larger will come with Styrene (PETG), a form of Plexi-Glass.
- All plastic posterframes will only come with Styrene (PETG).
- Design A Frame Orders have the option to select either Styrene (PETG) or Acrylic (up to 30x40)
If picture frame glass is needed for 11x17 picture frames and larger please call: 1-800-577-5920. For safety and liability reasons, we prefer not to ship 11x17 picture frames or larger with glass; doing so will decrease the chance of your frames arriving to you in perfect condition.
Glass Vs. PETG
PETG or more commonly known as Styrene, weighs roughly half as much as glass and is more shatter resistant than glass. These two factors can greatly reduce shipping costs. If humidity is a concern for the integrity of the frame's contents, Styrene is the material of choice. It is a better insulator than glass and is less likely to accumulate condensation.
Styrene (PETG)
Styrene is a type of plexiglass that is approximately .035 of an inch thick. It is used as an alternative to glass in our picture frames that are larger than 11x14".
Upon receiving your frame with Styrene, there will be a thin plastic film that protects both sides of the plastic during shipping and retail display. The protective coating is the material that protects your piece from scratches, scuff marks, etc. from the outside world prior to arriving to you.
WARNING - Do not use household cleaning chemicals or solutions! Clean only with a soft, damp cloth.
How to Clean Styrene (PETG)
The film, which should be taken off before use, is easily removed by hand by peeling from the corners. Glass and Styrene should both be cleaned before they are showcased. While glass can be cleaned with a glass cleaner, Styrene should only be cleaned by warm water or soft cloth, not solvent. The solvent in most cleaners will actually cause the Styrene to disintegrate over time
UV Protection
The glazing on the glass and Styrene used by Frame USA does not reflect ultraviolet light. Ultraviolet reflective glazing is used primarily for conservation framing. In contrast, the products sold by Frame USA are generally for decorative framing purposes.
No glazing needed?
You have the option on a number of our picture frames to order them as "Frame Only" which means they will come with out the protective coating as well as without the backing.
Acrylic
Acrylic is a widely used form of clear materials with exceptional weather ability, strength, clarity and versatility. Acrylic exhibits glass-like qualities at half the weight. Incredibly durable, acrylic is a suitable solution for a broad temperature range, and has superior weathering properties compared to other plastics.
Acrylic is one of the glazing options available if you are designing a frame with our Design a Frame feature. Acrylic is another type of transparent thermoplastic. It is often used in sheet form as a lightweight or shatter-resistant alternative to glass. Our Acrylic is approximately 0.050 of an inch thick. When using Design a Frame you will have the option to select Acrylic for frames 30x40 and under.
Upon receiving your frame with Acrylic, there will be a thin plastic film that is blue that protects both sides of the plastic during shipping and retail display. The protective coating is the material that protects your piece from scratches, scuff marks, etc. from the outside world prior to arriving to you.
Acrylic Vs. Styrene
PETG is extruded from co-polyester resin and is comparable to a Plexiglas material. PETG It is an exceptionally clear and tough material. Often used in filling larger frames, especially poster frames, it gives a great protective layer for images. PETG is more light weight than Acrylic, being only .035” thick compared to Acrylic’s 0.050” thickness. However, Acrylic give a much clearer view to an image than PETG and weathers much better.
Although both Acrylic and Styrene are similar in that they are often used as a glass alternative. There is a big difference between the two. Acrylic will be the best choice when you are wanting something that is less likely to get warped or bent due to its thickness. Due to this Acrylic also tends to be more expensive to its less durable, more bendable, cousin, Styrene.
