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Low-iron glass and glass paint projects

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Low-iron glass and glass paint projects

Low-iron glass and glass paint projects

If you have ever seen a sheet of glass from the side, you probably noticed that it had a green tint. What is this green tint, where does it come from and how can it affect your glass paint project? “Clear” glass is so obviously green that it’s hard to believe it’s not deliberately tinted. (It’s not!) Understanding where the tint comes from helps to know how it can affect your glass paint project.

Low iron glass eliminates green tint

Ordinary clear glass is made primarily from sand (silica), soda ash and limestone. Some formulations use other “ingredients” to create glasses with different qualities. The silica, soda ash and limestone are heated to temperatures of more than 3,000 degrees Fahrenheit! At this temperature, the ingredients liquefy, and glass can be shaped or molded. As it cools to room temperature, the mixture hardens into what we think of as a solid, even though it retains its liquid characteristics.

The high temperatures at which glass is made burn off most impurities, so the mixture seems transparent when it cools. One of the impurities that doesn’t burn off is iron. Iron is often found with limestone – a key component of glass. Iron also readily binds with silica – the other key component of glass. It is this iron that gives glass its green tint. The greater the iron content in the glass, the greener the glass will be.

You may notice the obvious green tint on clear glass when you look at a thick piece of glass. The green tint becomes more noticeable on thicker sheets of glass. You may wonder how this green cast could affect your glass paint project. The truth is that the green tint can be noticeable, even after you’ve applied paint and mounted your backpainted glass.

Low-iron glass is made from low-iron silica and limestone. By eliminating the iron (or at least most of it), glass manufacturers can create a glass that doesn’t have this green tint. Low-iron glass, also known as Starphire™ glass or Ultra-White™ glass. It comes in thicknesses ranging from 1/8″ to 1/2″, and can be used in a variety of applications. If you think the “natural” tint of glass may interfere with your glass paint project, consider using “low-iron” glass instead.

For more information about painting glass with Glassprimer™ glass paint, please check out the rest of the site. To purchase Glassprimer™ glass paint, please visit our online store.

Photo Credit: Kerem Yucel, via FreeImages.com

Transparent painted glass – a how-to

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Transparent painted glass – a how-to

Transparent painted glass – a how-to

In the last couple of posts, we’ve looked at opaque and translucent glass, but can you also create transparent painted glass? The brief answer is yes! One of the strengths of glass as a medium is that it’s transparent. Painting the surface will reduce the transparency of the glass, but you can apply color to the glass while still preserving its transparency.

Transparent painted glass effect

If you’re aiming for a stained glass effect, it helps to understand how stained glass is made, and why transparent painted glass can be a cost-effective alternative to true stained glass.

Stained glass is also painted, using special paints. After the glass is painted, it is fired to achieve that transparent appearance. Most often, stained glass artists work in one color at a time, firing the piece after each addition of color. The finished piece could have been fired many times. This method of applying paint and firing is very labor intensive, requires special equipment and materials, and is really time consuming! It also makes true stained glass expensive to buy.

Glassprimer™ offers an alternative to true stained glass, that’s cost effective, uses common materials and produces a similar transparent painted glass result. Best of all, there’s no need to fire the piece, so you don’t need special equipment, either.

By using Glassprimer™ GP083® molecular activator as a surface preparation, you can use urethane paint to achieve a transparent painted glass effect and still get the adhesion properties you need when working with glass as a painting medium.

The Glassprimer™ GP083® molecular activator doesn’t convert the paint into glass paint, but it does sufficiently treat the surface of the glass to create the nanoscale bonding properties paint requires to adhere to the glass.

The surface preparation is the same as it would be when using Glassprimer™ glass paint. Clean the glass thoroughly with rubbing alcohol and #000 grit steel wool until it’s “squeaky clean.” Don’t use lint-free paper towels – just use the cheap kind from the store.

Once the glass surface has been cleaned, spray it with Glassprimer™ GP083® molecular activator and let it sit for 10 seconds. Wipe it off with paper towels and apply a high- quality 2-part urethane paint, such as those from House of Kolor. You’ll get a great transparent painted glass effect without special tools or equipment, and at a fraction of the cost of true stained glass!

Photo Credit: Derek Boggs, via FreeImages.com

Translucent glass paint effects

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Translucent glass paint effects

Translucent glass paint effects

In the last post, we looked at opaque glass effects with glass paint. In this post, we’ll look at translucent glass paint effects. Just as you can get an opaque finish with glass paint, you can also get a translucent finish. Translucence is the condition of not being completely clear (transparent), but clear enough to allow light to pass through. You can take advantage of the translucent glass paint effects that Glassprimer™ glass paint offers, regardless of your glass paint project.

Translucent glass paint can be dramatic

To create a translucent glass paint effect, start by applying a thin, even coat of glass paint in the color of your choice. Glassprimer™ glass paint can be matched to any color from any major paint manufacturer. Translucence is easier to achieve with a lighter color than a darker one, however, even darker shades can still transmit light through the glass. A high-volume, low-pressure paint sprayer is the best way to apply paint in thin, even coats. Using a HVLP sprayer also allows you to thin the paint prior to application, giving you even more control over the application of paint.

Another key to creating a translucent effect is to allow each coat of paint to dry fully prior to applying additional paint. Glass paint takes about two and a half hours to dry to the touch, and about four hours to dry well enough to be handled safely. Letting each coat dry fully is very important, because a thicker coat not only takes longer to dry, but also takes longer to cure.

Evaluate the translucence of the piece after each coat of paint has dried completely, using a light source that is similar to the light source that will be applied to the final piece. If daylight is the intended light source, evaluate the piece under daylight conditions before adding more coats of paint. Using Glassprimer™ glass paint, you can apply as many as eight coats of paint, but each coat you add will reduce the translucence of the piece.

Once you’ve achieved your desired translucence, allow the paint to cure. Provided that you also use the Glassprimer™ catalyst, the paint should be fully cured within 24-72 hours of the last application. If you intend to mount the translucent glass paint project, you can use any neutral cure silicone adhesive or mirror mastic. The adhesive will not show through the translucent glass paint.

If you’d like more information about working with glass paint, please look at our FAQs. If you would like to purchase Glassprimer™ glass paint, please visit our online store.

Opaque glass paint does exist!

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Opaque glass paint does exist!

Opaque glass paint does exist!

It’s no secret that glass is transparent, so you may be concerned that truly opaque glass paint doesn’t exist. With Glassprimer™ glass paint, you can not only achieve a true opaque coating, but once the paint has cured, you can mount your painted glass using silicone or mirror mastic without fear that your bonding agent will show through the paint.

The secret to achieving opaque glass paint coatings

In many glass paint applications, the opacity of the coating doesn’t matter, but for those applications where you need truly opaque glass paint, look no farther than Glassprimer™ glass paint. You can order Glassprimer™ glass paint in any paint color. In fact, we can match any paint color from any major paint manufacturer. This means you can count on getting the color and the coverage you want for your glass paint application.

Depending upon the color you choose, you can improve the opacity of your glass paint project by applying additional coats of paint to the glass surface. When you want an opaque result, it’s tempting to use a thick coat of paint. With glass paint, the best strategy to use to achieve good opacity is to apply a number of thin coats of paint.
Apply your first (thin) coat and allow it to dry. Glass paint will be dry to the touch in about two and a half hours, and you can safely handle the painted piece in about four hours. After the first coat has dried sufficiently, apply a second thin coat.

You apply as many as 8 thin coats of glass paint to achieve an opaque glass paint coating. Be sure to let each coat dry completely before applying additional paint. If you apply more paint to a surface that’s not completely dried, you will not only increase the drying time of the second coat, but also the curing time for the project. You’ll also increase the amount of time needed before you can safely handle the painted piece.

If you’re working with a light shade, you’ll need to apply more coats of paint to your glass to achieve an opaque glass paint finish. If you’re working with a darker color, you may be able to achieve sufficient opacity with fewer coats of paint. In any case, the trick to producing opaque glass paint coatings is to apply thin coats to your glass surface, allow the paint to dry completely, and reapply the paint in thin coats until you achieve your desired opacity.

If you would like more information about opaque glass paint, please look at our FAQs. If you would like to purchase Glassprimer™ glass paint, please visit our online store.

How to get a frosted glass effect

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How to get a frosted glass effect

How to get a frosted glass effect

Glass is an excellent medium for painting, but if your glass is going to be in a “working” environment, you may have to address the fact that glass is transparent! On a backsplash in the kitchen, the transparency of glass may not be an issue – in fact, it’s probably an asset. In a bathroom or bedroom, privacy may be a concern. That’s usually where you’ll find frosted glass. What is frosted glass and how can you create it?

True frosted glass is chemically treated

True frosted glass is typically created in one of two ways: sandblasting or chemical etching. Frosted glass starts out as a sheet of ordinary, clear glass. By altering the surface of the glass, you can alter the way it transmits light, and in doing so, you can alter the clarity of the glass itself.

Sandblasting can be used to create a number of different frosted glass effects. Sandblasting is accomplished by firing sand or other coarse materials at the target glass using a high-speed machine. The particles are so fine that the glass does not break, but the surface is permanently altered by the impacts. This method of frosting can be used to achieve a light, medium or heavy frosting. It can also be used to create frosting patterns.

For example, if you want to create frosted stripes or frosted areas on an otherwise clear glass, sandblasting can be used to achieve these effects. Sandblasting is more expensive than other methods of glass frosting. The cost of customized sandblasting can run between $75 and $300 per square foot, depending upon the complexity of the work and the size of the finished piece.

Frosted glass can also be created by chemical etching. Acid etching produces a uniform frosting effect and is less expensive than sandblasting. Etching can also create simple or complex designs. Etched frosted glass is less expensive per-square-foot than sandblasted glass, but etched glass can still run between about $50 and $200 per square foot, depending upon the complexity of the glass and frosting.

Glass paint can also be used to create a frosted effect. Unlike sandblasting or chemical etching, glass paint can create a frosted effect using any color. At about $1 per square foot, glass paint is much more economical than either etched or sandblasted glass. You can create frosted glass for either interior or exterior applications, since glass paint is resistant to humidity, temperature and UV light. Once cured, glass paint will not chip, crack, fade or peel and can turn an ordinary window into a frosted one cost-effectively.

For more information about creating frosted glass using Glassprimer™ glass paint, please visit our site. To order frosted glass paint, simply choose your color and indicate that you want a frosted effect when you place your glass paint order

Photo Credit: Joanie Cahill, via FreeImages.com

Glass paint on windows

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Glass paint on windows

Glass paint on windows

Glass paint has a lot of practical applications, but you can also use Glassprimer™ glass paint on windows to add an artistic touch to any space. Whether you’re looking to create an interior glass painting, or dress up an exterior window, Glassprimer™ glass paint offers the widest range of color and opacity options on the market today.

Glass paint on windows is a cost-effective decorating alternative

Glassprimer™ glass paint offers opaque, translucent and transparent options. Using translucent and transparent glass paint on windows will allow light to pass through the glass, and gives you an option to quickly create a stained glass look. Creating stained glass is a time-intensive process. Stained glass artisans typically fire the glass after each layer of coloring. This method substantially increases the time needed to complete an entire stained glass project.

Not surprisingly, true stained glass is also expensive. Currently, stained glass has an average cost of about $300 per square foot for non hand-painted glass, and nearly $1,000 per square foot for hand-painted stained glass. A 3′ x 5′ stained glass window would cost somewhere between $5,000 and $15,000, depending upon the techniques used to fabricate the glass, and not including the cost of installation. It’s not an understatement to say that might be out of the budget of many people! As a cost effective alternative, glass paint on windows can create a similar look at a fraction of the cost.

Glass paint is rated for both interior and exterior use. It is UV-resistant, and will not chip, fade or peel. It can also withstand temperature extremes, and creates a permanent bond with glass. In interior applications, you can create backpainted glass that can be framed, mounted onto a wall or used to create divisions in open spaces.

If you’d like more information about using glass paint on windows or for other decorating ideas, please check out our site. To purchase glass paint, please visit our online store.

Photo Credit: Jane Betteridge, via FreeImages.com

Water based glass paint

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Water based glass paint

Water based glass paint

If you’re considering a glass paint project, but you’re turned off by the thought of working with a solvent-based paint, consider working with water based glass paint instead! Glassprimer™ GPWB128 water based series glass paint offers all of the advantages of Glassprimer™ glass paint and the benefits of a water-based paint.

Water based glass paint is kind to the environment

Glassprimer™ glass paint is classified as a low-VOC paint, but Glassprimer™ water-based glass paint is an exceptionally low-odor, non-flammable paint designed specifically to bond permanently with glass. Don’t want to clean up with solvents? Our water based glass paint cleans up with water, so you can say goodbye to strong solvents and paint thinners!

Just as with Glassprimer™ glass paint, we can match any color from any paint manufacturer, so you can work Glassprimer™ water based glass paint into any decorating scheme. It’s also fully self-priming, so the surface preparation for our water based paint is the same as for our solvent-based paint – just clean the glass with alcohol until it’s “squeaky clean” and you’re ready to start painting.

How durable is our water based glass paint? It’s just as tough as our solvent based paint. You’ll still get the same permanent bond with glass that Glassprimer™ glass paint is known for. You can handle water based glass paint after about 4 hours, and it cures in 1-3 days, forming that permanent bond we’re known for. Once the paint is cured, you can drill it, cut it or sand it without worrying about damaging the glass paint. And even though it’s water based, humidity can’t touch it! No peeling, no delaminating, no cracking, no bubbling. Just beautiful backpainted glass for a wide range of applications.

You can mount glass painted with Glassprimer™ water based glass paint with neutral cure silicone glue. You can also use double-sided glazier’s tape that’s rated to support the weight of your project.

If you’d like more information about water based glass paint, please spend some time on our website, or visit our online store.
Photo Credit: M Hansson , via FreeImages.com

UV glass printing catches on

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GP083® Molecular Activator

GP083® Molecular Activator

At GlassPaint.com, we think that glass is an ideal painting medium, especially when Glassprimer™ glass paint is used! But glass painting isn’t the only thing you can do with glass. We offer Glassprimer™ glass surface molecular activator for UV glass printing applications.

What is UV glass printing?

UV glass printing is popular in Europe, and is gaining popularity in the US. UV glass printing allows designers to print complex graphics on windows, mirrors, glassware and a wide range of other glass products. It’s an obvious solution for businesses, especially those that have glass windows, doors and showcases. In fact, retailing and merchandising are currently the most popular applications for UV glass printing. The technique can also be used in architectural applications and to enhance interior spaces.

UV inkjet glass printing delivers a vibrant, photorealistic image, printed directly onto glass. Printing directly onto glass eliminates the extra labor, materials and expertise needed to mount transparent film on glass. Because the inkjet UV glass printing process is efficient, it produces a superior product at a lower overall cost. It also excels in short-run applications, which means that it can be used to create highly customized printed glass products affordably.

Digital inkjet UV glass printing allows designers to use the full color spectrum to create high quality images on glass. Using glass as a medium also allows designers to control lighting and make eye-catching displays using the fixtures that are normally available in retail settings. Using fixtures that are already part of the retail layout means that designers don’t have to find additional space for marketing or sacrifice space on the sales floor for marketing displays.

As an added benefit, UV glass printing does not require any post-processing or curing to fix the image on the glass. This shortens the production process, making it easy to update glass printed displays.

The Glassprimer™ glass surface molecular activator prepares the glass surface for inkjet UV glass printing. One quart bottle prepares up to 265 square feet of glass for printing. Printed images, adhesives and urethane coatings can make a permanent bond with glass following use of this surface preparation.

If you’d like more information about Glassprimer™ glass surface molecular activator, or if you’d like to purchase it, please visit our online store

Blend paint colors like a pro

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Blend paint colors like a pro

Blend paint colors like a pro

In the last post, we looked at a few ways to blend paint colors by choosing hues that complement each other. In this post, we’ll look at some additional strategies to help you figure out how to blend paint colors when planning your decorating scheme.

Other ways to blend paint colors

Color triad. You can create a color triad when you choose three shades that are 120 degrees apart on the color wheel. This color scheme is an attention-getting combination. If you want to try this approach, consider choosing one color in your palette to be the primary color, and use the remaining two as accent colors. You can get a wider range of color options by varying the saturation of the colors in the palette.

Color square. Similarly to complements and triads, you can create a color square by using four evenly spaced colors on the color wheel. Each color will be 90 degrees apart. You’ll essentially be using two sets of complementary colors. This approach gives you a lot of way to blend paint colors, but it introduces a little wrinkle: you can end up with a palette that contains both warm and cool colors. As with other multi-color paint schemes, you’ll be happiest by choosing one primary color and using the rest of the palette as accents.

Color rectangle. A color rectangle also uses two sets of complementary colors, but they’re not evenly spaced on the color wheel. To create this palette, choose a primary color and its complement. Then choose a color that is 60 degrees away from your primary color and that color’s complement. You’ll be able to extend your options to blend paint colors by varying the saturation of the colors in your basic palette. Balance isn’t the key here – use one primary color and use the rest to create accents.

You won’t get much more by adding more colors to your palette, although you can. If you want to blend paint colors, the key is to remember to balance the colors in your palette with their complements and keep the colors predictably spaced on the color wheel.

If you’d like more information about how you can blend paint colors, or use glass paint in a paint project, please check out the rest of our site. If you’re ready to shop for glass paint, please visit our online store.

Photo Credit: Joerg Rudloff, via FreeImages.com

Color schemes for paint projects

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Color schemes for paint projects

Color schemes for paint projects

Paint is a wonderful decorating medium. Most people don’t take advantage of all that paint has to offer, largely because they tend to think monochromatically when they work with paint. Using multiple paint colors can change the entire complexion of a room. Unfortunately, most people don’t know how to put together a color scheme for paint projects, so they settle for working with just one color. In addition to working with multiple colors, you can work with multiple kinds of paint. When decorating the kitchen, for example, you can use glass paint to color backsplashes, countertops or cabinet fronts, and use other kinds of paint to cover the walls and ceilings.

Putting together a paint palette

Glassprimer™ glass paint can be tinted to match any color from any major paint manufacturer. This means you can select your paints using the color chips you find in the store, and then order Glassprimer™ glass paint for paint projects. You can be sure that the glass paint will match the chip exactly!

Monochromatic colors
You can put together a monochromatic palette that includes multiple variations of a single color. Try blending a palette using varying saturations of the same color. Multiple monochromatic shades will produce a calming, soothing effect and work well in bathrooms and bedrooms.

Complementary colors
The color spectrum is often displayed as a continuum known as a “color wheel.” Using the 360-degree notation, complementary colors are those that are 180 degrees away from each other on the color wheel. In this scenario, yellow is opposite of purple, so yellow and purple are complementary colors. Blue is complementary to orange, red is complementary to green, and so on. Complementary colors can work well together within limits in paint projects, but they are instant attention-grabbers that need to be balanced out by other more neutral colors.

Analogous colors
Analogous colors are those that sit next to each other on the color wheel. Analogous colors often make comfortable companions in paint projects. Examples of analogous colors would be blue and blue-green, or green and yellow-green. Analogous colors are similar, but not quite the same, so they create interesting and harmonious combinations. When working with analogous colors, pay attention to the saturation of your analogous color choices to maintain the friendliness of your palette.

Split complementary colors
The split complementary approach to color is a complementary compromise. To create a split complementary paint palette, choose a primary color, then choose the colors immediately adjacent to the complement of your primary. Confused? If your primary is yellow, its complement is purple. Instead of choosing purple for your paint projects, choose blue and fuchsia – the two colors adjacent to the complement. You may need to play with the saturation of your colors if you plan a split complementary palette.

In the next post, I’ll look at additional color palette ideas. In the mean time, if you’d like more information about working with different colors in paint projects, or you’d like to shop for glass paint, please visit our online store!

Photo Credit: Rafael Rocha, via FreeImages.com