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Tag Archive for: glass paint

Permanent window paint and the effect of value

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Permanent window paint and the effect of value

Permanent window paint and the effect of value

In the last post, we looked at hue, the first of the chromatic properties that’s used to describe color. Hue is the correct term for color, so when you name a color, you’re actually referring to hue. The second chromatic property we’ll look at is value. Value comes into play when you’re choosing permanent window paint because it describes the “lightness” or “darkness” of a color.

Another word for value is “tone.” Value is independent of hue. You can best understand value by thinking of a color photograph whose color has been removed. The picture effectively becomes a black-and-white photo. You can still see the image and depth, but the color has been replaced by “grayscale.” Various values of gray help determine the contrast between objects in the image.

Permanent window paint can be a brilliant solution

Value is important because variations in value can create depth. If you intend to undertake a permanent window paint project, using colors with various values can create a beautiful, eye-catching look.

Any paint project can be transformed by using paints with various values. Whether you’re painting a wall or painting on glass, the value is what gives the paint its contrast. If you choose two or more colors that have the same or similar value, your finished project will have a “flat” look. The similarity in the value of your colors means that your colors have different hues, but they don’t contrast very much. If you work with colors with visibly different values, your finished project will have significant depth. The colors will “pop” off the surface of your project.

In a permanent window paint project, depth can really add something unique. If you’re working with a paint palette that includes a variety of colors, keep “value” in mind when you’re choosing your paint colors. A palette that has a range of values will be vibrant and pleasing to the eye. A palette whose values are all similar will produce a flat – and perhaps uninteresting – look.

In the next post, we’ll look at the third chromatic property – chroma – and how that rounds out the description of color. In the meantime, if you’re looking for permanent window paint, please visit the rest of our site at http://www.glasspaint.com.

Photo Credit: Matthieu Tremblay, via Flickr.com

Glass backsplash paint color options and hue

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Glass backsplash paint and chroma

Glass back paint and hue

Sometimes, the success of a glass back paint project depends upon what the painter knows about color. In this three-part series, we’ll look at color from a technical standpoint. Learning about color can help you choose the right shade of paint for your project.

Color experts describe color in terms of three primary chromatic properties: hue, value and chroma. Today, we’ll look at the first chromatic property – hue</a.

Glass back paint comes in any color

The term hue is synonymous with color. When you identify a color – red, yellow, green, blue, etc., you’re actually identifying the chromatic property known as hue. Hue is the correct term for color. Hues are all distinct, but different hues can be combined to make other hues. The combination of hues can either be “additive” or “subtractive.”

In school, you probably learned about “primary colors.” When colored pigments are combined, you’re working with the subtractive color spectrum. The primary colors in the subtractive spectrum are red, yellow and blue. All other colors can be made by mixing various values of these colors. When all colors in the spectrum are added together, they form black. In the subtractive color spectrum, black is the combination of all colors. White, on the other hand, is the absence of color.

When colored lights are combined, you’re working with the “additive” color spectrum. The primary colors in the additive color spectrum are red, green and blue. All other colors can be made by mixing various values of these colors. When all colors in the spectrum are combined, they form white. In this model, black is the absence of color. White, on the other hand, is the presence of all colors.

In terms of a glass back paint project, you’ll be working with the subtractive color spectrum, because paint gets its colors from pigment. Every color can be produced by mixing different amounts of red, yellow and blue.

In the next post, we’ll look at the second chromatic property – value – and how that helps more fully describe color. In the meantime, if you’re working on a glass back paint project and you would like more information or you’d like to order paint, please visit the rest of our site at http://www.glasspaint.com.

Photo Credit: Kaigani Turner, via Flickr.com

Tackle an easy glass painting project this spring

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Tackle a glass painting project this spring

Tackle a glass painting project this spring

Looking for a way to dress up your home or apartment? Consider a glass painting project. You’ll find that painting glass is easy, economical and practical. Glass is quickly becoming a preferred decorating material for residential and commercial applications. Glass painting requires no special tools, and you can complete a small project in as little as one day.

Painting on glass surfaces doesn’t requires special tools, but it does require a special paint. Ordinary paint doesn’t cure on glass because of the unique properties of a glass surface. Ordinary paints work on porous surfaces. The paint “soaks in” to the surface thanks to tiny surface imperfections. The paint dries and cures, and all is well.

Glass painting the easy way

Glass doesn’t have the same surface imperfections that typical construction materials do. There are no tiny surface imperfections that will hold paint, so ordinary paint will dry on a glass surface, but it won’t cure. That means dried paint can be easily removed with a razor blade or paint scraper. Even certain conditions, like high humidity, can reconstitute the paint, making a soft, gooey mess.

That’s where Glassprimer™ glass paint comes in. Glassprimer™ glass paint is specially formulated to change the surface of the glass, so the paint can bond to it permanently. Once the paint is cured, it will not chip or peel. Humidity will not soften the dried paint. Environmental conditions like direct sunlight won’t damage the paint, either.

This makes Glassprimer™ glass paint ideal for glass painting projects like rehabbing a glass tabletop, or a glass room divider. Back painted glass offers a unique look, and the glass surface is easy to clean and maintain. With a painted glass tabletop, you can say goodbye to water stains left by glasses, and damage caused by spills.

You can apply Glassprimer™ glass paint with a brush or roller, although we recommend a high-volume low-pressure paint sprayer. An HVLP sprayer will provide the best, most even coverage and will create a professionally finished appearance.

If you’d like more information about glass painting, or you’d like to order the best glass paint on the market, please visit us at http://www.glasspaint.com.

Photo Credit: Clarence Risher, via Flickr

More spring colors for painted glass projects

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More spring colors for painted glass

More spring colors for painted glass

In my last post, we looked at the bold colors that are making a great splash for spring. But what if you’re not ready to go for broke when it comes to painted glass? What other color options are available?

Painted glass – go big or small!

Your color choices make a statement, and if you’re trying to keep your cool, bold colors simply won’t do. In that case, consider a cool neutral color like gray. You can also use a more neutral shade of green (think “moss”) or an earthy neutral like a beige or taupe.

The great part about working with painted glass is that you can incorporate virtually any color you like into your paint palette. You can tint Glassprimer™ glass paint to match any color from any paint manufacturer. This means you can use ordinary house paint in the areas where ordinary house paint works best, and perfectly matched Glassprimer™ glass paint in the areas where only glass paint will do. Seamless color for each surface in the room!

You can laminate a single wall, for example, with painted glass panels. This is a great technique for covering up surface imperfections, or just adding a bit of character to a space.

“Industrial” is all the rage today, but there are some surfaces that don’t always look good, no matter what color you use. Poured cement may have imperfections. The sealer may not be evenly applied. Previous use may have left an indelible (and undesirable) mark on the walls. (Think rebar stains, pits, or paint that just won’t come off.) Laminated painted glass panels on the surface can not only immediately cure the visual problem, but they can also add a touch of class to the space.

If you would like more information about making painted glass, or having our paint tinted to match your planned paint palette, please visit us at Glass Paint.

Photo Credit: Steve Larkin, via Flickr

Painting glass? Consider these spring colors

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Painting glass? Consider these spring colors

Painting glass? Consider these spring colors

Like fashion, color trends change over time. Last year, whites and light pastels were the hot commodity. This year? Put the whites away! Bold, confident colors dominate paint trends. That’s helpful to know if you’re planning on painting glass this spring or summer.

Glassprimer™ makes painting glass easy

Painting glass is one of the easiest ways to update the look of a room. Whether you’re trying to update a glass tabletop or you want to give a wall a whole new look, consider ways in which you can incorporate glass into your plan.

Bold colors – including blues, reds and greens – will dominate the paint landscape in 2017. If this holds your attention, consider darker and semi-saturated blues and darker brownish reds. You can offset this approach with complementary lime green for a captivating look.

It is definitely possible to go overboard with bold colors, so choose your palette carefully. These bold shades can play off of each other well, but you’ll want to tone them down with some bright white contrasts. Use bright whites on the ceilings, trim and doors to break up colors that might otherwise be overwhelming.

If you’re planning to go bold, be sure to add as much natural light as possible. You can also provide some visual relief with light neutral furnishings and floor coverings.

Glass opens up your decorating options. You can create an elegant look by laminating glass (or Plexiglas™ to the walls. Laminating creates an unusual, luxurious surface that’s easy to clean and maintain. It can also help you “resurface” walls that may be in bad condition. Consider using it to rehabilitate a cinder block or stucco wall surface that either simply doesn’t look good or isn’t in good condition.

Painting glass is easy. The material requires minimal surface preparation. A little alcohol and steel wool, followed by a thorough drying with ordinary paper towels is all you need to do to prepare your glass or Plexiglas™ for painting.

Apply the paint using a high-volume, low pressure paint sprayer. You can find a good quality sprayer in any home improvement store. Using a HVLP paint sprayer ensures excellent, even coverage and a professional finished look.

If you’d like more information about GlassPrimer™ glass paint, or you’d like to place an order, please visit us at http://www.glasspaint.com.

Photo Credit: Craftsman Court Ceramics, via Flickr

Using glass paint in the bathroom

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Using glass paint in the bathroom

Using glass paint in the bathroom

Spring is a great time to redo your paint scheme. Painting can be time consuming, so you may need to become content with working in one space at a time. One of the most logical places to start is in the bathroom. Bathrooms are relatively small in size, compared to other spaces in the house, and they have special paint needs. Glass paint works well in the bathroom, partially because it’s so rugged.

Glass paint stands up to high humidity

This paint also works well in the bathroom because it’s designed to work with surfaces most often found in the bathroom. Sanitation is of the utmost importance, so builders often use impervious surfaces in the bathroom. Tile, ceramics, glass and porcelain are all common bathroom materials.

These materials normally come in their “finished” colors, but glass opens up an interesting decorating option. Whether you’re looking to add color to one specific area of the bathroom, or you want to liven up the entire room, glass can be a low-cost, high-style addition to your space.

Unfortunately, builders don’t always choose the right building materials. They commonly use drywall in the bathroom space, but drywall surfaces are vulnerable to humidity, mold and mildew buildup. They’re also easily damaged by normal wear and tear. Painted walls don’t fare well when subjected to repeated washings, which are necessary in the bathroom.

By laminating the wall surfaces with a material like glass, you can eliminate the wear and tear that regular washings can cause. In addition, you can protect the porous wall surfaces from the humidity that builds up in the bathroom.

But how can you make glass look great? Simple! Using GlassPrimer™ glass paint, you can back paint glass and laminate it to the bathroom walls. You can choose to laminate just one area (like a back splash) or you can laminate an entire wall. Glass is easy to find and you can cut ordinary float glass to the exact shape you need.

Back painted glass looks fantastic year after year. You could simply laminate glass to the walls, but the adhesive will show through the glass, and the walls may not look very good under glass. Back painted glass, on the other hand, will not peel, chip or fade, even when exposed to high humidity and direct sunlight. The adhesive will not show through the back painted glass, and you can easily use ordinary kitchen and bathroom caulk to seal seams and joints. That will keep moisture from accumulating between the wall and the glass.

The glass surface is easy to clean and will help keep your bathroom safe and sanitary. For more information about using glass paint in the bathroom, please visit http://www.glasspaint.com.

Photo Credit: Tim Crowe, via Flickr

Glass paint can give your cabinets a lift

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Glass paint can give your cabinets a lift

Glass paint can give your cabinets a lift

One of the most expensive parts of a kitchen remodel or update is the cabinetry. Good quality kitchen cabinets are actually furniture-quality pieces. They take a lot of abuse, even when they’re just hanging around. Here’s one way to use glass paint to give your kitchen cabinets a whole new look.

Use glass paint for a mini cabinet face lift

The cabinet parts we see most prominently – the doors – get worn from handling and use. They also collect a lot of grease and spatter, so they can appear tired quickly! If you’ve ever cleaned a wood surface, you know that it can take a lot of elbow grease to get the surfaces returned to their factory appearance. You also know that too much elbow grease can remove the finish! That’s where a glass cabinet front-style door could be a great solution.

One great way to update your cabinets easily is by laminating the fronts with glass. Painted glass can transform the look of your kitchen in a matter of hours. It can also reduce the amount of work needed to keep your kitchen’s appearance at the top of its game.

A thin painted glass laminate on your kitchen cabinets can easily create a great Art Deco look. This style looks great in older houses, and will easily complement any existing tile you may have in place.

Since GlassPrimer™ glass paint can be tinted to match virtually any paint palette, you can be sure that your glass laminate doors and fronts will match the rest of your paint plan perfectly!

If your cabinet hardware isn’t in the best of condition, and you’re worried about adding extra weight to the front of your cabinetry, consider swapping the glass laminate for Plexiglas™. Plexiglas™ will add only a nominal weight to the cabinet doors and fronts, and delivers a similar performance to glass. It’s inexpensive, too. The cost of Plexiglas™ is comparable to thin sheets of glass, and the sheets can be cut easily to fit any dimension.

GlassPrimer™ glass paint works well on Plexiglas™ surfaces, and requires the same simple surface preparation as glass. Clean the glass with alcohol, remove any grease or debris with fine grit steel wool and dry with a paper towel. Once the surface is prepared, you’re ready to paint!

That’s a quick update for tired kitchen cabinets, and one that won’t break the bank. If you’d like more information about using glass paint in your kitchen, please visit the rest of our site.

Photo Credit: Lisa Yarost, via Flickr

Refresh your home for spring with glass paint

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Refresh your home for spring with glass paint

Refresh your home for spring with glass paint

Spring is a great time to update the look and feel of your home . If you’re looking for something less than a full rebuild, but more than just a new coat of paint, consider adding a layer of painted glass. Painted glass surfaces are easy to make and look great once you’re finished. They’re also super easy to care for, which makes them ideal for use in the kitchen and bathroom.

Glass paint can work wonders in the kitchen

Backpainted glass is an ideal protective surface. Since the unpainted side of the glass faces outward, it can be cleaned and sterilized using ordinary household cleaners. It readily takes caulk, which means you can seal out water along splashblocks and seams in the glass panels.

GlassPrimer™ glass paint is specially engineered to work with glass surfaces. Unlike ordinary paint, it doesn’t simply dry on the surface of the glass. Instead, it forms a nanoscale bond with the glass, so it won’t chip or peel once the paint is cured. And because the paint is UV-resistant, it won’t fade, even when exposed to direct sunlight.

This is ideal for use in the kitchen, where the temperature and humidity can vary significantly. Being able to clean and sanitize the surface using ordinary household cleaners means that your glass surfaces will always look great.

Glass is inexpensive and can be cut to fit the exact profile of your walls. For a project like a backsplash, you can also use a thin sheet of glass. A ¼” glass laminate will provide an elegant look and feel without adding a significant amount of weight to the wall. The glass laminate can be attached using neutral-cure silicone caulk.

One of the great advantages that GlassPrimer™ glass paint brings to a project like this is the coverage. The paint covers the glass surface so well that you don’t see the adhesive through the glass. You might say that the uniform appearance of the finished project is the “difference you can’t see!”

If you’d like more information about glass paint or how to use it in your home, please visit the rest of our website.

Photo Credit: Casey Myers, via Flickr

Glass paint can transform a bad scene

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Glass paint can transform a bad scene

Glass paint can transform a bad scene

Nothing transforms a room like a pleasant view. Unfortunately, not all windows have a pleasant view! Urban landscapes lead to a lot of unfortunate construction – and that creates a lot of rooms “without a view.” Whether your view is blocked by a giant brick building, an addition with unusual geometry, a basement egress or something equally unappealing, glass paint may be just what you need to rehabilitate a bad look.

Use glass paint to hide a poor view

No one wants to give up a window that lets in daylight, but who wants to look at a brick or cement wall, graffiti or an unattractive view. It can change the entire look of a room. You can cover up the window with window treatments, introduce distractions or even place a frosted film on the glass, but that won’t change the issue, which is that the view from the window looks bad.

Here’s an idea: turn the window into a work of art using glass paint. Glass paint is specially designed to coat glass. It does more than simply adhere to the surface. GlassPrimer™ glass paint is specially formulated to bond permanently with the surface of the paint.

It can be tinted to match virtually any color, and won’t fade, even when exposed to direct sunlight. GlassPrimer™ glass paint can be applied directly to window glass. There’s no need to remove the window, so remedying a bad view becomes an easy do-it-yourself project with glass paint! You can use regular painting tools, and clean-up is easy.

GlassPrimer™ glass paint can be applied to give a translucent or frosted finish, which will allow light to penetrate the window, but will block unpleasant views. It also provides a measure of privacy. It’s a great, cost-effective alternative to frosted glass.

Whether you’re looking to create a work of art, or simply cover up a dismal view, GlassPrimer™ glass paint can help. In a few short hours, you can transform the look of a space from “urban awful” to “urban chic” without completely sacrificing daylight.

If you’d like more information about glass paint, or would like to see some glass paint project ideas, please visit the rest of our site.

Photo Credit: jencu, via Flickr

Could glass paint replace stained glass?

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Could glass paint replace stained glass?

Could glass paint replace stained glass?

If you follow events in the art world, one of the most interesting emerging controversies surrounds stained glass. While the term “stained glass” can apply to glass that’s been painted, colored, enameled, tinted or truly stained, it typically refers to the latter. Artisans have stained or colored glasses for thousands of years, but as an art form, stained glass emerged during the Roman Empire.

Glass paint could be a safe substitute

Today, the safety of stained glass manufacturing methods has been called into question. The intense colors used in stained glass art derives mostly from toxic metals that are added to molten glass during production. Mercury, lead, arsenic, cadmium, chromium and selenium are all known neurotoxins. At the high temperatures required for glass production, these metals are vaporized and are released into the air. They accumulate in significant quantities around glass furnaces. Expensive exhaust filtration systems can be installed to capture the toxic particles, but the cost of these systems is often beyond what an art-glass furnace can or will spend.

That’s left artisans looking for a substitute for glass colorants. As it turns out, they may not need to look far. At its artistic high point in the Middle Ages, stained glass production underwent a significant transformation. Artisans stopped using heavy metal additives to achieve color in glass and turned instead to glass paint techniques. For about 500 years, most “stained” glass was actually painted glass. In the mid-1800’s, European and American glassmakers revived medieval stained glass production techniques, and those are the glass formulations that are under fire today.

Although it was largely reserved for churches during the Middle Ages, decorative stained glass made its way into homes and businesses. About 90% of the stained glass that’s produced today is intended for display in homes and offices. Historic preservation and restoration are actually driving the question about stained glass manufacturing. Antique stained glass windows were often installed in higher-end homes from the mid-1800’s until the Great Depression. Only a fraction of this stained glass art in historic homes still survives. A similar question is facing historic churches – how best can stained glass art be preserved?

Environmental and health concerns about stained glass windows (which typically contain lead beading), may render the question academic. While the number of glass furnaces that can safely produce true stained glass diminishes, more artisans may move to the use of glass paint, which dominated the stained glass art world for about 500 years. A significant number of painted glass artworks survive, and artists are scrambling to relearn glass paint techniques.

Modern glass paint offers a number of options, including a wider range of colors. It also eliminates the need to fire finished glass pieces to bind the paint to the glass.

GlassPrimer™ glass paint was not specifically designed for fine art applications, but it provides exceptional coverage, a broad range of colors and can be used in both interior and exterior applications. It’s also UV-resistant, so it won’t fade, even in direct sunlight.

For more information about GlassPrimer™ glass paint, please visit the rest of our website.

Photo Credit: Lawrence OP, via Flickr