Digital BW, The Print

Paul, thanks for all the information. You're an amazing resource.

I just did a little checking and realized I should have been asking about
"museum quality glass" since "Museum Glass" is the Tru Vue brand name for
their top-of-the-line glass. Denn Glass is another of these top-tier glass
products apparently.

In your comments, when you refer to UV glass, are you referring to the
standard UV glass or the museum quality glass products that are coated to
both reduce glare and protect against UV?

Paul (and Roy), the Tru Vue site indicates their Museum Glass does not
require a special cleaner. Is the same true for the acrylics you are using?

If price were not an issue, would you still choose to use the acrylic
products?

Thanks for your input.

Tom

   Date: Mon, 15 Apr 2002 10:02:34 -0700
   From: "Paul Roark" <paul.roark@...>
Subject: Re: Coating revisited -- Acrylic/glass prices

I have been considering the issue and decided to use standard acrylic for
most of my framing.  The main reasons are that glass tends to get broken and
has too much color.

<snip>

The main disadvantage to acrylic is the scratching.  There is now a
scratch-resistant silicone coating that some acrylic has.

In standard form the acrylic is slightly more expensive than glass, but in
UV form the glass is apparently much more expensive.  I didn't find any
readily available source of UV glass that was appropriate.

Here are the prices for 22x28 inch acrylic that I use for my framed 16x20
prints.

Light Impressions:  $39 for Acrylite OP-3 UV acrylic; $50 for the scratch
resistant "AR OP-3."

My Los Angeles supplier (Solter on Pico in West L.A.): $9.36 for standard
acrylic; $23.44 for Acrylite OP-3 UV acrylic.

Standard acrylic from other sources can be over $20 for a 22x28 piece -- so,
shop around.  The best internet prices I found were at
www.pictureframe-usa.com.  However, my L.A. supplier is cheaper.

So, for my uses, the $9 standard acrylic for a 22x28 will do just fine.  But
if someone wants to pay big bucks for the ultimate protection, the Light
Impressions $50 AR OP-3 is the ticket.

Paul
http://www.PaulRoark.com




Message: 17
   Date: Mon, 15 Apr 2002 20:13:30 -0000
   From: "royvharrington" <roy@...>
Subject: Re: Coating revisited -- Acrylic/glass prices


I also use standard acrylic for all my photos.  I started at places like TAP
Plastics that had very high prices.  I eventually found a wholesale
suppier of all kinds of plastics.  The last time I went there I bought 2
51x100 inch sheets.  They cut them up into 8 22x28's and 8 20x24's for free.
Total cost: $102.   So yes it really pays to shop around.

Roy