Digital BW, The Print

I was chatting with a UK glass supplier yesterday about glazing for some prints.  He made 
a comment that I thought was interesting with respect to UV filtering.  Ordinary glass will 
apparently filter approximately 40-45% of UV light.  So in a modern house/building with 
double-glazed windows more than 64% of the outside UV light doesn't even make it 
indoors - even in  an interior with many windows.  (He actually said 80%, ie 2 x 40%, but I 
assume the relevant maths is multiplicative rather than additive.)

He rated the UV filtering of Denglass Water White, for example, at 40%.  Schott Miroguard 
Plus he rated at 84%.  (Apparently Denglass is a Schott product made under license.)  In 
the context of interior exhibited prints we chatted about what was more important, UV 
filtering or the clarity and light transmission of the print glazing.  He was very much in 
favour of the latter - poor quality glazing (even if UV) can dull (by blocking too much light) 
and colour shift prints.

For UK listeners, Glass & Mirror will supply cut-to-size WW Denglass at £75/m2+Vat and 
Schott Miroguard Plus at £99/m2+Vat.  For a 16x20 print with a good border that's 
roughly £38 and £50, respectively.  Not cheap but the very best materials and a lot 
cheaper than what a frame shop will charge - likely only half as much.  I find it much 
cheaper to do my own framing, sourcing pre-cut mats and boards from the US (a bit 
cheaper than I can buy uncut boards here), chop to size moulding from Ashworth & 
Thompson, and, if desired, glazing from the above.  Assembly is easy with some basic 
equipment.  The above works out considerably cheaper and uses better materials than a 
frame shop in London.