Picture Framing Glass:

When you’re having a picture professionally framed, it’s normally the frame that gets all the attention. What colour should it be? Wood or black? Traditional or contemporary? Should it have a mount? What colour mount? Will it work with the room? All perfectly sensible questions. But there’s another part of bespoke picture framing that can make an enormous difference to both the appearance and longevity of whatever you’re framing. The glass. Or, to use the broader framing term, the glazing. Choosing the right picture framing glass can reduce reflections, improve clarity and, importantly, help protect artwork, photographs and memorabilia from harmful UV radiation. At MOUNT Picture Framers in Manchester, we frame everything from photographs, prints and children’s artwork to football shirts, original artwork, limited editions, memorabilia and valuable pieces requiring conservation-level protection. Our approach is quite simple: Not everything needs museum glass – but everything deserves the right glass. So what’s the difference between standard 2mm glass, non-reflective glass, AR70, AR92, museum glass and styrene? Let’s look through the options. Yes, the glass pun was deliberate.

Why Is Picture Framing Glass So Important?

The purpose of picture framing glass isn’t simply to stop someone touching the artwork. The right glazing can provide a protective barrier between the artwork and the environment around it while also affecting how clearly you can actually see the piece. Your choice of picture frame glazing can influence:

• UV protection
• Reflection and glare
• Colour clarity
• Physical protection
• Weight
• Safety
• Long-term conservation
• The overall appearance of the finished frame

And there isn’t one glass that’s automatically right for every picture. The important question isn’t simply, “What’s the best picture framing glass?” It’s: “What’s the best glass for this particular piece?”  

Can UV Light Damage Artwork and Photographs?

Absolutely. One of the biggest threats to framed artwork, prints and photographs is prolonged exposure to light, particularly ultraviolet radiation – usually referred to as UV. And here’s the important bit. Your artwork doesn’t necessarily have to be sitting in blazing direct sunlight to suffer deterioration. Over time, exposure to light can contribute to fading, changes in colour, yellowing of paper and deterioration of some materials. The particularly frustrating thing about UV and light damage is that you generally don’t notice it happening. There’s no alarm. Your picture doesn’t suddenly announce: “Excuse me, I’m fading over here.” Instead, the changes occur gradually. Several years later, you remove the artwork from its frame or compare it with an unexposed section and suddenly realise just how much the colours have changed. Once those colours have faded, putting them back isn’t quite so straightforward. That’s why UV protection glass for picture framing is worth considering for valuable, sentimental and irreplaceable pieces. Does Ordinary Picture Framing Glass Block UV Rays? Standard picture framing glass provides a physical barrier but isn’t designed to offer the same UV-filtering performance as specialist conservation glass or museum glass. If you’re framing an inexpensive poster that’s easily replaceable, this may not be particularly important. If you’re framing an original painting, limited-edition print, signed photograph, historic document or something that simply cannot be replaced, it’s a completely different conversation. That’s when specialist UV protective picture framing glass becomes worth considering.    

What Causes Reflections on Picture Frame Glass?

We’ve all experienced this one. You’ve spent time choosing some fantastic artwork. You’ve had it beautifully framed. You hang it on the wall. You stand back to admire it… And you’re looking at yourself. Or the window. Or the ceiling lights. Or the television. Standard glass naturally reflects some of the light hitting its surface. Depending on the position of the frame, windows and artificial lighting, those reflections can become distracting. This is where non-reflective and anti-reflective picture framing glass can make a dramatic difference. Modern premium anti-reflective glazing can become so unobtrusive that people sometimes reach out to check whether there’s actually glass in the frame.  

What Are the Different Types of Picture Framing Glass?

There are several glazing options available and each has advantages, disadvantages and appropriate applications. Here are some of the options we regularly discuss with customers at MOUNT.

2mm Float Glass – Standard Picture Framing Glass

2mm float glass is the everyday workhorse of picture framing. It’s clear, cost-effective and perfectly suitable for a huge number of framing projects. We might recommend standard 2mm picture framing glass for:

• Posters
• Certificates
• Everyday photographs
• Decorative prints
• Replaceable artwork
• Pieces displayed away from problematic lighting

There’s absolutely nothing wrong with standard glass when it’s being used for the right application. However, it has limitations. Standard float glass can produce noticeable reflections and doesn’t provide the specialist UV protection associated with conservation or museum-grade glazing. So if we’re framing something particularly valuable or irreplaceable, we’d usually have a conversation about upgrading the glass.

Non-Reflective Glass for Picture Framing

The terms non-reflective glass and anti-reflective glass are sometimes used interchangeably, but they aren’t necessarily the same product. Traditional non-reflective picture framing glass can use a finely etched or diffused surface to scatter light and reduce distracting reflections. It’s effective and can be a cost-conscious way of reducing glare. There is, however, a compromise. Because the surface diffuses light, traditional non-reflective glass can slightly soften the artwork behind it. The greater the distance between the artwork and glass, the more noticeable this can become. For some framing projects that’s perfectly acceptable. For detailed artwork, photography or pieces where colour and sharpness are particularly important, we’d generally consider a modern anti-reflective coated glass instead.

AR70 Anti-Reflective Glass

AR70 glass takes us into specialist anti-reflective glazing. The AR refers to anti-reflective, while the product provides approximately 70% UV protection, depending on the manufacturer’s specification. AR70 dramatically reduces the reflections associated with ordinary glass while maintaining excellent clarity. That means you’re looking at the artwork rather than everything happening behind you. For many customers, AR70 provides an excellent balance between: clarity + reduced reflections + UV protection + price. It can be particularly effective for framed artwork positioned in bright rooms where reflections are problematic but where the highest level of conservation glazing isn’t required.

AR92 Anti-Reflective UV Protection Glass

Step up again and we have AR92 glass. AR92 combines excellent anti-reflective properties with approximately 92% UV protection, subject to the particular glazing product being specified. For artwork, prints, photography and memorabilia you genuinely want to preserve, that additional UV protection can become important. You’re getting the visual benefits of anti-reflective picture framing glass while significantly reducing exposure to damaging UV radiation. For many framing projects, AR92 provides a very strong middle ground between standard glazing and top-level museum glass.  

Museum Glass for Picture Framing

Then we come to museum glass. And despite the name, you don’t have to own a Picasso before you’re allowed to ask for it. Museum glass is designed for situations where both presentation and conservation are particularly important. High-quality museum glass for picture framing can combine exceptional optical clarity, extremely low reflection and UV protection approaching 99%, depending on the specific product. The visual difference can be remarkable. With premium museum glass, reflections can be reduced to such a degree that the glazing appears almost invisible. It’s an option we’d particularly consider for:

• Original artwork
• Limited-edition prints
• Valuable photography
• Historic documents
• Signed memorabilia
• Collectable artwork
• Family heirlooms
• Irreplaceable photographs
• High-value pieces

At MOUNT, we’ve framed pieces ranging from everyday family photographs to a tapestry valued at around £10,000. When you’re framing something of significant financial value, saving a relatively small amount by specifying inappropriate glazing simply doesn’t make sense. But value isn’t always financial. A photograph that cost £10 to print could be completely irreplaceable. Sometimes sentimental value massively outweighs monetary value and the glazing recommendation should reflect that.  

What Is Styrene Glazing?

Glass isn’t always the best answer. Styrene glazing is a lightweight plastic alternative to traditional picture framing glass. Because it is lightweight and more resistant to breakage than conventional glass, styrene can be particularly useful for:

• Large picture frames
• Commercial environments
• Public buildings
• Children’s spaces
• Displays
• Situations where weight is a concern
• Locations where broken glass could create a safety issue

There are compromises. Styrene can be more susceptible to scratching and generally doesn’t offer the same premium optical qualities as specialist anti-reflective glass. However, in the right environment it’s an extremely practical solution. There are also specialist acrylic glazing products available when you need exceptional optical clarity and UV protection but traditional glass isn’t appropriate because of size, weight or safety.  

What Is the Best Glass for Picture Framing?

The answer depends entirely on what you’re framing. At MOUNT, we don’t believe the conversation should simply be: “Do you want normal glass or the expensive stuff?” We’d rather understand the piece. What is being framed?

• Is it replaceable?
• What’s its financial value?
• What’s its sentimental value?
• Where will the finished frame hang?
• Will it be opposite a window?
• How much natural light will it receive?
• Is it going into a home, office, hotel, restaurant, care home or public building?
• How large is the finished frame?
• Are there safety considerations?

Once we understand those things, we can recommend the most appropriate glazing.

 

Picture Framing Glass Comparison

As a simple guide: 2mm Float Glass – Good everyday picture framing glass for general framing where budget is important and specialist UV protection isn’t essential. Non-Reflective Glass – Helps reduce glare and reflections, although traditional etched versions can slightly soften the appearance of the artwork. AR70 Glass – Premium anti-reflective glass with excellent clarity and approximately 70% UV protection. AR92 Glass – Anti-reflective glass offering excellent clarity with approximately 92% UV protection. Museum Glass – Premium glazing combining outstanding clarity, minimal reflection and UV protection approaching 99% depending on specification. Styrene – Lightweight and shatter-resistant glazing suited to large frames, public environments and applications where weight or safety are important considerations.

 

Do I Need Museum Glass for My Picture?

Not necessarily. And we’d rather tell you that than sell you something you don’t need. If you’re framing an inexpensive and easily replaceable poster, standard glass may be absolutely fine. But if you’ve invested £500, £1,000 or considerably more in an original piece of artwork, spending a little extra on appropriate UV protective or museum glass is sensible. Likewise, if you’re framing something that simply cannot be replaced, conservation becomes more important regardless of its monetary value. The objective is to balance appearance, protection, practicality and budget.  

Professional Picture Framing and Museum Glass in Manchester

At MOUNT Picture Framers, we provide bespoke picture framing for customers across Manchester, Salford, Worsley, Monton, Ancoats and throughout the UK. Our framing services cover everything from family photographs and artwork to football shirts, memorabilia, original art, limited editions, certificates, medals and unusual 3D objects. We can talk you through the different picture framing glass and glazing options, including standard 2mm glass, non-reflective glass, anti-reflective glazing, UV-protection glass, conservation glass, museum glass and specialist acrylic alternatives. Because the frame should make your artwork look fantastic. The glass should help keep it that way.

 

Need Advice on the Right Glass for Your Picture Frame?

If you’re unsure whether you need standard glass, non-reflective glass, AR70, AR92 or museum glass, bring the piece to MOUNT and we’ll talk you through the options. No unnecessary jargon and no automatically recommending the most expensive option. We’ll look at what you’re framing, where it’s going, how much protection it needs and your budget before recommending the right combination. After all, there’s little point spending money making something look fantastic today if nobody has considered how it’s going to look in 10, 20 or even 50 years. MOUNT – Picture Framing · Fine Art Printing · Art Manchester | Salford | Worsley | Monton | Ancoats | Nationwide