I'm in the process of framing some large prints for an exhibit in October (first one!) and am considering using non-glare acrylic instead of glass. I am interested in your experience or opinions on the matter. What I am concerned with is a "perceived" lower-quality product by potential buyers/viewers. I personally don't view acrylic as "cheap" but there are some who may. Also, is acrylic more economical to use than museum glass? Thoughts? Thanks in advance.
It is more economical. The big advantages are that it's not as fragile or as heavy as glass (especially important when delivering/hanging large pieces) but it is more prone to scratches.
Thanks Guy...how have you recommended to your clients/receipients how to clean it without scratching it? I want to make sure that it would at least have a chance of longevity if I used acrylic. ;)
Hey Debbie, My wife has a lot of her Counted Cross Stitch framed by a man who does Conservation Framing and he recommends Conservation Glass which has a UV coating to prevent fading etc. She hates the acrylic because it is so hard to clean and scratches easily. If your prints are in an area where folks will be pointing and touching the covering - I would go with glass. She also does not like the "non-glare" glass because it is hard to look through from some angles.
Debbie: use ONLY specialized acrylic cleaners and microfiber cloths. This will properly care for the acrylic while preventing scratching. Both are easily obtainable.
Debbie, I don't generally sell framed/finished prints for that reason - there's a lot of personal taste that goes into both the frame and choice of glass/acrylic and I prefer to leave it to customers to work out with their framers. I do use acrylic for prints I have in my own home (and as Michael mentioned - use microfiber cloth for dusting). For exhibits it depends on the venue but generally I go with smaller matted prints, black gallery frames and Tru Vue glass.
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