Printing on glass

I would like to print an image on glass, as a transparency.  I've seen images printed on glass but they have an opaque backing.  One lab advertises printing on acrylic glass.  What the heck is that? 

Does anybody know of a lab that prints on glass so that an image could be lit from behind?

I entered "photos printed on glass" and got a number of hits.  Not sure if they print without backing. You would have to contact them. I have never had a photo printed on glass. Acrylic glass is plastic.  I think there are a couple processes for producing it; one which makes it stronger than the other.

Hi Buck! Acrylic facemounts have become very popular in high-end galleries like Peter Lik and Thomas Mangelsen, and numerous others. They are very expensive to produce, and acrylic is notoriously easy to scratch. It also suffers from static issues. I have heard of photographers printing directly on glass (only very recently), but haven't seen the results yet.

However, neither of the above seems to be what you are after, as you already mentioned both are opaque, though they produce beautiful, rich, "wet-look" finished images. 

You can certainly get transparent "prints" made...although I know there are several options of transparent poly's, the only one I'm personally familiar with is Lexan. Because I'm up in Canada, my sources won't be much help to you, but I am confident you can find a lab or display/sign shop in Florida that can set you up, though I suspect one of the big pro "mail order" labs in the States offer this as well. 

Sorry I couldn't offer more specifics, or answer your question re backlit glass prints! Good luck!

I poked around the internet too, Buck, and couldn't see anything that looked like what you want.  You might consider just getting a transparency printed and sandwich it between two sheets of glass.  I've also seen images printed on white paper that looked pretty good when backlit, though I don't think that's what you're really aiming for.

It looks like the sign making people have the technology, so I'm not sure why it hasn't entered the photographic arena.  The closest I actually found was a company called "fracture" in Gainesville, but they always put them on a backing as it's part of their product.  You might check with them to see if they have any idea where you might be able to get what you really want.

Good luck,
 

Thanks for the replies.  I've been searching, and I found something called Duratrans, printing on transparent film from Kodak.  It's been around for a long time, used for backlit displays.  I haven't found anybody who prints photographs on glass for photographers.  I'm exploring the idea of a print on transparent film fastened to glass or sandwiched between two pieces of glass.
 

Duratrans should do the trick for you, Buck. Unfortunately, I don't know of a bureau who provides that service. I haven't researched it, but can you print on Duratrans yourself. Your idea for this type of presentation is interesting.

Just a thought: If you sandwich a Duratrans print between two pieces of glass, you might look at having the backpiece be of very lightly frosted glass in order to even out the illumination from a backlight.

--P

In my web wanderings, I've come across instructions for printing on Duratrans in a darkroom.  I don't have the capability for printing, digital or otherwise.  So, if I am to do it, I must find someone to do it for me.

Moderator edit: Buck, I removed the earlier duplicate post.
--P