Common Glass Terms D thru F

DECAL TRANSFER

Process used to create decorative glass by application of a ceramic decal. Decals are directly transferred to the glass and can provide fine half-tone detail, consistent light registration and multi-color images.

DECORATIVE FILMS

Decorative films are generally thin appliqués, often with decorative features, in roll or sheet form. Films are available as transparent, translucent, opaque, colored or metallic with patterns, designs and custom images. Can be applied to a glass surface or incorporated into a lamination layer.

DICHROIC GLASS

Glass created by applying and fusing multiple micro-layers of metal oxides to the glass surface to transmit or reflect discreet wavelengths of light resulting in an array of colors. The thin layers of oxides have a total thickness of 3 to 5 millionth of an inch and are kiln fired to fuse to the glass surface.

DIGITAL ART

Digital art is a visual feature created on a computer in digital form. The digital file can be purely computer generated or taken from another source, such as a scanned photograph or an image drawn using vector graphics software. Digital art can be transferred by printing onto glass, interlayers or other films and substrates.

ETCHED GLASS

Generic term used to describe glass that has been modified in such a way to provide a surface that will diffuse transmitted light, reduce glare and have a frosted appearance. Etched glass may have different levels of transparency, either uniformly over the entire surface or in selected areas to create decorative patterns. (Also see acid etched, frosted glass, sandblasted glass, laser etched glass, ceramic frit, silkscreen/screen-printed).

FROSTED GLASS

Generic term used to describe glass whose surface tends to diffuse or scatter incident light and has a "frosted" appearance. Frosted glass is produced by a variety of methods including etching with chemicals, using abrasives, engraving, application of ceramic inks or decals and by attaching or incorporating translucent films. (See also etched, sandblasted).

FULLY TEMPERED GLASS

Flat or bent glass that has been heat-treated to have either a minimum surface compression of 10,000 psi (69 MPa) or an edge compression not less than 9,700 psi (67 MPa) in accordance with the requirements of ASTM C 1048, kind FT or meet the requirements of ANSI Z97.1 or CPSC 16 CFR 1201. Outside of North America, sometimes called "toughened glass."

FUSED GLASS

A decorative glass article created by melting in a kiln and fusing together two or more types and colors of glass. Many art glass pieces and ornate tableware are made from fused glass.

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