Glass and Plexiglass.
Any type of artwork that is created on or made from paper needs some type of glazing to protect it. This includes watercolors, pastels, pencil drawings, charcoal drawings, mixed media collages, etc. Textile art can also benefit from this protection.
Your two choices are glass and plexiglass. Either option can provide protection against damaging elements such as dust, bugs, UV damage, airborne pollutants and certain amounts of moisture.
Framing is more than a finishing touch, it's part of how a piece of art is honored. When something matters to you, it deserves custom framing that's designed with real care, a design that speaks to the piece's own colors, style, and spirit. And that's true no matter what's being framed, a child's crayon drawing on the fridge or a treasured heirloom oil painting. Every piece we frame gets that same level of attention.
Museum glass is a specialized, high-clarity glass treated with microscopic layers of metal oxides, anti-reflective coating and 99% UV protection. It reduces light reflection to under 1% and blocks harmful ultraviolet rays, making framed art look as though no glass is present at all.
Museum-grade Plexiglass is made from polymethyl methacrylate plastic. Invisible optical coatings applied via a vacuum-sputtering process to block static, stop up to 99% of UV rays, and eliminate glare. It gives you the clear, glare-free look of museum glass, but it is much lighter and will not shatter if it falls.
Museum Glass & Plexiglass
One of the most important decisions in custom framing isn't the moulding or the mat. It's the glazing: the clear layer that sits between your artwork and the outside world. At Art by Design, we offer both glass and plexiglass (Acrylic) in several grades. Here is everything you need to know to choose the right one for your piece.
Glass & Plexi: what to pick for your frame.
Glass is the traditional choice, a mineral-based material that's been used in framing for generations. It's naturally scratch-resistant, doesn't develop static, and delivers a crisp, and excellent clarity, but may have a slight greenish tint. It is heavier than plexiglass, so it may require sturdier framing and hanging mechanisms. Standard glass does not have built-in UV protection.
Plexiglass (also called acrylic) is a lightweight plastic alternative, known for its exceptional clarity, making it an excellent choice for framing artworks that require maximum visibility. It's shatter-resistant, easier to handle, and can offer UV protection equal to or better than standard glass, depending on the grade you choose.
Weight and size: why bigger pieces lean toward plexi.
This is one of the biggest practical factors in the glass-vs-plexi decision. Glass is fragile, less susceptible to scratching, easier to clean, but the weight adds up fast as the piece gets larger. We recommend using glass for frames no bigger than 16x20.
Plexiglass weighs roughly half as much as glass of the same thickness. For oversized art, gallery walls, pieces going into high-traffic commercial spaces, or anything that will need to be shipped or transported, plexiglass is almost always the safer and more practical option. It's also far less likely to crack or shatter. However, Plexi does scratch a bit easier than glass and requires gentler cleaning care.
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Durability and everyday handling.
Glass is more scratch- resistant than standard acrylic, but it's more brittle, and significantly heavier than plexiglass.
Plexiglass is shatter-resistant and flexible, so it holds up much better to impacts, making it a safer choice around kids, pets, or in busy environments. Its main weakness is that it scratches more easily than glass and it can attract dust through static, especially in dry conditions.
Care and Cleaning.
Glass: Clean with a standard glass cleaner and a soft, lint -free cloth. It tolerates regular wiping well and won't scratch under normal use.
Plexiglass: Never use ammonia based glass cleaners on acrylic, they can cloud or damage the surface over time. Instead, use a dedicated plastic/acrylic cleaner with a clean, soft microfiber cloth, and use light pressure to avoid scratching. Dust with a soft cloth or an anti-static duster to reduce buildup between cleanings.
How UV light damages artwork.
Sunlight and many artificial light sources contain ultraviolet (UV) radiation. UV light breaks down the molecular structure of pigments and dyes over time, causing colors to fade or yellow. This damage is cumulative and irreversible: once a color has faded, it can't be restored. It also isn't limited to direct sunlight , fluorescent and even standard incandescent lighting emit UV as well, so pieces don't need to sit in a sunny window to be at risk.
This is exactly what UV-filtering glazing is designed to prevent. Both UV-protective glass and UV-protective acrylic work by incorporating coatings or additives that absorb or block UV light before it can reach the artwork.
Higher-end UV glazing both glass and acrylic can block the significant majority of harmful UV rays, dramatically slowing fading compared to standard glazing. If your piece will hang anywhere near a window under bright gallery lighting, or in a well-lit room, UV-filtering glazing isn't a luxury, its basic insurance for your art's lifespan.
Which colors fade fastest?
Not all colors are equally vulnerable to light damage. In general:
Warm, bright hues, reds, oranges, and yellows tend to fade faster than cooler, darker tones. This is largely due to the chemical stability of the dyes and pigments used to create them.
Watercolors and dye-based inks are especially light-sensitive, since they lack deep pigment density, making any slight loss of color very noticeable.
Diluted or tinted colors often fade more visibly than the same pigment at full strength, since there's simply less pigment present to begin with.
Blues and blue pigments, particularly those derived from organic sources, tend to be the most vulnerable to fading when exposed to UV rays.
Glazing options we offer.
Standard Clear Basic clarity and protection at an accessible price point. A good fit for a casual piece, posters, or decor item that isn't especially valuable or light-exposed.
UV-Protective/Conservation Clear Filters out the large majority of damaging UV rays while keeping full clarity. Recommended any time your art has real sentimental or monetary value, or will hang in a lit room.
Non-Glare A matte finish that scatters reflections, making it easier to view art in bright rooms or under direct lighting. The tradeoff is a slight softening of clarity, an in acrylic, non-glare coatings can sometimes mute very bright or saturated colors slightly, something to consider for vividly colored pieces.
Museum-quality Glass/Acrylic the top tier: near -invisible, anti-reflective clarity combined with high-level UV filtering. This is the closest you can get to viewing your art as there were no glazing at all, with maximum protection built in. It's the standard choice for fine art, valuable originals, and anything you want to preserve for the long term.
Regular Glass - 45% UV Protection
U.V Glass - 99% UV Protection
Non - Reflection Glass (Non - Glare) - 99% UV Protection
Museum Quality Glass - 99% UV Protection
GLASS
Regular Plexi - 66% UV Protection
U.V Plexi - 99% UV Protection
Non - Reflection Plexi (Non - Glare) - 99% UV Protection
Museum Quality Plexi - 99% UV Protection
PLEXI
Still not sure? We'll help you decide.
Every piece is different, and the "right" glazing depends on your art, your space, and how it will live in your home or business. Bring your piece into ART BY DESIGN and our team will walk you through samples of each option side by side, so you can see and feel the difference before you commit.
So, Glass or Plexi?
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The piece is small to medium size
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It will hang in a stable spot and won't be moved or shipped often
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You want maximum scratch resistance and the most traditional, glass-like clarity
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Budget is a primary concern and UV exposure is limited
Choose glass when:
Choose plexi when:
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The piece is large or oversized, where weight and safety become real factors
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It's going somewhere with foot traffic, kids, pets, or shipping is involved
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You want strong UV protection without adding weight
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You are framing for a gallery, office, or commercial space