Here at Frame It Easy, we leave the design process of your frames completely up to you. From the color and style of the frame, all the way down to the frame cover that comes with your frame. We have two different types of acrylic covers — clear and non-glare.
The cover (or “glazing material”) is a key part of any frame– custom or otherwise– as this is what allows you to see your special art or photo inside. Just as the backing material of your frame needs to preserve the integrity of your art, the cover should not only allow you to clearly view it but also protect it from outside forces.
We choose to use acrylic over glass in our picture frames for many reasons. Because it is lighter than glass, it is more cost-effective to ship, and also reduces the possibility of damage during shipping, it is often clearer than glass (which can have a green tint), and protects against some harmful UV light, before it gets to your artwork and causes damage.
While our clear and non-glare acrylic covers are made from the same high-quality materials, they have some key differences. Let’s get into those differences to figure out which cover would work best for your next framing project!
Frame Cover: Clear Acrylic Cover
Our clear acrylic cover is the most conventional and would be ideal for most art. We describe it as looking through a window.
If your art is colorful, clear would be the best option, as it would not soften any of the colors in your photo or artwork.
However, the clear finish is reflective and could cause glare if placed near a window, where the sun would shine through. So this is something to consider when creating your frame. Think about where you will be hanging this frame. If it is somewhere in your house that won’t get much light, the clear acrylic should work perfectly.
Frame Cover: Non-Glare Acrylic Cover
The other option is our non-glare acrylic cover. Our non-glare acrylic does what it’s advertised to do — diffuse glare from the sun or other light sources. In order to do that, there’s a translucent coating on the front of the acrylic. The other side, however, is glossy. This would be the best option if sunlight is an issue where you are going to hang your frames.
This will soften the color of your artwork, so we recommend using it if your overall piece doesn’t have bright colors, or is entirely in black and white.
The Price Difference
The price of the cover will differ depending on the size of the frame you are ordering, of course. For example, an 8″ x 10″ frame in our Derby style will cost $22.53 with our clear acrylic and $25.98 with our non-glare. In this case, the price difference is less than $4.
The Glaring Differences
In the end, our clear and non-glare covers are both great, but each serves different purposes. It all comes down to personal preference. So, which is better for your framing project? Consider where you will be hanging your frame, what style of picture you are hanging, the colors of your photo, and if you want to add matting or not.
Just remember a few things before making your decision on which frame cover you will choose:
- The clear acrylic is like looking through a window, so it will have a glare in direct sunlight.
- The non-glare acrylic will soften colors in a picture, so it is best if used with black and white photos, or photos with few bright colors.
- The non-glare is more expensive than our clear acrylic but by very little.
Have any questions or a finished piece that looks great with either of our acrylic covers? Reach out to us! We’d love to see the final product or answer any questions that you have.
