16" x 16" Rainbow Dichroic on smooth black glass
Dichroic Glass is made using a vapor deposition process which puts a combination of precious and semiprecious metals in layers onto sheets of glass. This is a time consuming, high tech, process which turns plain glass into WOW glass.
The colors in Dichroic glass are determined by the length of light waves passing through, or reflecting from, the glass. Wave lengths, and the resulting colors, change depending on the coating formula used, number of layers needed for each color, temperature during coating and other technical requirements. Standard colors are made by adding 15 to 20 layers of metallic compound to glass. Premium colors have 30 to 35 layers.
The first color listed when describing Dichroic Glass is the Transmitted color. The second color name is the Reflected color. Transmitted color is seen when the glass is viewed "straight on". Reflected is seen when the glass is held at approximately a 45 degree angle. Reflected color indicates the direction the color will change or "shift" after firing.
Textures and colored glass change how the light passes through or is reflected by the dichroic layer. An example is the way colors display on a heavy Ripple or other textured glass. Combining clear Dichroic coated glass with colored glass produces interesting (and sometimes unexpected) results because the colored glass changes how the light travels through the finished piece.
We usually have Standard colors and Textures in stock. Premium colors and some textures are available by special order. If you don't see what you want listed, ask.
(Please note, this information is available online only. We apologize but can not send printed copies.)
