Tips & Tricks
For framing related questions and advice, explore our answers and suggestions to maximize your experience with us.
When To Use Clear vs. Non-Glare Acrylic
Non-glare acrylic is very important to use whenever art will be displayed in a room with high-mounted lights or if hung opposite a large window. These are two situations that usually lead to an unsightly glare on your piece. Since art is hung at eye-level (an average of about 5 feet) and most ceilings are 8 to 10 feet high, any light that is behind and above the viewer while looking at the piece will be reflected straight into their eyes. Most rooms have a central ceiling-mounted light that, unfortunately, happens to be the perfect distance behind the viewer to create angles for an unsightly glare. Though artificial lighting can be manipulated to prevent this, sunlight is not so easy to deal with. When changing the lighting situation isn't acceptable, go with non-glare.
On the other hand, never use non-glare acrylic on any art with fine detail or text that needs to be legible (such as newsprint). Though non-glare looks great for most pieces, it tends to diffuse light and can therefore make small detail very difficult to see or read. Also, never use non-glare on any piece with more than two mats. The more space you put between non-glare acrylic and the art, the more diffused the light and therefore the less crisp the appearance of the piece.
Submitted by PictureFrames.com customer Randy Carson
