Glass Graphics, Inc.
585 Cobb Parkway S.
Suite F-1
Marietta, GA 30060
(770) 426-4922

There are several types of glass, polishes, and edges to choose from. Please feel free to contact Glass Graphics with questions. If you would like a quick explanation, then you are at the right place! Please view our “Glassary” for some “glassy” definitions.

Flat Polish

 

Probably the most common edge. It is a clean, straight, simple contemporary edge whereby the edges of the glass are cut and polished at a straight 90 degree angle to the flat surface of the glass. Note- the extreme top and bottom of this edge type has a tiny 45 degree ‘Arris’ (only about 1/16” wide).  Some folks refer to this as a “bevel” but technically it is not (See beveled edge below). The purpose of the arris is to reduce the sharpness of the edge. Any thickness of glass from ¼” or thicker can be flat polished.

 

 

Pencil Polish

 

A clean, common and contemporary look, the pencil edge has a slight curve, looking similar to a parenthesis (  ). The name comes from looking down the edge of a pencil. If you would hold a pencil, straight on, in front of your eye, you would see the curved edge of the pencil. Any thickness of glass from 1/4” or thicker can be pencil polished.

 

Beveled Edge

 

A classic and traditional look, a beveled edge means that typically the last 1” wide perimeter of the glass will be slanted, or sloped, downward. A 1” wide bevel is the most common, although sometimes you will see bevel widths ranging from ½” wide to 1-1/2” wide. Any thickness of glass from ¼” or thicker, can be beveled.

 

 

Ogee Edge

 

Ogee edges are classic and traditional; they mimic common edgework found in the woodworking industry typically found on furniture tops. The shape of the Ogee is like that of a soft ‘S’ curve. Some in the woodworking industry refer to this as a “Classic edge”.  Glass must be at least ½” or ¾” in thickness to have an Ogee edge, (although ¾” looks by far the best).

 

Bark Edge

 

Unique to Glass Graphics, no 2 are ever alike. Bark edges resemble small, randomly shaped bites, cut out of the perimeter edges of the glass. Each piece and each ‘bite’ is totally crafted by hand to give you a one-of-a-kind glass piece. Typically the glass will need to be ½” or ¾” in thickness to see the full effect of the bark. 3/4” thick shows the biggest bites and depths in Bark edges. This thickness has, by far, the most profound and dramatic look. This Bark edge can also be polished or frosted for effect.

 

 

Smoked Glass

 

This is a commonly incorrectly utilized term and is typically not even used by professionals in the glass industry. Some folks refer to a tinted piece of glass as ‘smoked’, while others refer to a frosted piece of glass as ‘smoked’. Technically, neither are smoked. The glass is either clear, tinted or frosted. Tinted glass is tinted typically either gray, bronze or green, (there are a few more tints, but those 3 are the most common) or glass is frosted by sandblasting or filming.

 

Annealed Glass

 

Also referred to as plate glass or normal  glass. This is the most common glass found today. Its primary use is in windows, picture frames, and small glass pieces. When annealed glass breaks it will break into large, extremely sharp pieces that can cause injury.

 

Laminated Glass

 

The second form of safety glass simply laminates 2 or more sheets of glass together, with a clear poly sheet sandwiched in between. These sheets of glass may be annealed or tempered, or a combination of each as needed for the application. The goal of laminated glass is simple. Should either of the panes of glass break, the inner laminate (in the middle of the sandwich) will hold the broken glass together. This is especially useful in high crime areas, banks, teller lines, blast impact areas, hurricane windows, secure government buildings, etc.

 

Bullet resistant glass is probably the most widely known form and use of laminated glass. Bullet and blast impact glass is most often multiple layers of glass held together by multiple laminates. The thicker the overall glass, the stronger the barrier. These multiple layers are designed to hold the glass together in the event of unwanted projectiles.

 

Recent technology has allowed the inner layers of laminated glass to be able to be custom printed with graphics.

 

Starphire Glass

 

Starphire Ultra clear, low-iron glass, invented by glass industry leader, PPG, is a glass that is even more clear than regular clear glass. If you look at the edge of any piece of normal clear glass, you see a green edge. The thicker the glass, the darker green the edge becomes (similar to a Coke bottle color). You are seeing the iron content in the glass. When you look through thicker glass, things behind the glass will have a greenish tint. PPG has found a way to reduce the iron content in the glass, making it almost totally clear. So when you look through even thick Starphire low iron glass, colors behind the glass will much truer. They will not have the same greenish Coke bottle tinted look. It will be more clear.

 

Starphire glass has become a top choice for architects and designers combined as it gives a better transfer of color through the glass. Yes, it is a premium glass and can cost typically around 20-25% more than regular clear glass. It is most seen in painted glass applications, art glass applications, dining room tables, glass art pieces, and more.

 

Glass Graphics frequently recommends and uses Starphire glass when painting (for truer colors) and also for edge lit glass carvings. The light will travel far better and further through Starphire glass than regular clear glass. The carving will light us as a truer white vs a Coke bottle green.

 

 

Tempered Glass

 

The most common form of safety glass. This glass in found in the vast majority of doors, showers, sidelites close to doors and floors, and glass that could be a danger to someone walking by. Tempered glass is 3-4X stronger than regular annealed glass. It is designed to, upon breakage, will break into millions of tiny pieces, (about the size of a pencil eraser) that may slightly cut you but won’t result in serious physical injury, like plate glass could.

 

Tempered glass starts out as annealed or plate glass, gets cut to size, and totally fabricated, then then finally goes through a tempering oven which heats and cools the glass rapidly. When finally cooled back to room temperature, the glass molecules have bonded tighter together resulting in a stronger and safer glass. Tempered glass will typically have a tempering logo (about the size of a postage stamp) in one corner of the glass, indicating it has been tempered. This logo is many time required to meet building safety codes.