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Richard Gross
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« Reply #1 on: October 22, 2008, 10:37:44 AM » |
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What is usually called "overlay" is a process for making imitation stained glass; it uses plastic to simulate "the look and feel of traditional stained glass," which is a quote taken from the makers of the stuff to describe their product. It is generally held in low esteem by people who make real stained glass because it is an imitation, and not a very good one.
If you visit the website of the company that offers franchise opportunities, you'll see that they list as advantages of their process all of the normal advantages of real stained glass, plus -- I kid you not -- it has "ultraviolet inhibitors to protect from fading."
Real stained glass, of course, does not fade. Real stained glass also does not decamp and migrate south when the glue holding it on plate glass fails due to heat, a problem that can be seen in overlay installations.
There is, however, a process used sometimes in stained glass that you could possibly be thinking of, and that is plating. There are different uses for plating; one, which is more of a restoration technique, is to letter on thin, clear glass and then plate -- essentially, overlay -- that piece of clear with the art glass so that it looks like the lettering is on the art glass.
Plating could also be used in new work with, for example, two pieces of art glass plated and with painting on different surfaces. This can make the painted elements seem to fade into the distance; there was a panel that used this technique quite effectively entered in the Stained Glass Association of America's panel competition, which was held last summer at the Oakland Conference.
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