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Story by
Vanessa,
willowglass
Published on June 19, 2009 in Reviews |
Photo by |
Fusing glass — in other words, getting it so hot it melts together — is an art form with a long tradition. In my studio, I use art glass specifically designed for kiln fusing. Many of the "special effects" are created through the use of dichroic glass. It's visually beautiful, mesmerizing, and depending upon the angle you look at it, you see a different color.
But what on Earth is it?
Dichroic glass is the result of placing a
multi-layered coating on glass using a highly technical vacuum deposition process. Quartz crystal and metal oxides are vaporized (zap!) with an electron beam gun in an airless vacuum chamber. The substance then floats upward and first attaches and then settles on the surface of the glass in the form of a crystal structure. The glass has many layers of these materials, yet the thickness of the total coating is very, very thin. The coating that is created is very similar to some gemstones, and careful control of the thickness creates different colors.While originally created for the aerospace industry, dichroic glass is available to the artist community through several specialty manufacturers. Dichroic glass is specifically designed to be hotworked, but it is just as beautiful in its original form.
The main characteristic of dichroic glass is that it has a transmitted color and a completely different reflective color (di=two, chroic = colors, dichroic = two colors!). Light passing through dichroic glass transmits one color, while light bouncing off dichroic reflects another color. And to make it even more amazing, these two colors shift depending upon the angle they're viewed at.
When you combine the play of light with the vibrant colors of dichroic glass, the visual beauty will delight you. Pictured below are an assortment of dichroic items. I'm sure you'll agree that all ways are beautiful!
Stay tuned for more Glass posts in this series. Etsy has so much to offer shoppers — it's like a whole universe! In this Facts and Fancies series, we'll take you on a tour through Etsy's Categories. As we visit these "planets" one by one, we'll talk to sellers and experts and find some of extraordinary items on Etsy. (We'll also get some great insider tips along the way.) While you're at it, you might want to watch this Process video with zulasurfing...
Further Resources:
Learn about more of Etsy's Categories with our Facts and Fancies Reviews.
Visit the Glass Category and View Sponsored Glass Items.
Check out more posts in our Facts and Fancies series, where we take you on a tour through Etsy's Categories. As we visit these "planets" one by one, we'll talk to sellers and experts and find some of extraordinary items on Etsy. (We'll also get some great insider tips along the way.)
| Tags | art, dichroic glass, Facts and Fancies, Glass, glass art, Reviews, REVIEWS, space, video, willowglass, zulasurfing |
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110 comments Login to add your own!
BelleMereBelleFille
My grandfather also worked for the aerospace industry and this article brought back some wonderful memories of him and his 'rubies' that were actually used for the dashboard of a space mission. Beautiful glass! Nice article.
Vanessa
Belle, do you have any photos from your grandfather's dichroic interests - whether while in the aerospace industry or from his home? I was trying to find a photo to illustrate that but couldn't find anything good on the web.
gloilocksandbody
Oh, fascinating! Beautiful glass, and that little frog is adorable!
FancifulForm
thebestvintage
It's fascinating!
I have a bracelet with this glass and now I understand how it came to be.
beachhouseblues
The glass looks magical~
makes me want to take a glass class!!
beautifulbridget
missindie
younghairlove
THIS VASE FROM LEBANON IS ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL THINGS I HAVE SEEN, YOU MUST FEEL LIKE GOD ONCE YOU CREATED SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
copperlilly
WinchesterLambourne
burntmill
PoPkO
Great article Dee! I read your blog (flickr? dont remember) recently about this, and Im so glad to see more here. THEN- I scrolled down to see MY pink dichroic glass pendant! YAY!
CrystalKittyCat
livefunky
Such a wonderful article about a dazzling artform! I fell in love with dichroic glass years ago, in all places, at an art/craft fair not too far from Cape Canaveral. The creator of the earrings I bought told me that it was "invented by NASA". I love that connection because it really is like peering into the outer reaches of the cosmos when you behold dichroic glass. Love the video too - those rings are amazing!
IrinaPhotography
visionquest
steinschmuckdesign
tannerglass
Great article Dee and Vanessa! I must admit, I didn't know anything about dicroic glass before reading this (except that I like it). Thanks for the education!
uncharted
jsglassart
VintageEye
all the colors of the ocean, sky, earth,
sunset and sunrise with so much sparkle...lovely!
bylynnkrestel
shoozles
great article ladies- There is some great glass artists here on Etsy :))
4TheSparrowsNest
This is sooo fascinating...I have always loved dichroic glass ever since I first laid eyes on it. I have a very treasured dichroic glass bracelet that was made by a local artist that I received for my highschool graduation. Glass artists are amazing!
ArtBoxDesigns
Amazing examples! I've got a few dichroic pendents in my shop.
Love the article! Thanks!
perfectsixtynine
asundrynotion
What a fascinating journey from the aerospace industry to art!
jenniferlynnstudio
Love reading about how different things that catch my eyes ...are made...thanks! Gorgeous dichroic pieces!
EJPcreations
baconsquarefarm
Thanks for sharing the details on how this glass is made, wow~! your work is beautiful.
ArtDecoDame
PurpleBears
Wow, I would never guess the raw form looks like it does. It's amazing how magical dichroic glass is.
WoollyWonka
BargainHeadbands
BlackStar
GlazedOver
Something so captivating about gorgeous glass. Excellent, informative and fascinating article. Nice job!
Firelily
Fantanstic article! I love dichroic... even prettier in person :)
amysfunkyfibers
cowriegirl
FluteTeacher
SweetwaterGifts
Great video. It's amazing what has come out of the space industry!
MichelleStudio
odiliafu
wishartglass
maiaart
You cannot help but be fascinated by Dichroic Glass!
Great article
Rose442
klacustomcreations
wow beautiful, hard to pick a favorite all are so pretty!
DragonfireBeads
kittytrishia
I have one of Zulasurfings awesome Dichroic glass rings and it is my all favorite piece to this day. You should see the jaws drop when they see it in the sunshine!
kittytrishia
In case anyone was curious the zulasurfing ring I have is the first you see towards the end of the video in the sunshine. :D
GlassElements
sandali
AWESOME !! Thanks for all the insight about dichroic glass -- it's always awesome to learn more about other materials & crafts -- Beautiful trigger happy colors ;)
KanYoFuse
SundraSandrusi
MangoTango
Do I love dichroic glass? The license plate on my car reads DICHRO. :D
willowglass
Good morning, everyone! Nice to wake up to so many wonderful comments. Thanks!
dbabcock
Wonderful article. It's so nice to know the background of artistic creations like this. Thank you. Beautiful works!
Morado
Craftymoose
Great article! I really enjoyed learning more about Dichroic glass! The ring video was amazing, too.
RDGDesigns
Great article!! One thing that wasn't mentioned is how hard it is to use dichro at the torch. You can burn the coating off and be left with nothing but white glitter. It has to be carefully worked which I don't think most people who buy dichroic pieces understand.
willowglass
RDGDesigns, that's a good point. I wrote the article as a glass fuser, but I'm sure one of the lampworkers will cover this in a (hopefully!) future post. So much knowledge to share!
Step-by-steps photos of the fusing process can be seen on my blog.
CombustionGlassworks
I laughed SO HARD when i saw my thumbs up kiln shot!
You can see why i refer to it as Kiln Christmas... either you get a new Porsche...or socks ;p
if you are REALLY interested, I made a short video a while back, "Glass Fusion in 90 Seconds" http://www.flickr.com/photos/combusti...
VintageJamie
evihan
lovelygifts
AnemoneGirl
OverTheTop
I've always wanted to know how this was done. What a great video, and I so want one of those rings! Magical, and so informative. Beautiful pieces chosen as well.
mamaangus
VintageZen
xoxoDesigns
Sooooooo beautiful! I am going to call my mom and sister as I know they would enjoy reading this too!!!
wewillrockyou
it's beautiful stuff! come see ours here: wewillrockyou.etsy.com :)
ovgilliesdesigns
Oohs and Ahhs! Love it! Wish I could make some, maybe in the future :D For now I'll just keep making wish lists!
BelleMereBelleFille
Vanessa: I'm sorry I don't have any photos of my grandfathers glass products. I'm far from home...
IceCreamCandy
funnyfuser
Glass has been my life for 25 years, it will last forever. Great story!
creationsinglass
VIKukA
RightAsRainCreations
Fabulous article! Great job, Dee and lovely work, everyone!
capitalcitycrafts
Thanks for the info- this is one of my loves because it's colorful and I don't make it... combustionglassworks does fabulous work!
AuntCrafty
JanelDudleyBeads
Whoo hoo! I was wondering what was up with all the views in my Etsy shop!! Now I know!!!
XOXOX to Etsy!!
Go glass!!
JanelDudleyBeads
OH! and a big ol hug and kiss to Vanessa especially!!!!
DreamWhimsy
TreeHuggerStudio
katking
Thanks for the great article!! I also LOVE working with dichroic glass; the transformation in the kiln is utterly amazing....Great selections, too!!
GazedUponGlass
Great article!
Dichroic is fun and fascinating to work with.
So many talented glass artists on Etsy use it in their work.
Everyone should own some. :)
Fishstikks
I admittedly never really paid much attention to dichroic glass before but I am completely blown away by not only the process but the end results!
That video really grabbed my attention and made me want to learn this fascinating art form.
Thank you so much for bringing this to our attention!
Gorgeous rings by the way!!
JudiPaintedit
Mymothersgarden
Fascinating! Thanks for sharing the process with us! Love the "garden decor" stakes by Rwillisglassart!
pjlacasse
Beautiful....I love glass..and the dichroic glass they have come out with are fun to play with! All these pieces are very fun and interesting
TipsyTimeMachine
The vase by J.Winter is especially nice. I love working with dichroic glass whenever I have some spare time to do some fusing and crafting. There's so many beautiful varieties of glass products on etsy, it's very intimidating to think of selling.
CutieDynamite
PLJohnsonGlassArt
Great article...dichroic has been my passion for over 10 yrs...just one look and I was hooked!!
VitalTemptation
tldgrainwear
providenceartglass
maybeads
Wonderful feature! I love the sparkly glass - especially JanelDudley's set - just gorgeous!
Enuwbe
HomeFriedBeads
Mattamorphis
That ring is fabulous. Oh my stars, can you imagine walking downtown NYC and forgetting your 38 at home? That ring will do the trick incase you get mugged.
I need one in every color for every hand!
MintyFreshFusions
MangoTango, if I saw a car with a plate that said DICHRO, I think I would have to follow it!
Tina669
shizendesigns
YookalyptusGlass
BelleMereBelleFille, please do tell more of where they used dichroic glass for the space missions if you know.I make and sell dichroic glass jewellery (on break at moment while re-locating), and I have in the past read that they used it as an interference filter on the astronauts visors, but do you know if they used it for the shuttle windows, or if it was used under the launch to absorb some of the heat generated by the engines? The latter was told to me by a customer. It is difficult to get hold of this information almost first hand and your Gramps info that he passed onto you is the best. Do you recall what these 'ruby' gems on the dashboard were used for? Thanks very much :)
DIPdesigns
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