About
Summer Skies Dichroic Glass
Dichroic glass
is an extraordinary medium for artists to work with. The colors
are spectacular, and they change with every movement of the finished
piece. Many remark on the similarity to opals— if you like
opals, you will love the look of dichroic glass!
The metallic oxide coatings that are vacuum deposited on the glass
substrate (the base glass can be either clear or black, smooth or
textured) create an optical filter that reflects and transmits wavelengths
of light. The composition of this thin coating reflects and transmits
light differently to produce the range of colors available to the
glass artist. If a piece of transparent coated glass is held up
to the light, one color will be visible; when viewed at an angle,
another (opposite) color will appear. This two-colored effect is
known as dichroic.
The glass for Summer Skies pendants, cabochons, and other items
is cut and layered to produce the optimum aesthetic effect. Pieces
are heated in a kiln, cooled slowly, and then examined. Some are
ready for sale immediately after cooling, with a soft organic edge
called kiln-formed; others are taken to the grinding stone for reworking
and shaping. They are then reheated in the kiln in order to smooth
off the frosted-looking edges produced by the stone; this is called
fire-polishing. Some pieces are reworked and refired several times
to produce a certain effect.
Each piece is unique. An artist can follow a glass "recipe"
but the results are always a little different. The coatings that
are deposited on the base glass can be thicker on one area of the
sheet producing more intense color, so the end product can vary
depending on which part of the sheet the glass came from.
We hope you enjoy your purchase, and are prepared to accept compliments
when you wear it!
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