Glossary

Our borosilicate glass artists dedicate years to the mastery and advancement of their craft. Here you'll learn about the techniques they use to forge works of art from glass and fire.

Dichro — A multi-layer iridescent coating applied to glass using a vacuum deposition process. Quartz crystal and metal oxides are vaporized with an electron beam causing the charged vapor to float upward and condense on the glass surface in a crystal structure. Dichro coatings have as many as 30 layers yet the total thickness is only about 35 millionths of an inch.

Originally created for the aerospace industry as a coating for satellite panels, dichro possesses a reflective color unique from its visible color. This exotic property creates color-shifting graphics that change with light and viewing angle. With over 45 vibrant gem-like colors, artists have unlimited freedom of expression, making dichroic glass a prime tool to put any project over the top.

Dichro Image — A graphic design laser-etched into the dichro surface. By removing the dichro coating from the underlying glass in a precise manner any image can be achieved. The image is then sandwiched between two layers of glass, forming a lens that magnifies the brilliance and exquisite detail. Custom dichro /graphics can be implemented into any design.

Fuming — Real silver and gold are heated to release fumes that give transparent glass a semi-opaque backing. Silver fuming creates hues ranging from blue to purple, while gold fumes produce pink, green, and orange patterns. Difficult to master and striking in effect.

Faceted — A coldworking process in which sections of glass are cut-away from a piece of solid glass using a lapidary wheel. Once finished a symmetrical, gem-like design is revealed, distorting the underlying pattern or image.

Frit — A simple technique using crushed glass for a speckled effect within the finished piece. The pulverized medium is poured into the vessel while the glass is in a liquid state. When cooled, the frit is visible suspended in the solid glass.

Lattachino — (Italian) A twisted cane with color running the length, forming a spiral. Traditionally a white twisted cane, hence the root "latte" meaning milk. Generally used in the US to describe other colors and styles of twisted cane as well.

Marble — While glass marbles are usually thought of as perfectly spherical, most borosilicate marbles are not. They often incorporate a flat surface with a multitude of colored lines in intricate patterns. Various styles include reduction marbles, vortex marbles and elaborate 3D scenery marbles. These styles can be combined with other techniques to create unique visual effects.

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