Creation Of Film Stained-glass Windows For Plastic Windows

2023 Author: Philip Bishop | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-08-25 07:54

• What is a classic stained glass window?
• Using film stained glass
• Film stained glass using Decra Led technology
• Application of other technologies
• On what surface can you create a stained glass window?
• Stained glass prices

Plastic stained glass windows are an inexpensive alternative to stained glass windows assembled from multi-colored pieces of glass. Manual work is much more expensive, a real stained-glass window cannot always be found, it is often impossible to place it on an already finished window. The proposed option is easily attached to the product, regardless of design and dimensions, turning it into an exquisite work of art.

What is a classic stained glass window?

The word Vitrage is translated from French as "glazing". In the old days, it was impossible to make large-sized glass, so the craftsmen had to assemble it from different pieces that differed in size and shape. Gradually, designs began to be decorated with ornaments, which were laid out from the necessary fragments, whole pictures of glass appeared. Such work was highly valued, and stained glass windows became popular.

Modern technologies make it possible to create stained-glass windows, the dimensions of which are practically unlimited. Nowadays, colored inserts can be obtained not only by collecting several glasses into one, but also in cheaper and simpler ways. Stained-glass windows have turned from a necessity into a decorative element, often cheap enough that anyone can afford it. For example, the Tiffany company, which appeared in the 19th century, discovered a completely new way of creating stained glass windows. To do this, the elements of the stained-glass window are first laid out with the desired pattern, then its edges are circled with a copper tape and thus connected. In order for the structure to acquire the necessary strength, it is sealed with tin.

Craftsmen carry out the production of stained-glass windows in various styles:

• Gothic
• modern
• country
• East
• hi-tech
• based on famous works of art, etc.

Various application techniques are used:

• classic stained glass
• Tiffany stained glass
• film stained glass
• fusing
• beating
• sandblasting
• 3 D stained glass

The classical method of application is very complicated and expensive, but the stained-glass windows are attractive in appearance.

Tiffany stained-glass windows are considered the most beautiful, but their manufacture is somewhat difficult. They are realistic and very similar to picturesque paintings; they are made using colored glass fragments of different sizes, shapes, including concave and convex ones. The assembly of such stained-glass windows is carried out exclusively by hand, i.e. each work can be considered author's.

Work begins with creating a sketch, dividing it into fragments. Further, structural parts are cut out of the glasses, grinded to obtain the desired shape and dimensions, the fragments are connected by soldering an adhesive copper tape with lead-tin solder into which each of the prepared fragments is wrapped. Guide profiles are not required when creating a stained-glass window using this technique.

Using a copper base for fastening fragments allows you to create convex and three-dimensional images.

Tiffany stained-glass windows will not suffer from sudden changes in temperature, regardless of the fact that they consist of separate fragments, their strength is no less than products made of a solid glass sheet. It is possible to make such stained-glass windows with your own hands, subject to the availability of appropriate materials and tools, artistic taste and imagination, and the ability to work with great accuracy.

Today, the Tiffany technique is practically not used in the manufacture of furniture. Due to the complex and laborious manufacturing technology, where polymer material is used instead of copper foil, only small partitions, lampshades and paintings are made using it.

In the manufacture of mass furniture, there are polymer stained-glass windows and a method of direct printing on glass. In the production of polymer stained-glass windows, polymer resin is used for drawing volumetric contours on the glass. Then the gaps between the contours are filled with multi-colored varnish. This method creates the illusion of an antique stained glass window.

The principle of direct printing on hard materials is based on the use of special polymer materials that harden when exposed to ultraviolet radiation. High-resolution printing on various hard surfaces does not require exposure to high temperatures. However, such an application excludes the presence of visible bridges between the various color elements of the picture, so it looks a little different from the polymer images.

Thanks to modern technologies and high accuracy of equipment, it is now possible to apply a pattern on glass with an error of 3 to 5 mm, while Tiffany's stained glass elements were measured in centimeters. Resin outlines can also be painted in different colors or left transparent, which gives more room for imagination when developing sketches for subsequent application to glass. On the basis of modern technologies, it has become possible to manufacture furniture elements from solid glass. This makes it possible to use stained-glass windows in structures subjected to various loads. For example, glass doors near cabinets or countertops.

Nowadays, stained-glass windows are no longer an attribute of only elegant and luxurious classic interiors. The area of their application and plot possibilities have significantly expanded. Now, when making stained-glass windows, you can use drawings of various styles and colors, which will fit well into the interior of modern rooms and give an original look to the interior light space.

Using film stained glass

Using this technology, stained glass is produced as follows: the artist creates the desired pattern on the glass, on top of which a pattern or film is applied. It turns out an inexpensive imitation of glass stained glass, which has high strength. This technology is called film stained glass and is widely used to decorate plastic windows.

A feature of the technology is the ability to apply stained glass to plastic windows without removing the glass unit, without disassembling or changing it.

Film stained glass using Decra Led technology

Decra Led stained glass production technology is a high quality alternative to natural stained glass. The quality and appearance of modern stained glass windows is not inferior to classic stained glass windows. This is achieved through:

• neat lead broaches;
• the volume and shine of the used crystal elements;
• the ability to produce radial stained-glass windows (curved glass) and large-area stained-glass windows on glass of any thickness without additional complex structures;
• use in any climatic conditions.

Huge color palette of materials (films, lead broaches).

For the production of stained-glass windows, English certified materials are used:

The basis for the stained-glass window can be transparent, tinted, or chemically frosted opaque glass with a thickness of 4 mm. At the request of the customer, for safety reasons, we also use tempered glass; more than 280 types of glass bevelled lens elements (beveli - artificial crystal); special colored films of 70 types of various textures and a UV filter against burnout; lead broaches from 3 to 22 mm wide in 7 colors (natural, gold, brass, graphite, black metallic, white, platinum)..

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Application of other technologies

This technique has been applied relatively recently. Its essence is as follows: the desired drawing or photograph is applied to a special film, then the film is glued to any glass surface. Thus, you can create paintings of any complexity, of any size. Such stained-glass windows are in great demand in private houses with large windows.

English stained-glass windows have become another popular technology. They differ in that the drawing is applied directly to the glass with paint, it is possible to use varnish. This approach has several advantages and disadvantages. The advantages include the following properties:

• Versatility.
• Cheapness.
• Attractive result, quick achievement.

The disadvantages include the following qualities:

• The paint is not resistant to environmental influences.
• The drawing may fade in the sun, washed out by rain and wind, and will require updating after some time.
• The appearance of the picture will deteriorate significantly if it is not restored.

They can decorate plastic windows, doors, stained-glass windows created by the method of fusing or facet production. To create jewelry requires exposure to high temperatures, so the technology is available only for manufacturing companies, and you will not be able to create what you want with your own hands. In addition, a method is used in which a sandblaster is used. Due to the high speed of movement of grains of sand when they collide with the glass at the point of impact, it becomes dull. The resulting pattern is clearly visible from a distance. If desired, you can create a drawing that has a large number of details.

This method is popular for decorating shop windows and non-residential premises, it is not very well suited for apartments, since the glass after processing with a sandblasting machine does not transmit the sun's rays well, it will be quite dark in the room.

On what surface can you create a stained glass window?

Plastic windows with stained-glass windows do not have to be ordered immediately. You can easily improve the window you already have by decorating it to your taste. The simplest and most convenient way is to use stained glass film. It can be placed on the inside of the glass.

Advice: if you have a double-glazed window, and you want to maximally protect the stained-glass film from external influences, you can place it inside the glass. Please note that for this it will have to be disassembled, which can lead to depressurization of the structure.

If the film is placed on an energy-saving glass unit, it will not interfere with its operation in any way, so you can safely arrange a stained glass window, regardless of what type of glass you have installed.

In addition, stained glass can be used as part of interior decoration. If you have glass surfaces that are indoors, such as interior door glass, glass cabinet doors, or coffee table surfaces, you can apply film to them. Often this technique is used to decorate interior doors, windows, partitions used to delimit space. Reception is relevant in residential premises, offices, bars, museums.

Tip: Not only will film save you money and time, but it will also save you the hassle. The fact is that it is quite difficult to install real stained glass in a standard glass unit due to its large width and weight. Due to the use of lead tape, which seals the seams of stained glass, when pressed into a glass unit, the glass may crack at the seams.

Conclusion: stained glass plastic windows are affordable for most apartment owners. They will look very interesting, will fit into any interior, making it more interesting and attractive. You don't have to spend a lot of money or put in effort to create a stained glass window.

Stained glass prices

The cost of making a stained glass window depends on your chosen sketch, style, technique, the number of fragments, the quality of the source material and your imagination. For example, a simple turnkey Tiffany - from 15,000 rubles. for 1 sq. m. The final cost and production time is influenced by the number of parts in the sketch (density per square meter), the complexity of individual elements, the number of colors used. Film turnkey from 8000 rubles. for 1 sq. m.

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