[Tom Swaman]

This thread seeks a whole lot of input on what you recommend for use infront of your photograph.

1) Do you use glass or plastic?

2) If you use plastic, do you use acrylic or a different plastic?

3) What specific glass or grade of glass do you use?

4) What specific grade of plastic do you use?

I do not know if recent information that I acquired is accurate. However, I have been told that the top grade of framing acrylic is actually better at transmitting light than is the best grade of framing glass, namely conservation glass or museum glass. Furthermore, if the acrylic is installed with the photograph with a static neutralizing gun, any contact between the photograph and the acrylic sheet is protected from condensation in the frame because the acrylic is a better thermal insulator than is the glass.

I also saw conservation grade glass that contained 'writing", i.e. partial image retention on the glass that resulted from impurities in the glass, most notably calcium content.

Yes, I realize that the front surface of a print ought best not be in contact with anything other than godd, clean, dry, non-oxidizing air. In practice this is rarely accomplished or even attempted.

How many times have you been framed with poor workmanship when you took your prints to the framers?

Tom