| | | | | Lighter and heavier translucencies are akin to the |
| A few decades ago, the most popular types of | | | | shading of a piece of artwork, and create a |
| doors were the large, heavy, sturdy | | | | wonderful three dimensional effect. |
| medieval-looking wooden doors with great, | | | | Another method of glass frosting is through the |
| intricately carved designs all over the beautifully | | | | Leptat acid process, which was first developed by |
| stained wood. | | | | the Czechoslovakians in the World Fair that was in |
| While those doors may still be beautiful, they also | | | | Osaka, Japan. |
| create a darker, more foreboding atmosphere for | | | | The Leptat acid process frosts and etches glass |
| your home, because they do not allow light | | | | much more deeply than does sandblasting; while |
| through and were usually stained in dark colors to | | | | sandblasting will create a rough sheen over the |
| create the image of being very old. | | | | glass and may look a little plastic-like, the Leptat |
| However, the modern trend has been toward the | | | | acid process frosts glass by creating deep |
| lighter and more elegant glass doors because they | | | | crystalline etchings that make the glass look like a |
| allow plenty of light to pass from window through | | | | cut gem, and causes thousands of glittering lights |
| door, from room to room. | | | | to reflect off the multifaceted surface. |
| Glass doors create a lighter, more welcoming | | | | Leptat etching is truly a beautiful design for your |
| atmosphere, and it’s been proven that a | | | | prospective glass door, but the drawback to it is |
| well-lit home can improve your mood and allow | | | | that you cannot shade your pictures using light |
| you to be more productive in general.Thus, glass | | | | and dark, unlike in sandblasting. |
| doors can be a great option for your home and | | | | The final method of glass door design is, of |
| office, if you would like a warmer atmosphere. | | | | course, stained and colored glass. Stained and |
| There are a variety of designs that can be | | | | colored glass is created using metallic oxides to |
| created on glass doors, just like with wood and its | | | | make colors in the glass; these days, subtly tinted |
| carvings. Glass door design can be very complex | | | | glass can commonly be seen in doors and |
| or very simplistic yet beautiful—there are | | | | windows, and creates a beautiful effect on the |
| many different ways to create wonderful designs | | | | sunshine. |
| on glass. | | | | Stained glass is also more subtle now, with a bit |
| First is the glass frosting process. Frosting glass | | | | of staining and most of the glass left transparent |
| via sandblasting will create a translucent, | | | | so that the effect is not so garishly bright. Stained |
| rougher-looking glass door design that can show | | | | glass can be designed using liquid or semi-solid lead |
| any number of intricate designs. | | | | for the outlines, and then soldering pieces of |
| If you want more depth in your glass door | | | | tinted glass together for the stained glass pieces. |
| design, then sandblasting is great because using | | | | To create it in your own home, you can use glass |
| this method of frosting in several steps, different | | | | paints. |
| transparencies can be created in the glass. | | | | |