There are several processes to color the glass surface. In this short article we will describe the different results you can obtain and applications that best suit each process. 

Glazing

Enameled glass, or lacquered glass, is glass covered by a layer of color all over its surface. Lacquered glass is widely used in interior design, for example for doors and walls claddings, and in architecture, for example for building facades.

Veneto Vetro offers two types of glazing: “hot glazing” and “cold glazing”. With hot glazing, the color is first laid out over the entire surface and then hardened, in order to guarantee coloring for life. Otherwise, with cold glazing glass is first hardened and then colored: in this case the color is deposited on the surface.

Screen printing

Screen printing is the “traditional” system for spreading ceramic paints on flat glass surface, to create customized drawings. In order to do this, you use a “screen printing frame”: a very fine and regular nylon fabric, stretched on an aluminum frame that is impressed by a negative (film). The print color passes through the tiny holes of the cavities left by the weft threads and settles on the surface to be printed. This technique involves the drafting of one color at a time and does not allow to realize shades or chromatic gradations.

After screen printing, flat glass is tempered to make the ceramic paints fix on the glass.

“Hot” screen printing is made after glass grinding and drilling, but before bending.

Screen printing has start-up costs due to the specific printing framework which has to be built for each drawing. That is why it is usually suitable for series processing.

The images below, for example, feature some screen-printed flat glasses and curved glasses for architecture, transport and marine industry.

Digital printing

“Hot” digital printing is the most innovative processing for glass decoration. Here below we explain why Cromoglass®, Veneto Vetro exclusive digital printing process, is often the best solution in architecture, interior design and marine industry!

Cromoglass® digital printing

Cromoglass is the innovative glass digital print process with six-color ceramic paints, combining print versatility with the resistance of ceramic ink.

Compared to traditional screen printing, Cromoglass® guarantees versatility in creating images with multiple colors in one step, and precision in the reproduction of even nuanced images.

After printing, the glass is tempered, thus allowing images to remain unchanged over time, even if exposed to the direct radiation of UV rays and atmospheric agents.

Finally, this technology allows the production of even small batches, starting from a vector file or an image, with reduced start-up costs.

That is why Cromoglass® is the preferred solution for architects and designers to create unique, distinctive and outstanding projects.

Cromoglass® Gold

Finally, Cromoglass® Gold is Veneto Vetro most recent innovation for glass decoration. It is a digital printing with precious ceramic metallic inks in gold and white gold, which allows you to create finely detailed glass surfaces. With Cromoglass® Gold, gold blends into the glass while remaining unchanged and maintaining its value over time. Cromoglass® Gold allows you to realize prestigious projects. Some examples: private homes, luxury contracts, boutiques, shops, hotels, representative offices, up to nautical and naval furniture.

For more information do not hesitate to contact us: sales@venetovetro.com