What Is Dichroic Glass Used For?
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Popular Dichroic Glass Uses: From Function to Artistry to Both
"Fragmenta," by Studio Osman Akan, State of Alaska Public Art Collection
If you’ve seen dichroic glass, you know it’s some of the most visually interesting, engaging, and interactive glass available. What you might not know is all the various applications of this unique product. What is dichroic glass used for? Here are the top three most common use cases.
What Is Dichroic Glass?
Before diving into all the places you can find this type of glass, make sure to check out the article What Is Dichroic Glass? It covers a basic definition, the history of this fascinating product, and several techniques for how it’s manufactured today.
3 Dichroic Glass Applications
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Optical Filters
The first place you can find dichroic glass is in various optical filters. The dichroic nature of the glass selects narrow bands of color, which makes it ideal for use in any of the following:
- LCD projectors
- 3D movies
- Fluorescence microscopes
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Artistic Projects
"Fragmenta," by Studio Osman Akan, State of Alaska Public Art Collection
Because of the inherent beauty of dichroic glass, it is now commonly used in many artistic endeavors. This includes:
- Jewelry. Seen everywhere from individual beads to pendants, dichroic glass has color-shifting qualities that make it an ideal choice for jewelry work. It can be worked into small enough pieces for earrings and rings or be crafted into larger statement pieces for brooches and necklaces.
- Sculptures. Many artists specializing in sculptures and glasswork have turned to dichroic glass. Just as with jewelry, these projects can range significantly in size. You can find artists crafting everything from tabletop sculptures to full exterior art installations.
- Stained glass or mosaic art. For artists looking to capitalize on multicolored glass, dichroic glass is a natural candidate for both mosaics and stained glass.
Every artist has a different process and approach, but the dichroic glass used in art is usually created by a custom glass manufacturing company. The artist works closely with a trusted glass manufacturer, offering exact specifications (size, shape, color tone, texture) to create the perfect glass for a specific art project.
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Dichroic Glass Architecture
Arguably the least known use for dichroic glass is in architectural projects. Dichroic glass can be incorporated into the exterior or interior features of buildings, serving as both a functional part of that building’s architecture and a stunning aesthetic addition to the space.
Popular uses include:
- Building facades or exterior dichroic glass panels (vertical or horizontal).
- Glass flooring panels.
- Glass countertops.
- Interior panels for walls, partitions, shelving, or more.
For some stunning real-world examples, check out these dichroic glass structures from around the world.
Have Any Questions about the Potential Uses of Dichroic Glass?
Whether you’re an artist looking to create your next installation with dichroic glass or you’re an architect who wants to incorporate it into a building’s interior or exterior, don’t hesitate to reach out with questions.
We’re Jockimo, a custom manufacturer of architectural glass products. We have decades of experience creating dichroic glass, dichroic glass sheets, and our trademarked DichroGlass™. We’re always happy to answer questions, provide quotes, send samples, or talk shop about the feasibility of your next dichro project!
