www.plaidonline.com Look for their "Gallery Glass" product
under "glass" and "paints".
This is one of the largest suppliers of the paints for such projects.
They are widely available in Arts and Crafts stores here in the U.S.
There are two types of "glass paints" . One can be used like an
acrylic and is washable at modest high temperature. The other
gives the leaded glass look - sometimes called "stained glass".
(see also www.jurgeninc.com)
As some may remember, I have been designing window sundials
for some years. I first showed models of these at the Chicago meeting
of NASS in 1997. I have only done models in order to prove different
concepts. I first used computer printing of transparencies.
This can produce a "stained glass" appearance much like those
sold by GlassMasters to hang in windows. (see www.glassmasters.com)
However, the transparencies are somewhat too transparent for a
sundial. In order to see the shadow well I have found that light
weight paper works better.
Controlling the transparency of a pane of glass is necessary in
constructing a window sundial. In using actual colored glass one can try
samples in sunlight in order to see if there is enough difference in
light and shade. One of the problems with the "mock stained glass"
paints is that the color and the amount of transparency does not
appear until after it dries. Consequently, you should make several
"samples" of different paints to select what you want.
The paints have two advantages.
1) you can mix the paints. Mixing with a "Frost" white will make
a paint that is too transparent more translucent. In addition, there
are products to make a crackled or frosted appearance.
2) if you don't like the effect in a project, it can be peeled off !
For trials of a window design the computer print is much faster.
However, it is limited in size and lacks the full appearance of a
leaded glass window.
BTW: If you are doing a sundial with these paints, use the mock
lead lines that Plaid sells as "RediLead". These are strips that
stick on the glass or plastic that John mentioned. This will give
much straighter line than those done by hand.
Claude Hartman
35N 120W
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