Down the applicability of traditional acid etching and automated laser techniques, artists and interior designers hang in to push the esthetic possibilities of carved glass. While carved glass still works very well as a window treatment, edge-lighting frames with LEDs or florescent bulbs really accentuate a piece's detail like no other technique can.
Window Treatment
By installing a carved glass piece over an existing window, you can disguise a mediocre view and enjoy a dynamic light source that evolves throughout the day. For best results, try mounting the piece flush on the inside of the window, with the etched side facing away from the interior.Highly portable and stunning in all weather conditions, edge lighting frames ensure that carved glass will display a maximum level of detail. Several companies offer to build custom edge lighting systems to best showcase your particular piece.An artificial light source (usually a row of LED lights or a fluorescent tube) lies horizontally inside the wooden, metal or plastic frame. The glass then slides vertically into the frame, where supports secure its bottom edge right above the internal light source.
Carved, textured surfaces are much more difficult to clean, so your goal should be to seal this side off from dust or water stains.If possible, use a window facing east or west; direct sunlight on carved glass produces kaleidoscopic prisms and beautifully refracted colors.
Edge Lighting
When the bulbs are turned on, the uncut glass bends the light only slightly, allowing it to pass through to the top edge. The carved/etched glass, however, scatters the light in all directions---especially horizontally. This allows the viewer to see view every single detail of the carving.
As an added feature, the LED bulbs can be mixed to produce specific colors or programmed to transition between colors.
