beautiful tutorial explaining stained glass

1. The
Beauty
and
Physics of
Stained
Glass
A Brief Tutorial for
the Adult Hobbyist
Click here to proceed

2. Welcome , future glaziers!
Stained glass has been a source of inspiration and
reflection for centuries.
This 10 minute tutorial will provide some information to
help you appreciate your new hobby.
First, let’s show you how to progress through the
tutorial.
The stained glass
window pictured
above is from the
famous Chartres
cathedral in France.
Click the arrow key to move forward

3. You may progress at your own pace through this
presentation.
At the bottom of each page you will see arrows to move
backwards or forward through the presentation.
You will also see the glossary icon, so that you can look
up words that are undefined in the text.
Walking Through the Tutorial
Click the arrow keys to move forward
Click this icon to view the glossary
and backward through the tutorial.

4. How Glass
TOPICS
is Made
Physics of The menu bar on the left of
Glass each screen shows the topics
covered in this tutorial.
Types of
Glass As you advance through the
tutorial, you will see how the
Joining current topic turns blue.
Pieces of
Glass – Foil See how the first topic is blue
or Came? rather than lavendar?
Quiz

5. How Glass
is Made
It is suggested that you
Physics of progress in the order shown.
Glass
Also, note the progress you are
Types of making in the box at the
Glass bottom of the page.
Joining Let’s get going!
Pieces of Next, a review of what you can
Glass – Foil expect to gain from this
or Came? tutorial.
Quiz
Screen 5 of 48

6. How Glass At the end of this tutorial,
is Made you will have learned….
Physics of • What three main
Glass components go into
Types of
glass
Glass • Three qualities or
physical properties of
Joining
glass
Pieces of
Glass – Foil • Four types of stained
or Came? glass
• Whether to use foil or
Quiz
came in your projects
Screen 6 of 48

7. How Glass
is Made How Glass is made
Physics of
Glass
Types of
Glass
Joining
Pieces of
Glass – Foil
or Came?
Pictured above is a chunk of obsidian.
Quiz
Screen 7 of 48

8. How Glass
is Made Glass is made of silica (sand), sodium
Physics of carbonate (soda ash), and calcium
Glass carbonate (limestone). In its natural
Types of
form, glass occurs as obsidian rock.
Glass
Nature first made glass when lightning
Joining
struck sand. The superheated sand
Pieces of
Glass – Foil melted and reformed as it cooled
or Came? (annealed) into obsidian.
Quiz
Screen 8 of 48

9. How Glass Online resources regarding how glass is made…
is Made
Physics of
Glass
Types of
Glass
Joining
Pieces of
Glass – Foil Watch this short video about how glass is made.
or Came?
http://videos.howstuffworks.com/discovery/
Quiz 28024-some-assembly-required-how-glass-is-
made-video.htm
Screen 9 of 48

10. How Glass Online resources regarding how glass is made…
is Made
Physics of
Glass
Types of
Glass
Joining
Pieces of
Glass – Foil
or Came? Here is an interesting website with a text version of
how glass is made.
Quiz
http://www.bigsiteofamazingfacts.com/how-is-glass-made
Screen 10 of 48

11. After being mixed at 3000
degrees Fahrenheit, the
How Glass sand, soda ash, and limestone
is Made mixture is now liquid and is
floated on a pool of molten tin.
Physics of
Glass
The glass cools into a reasonably
smooth consistency. Gases and
Types of
impurities escape in the heat.
Glass
Tiny bubbles that remain in glass
give it “seedy” appearance (i.e.
Joining
as if small seeds were dispersed
Pieces of
throughout).
Glass – Foil
or Came?
Molten glass can be molded or
pressed to obtain different
Quiz
textures in the glass.
Screen 11 of 48

12. How Glass
is Made
Physics of
Glass
See how the clear glass
Types of in this photo has texture.
Glass
There are at least five
Joining different textures in this
Pieces of project.
Glass – Foil
or Came? These are all made by
different manufacturing
Quiz techniques.
Screen 12 of 48

13. How Glass Most glass is machine drawn, meaning it is manufactured in
is Made huge sheets as you saw in the video clip. Different
techniques can be used to achieve different coloration and
Physics of texture.
Glass
As glass is being made, metal oxides are added to provide
Types of color.
Glass Pressed glass has textural patterns pressed into the glass as
it cools.
Joining
Pieces of Notice how this glass in the background has a pressed
Glass – Foil pattern that is reminiscent of an old tin ceiling.
or Came? The coloration varies from the top to the bottom and its
shiny reflection of light is due to its iridescence.
Quiz
Screen 13 of 48

14. Glass can be
How Glass
pressed, as we have
is Made
seen. It can also
Physics of blown.
Glass
See how the circles
Types of of glass in this photo
Glass appear to have
centers and
concentric rings.
Joining
Pieces of
That was where the
Glass – Foil
glass was connected
or Came?
to the hollow tube
used to blow the
Quiz
glass into shape.
Screen 14 of 48

15. The Physics of Glass
How Glass Light Refraction
is Made
Light passes through the glass and is
Physics of refracted in different ways based on the
Glass refractive properties of the glass.
Types of
Glass
Joining
Pieces of
Glass – Foil
or Came? Light enters
A rainbow
the prism
Quiz of colors
exits the
prism
Screen 15 of 48

16. Light Refraction
How Glass
is Made
The beauty of stained glass comes from its
Physics of refractive qualities….opacity, translucency or
Glass transparency.
Types of Some stained glass looks better when lit from
Glass behind, but can appear dark when light hits it
from the front.
Joining
Other pieces look luminous when light comes
Pieces of
from the front.
Glass – Foil
or Came?
A combination of transparent, opaque and
translucent glasses in one project adds visual
Quiz
interest and depth.
Screen 16 of 48

17. How Glass
is Made
Physics of
Glass
We tend to think of rich jewel tones when we think of
Types of stained glass – pure color when the light shines through!
Glass That glass is transparent – it allows light to go through.
Joining Some glass is opalescent – meaning it has a milky white
Pieces of appearance in addition to some color. The coloration can
Glass – Foil be swirled, as in this orange glass.
or Came?
Quiz
Screen 17 of 48

18. How Glass
is Made
Physics of
Glass
A modern trend is to have streaky glass with gradations of
Types of color, as this orange glass has.
Glass Parts of this orange glass look milky, meaning it is opaque
and light will not go through well.
Joining Parts of this glass are translucent, which mean some light
Pieces of goes through.
Glass – Foil
or Came?
Quiz
Screen 18 of 48

19. How Glass
is Made
Types of Glass….
Physics of
Glass Thinking about what you have learned of the
refractive properties of glass, consider this
Types of example in the background.
Glass
Take a moment to look at the textures, colors,
Joining and luminosity of this piece.
Pieces of
Glass – Foil
or Came?
Quiz
Screen 19 of 48

20. How Glass
is Made
Types of Glass….
Physics of Different manufacturers produce unique versions
Glass of stained glass for the hobbyist. In general,
though, the types of stained glass are categorized
Types of by the coloration and manufacturing process
Glass used to make the glass. Most glass is machine-
drawn rather than blown, and the coloration
Joining varies from transparent to opaque.
Pieces of
Glass – Foil 1. Cathedral
or Came? 2. Opalescent
3. Wispy
Quiz 4. Fractured/Streamer
Screen 20 of 48

21. Cathedral – Transparent, single color
How Glass glass, which may have texture or be smooth.
is Made
Physics of
Glass
Types of
Glass
Joining
Pieces of
Glass – Foil
or Came?
Quiz
Screen 21 of 48

22. Cathedral – Transparent, single color glass, which
How Glass may have texture or be smooth.
is Made
Opalescent – flourine is added to clear glass to
Physics of
give it a milky appearance. Other colors may
Glass
be added as well.
Types of
Glass
Joining
Pieces of
Glass – Foil
or Came?
Quiz
Screen 22 of 48

23. Cathedral – Transparent, single color glass, which
How Glass may have texture or be smooth.
is Made
Opalescent – flourine is added to clear glass to
Physics of
give it a milky appearance. Other colors may
Glass
be added as well.
Types of
Wispy – A blend of translucent and opaque glass
Glass
that usually results in a swirly, wispy
appearance to the glass.
Joining
Pieces of
Glass – Foil
or Came?
Quiz
Screen 23 of 48

24. Cathedral – Transparent, single color glass, which
How Glass may have texture or be smooth.
is Made
Opalescent – flourine is added to clear glass to
Physics of
give it a milky appearance. Other colors may
Glass
be added as well.
Types of
Wispy – A blend of transparent, translucent and
Glass
opaque glass that usually results in a swirly,
wispy appearance to the glass.
Joining
Pieces of
Glass – Foil
or Came? Fractured/Streamer– Fractures are small shards of
glass bubbles that have been broken, while
Quiz streamers are long strands of colored glass.
These are pressed into machine-drawn glass as it
cools to form unique patterns.
Screen 24 of 48

25. How Glass A word to the wise…
is Made The coloration and texture of your stained
glass present some challenges to the
Physics of novice. It may be difficult to cut straight
Glass lines in fractured or streaked glass. Also,
in wispy glass, the coloration in one area
Types of of the sheet may not have the best
Glass refractive quality you want for the piece.
Joining Cutting stained glass is not as easy as
Pieces of cutting paper or fabric.
Glass – Foil
or Came? Start with inexpensive glass and practice
your cutting techniques before purchasing
Quiz expensive glass!
Screen 25of 48

26. How Glass
is Made
Physics of
Glass
Types of
Glass
Joining
Look at the way
Pieces of
these pieces
Glass – Foil
were joined.
or Came?
Notice that there
are some holes
Quiz
between pieces
of glass.
Screen 26 of 48

27. How Glass
is Made
Physics of
Glass
Types of
Glass
Joining
Pieces of
Glass – Foil
or Came?
This piece was put together using
Quiz the copper foil technique.
Screen 27 of 48

28. How Glass
is Made
Physics of
Glass
Types of Each
Glass piece
was
Joining edged
Pieces of with
Glass – Foil copper
or Came? foil
This piece was put together using
Quiz the copper foil technique.
Screen 28 of 48

29. How Glass
is Made Pinned
Physics of into
Glass place
Types of Each
Glass piece
was
Joining edged
Pieces of with
Glass – Foil copper
or Came? foil
This piece was put together using
Quiz the copper foil technique.
Screen 29 of 48

30. How Glass Then
is Made Pinned doused
into with
Physics of
place flux…
Glass
Types of Each
Glass piece
was
Joining edged
Pieces of with
Glass – Foil copper
or Came? foil
This piece was put together using
Quiz the copper foil technique.
Screen 30 of 48

31. How Glass Then
is Made Pinned doused
into with
Physics of
place flux…
Glass
And
Types of Each soldered
Glass piece together
was on both
Joining edged sides
Pieces of with
Glass – Foil copper
or Came? foil
This piece was put together using
Quiz the copper foil technique.
Screen 31 of 48

32. How Glass
is Made
Physics of
Glass
Types of
Glass
Joining
Pieces of
Glass – Foil
or Came?
Quiz
Notice how this project is fitted into a wood frame, so that the copper-
foil-wrapped pieces don’t move around while soldering.
Screen 32 of 48

33. How Glass
is Made
Physics of
Glass
Types of
Glass
Joining
Compare this piece with the dawg paw from
Pieces of
the previous screen.
Glass – Foil
or Came?
This piece is more architectural. See how these
lines are straighter, thicker and darker than the
Quiz
joints in the dawg paw?
Screen 33 of 48

34. How Glass
is Made
Physics of
Glass
Types of
Glass
Joining
This piece was put together using the came method.
Pieces of
Glass – Foil
or Came?
Quiz
Screen 34 of 48

35. How Glass
is Made
Physics of Came comes in two forms – “H” channel and
Glass “U” channel. These names come from the
shape of the profile of each type of came.
Types of
Glass The “H” channel is used to connect interior
pieces of glass while the “U” channel is used to
Joining finish the exterior edges of the project.
Pieces of
Glass – Foil Either type of came can be flat or have a
or Came? rounded finish.
Quiz Came is most frequently made of lead, but zinc
is also used as well.
Screen 35 of 48

36. How Glass
is Made
Physics of
Glass
Types of
Glass
Joining Here is a profile of the came.
Pieces of
Glass – Foil Notice that the glass pieces fill in
or Came? the top and bottom parts of the
“H”.
Quiz That is why “H” channel is used
for the interior joints.
Screen 36 of 48

37. How Glass
is Made
Physics of
Glass
Types of
Glass
Joining
Pieces of
Glass – Foil See how the pieces of glass fit into
or Came? the came.
Quiz
Screen 37 of 48

38. Foil is the predominant method
How Glass these days.
is Made It requires much practice to
apply foil evenly around each
Physics of piece of glass.
Glass Additionally, you will want to
practice soldering, which can be
Types of difficult to master.
Glass Came is more forgiving and
easier to use, but there are
Joining concerns about the lead.
Pieces of
Glass – Foil
or Came?
Quiz
Screen 38 of 48

39. How Glass You have now
is Made completed the
four modules of
Physics of
Glass this tutorial.
QUIZ TIME!
Types of
Glass
Joining
Pieces of
Glass – Foil
or Came?
Quiz
Screen 39 of 48

40. How Glass You have now
is Made completed the
four modules of
Physics of Write your answers on a sheet of paper.
Glass this tutorial.
QUIZ TIME! When you have completed the quiz, the
correct answers will be revealed.
Types of
Glass
Joining
Pieces of
Glass – Foil
or Came?
Quiz
Screen 40 of 48

41. How Glass You have now
is Made completed the
four modules of
Physics of Write your answers on a sheet of paper.
Glass this tutorial.
QUIZ TIME! When you have completed the quiz, the
correct answers will be revealed.
Types of
Glass
1. What three main components are used in making glass?
Joining
Pieces of 2. What are three qualities or physical properties of glass?
Glass – Foil
or Came? 3. Describe the four types of stained glass.
Quiz 4. Should you use foil or came in your projects?
Screen 41 of 48

42. How Glass
is Made
Physics of
Glass
Types of
Glass Key Ingredients of Glass—
1. Silica (sand)
Joining 2. Sodium carbonate (soda ash)
Pieces of 3. Calcium carbonate (limestone)
Glass – Foil
or Came?
Quiz
Screen 42 of 48

43. How Glass
is Made
Physics of
Glass
Types of
Glass Physical Properties of Glass—
Refraction!
Joining Transparency allows light to shine through
Pieces of Opacity allows very little light to shine through
Glass – Foil Translucency is in between transparency and opacity.
or Came?
Quiz
Screen 43 of 48

44. How Glass
is Made
Physics of
Glass
Types of Glass—
Types of Cathedral glass is transparent, single color glass.
Glass Opalescent glass has a milky appearance due to added
flourine.
Joining Wispy glass is a mixture of colors barely blended so that the
Pieces of glass takes on a wispy, swirly appearance.
Glass – Foil Fractured/streamers glass has shards of colored glass or
or Came? tubules of glass inserted to create interesting patterns.
Quiz
Screen 44 of 48

45. How Glass
is Made
Physics of
Glass
Foil or Came?
Types of This decision depends on the type of projects and your level
Glass of concern about health risk.
Came can be used in most every flat project – windows or
mosaics. But for shaped projects, such as a Tiffany
Joining
lamp, copper foil is best.
Pieces of
If you have small children in your house who might be
Glass – Foil
tempted to get into your supplies, both methods have risks.
or Came?
If you have concerns about exposure to lead, choose a zinc-
based came or use copper foil.
Quiz
Screen 45 of 48

46. Glossary
Anneal to make stronger by heating and then cooling
Flux a chemical cleaning agent used when soldering to
help metals flow
Glazier centuries ago, someone who made glass was a
glazier. In modern times, a glazier is a construction
worker who specializes in repairing glass
Iridescence the quality of changing hue depending on the angle
at which the object is viewed
Luminous the quality of being lit up
Opalescence exhibiting a milky iridescence like that of an opal
Refraction the bending of light rays as they pass through a
substance
Solder metal alloys, usually tin and lead, used to join fusible
parts.
Click arrow to return to screen 3 Screen 46 of 48

47. This is the homepage for the Stained Glass
Association of America. Check out their
newsletter and annual conferences.
http://stainedglass.org/
This is a link to the video about how glass is
made. It was produced by the Discovery
Channel – you probably recognized some of
the TV hosts who appeared in this clip!
http://videos.howstuffworks.com/discovery/2
8024-some-assembly-required-how-glass-is-
made-video.htm RESOURCES
Here is the link to the page that offered
information on how glass is made in text
format.
http://www.bigsiteofamazingfacts.com/how-
is-glass-made
Screen 47 of 48

48. This link takes you to the page where the four
types of glass are described. Be sure to surf to
other related pages when visiting this one!
http://www.ehow.com/facts_5004230_types-
stained-glass.html
Go here to see definitions of more types of
glass sold to stained glass artists. This site is a
commercial site for selling stained glass
projects.
http://pw1.netcom.com/~mmglass/types.html
#flas MORE
Here are links to pages with free stock photos
which I used in this presentation:
RESOURCES
http://www.shutterstock.com/
http://www.dreamstime.com/
Screen 48 of 48