• How is dichroic glass identified?

• What is meant by "color shift"?

• What is C.O.E.?

• More about CBS Standard colors

• More about CBS Premium colors

• More about CBS Specialty colors

• More about CBS Dichroic Patterns

CBS Dichroic glass is identified by glass manufacturer, thickness, texture, base glass color, and coating color, in that order.  Look closely at the manufacturers code and you will see this sequence.  For example btc.y/b would be B(ullseye)T(hin)C(lear)-Y(ellow)/B(lue) and usRib.c/ddr would be u(roboros)s(tandard)Ri(pple)B(lack)-C(Cyan)/D(ark)D(ark)R(ed).  Dichroic on black base glass sometimes contains the color name of it's clear equivalent but you will only see the reflected color.

Color can be fairly consistent across the entire stock sheet, or applied in a rainbow or mixture effect.  Patterns such as dots and squares are always rainbow, so there is a variety of color within a 4" x 4" square piece.  Non-patterned glass will be fairly consistent color, but there may be some slight variation in the color in different areas of a 4" x 4" piece.  Textured glass tends to look variegated due to the different angles the glass reflects.

C.O.E. stands for Coefficient of Expansion. It is a number determined by a scientific formula measuring the expansion and contraction of the glass during heating and cooling.  Artisan dichroic carries only COE 90.

All the glass, dichroic or otherwise, used in a project must have the same COE to ensure that all components are expanding and contracting at the same rate during the fusing process.  Successful results can be obtained with a difference of no more than one point COE (in other words, COE 90 is compatible with COE 89 or COE 91, but not COE 96).

The three major manufacturers of tested compatible COE 90 glass are Bullseye, Uroboros and Wasser.  Bullseye and Uroboros are commonly used as a base glass by dichroic coaters; Wasser is compatible glass for use with dichroic, but it is not generally coated.  Bullseye glass is typically smooth. (Dichroic coaters use Bullseye's Double-rolled glass rather than the "Cat's Paw" texture used in stained glass windows). It can be either thin (1.5mm) or standard (2-3mm) thickness.  Bullseye makes several textures as well, but the majority of the textured dichroic-coated glass you will find is made by Uroboros in standard (3mm) thickness.

Note that Bullseye and Uroboros both produce non-compatible glass for use in stained glass windows, etc. Be sure you use only glass that has been tested compatible in your fusing projects.

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When the dichroic coated glass is fused, or otherwise hot worked, the color may permanently shift toward the next lighter color (toward the purple end of the color spectrum).  The amount of shift must be experimentally determined by the artist for the particular process being used.  The shift will be dependent on the particular color coating, the highest temperature and the length of time that the coating is exposed to the elevated temperatures. After some experimentation, the artist will be able to predict the colors that should be used to reach the desired result.  Read the descriptions of the color groups for more information on color shifting.

View the glass at a 45 degree angle for a representation of the color that will result after fusing or hot working the dichroic glass.

Clear glass is photographed on a black background to show the reflected color. This causes some, especially the patterns, to appear black when they are actually clear. All pictures of glass with a rainbow or mixture coating are representative of the pattern, not the actual piece you are purchasing.

The two major manufacturers of tested compatible 90 COE glass are Bullseye and Uroboros, although any glass can be coated. Bullseye glass is typically smooth, but they do produce a couple of thin (1.5 mm) textures. Uroboros manufactures numerous textures, in both thin and standard (2-3mm) thicknesses.

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The first color in the name is the straight through transmitted color. The name after the slash is the straight back reflected color. When the Dichroic color is coated on black glass, the transmitted color is completely absorbed by the glass and only the reflected color is visible.

When CBS Standard Color Dichroic Glass is fused or otherwise hot worked, the color will permanently shift toward the next lighter color (moving toward y/p).

This is the key point in understanding the process that CBS has taken in the creation of the Standard Colors. For example, a piece of CYAN/COPPER, when fused, will become more like an unfired BLUE/GOLD sheet.  The exact amount of color shift must be experimentally determined by the artist for the particular process being used.  The shift will be dependent on the highest temperature and the length of time that the coating is exposed to the elevated temperatures.  After some experimentation, the artist will be able to predict the colors that should be used to reach the end result desired.  In general, the color of a sheet of Dichroic glass viewed from a 45 degree angle, will be the color that results when hot worked. (This rule applies to all CBS standard Dichroic colors.)

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CBS created Specialty colors in response to customer input, as well as experimental design.  Their success at creating a brilliant reflective color is evident.  These specialty colors, when fused or otherwise hot worked, remain relatively the same color.  With a minimal shift, these colors remain their true vibrant color whether coated on black glass or clear glass.  The transmitted color is not noted due to the fact that these colors were created mainly for their reflective properties, but they have become just as popular on clear glass as on black glass.

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• Green/Magenta
• Green/Magenta Blue
• Green/Pink
• Silver
• Red/Silver Blue
• Rainbow 2

• Dot 1 (1/16" dot)
• Dot 2 (1/8" dot)
• Dot 3 (1/2" dot)
• Square 1 (1/8" sq.)
• Square 2 (3/16" sq.)
• Square 3 (1/4" sq.)
• Marquis 1
• Marquis 2
• Brick
• Honeycomb
• Stripes (3/4")
• Stripes (1 1/2")
• Stripes (2")
• Balloon 1 (1" dia.)
• Balloon 3 (3" dia.)
• Boxes 1 (1/4")
• Boxes 2 (1")
• Reptilian
• Corkscrews
• Cool Lava
• Hot Lava
• Aurora Borealis
• PixieSticks
• Fusion

Most CBS patterns are coated in a Rainbow configuration.   This means that a dichroic coated pattern sheet will have all the colors of the rainbow in a gentle arch across the sheet.  For example: a square pattern will have uniform squares across the entire sheet as the squares gradually change from one color to the next in an arch from one side of the sheet to the other.  When fused or otherwise hot worked, each color of the rainbow will shift toward one color lighter, much like the shift in the Standard Colors.

Four CBS patterns (Balloons, Boxes, Corkscrew and Reptilian) are coated in a Mixture configuration only.   This results in random spots of overlapping standard dichroic colors rather than stripes like the rainbow.  Each sheet of Mixture, plain or patterned, is different; not a consistent stripe like the Rainbow.   The good news - some uniquely beautiful color combinations are created, the bad news - it's difficult, if not impossible, to match any given color.

A stock sheet of CBS patterned glass produces 12 individual 4"x4" squares, each one unique.  Because it is not practical to list each 4x4, we have listed 2 color options in the catalog.  You can choose between cool colors (purple, blue, teal, green) or warm colors (golds, copper, red, pink).  Because the colors change over the span of the 4x4, we categorize the glass by it's predominant colors. For example, you may see some gold along the edge of a piece that is mostly purple/blue (cool.)

The Stripes pattern is coated in several individual color variations. These can be seen in the glass catalog pages. Please be aware when ordering the stripes pattern, you may receive center, intermediate, or edge pieces, each of which will have a different configuration of patterning. If you have a preference, please let us know when you order. We will try our best to send your preferred configuration.

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