Solid Color Opalescent Glass  Glass which is both colored and crystallized, creating a single color sheet, more opaque than cathedral glass. Sometimes called "opaque" glass.  

Mixed Opalescent Glass  White glass (opal) mixed with one or more other colors to create a variegated, multi-colored sheet. Light transmission varies with composition. Also called "variegated opalescent," sometimes "streaky.”  

Wispy Opalescent  A Spectrum Glass innovation. Mixed opalescent glass with only thin wisps of white, like lazy cloud trails.

Streaky  Two or more cathedral glasses mixed together to create a multi-colored glass sheet. Some use this term also to describe Mixed Opalescent glass as defined above.

Cathedral Glass  Describes transparent glass that is monochromatic -- i.e., single color sheet glass, with smooth or textured surfaces.

Iridescent  Surface treatment in which a layer of metallic oxide is bonded to the hot glass surface just after sheet-forming, resulting in a colorful, shimmering effect.

SilverCoatÔ  Spectrum Glass Company’s unique art glass products with an added bright, reflective silver-coat to one side.

Mirror (not pictured)  Standard clear float glass with a reflective backing .  

BaroqueÔ  A machine made "reamy" glass, created by combining glasses of mis-matched compositions. The different glasses "oppose" each other when they are stirred together, creating artistic 3-D swirls. A Spectrum exclusive.

Ring Mottled  An opalescent glass in which rates of crystal growth have been controlled to create ring-shaped areas of opacity. The effect is a visual surface mottling.

Fractures and Streamers  In the single roll process, thin glass chips or shards (fractures) and/or glass string (streamers) are arranged on the casting table before the glass is poured, and thus pressed into the glass sheet as it is formed.

Beveled  Usually clear plate glass with edges cut and polished at angles other than 90°.

Textures:

Waterglass^®  A Spectrum Glass exclusive. A natural surface texture created by stretching the hot glass sheet while it is still in a malleable state. The result is gentle, rolling waves that resemble the surface of a lake or stream.

Artique^®  A simulated full antique produced by the Double Roll method.  The linear striations are scribed into the hot glass surface.  Introduced by Spectrum Glass.

Ripple  A surface texture, often dramatic, consisting of linear or irregular ripples. Created naturally in some sheet-forming processes, imitated with an embossing roll in others.

Tight Ripple  Like Ripple, Tight Ripple is made by changing the gearing on the rollers so that the glass is gathered into folds while still soft.

Granite  Rough linear surface is applied to the back side of the sheet by a roller that has a negative of the texture engraved on it. Granite will break up and diffuse light passing through it and add depth to any sheet.

Fibroid  This linear texture, made by a pattern on the rolling equipment, has many different uses, taking advantage of its unique light-scattering quality.

Hammered  The Hammered texture is another classic. A soft non-linear surface is applied to the back side of the sheet by a roller that has a negative of the texture engraved on it. Hammered will gently break up and softly diffuse light passing through it and add warm depth to any sheet.

Cobblestone  A unique texture developed by Armstrong Glass. It is similar to hammered glass, but with a lower profile.  It is very mild in texture, barely obscuring the light as it passes through.

Flemish  As the texture on an opalescent mix, the effect is an almost mottled look as the thickness variations allow different amounts of light to pass.

Smooth  Cathedral glass with a pristine surface without any texture.

Glue Chip  A texture created on the surface of cold glass by applying hot animal glue and allowing it to dry under controlled temperature and humidity conditions. As the glue dries and contracts, it chips the glass surface in a natural and attractive pattern, likened to frost on a window pane.

Seedy  Glass in which air bubbles are entrapped. Air or gas is injected into the molten glass prior to forming the sheet.

Drapery  Glass sheets with multiple dramatic folds, likened to those in hanging drapes.

Rough Rolled  A very common surface texture. This is a very slight texture added to the surface with a rough roller while the glass is molten.

Herringbone  A type of rippled glass in which the ripples are in a feathered zig-zag pattern.

Reeded  A textured glass with uniform parallel peaks and valleys of a specified size, such as 1/4".

Mirage®  Has a rolling, wavy pattern and has the appearance of a shimmering, flat desert or calm, rippling water.  Manufactured by Armstrong Glass Company.

Shadowglass®  The back of the glass is imprinted with small raised areas that create a subtle shadowed effect when exposed to light. The irregular clusters result in areas of varying densities.  Manufactured by Armstrong Glass Company.

Other  The stained glass industry is constantly exploring new techniques and recipes, and there's a world of textures and colors available.

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