Eliminating the glare from art that comes with glass can be particularly difficult, as reflective surfaces can scatter light in many directions. Whether the sculpture is hanging on the wall or placed on a pedestal, it can throw light around the room if it is not set up with the proper fixtures.

It’s not enough to just set up a series of high-quality lights because the way they are positioned and configured will have a major impact on how the subject appears. With so many moving parts, it’s best to have a lighting expert diagram a system and select its fixtures to address eliminating glare from your art.

How can a professional help with eliminating the glare from art that comes with glass?

Any subject that has a tendency to reflect light has to be illuminated with high-quality, flexible fixtures. It’s impossible to remove reflections if the fixture can only be installed directly in front of the subject. All this will accomplish is throwing light right back into an observer’s face. Instead, the fixtures have to be arranged with the specific intention of mitigating reflections, and this takes some careful positioning.

Lighting reflective surfaces is an extra challenge when putting together a display, as the intensity of the light, along with its position, can affect how the surface throws reflections. For example, optical framing projectors are normally the choice when lighting creative subjects, and they can work with reflective subjects as well, but they are harder to position just right.

Some lighting experts will instead opt for a diffused light, either placed directly above the subject or below it. Such a light could be installed inside a pedestal, for example. A diffused fixture creates an even level of light instead of a single, intense beam, and this prevents reflections. However, it may not create the dramatic look that a homeowner is aiming for.

If a lighting expert uses an optical framing projector with the subject, then they will have to use positioning to ensure they are eliminating glare from art with glass. Projectors are typically installed inside the ceiling for concealment, and they often come with components that make fine aiming a possibility. For example, Phantom’s projectors are built with a rotating ring and a mounting cradle that, together, allow for 360 degree horizontal aiming, and vertical aiming up to 55 degrees.

Again, the projector should not be installed directly in front of the subject, as the angle at which the beam hits the subject is equal to the angle it creates as it reflects off. The better option, then, is to offset the projector so that it bounces the reflection away from any standard viewing angle.

Eliminating The Glare

This process can take some trial and error, though, as some glass sculptures can scatter the light and cause multiple reflections with a single beam.

An experienced lighting expert, though, has worked with various reflective subjects and can quickly assess how the subject is interacting with the projector.

Controlling light around reflective subjects is a challenge that calls for expert assistance and quality fixtures. Phantom can provide both to a homeowner.

If we can be of assistance addressing your glare problem, contact us or call toll free at 1-800-863-1184.