Common Questions - FAQ's

Prints on Glass utilises a number of processes and printing equipment, depending on the application, budget and end result required. Most photographic pieces are printed on high gloss photographic media and mounted directly to the rear of the glass surface. Direct to glass printing involves the application of ink, digitally printed to the rear glass surface. If we are using ceramic inks these are baked into the surface of the glass, rendering them part of the glass and making them permanent and highly resistant to wear tear and damage. If we are using non-ceramic inks (these inks produce more vivid colour images than ceramic inks because they have a far wider colour gamut), the digitally printed image can be sealed using a two pack gloss paint that can contain colour or tint and leaves the finished piece with a high definition finish. Where the glass piece may be visible from both sides, we may choose to digitally print a vivid colour image onto an interlayer and laminate the interlayer between 2 pieces of glass. This allows the finished piece to have a gloss glass finish on both sides and the print is protected in the middle. The print can be transparent, translucent or opaque. Our glass pieces can be made for internal and external use. We can print completely opaque pieces which would suit artwork mounted on a wall, partially transparent pieces such as office reception signs where the logo is printed bold and the rest of the glass is left completely clear, partially opaque pieces which still let light through but cannot be seen through such as a glass toilet door, or less opaque pieces that cannot be seen through but show a distorted figure from the other side such as a bathroom window. We can also print translucent pieces such as office partitions that have images printed on them but can still be substantially seen through. Based on the specification or requirement you are aiming to achieve, we have a solution for you. From a small desk mounted print to entire building facades, we have the right product and solution to meet your needs.

We offer four mounting choices when purchasing your Prints on Glass:

This form of mounting is our most popular choice. It is simple, easy to install and allows you to relocate your print as you wish. Your print is supplied with one split mounting batten attached to the rear of the print. The rest of the parts including screws and fixings come in the box with detailed installation instructions when we ship your print. No part of the mounting system is visible once your print is installed on the wall. If you want further help, refer to the “DIY How To” video here

We supply the print with 4 or more holes in the corners of the glass, 30 mm in from each side and 4 or more 19 mm diameter metal stand-off fixings. The standard mounts we supply are visible and
stand the glass print 25 mm off the wall. This method is popular for signage and for prints with
transparent sections of glass..

These are 4 tiny chrome clips often used to mount mirrors. Only a tiny portion of the chrome can be seen once the glass is mounted. The print can be mounted flush to the wall. The top clips have a
small spring allowing the glass piece to be removed as desired.

Acrylic Keyhole Mount 

Our acrylic keyhole mounts are manufactured from 5mm thick acrylic and are 50x50mm. they are designed for supporting reasonably light wall prints. The prints can be hung on a simple small screw.

Although our standard product has an incredible finish, you can go that step further and request our metallic finish. We print your image on to a metallic pearl-based photographic media, prior to mounting it to the glass. The result is a slightly brighter finish with more vivid colour depth in the image. There is a hint of silver metal visible through the image.

We work with all of these substrates. However, glass is our passion and we believe there is no better choice. There are some big differences with these substrates:

• We only use ultra-clear toughened glass with no green tinge to ensure your image is perfect.
• Glass is a far superior product compared to acrylic.
• Glass, unlike acrylic, is flat so it will not distort your image.
• Glass, unlike acrylic does not generate static charge which attracts dust. Acrylic and dust are enemies.
• Glass is not soft like acrylic so it can be cleaned without fear of scratching. Acrylic is very soft and prone to micro scratches on the surface.
• Glass is structurally stiff and so it does not warp or bend like acrylic does when mounted with a printed image. When we use acrylic, a frame on the rear of the print is required to prevent the acrylic bending and twisting over time. As a result, acrylic is more expensive to manufacture and you end up with an inferior product.
• Acrylic is highly affected by UV light which discolours and crazes it. Glass is not affected by UV light.
• Glass is heavier than acrylic but surprisingly, not much heavier. Our 900 mm x 600 mm glass prints weigh 8 kg. The same item in acrylic weighs 6 kg.
• Glass is cheaper to manufacture than acrylic or canvas.
• Metal prints have the print mounted to the front and hence exposed to physical contact, dust and UV light. Glass and acrylic prints protect the image for life and glass limits the amount of UV light transmitted through it
• We often choose metal when a customer is looking for a matt surface or if the print is intended for external use and subjected to the elements. We can also print directly to brushed aluminium
  with good effect.
• Transports costs Australia wide are identical for glass, acrylic, canvas and metal prints. Weight has little bearing. These goods are shipped by their volumetric weight.
• Canvas prints are a good choice where you are unable to permanently fix images to a wall. They are extremely light and can be put up with removable fixings. Your image, digitally printed on a
  stretched canvas creates a personalized artwork, whereas framed photo prints are more modern.

Our products are undergoing continuous accelerated UV aging and colour fastness testing at certified laboratories within Australia. With changes in technology, our products have the possibility
to change. As a result, we continuously carry out testing in-house and at applicable testing facilities as required and we do not make changes to our manufacturing techniques until new products pass
our stringent testing methods. Our testing is documented.

All of our products are manufactured in accordance with the Australian Standards and Build codes. Our glass products are supplied and installed in accordance with AS 1288-2006 and AS 4667. Glass
not covered or specified within the above 2 standards are in accordance with BS-952-1. Our competent staff will ensure that the right advice and products are selected for your project.

We have the ability to work with glass pieces as small as 100 mm x 100 mm right up to and including 6000 x 3300 mm. If you let us know your requirements we will have a solution for you.

Working on the average of 14 kg per square metre for 6 mm thick toughened glass, we can provide you with an estimate or exact weight of your glass print.

We have successfully printed onto the face of mirrored glass. These have been used for applications such as advertising beer brands on wall-hung framed mirrors. We can also print directly to the rear glass surface and then seal the image in by silver mirroring the back of the glass. We have used this process in more critical applications where the print needs to be protected such as in lining the walls of a lift, car or a building foyer. The face of the glass protects the glass.

To redeem your gift voucher please email info@printsonglass.com.au with your full name, contact number and the gift voucher INV # and we will assist you to process your order.

Our retail webstore prices include GST. The delivery cost is also calculated at the time of ordering and is based on your shipment and location.

We offer and always hold stock of a range of standard size glass blanks. These items are offered at special reduced prices. We can however create any size or shaped custom piece to suit your home.
Simply contact us and we will help you out.

As a rule, allow 10 working days from the date of order, receipt of image and approval to proceed with your order. If you require your order in a hurry simply let us know in advance and we will do our best to accommodate you.

If you can supply us with the negative or photo we can assess and scan this for you. From there we create a digital file, repair it and offer a proof prior to printing. Charges apply so contact us for more information.

Any image can be printed in black and white or sepia. We offer basic file colour conversions or complete image makeovers.

Our in-house design team can repair minor defects right through to major image overhauls. There are also options available to purchase these add-ons during the order process.

We only use the highest quality glass blanks. All of our glass is low iron content, so it is ultra-clear. All our glass is toughened so it is as safe as a frameless shower screen. Our prints are so lifelike even your dog will bark at them.

We use the highest quality inks supplied by companies such as Epson, AGFA, HP, Canon and Roland. We don’t believe on skimping on quality.

The quality of the final print is dependent on the quality of the image you supply. The higher the resolution, the better the quality of the final product. Once you place your order, the first step is for us to assess your image for printing. We will advise you if we believe the image quality is insufficient and offer the option to supply a new image or to cancel your order. As a guide your image file should have approximately 3 pixels per millimetre in both dimensions for the print size you are intending. E.g. I want a 1000mm wide print. The file should be approximately 3000 pixels or more wide. If you don’t know the difference between a megabyte and a mosquito bite, or are just unsure, don’t stress, simply send the image through to us and we will assess it for you, free of charge. We won’t proceed any further until you give us permission to.

We can also use digital tools to blow your image size up with limited image loss.

Native photos taken by an iPhone’s rear camera (6s, 7, 8, X, 11) have a resolution of 4032 x 3024 pixels and are approximately 3 MB in size. As a guide 4032 pixels would let you print:

• 340 mm (13.4 inches) at a good print resolution of 300 dpi,
• 1,422 mm (56 inches) at the lower end of our recommended print resolution of 72 dpi

* Be careful not to resize the image when sending through to us. Email and other applications can automatically lower the resolution of your images.

‘My Photo Stream’ photos actually download around ¼ of the size of the native photos. Please send through the native photo from your phone. If you are still unsure, don’t stress, simply send the image through to us and we will assess it for you, free of charge.

Our website will accept file sizes up to 128Mb. For files larger than 128Mb, please send them via our Hightail link.

In most circumstances it is preferable that you complete a “contact us” form and upload your image via the Hightail link at the same time.

You can also access the Hightail upload link via the “CONTACT US” page found here - https://printsonglass.com.au/contact-prints-on-glass - or you can directly find the Hightail upload link by copying and pasting the following URL into your web browser. https://spaces.hightail.com/resolve/u/PrintsOnGlass . If you simply upload an image without completing a contact form, we have no means of contacting you to assist or provide a quote. Alternatively, your file can be mailed or hand delivered to our Sydney office on a disc or USB flash drive.

We can print from any high resolution media file. All popular graphic formats including PDF, PSD, EPS, Tiff, BMP, and JPEG are supported.

Please provide your image in the highest resolution possible and it its original colour space. We will adjust it to suit which printing process is applicable for your order. A full colour digital proof will be provided before printing to show your image colours. Please note: Actual colours may vary slightly from those displayed on your screen.

We assess your image and provide a proof for your approval. We do not proceed until you approve us to do so. If you are not satisfied with the resolution of your file, you can replace the file or cancel your order.

They certainly are. Your images are protected by international copyright law. You will notice during the order process that we ask you to confirm that you have the “rights” to print the image you have uploaded and ordered. This is our way of protecting ourselves, you, and the owner of the image. Each image you provide is kept on file for a period of twelve months and then deleted from our system.

We work with many well-known professional Australian landscape photographers. If they can trust us with their artwork and images, so can you.

Our canvas prints are stretched over an internal frame. An external frame can be added as an option. We offer a Wooden Shadow or Wooden Trim frame in natural timber, black or white. Custom size prints can also be supplied un-stretched ('print only'). This may be convenient if you are shipping it overseas or planning on stretching it at a later date. A Wooden Shadow frame is L shaped in profile and creates a gap between the canvas and the frame.

A Wooden Trim frame has a simpler flat profile, creating a narrow gap between the edge of the canvas and the frame.

We can offer traditional and modern timber frames – in addition we can supply modern floating frames.If you have anything specific, please reach out and ask.

We accept Amex, MasterCard, Visa, direct deposit or PayPal; we even accept good old fashioned cash.

No. All charges are visible throughout the checkout process and an option given to accept or decline them.

Full payment for any item purchased online is required at the time of checkout.

Our shipping prices are charged based on postcode, size and type of address (business versus residential) and can generally where possible be calculated upon checkout of your order. Where shipping cannot be supplied with your online order we will confirm the options and prices separately. Freight pricing for one item up to a maximum size of 1200mm only is listed below.

• Sydney Metro - $35
• Melbourne Metro - $50
• Brisbane Metro - $50
• Adelaide Metro - $55
• Canberra Metro - $45
• Perth Metro - $105
• Darwin Metro - $140
• Hobart Metro - $80
• Rural AU – Calculated upon checkout (postcode specific)
• Pick up Sydney office – Free
• International – Request a quote

We ship to all corners of Australia and throughout the world. For international freight pricing contact us with your details and we will arrange a quote for you.

Although it is impossible to guarantee this, we take every precaution to ensure your purchase is packaged in the strongest material possible. We have developed our own packaging and successfully ship thousands of pieces worldwide with remarkably few issues. We have less than 0.1% damage rate. We constantly assess our packaging and transport methods to ensure this rate is further reduced. If your order does arrive with damage caused in transit, we will replace it.

Any claim for breakage or damage must be made within 72 hours of receipt. To make a claim call (02) 9415 0355 or email info@printsonglass.com.au stating damage or breakage. Please also include photos. Do not remove or tamper with the damaged glass until after your claim has been assessed by our team. Failure to notify us of any loss within 72 hours could void any possibility of a claim.

Your print will arrive ready to hang, with all the battens, fixings and instructions in the box. The glass has been prepared for hanging with the concealed mount fixed to the rear of the print or with holes pre-cut in the corners of the glass. Complete illustrated instructions are provided plus we have an installation how-to video LINK .We understand this is glass and you may be concerned about your ability to hang it. You can ring and talk to one of our staff for guidance if needed. We do offer a full installation service should yourequire it. Contact us for more details.

Although it is not necessary to align screws to studs, it is good practice to do so when possible.Below is guide on which shows how much weight a plasterboard wall can support using a variety of fixings.Our prints are supplied with the appropriate number of fixings to ensure they are suitable for installation on a standard plaster wall.

View the Guide
Plasterboard_Weight_Guidelines.pdf

Standard 6mm glass prints average 15KG per square meter.

Standard 6mm acrylic prints average 9KG per square meter.

Call us once your kitchen is completely installed, bench tops are in and power points are located. Measuring prior to the bench tops going down is not advised. We advise you to have your range hood preinstalled as well.

We can install against most surfaces but they need to be smooth, dry with no rough areas or sharp protrusions. Gyprock, MDF, Ply and cement render are all a good start.

The Housing Industry Association and Standards Australia have prepared documents on the subject.
HIA information sheet NAT BCA 12-11 states:
Splashbacks – Compliance with gas regulations (Nat)
Members must be aware of the requirements when using glass or stainless steel splashbacks
adjacent to gas cooktops. These materials are popular with modern home designs and many builders
and designers believe they are non-combustible materials and hence are acceptable.
Both these materials conduct heat and if too close to the gas burner will transfer heat to the
unprotected substrate material or timber framing that can have disastrous results.
The relevant Australian Standard AS/NZS 5601 has specific requirements in relation to temperature limitation on nearby combustible surfaces. AS/NZS 5601 requires “a gas appliance shall be installed such that the surface temperature of any nearby combustible surface will not exceed 65° C above ambient”.
To meet this requirement the standard provides the following methods:
If the clearance between the nearest gas burner to the glass or stainless steel splashback is 200 mm or more, then the installation is OK.
If the clearance is less than 200 mm the following is required:
Fixing toughened glass with a minimum thickness of 5 mm to the surface, provided the glass is approved by the manufacturer to be suitable for the purpose or application.Our glass is 6 mm toughened glass and is approved by the manufacturer to be suitable for kitchen splashbacks.
If the clearance from the nearest burner is well below 200 mm, it is advised that adequate protection of the combustible surface is provided by installing fire resistant material that complies with AS 5601, Appendix C. Prints on Glass is happy to assist with this and install a fire resistant backing where required.

You can clean your glass print or splashback using any common household glass cleaner that is available at your local supermarket.

Our standard GPO or power point cut outs are 100mm wide x 60mm high. If you require something specific, please specify.

Please refer to the attached drawing detailing the position of pin mounting holes suited to 6 mm toughened glass.