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Designing in the digital age.
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Throughout the centuries, not much has changed in the way stained glass windows are
constructed. Electricity has streamlined glass and lead manufacture and the studio artist can
now use electric soldering irons, kilns, bandsaws, and grinders to speed construction.
The computer age has ushered in a most welcome change. Until recently, artists had to draw or
paint design proposals for their clients. While this often resulted in beautiful watercolor renditions, some imagination was still needed by the clients to be able to picture the window in place.
We now use a computer program for designing windows and panels. This program realistically
simulates a finished window by layering lead-lines and digitized glass pieces over a background photo. The process enables the designer and clients to better visualze the finished window in its setting and easily make adjustments for final approval. |
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(Fellow artists may download the program through this link)
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A typical window design process is as follows:
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1. We photograph the existing window and discuss potential design ideas with the clients.
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2. The photo is placed in Glass Eye 2000 and scaled to size (note the inches below the toolbar). Starting with the border
lead, we draw the external and internal lead lines in their varying widths. They can be bent, moved, and altered at any stage. |
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3. Shapes are "colored" using the digital glass samples and the background allowed to show through
where no colored or textured glass is placed. |
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Glass Eye 2000 contains actual glass samples from major glass manufacturers.
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4. We can zoom in on any portion of the window to attend to detail.
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5. The program allows us to accurately estimate quantities and materials costs, designs can be printed out
or emailed to a client, and full-size patterns can be printed for glass cutting and window construction. |