Dichroic – Clear or Black?

[delicateweasel]

Hi all! I was just wondering, for those of you who use dichroic, do you have a preference for working with clear or black dichroic? Why?
Rachel

[Carri L]

My preference has always been to work with the black Dichroic. Personally, I just prefer the colours, as they appear more vibrant in the finished piece. Having said that, when I asked my supplier which was more popular, they replied that they sell twice as much clear Dichroic as black. I guess it just boils down to personal preferences.

[Rebekah81]

I prefer the clear for both fusing and lampworking. In lampworking, most of the recommendations for working with dichroic say to melt from the back and then lay the dichroic face down and seal down the edges to prevent scumming. I’m now using the prefused strips (available through Arrow Springs & Franz) for lampworking but I still prefer the clear — it’s more versatile. If I want the punch of black, I can put black in the bead. That was my conclusion with fusing as well — I can add black to clear if I want that design look.

Rebekah

"The butterfly counts not months but moments, and has time enough." Rabindranath Tagore

[DesertDreamer]

I prefer clear, mostly because I do a lot of color layering and I think clear is easier to apply without scorching it. However, if you want the dichro to be right on the surface, then black-based looks more intense, to me.

Karen (K) Sherwood

[killerbeedz1]

I also vote for the clear.

Patsy

Ebay: http://search.ebay.com/_W0QQsassZkillerbeedz1
Etsy: http://killerbeedz1.etsy.com/

[Vaverska]

I’m dropping a vote for clear dichro as well. I like the versatility of being able to lay it over any color. Clear dichro is especially nice over dark transparents ( the color is vibrant like it is on black, but the translucency allows some light transmission adding to the sparkle!:) . I generally used patterned black on small jewelry pieces only ( to keep the thickness down) as I would then only need two layers ( black dichro base and a clear “cap”).

Carrie Lynn, who believes that Beauty really IS in the Eye of the Beadholder!

My EBAY Sales

[Dennis Brady]

Many artisans that make jewelry with dichroic have discovered that clear sells better because it’s more versatile. Black dichroic will show only it’s own colours while clear will transmit much of the colour beneath it. Jewelry made with clear “goes with” almost anything because it includes whatever colour it’s placed on.

Try a simple test by placing a piece of black dichro on a piece of clothing or flesh – then compare with a piece of clear. The clear will look fine with anything while the black can often be an unattractive colour combination.

Dennis Brady
http://www.debrady.com

[airwynnglass]

I like the clear, because I like the other layers of color to show through. I like the subtle hint of sparkle that most clear dichroic gives.

~Erin

Erin Maloney, AirWynn Glass Designs
www.airwynnglass.com | My Etsy | My eBay

[KetchikanSculptor]

I vote clear too. For many of the mentioned reasons and a few others.

Stay Positive! The elevator to success is out of order. You'll have to use the stairs...one step at a time. --Joe Girard

ETSY... SALES SOON!... WEBBIE

[Alan Cross]

Hmmmmm I vote for both as I use both all the time for different resons….
Alan

My Web Site[/url]
Our wedding photo's

[EmJee]

I use Moretti clear dichroic, on an minor, I put it on face, down, but by the time the bead is round… the colors are all gone. Who has good tips/ a description for me?????

Marion;)

Marion

www.emjee-beads.nl

[glasspat]

try putting it on the bead face up, only letting the heat hit the back of the piece as you roll it around the bead. Then encase with clear and don’t overheat. Good luck.

I'm PatO on Etsy.

[Dichroqueen]

I do fused dichroic glass jewelry and prefer the black. The colors just “pop” more, especially the patterned glass such as Marquis.

Patti

[mckenzieglassworks]

I, too, prefer the clear. I use it to add a touch of sparkle beneath my jelly beads. The black would be too harsh for those.

"I'm melting, I'm melting....oh what a world, what a world[/COLOR]...."[/I][/COLOR]
Michelle
My Website/ Stuff on Ebay / My OTHER Website

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