YOU ARE HERE : Home / Dichrolam Textures 

Dichrolam Textures

Like rippling waves on water, the Dichrolam "Textures" laminates exhibit hand-patterned, actual three dimensional topography on the underside of glass.  Under the smooth flat glass face, you see what you think are high and low ridges and valleys, but when touched - all you feel is flat glass. All with the vivid colors and nearly literal duplication of the gemstone Opal (same light physics).  The first two products - Black Sea and Red Burl, are staples in the Dichrolam line since 1999, however, March of 2012 came the date when John patented a new texturing process that allows ANY custom texture pattern to be made in glass, even clear (without dichroic) to simulate cast glass, but without the uneven, distorted back and dull pocked surface characteristic of cast glass.  Crystal Sea has been replaced with these textures.      The Dichrolam Texture patterns are often supplied as a dual pane glass panels with a backing panel edge sealed to the patterned face lite so that the #1 and #4 (face and back) surfaces are flat.  This makes the panel an IG unit - a standard Insulated Glass panel passing code for exterior requirements, or sealed at perimeter with clear sealant for exposed edge panels.  All these textures are possible with opaque backing for opaque surfacing like wall cladding or conference table tops, so they have the option of felt backing instead of backer glass for single pane applications.  See Typical Constructions  and Sea Texture Constructions page on this website for spec details

Dichrolam Textures are produced primarily in the following patterns and "colors": Black Sea: As the name suggests, this resembles a dark ocean of waves in an opaque surfacing material using a blue/green dichroic film on a dark background. Proprietary patterning creates occasional veins of deep copper reds and golds among blue waves, then shifts into deep violets at skewed viewing angles. Made annealed or tempered glass for tabletops like the MTV conference table on the homepage as well as wall tiles and art panels.   Red Burl: All the applications of Black Sea above, but now after ten years of development, this deep textured pattern has been perfected to create primary deep reds, gold and streaks of blue violet.  Twice as difficult to create as Black Sea, yet twice as striking.  Created primarily for wall art, applications can be accent panels up to 30" x 140" for table tops to wall tiles.  Especially striking when bordered in wide black margins. Short Wave: The first patterns in our newly patented process are cool wave effects.  To reduce sampling costs, we are introducing these two here, although ANY size, shape or wavelength / height combination can be made with our custom made patterns.  All patterns are available in "Red" or "Green" dichroic like our flat safety glass products, as well as the blue opaque dichroic, and the DichroMetallics colors.  Short Wave is highly aesthetic, and has a repeat every 6" so joining panels need to reflect match dimensions.  Available in any size up to 50 x 140" and any thickness of annealed or toughened glass.  Panel shown in pic above is "Green" backlighted.  Long Wave: This wave pattern looks similar to Short Wave, but is MUCH larger, has staggered waves, and deeper topography for very dramatic yet flowing effects.  Same options as above, but wavelength is 12".  Pic below with me ("Green" panel for Stadium Village project)gives example of scale, and other two pics are "Red" panels.      Bubbles: This random pattern provides a fun atomosphere, and when used as backlighted bar tops, patrons will have fun setting their glasses inside a bubble of their choice. Same options as above - color shown in last pic above is "Red" backlighted.     This patented texturing process allows for custom patterns with multiple symmetries like the these hall mirrors designed by John with bilateral symmetry.        Construction / Specification guide for "Textures":   DichroMetallics Patterns are done utilizing all our new textures like Long and Short Wave, but our Sand Ripple pattern is perfect for . The colors coating these textures are the most expensive pigments in the world, and change colors just like Dichrolam. Both colors, Flame and Arctic, shift from aqua blue green (at right angle viewing), into magenta, then gold at skewed viewing angles. The only difference is that “Flame” is deeper, richer and darker color, while “Arctic” has the same colors but in lighter pastel shades within a silver metallic effect.