The first time you see a CBS dichroic glass catalog, it’s easy to feel both excited and a little intimidated. The incredible cbs dichroic glass number of colors patterns offers a universe of creative possibilities, from smooth, solid hues to crinklized textures that shatter light in a thousand directions. But where do you even begin? How do you know if that brilliant magenta will hold its color in the kiln, or how a “Twizzle” texture will look when capped with clear glass? This guide is designed to turn that overwhelming choice into your greatest creative asset. We’ll break down the color chart so you can shop with confidence, understand the language of the glass, and make intentional choices that lead to stunning, predictable results every time.

As an artist, you want full control over your medium to bring your unique vision to life. With a material as dynamic as dichroic glass, that control comes from a deep understanding of its properties. It’s not just about picking a color you like; it’s about knowing how that color will transmit light, how it will reflect, and how it will interact with other layers in the kiln. True creative freedom begins when you can predict these outcomes. The cbs dichroic glass color chart is the key that unlocks this level of mastery. In this post, we’ll go beyond its surface and explore how to use it as a strategic tool for planning your projects, from selecting the right COE to combining textures for maximum impact.

Key Takeaways

• Always Match Your COE: Before you even think about color, confirm your dichroic glass and base glass have the same Coefficient of Expansion (either 90 or 96). This single step is the most important factor in preventing cracks and ensuring your finished piece is strong and stable.
• Control Color with Light and Layers: The final look of your piece depends on how light reflects off the surface versus how it passes through. You can guide this effect by layering different textures and colors, or by adding a clear glass cap to magnify the sparkle and add professional depth.
• Test Your Process for Predictable Results: Dichroic glass can feel unpredictable, but testing is your best tool for control. Firing small test tiles helps you perfect your kiln schedules to avoid burning the metallic coating and allows you to preview how different color combinations will look when fused.

Why Is CBS Dichroic Glass So Special?

If you’ve ever seen a piece of glass that seems to shimmer with a rainbow of colors, changing as you turn it in your hand, you’ve likely encountered dichroic glass. It’s not just colored glass; it’s a dynamic material that plays with light in a way that feels almost magical. CBS is a leader in producing this incredible glass, offering artists a reliable and vibrant medium for their work. What makes it stand out is its ability to transform a simple design into a captivating piece that looks different from every angle. This unique quality is why so many glass artists, from jewelers to large-scale creators, turn to CBS for their projects.

Who is Coatings by Sandberg, Inc. (CBS)?

Coatings by Sandberg, Inc., or CBS as most artists know them, is a leading manufacturer of high-quality dichroic glass. They’ve earned a reputation for reliability among both experienced artists and those just starting out. The real magic of their glass lies in its consistency. When you’re firing a piece in the kiln, the last thing you want is for your colors to shift or burn away. CBS dichroic glass is known for holding its color true, even at high temperatures, which gives you predictable and beautiful results. This reliability means you can design your projects with confidence, knowing the colors you choose will be the colors you get.

Beyond their standard sheets, CBS also offers a unique service: they can coat your finished artwork. This opens up incredible creative possibilities for making one-of-a-kind pieces with a personal touch. If you want to learn more about the technical side of their glass, you can find a ton of information on the official Coatings by Sandberg, Inc. website. They have a detailed FAQ section that’s a great resource for understanding how to get the best results from their products.

The Secret to Its Shifting Colors

The defining feature of dichroic glass is its ability to display multiple colors depending on the angle of view. A single piece can appear brilliant blue from one direction and shift to a fiery gold or magenta from another. This happens because the glass transmits certain wavelengths of light while reflecting others. Think of it like a soap bubble or a drop of oil on water—the colors aren’t from pigments but from the way light interacts with its surface. This optical illusion gives your artwork an incredible sense of depth and life that you can’t achieve with standard colored glass.

The Science Behind the Sparkle

The stunning effect of dichroic glass comes from a high-tech manufacturing process. It all happens inside a vacuum chamber, where multiple, micro-thin layers of metal oxides—like titanium and chromium—are vaporized by an electron beam. This vapor then condenses onto the surface of the glass, forming a crystal-like structure. It’s the precise thickness and sequence of these layers that determine which colors are reflected and which pass through. This fusion of science and artistry is what gives each piece its signature sparkle and color-shifting properties.

How Artists Are Using Dichroic Glass

Artists harness these color-shifting properties to create breathtaking designs. By layering and fusing different pieces of CBS dichroic glass, you can create intricate patterns that seem to move and change with the light. Many artists were once frustrated by early dichroic glass that couldn’t withstand high temperatures, but CBS developed a formula that remains stable and brilliant even after firing in a kiln. This reliability makes it a go-to choice for everything from delicate jewelry to bold sculptures, allowing you to experiment with confidence.

Beadmaking and Coldworking

The versatility of dichroic glass extends far beyond the kiln. Its ability to withstand heat makes it a favorite among artists who practice flameworking and beadmaking. When you introduce a piece of dichroic-coated glass to a torch, the metallic layers interact with the flame to produce vibrant, shimmering beads that are impossible to ignore. Similarly, for those who prefer coldworking, the glass offers a different kind of creative potential. Grinding, shaping, and polishing the surface can reveal unexpected colors and patterns as you cut through the micro-thin metallic layers, adding depth and intrigue to your finished pieces. This adaptability makes it a fantastic material whether you’re creating intricate jewelry or sculptural forms.

Stained Glass, Tiles, and Architectural Designs

While many associate dichroic glass with fusing, its applications are much broader. Think of it as a secret weapon for other glass art forms. In stained glass, a small, strategically placed piece of dichroic glass can become a stunning focal point, catching the light and shifting colors in a way that brings the entire panel to life. It’s also used to create custom tiles and add dazzling accents to mosaics, offering a modern twist on a traditional craft. Beyond the studio, architects and designers incorporate dichroic glass into installations, windows, and decorative features to create dynamic spaces that interact with light throughout the day. It’s a material that invites you to think bigger and explore new creative territories.

How to Read the CBS Dichroic Glass Color Chart

At first glance, the CBS Dichroic Glass color chart can feel like a candy store for artists—so many brilliant options! But knowing how to interpret it is key to getting the results you want in the kiln. The chart isn’t just a simple catalog of colors; it’s a guide to the potential locked inside each sheet of glass. Understanding the difference between solid colors, multi-color combinations, and textures will help you choose the perfect materials for your next project. Let’s break down how to read the chart so you can shop with confidence and bring your creative vision to life.

Working with Solid Colors

Think of the solid colors as the foundation of your dichroic glass palette. When you look at the CBS color chart, you’ll find a huge selection of consistent, single-hue options. These are your go-to choices when you need a specific, reliable color for your design. The chart makes it easy to find the exact shade you’re looking for, whether it’s a vibrant cyan, a deep magenta, or a classic rainbow. We offer a comprehensive selection of CBS Dichroic Glass, allowing you to pick the perfect solid colors to serve as a base layer or the main feature in your piece.

Featured Colors: “Sunset Blend” and “Aurora Borealis”

Beyond the solid colors, you’ll find some truly spectacular multi-color combinations that can become the star of your piece. Two standouts are “Sunset Blend” and “Aurora Borealis.” Sunset Blend features captivating rainbow stripes across a mix of colors, creating a dynamic and versatile palette. The interplay of colors in Sunset Blend allows for a unique visual experience, as the glass reflects one color while letting another pass through, adding incredible depth to your design. Similarly, Aurora Borealis lives up to its name with an iridescent quality that mimics the Northern Lights, offering a shimmering blend of hues that change with the light. Using these multi-color sheets is a great way to create a focal point that feels alive and draws the eye, all thanks to the sophisticated process of layering metal oxides in a vacuum chamber.

Creating Stunning Color Combinations

This is where the real magic of dichroic glass shines. The true beauty of the material is its ability to create breathtaking multi-color effects. By layering and fusing different pieces of dichroic glass, you can produce incredible patterns and color shifts that are completely unique. The chart will show you patterned and multi-color options, but remember that these are just starting points. You can control the final look by combining different textures and colors, creating designs that change appearance with every shift of light. This versatility adds amazing depth and dimension to your work.

What to Expect from Color Consistency

One of the best things about working with CBS dichroic glass is its incredible color consistency. When you select a color from the chart, you can trust that the color will be uniform across the entire sheet and consistent from one order to the next. This reliability is a huge advantage, especially for artists creating a series or needing to match colors for a large project. Plus, CBS glass is engineered to handle high temperatures in the kiln without the colors fading or changing, ensuring your finished pieces look just as vibrant as you imagined.

How Do Dichroic Colors Change with Light?

One of the most exciting things about working with dichroic glass is that its color isn’t static. It’s a living, breathing part of your artwork that shifts and transforms depending on how you view it. This dynamic quality comes from the way the glass interacts with light, creating a visual experience that’s completely unique. Understanding how this works is the key to making the most of this incredible material in your projects. It’s less about picking a single color and more about choosing a spectrum of possibilities.

Why the Viewing Angle Changes Everything

Have you ever tilted a piece of dichroic glass and watched the colors dance across its surface? That’s the magic of angle-dependent color shift. This stunning effect happens because the glass is coated with incredibly thin, microscopic layers of metal oxides. These layers interfere with light waves, causing some colors to be reflected back to your eye while others pass through. As you change your viewing angle, you change which light waves are reflected, resulting in a fluid shift from one color to another. This property allows you to create pieces with incredible depth and movement, making your CBS Dichroic Glass projects feel truly alive.

Transmitted vs. Reflected Light: What’s the Difference?

With dichroic glass, you essentially get two colors in one. The color you see depends on whether light is bouncing off the surface (reflected) or passing through it (transmitted). The reflected color is what you see when you look at the glass, especially on an opaque background. The transmitted color is the hue you see when you hold the glass up to a light source, allowing light to shine through it. For example, a piece might reflect a vibrant magenta but transmit a cool cyan. This dual nature is a game-changer for artists, especially when designing pieces like suncatchers, windows, or layered jewelry where both transmitted and reflected light will play a role in the final look of your COE90 glass creation.

What Dichroic Glass Patterns and Textures Can You Choose?

The magic of dichroic glass goes far beyond its incredible color shifts. The surface texture plays a huge role in how the glass interacts with light, adding depth, dimension, and personality to your work. Whether you’re aiming for a sleek, modern look or something more organic and dramatic, there’s a dichroic finish that will fit your vision perfectly. CBS offers a fantastic range of textures, from flawlessly smooth surfaces to intricate patterns and the uniquely bold Crinklized finish. Understanding these options will help you choose the right glass to bring your creative ideas to life.

Working with a Classic Smooth Finish

This is the quintessential dichroic glass that many artists start with. CBS is known for its incredible precision, ensuring the colors are consistent and spread evenly across a perfectly smooth surface. This classic finish provides a clean, mirror-like reflection that lets the pure color-shifting properties of the dichroic coating shine without any distractions. It’s an excellent choice for projects where you want a crisp, polished look, like in minimalist jewelry. Because of its predictability and flawless surface, smooth COE90 dichroic glass is a reliable foundation for any project, whether you’re layering it or letting a single piece make a statement.

Choosing Eye-Catching Textured Patterns

If you want to add another layer of visual complexity, textured dichroic glass is the way to go. These sheets come with patterns embossed directly onto the surface, like ripples, dots, or geometric lines. This texture interacts with the dichroic coating, breaking up the light and creating dazzling effects that change as you move the piece. You can create incredibly intricate designs that shift depending on the viewing angle, especially when layering different pieces. The texture adds a tactile quality and a sense of movement, making your final artwork feel more dynamic. It’s perfect for creating focal points in larger fused panels or for jewelry made with vibrant COE96 glass.

Exploring “Twizzle” and Other Unique Patterns

Among the many textured options, patterns like “Twizzle” really stand out. This isn’t just a flat design printed on the glass; the pattern is physically embossed onto the surface, creating a swirling texture that interacts directly with the dichroic coating. These ridges and valleys catch and scatter light in unpredictable ways, adding a layer of complexity that you just don’t get with a smooth finish. When you combine this dynamic texture with the glass’s natural color-shifting properties, the result is a piece with incredible energy and visual interest. Using a unique pattern is a fantastic way to create a focal point in your work, drawing the eye and making your design pop with movement.

Getting the Unique Look of Crinklized Dichroic

For a truly dramatic and organic effect, nothing beats Crinklized dichroic. This finish has a heavily wrinkled, foil-like texture that creates a brilliant, shattered light effect. It’s bold, flashy, and absolutely stunning. The deep crinkles give the glass incredible depth and dimension, making it a showstopper in any application. Crinklized dichroic is especially popular for glass casting projects. You can combine it with simple casting techniques using slumping and draping molds to create exceptional pieces like small dishes, sculptural elements, or unique cabochons. If you want to make a statement and add a touch of wild, glittering energy to your work, this is the texture for you.

How to Find the Right Dichroic Product for You

Once you’ve fallen in love with the colors and textures of dichroic glass, the next step is figuring out which product format is right for your project. CBS offers a fantastic range of options beyond standard sheets, designed to fit different artistic needs, budgets, and creative workflows. Whether you’re making intricate jewelry, large fused panels, or experimenting with new techniques, there’s a dichroic product made for you.

Thinking about the scale of your work and how you like to create can help you decide. Do you prefer cutting your own shapes from a large piece, or would you rather save time with pieces that are ready to go? Are you interested in trying something completely new, like painting with dichroic color? Let’s walk through the main options so you can confidently choose the perfect materials for your studio.

Sheets: How to Choose Your Size and Thickness

The most common way to buy dichroic glass is in sheets. This gives you the most creative freedom to cut custom shapes and sizes for any project. CBS Dichroic glass is specifically made to be used with heat, so it’s a reliable choice for all kinds of applications, whether you’re an experienced artist or just starting your glass fusing journey.

When selecting a sheet, consider the size you’ll need to minimize waste and the thickness required for your piece. Most dichroic glass comes on a 2mm or 3mm clear or black base. The 3mm thickness provides extra sturdiness for larger projects or standalone pieces, while the 2mm is often perfect for layering or smaller components in jewelry. You can find a great selection of CBS dichroic glass in various sizes to match your vision.

Save Time with Precut Shapes and Sample Sets

If you want to get straight to creating without spending a lot of time at the cutting bench, precut shapes are a fantastic option. These are perfect for jewelry makers or anyone producing a series of items with consistent designs, like pendants or earrings. You get the same stunning dichroic effect in a ready-to-use format.

For artists who want to experiment with a range of colors without committing to full sheets, a sample set is an excellent investment. For example, some CBS sample sets include several different solid colors in smaller containers. This allows you to test different hues and combinations in your kiln, helping you discover your favorite palettes before purchasing larger quantities. It’s a smart way to broaden your creative options.

An Overview of CBS Sample Sets

If you’re curious about the huge range of dichroic glass but not ready to commit to full sheets, CBS sample sets are your best friend. They’re a fantastic, low-cost way to get your hands on the actual glass and see how different colors and textures look in your studio light, not just on a screen. The 23 Piece Color Sample Set, for example, gives you a broad palette to play with, including standard, special, and premium colors on thin glass. It’s perfect for testing color combinations in your kiln to see the true fused results. For texture lovers, the 23 Piece Pattern Sample Set lets you see firsthand how embossed designs interact with the dichroic coating. Playing with these samples first helps you make confident choices when you’re ready to buy larger sheets for your next big project.

How to Get Creative with Dichroic Extract

Ready to try something totally different? Dichroic Extract is a unique and versatile product that opens up a world of new possibilities. It’s a pure form of the high-quality color coating, removed from the glass and stored in a container. This powder-like material can be used in tons of different ways, including flame-working, glass blowing, fusing, and even stippling or painting onto glass surfaces.

You can mix it with a medium to create a paint or use a ‘spackling’ technique to apply texture and color. Because it’s pure dichroic coating, the color and sparkle are incredibly intense. It’s an amazing material for artists who love to push boundaries and add fine, shimmering details to their work that would be impossible to achieve with cut glass alone.

Custom Dichroic Coatings for Finished Artwork

What if your creative process didn’t have to end once your piece was finished? For artists looking to add a truly unique touch, CBS offers a special service that can transform your completed artwork. You can send them your finished glass pieces, and they will apply a custom dichroic coating directly onto the surface. This is an incredible option for creating a one-of-a-kind look that can’t be achieved by simply layering and fusing. It’s a way to give an existing piece a completely new life or to add a final, breathtaking layer of shimmer and color to a new creation, ensuring your work is unlike any other.

This stunning effect is achieved through a highly technical process inside a vacuum chamber, where micro-thin layers of metal oxides are bonded to your glass. This isn’t a simple finish; it’s a permanent fusion of science and art that gives your work the signature color-shifting properties of dichroic glass. This service opens up new possibilities for all kinds of glass art, from fused panels to stained glass creations. Because this is a specialized process tailored to your specific artwork, you’ll need to contact CBS directly to discuss the project and explore the possibilities for your piece.

How to Choose the Right Dichroic Colors for Your Project

Picking the right dichroic glass feels like being a kid in a candy store—so many sparkly options! But choosing the perfect color goes beyond what catches your eye. To get that stunning result you’re picturing, you need to think about compatibility, your technique, and how the colors will interact. Let’s walk through how to select the best dichroic colors to make your next project a success.

Match Your COE: The First Step to Success

Before you fall in love with a color, the very first thing you need to check is its COE, or Coefficient of Expansion. This is just a technical way of describing how much glass expands and contracts when heated and cooled. For a fused piece to be strong and stable, all the glass you use must have the same COE. Many dichroic products come in two main types, COE90 Glass and COE96 Glass. Mixing COEs is a recipe for cracks and disappointment, so always double-check that your dichroic sheet matches the base glass you’re working with.

Best Colors for Fusing vs. Flameworking

CBS Dichroic glass is incredibly versatile and can be used for many art forms that involve heat, from fusing and slumping in a kiln to flameworking at a torch. When choosing colors, consider how they will react to the heat of your kilns. Some colors, particularly reds and oranges, can be a bit more sensitive and may “strike” or change to their target color only after being fired. It’s always a great idea to fire a small test piece first, especially when working with a new color, so you know exactly what to expect from the finished product.

Our Top Tips for Stunning Jewelry

Dichroic glass is a favorite for making jewelry because its vibrant, shifting colors create eye-catching pendants, earrings, and bracelets. When selecting colors for jewelry, think about the scale of your piece. A bold, solid color on a textured surface can make a powerful statement in a simple pendant. For more intricate designs, consider patterned dichroic glass. You can also layer a clear glass cap over your dichroic to magnify the color and add a beautiful sense of depth. This simple trick really makes the sparkle pop and gives your jewelry a professional, polished look.

How Layering and Thickness Affect Your Final Color

One of the most exciting things about working with dichroic glass is how layering can completely transform the colors. The final appearance of your piece is a combination of the dichroic’s transmitted color (the color you see when light passes through it) and its reflected color (the color that bounces off the surface). You can control the final colors and patterns by fusing multiple pieces of dichroic glass. For example, placing a sheet that transmits blue over a solid yellow base glass will create a brilliant green. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different combinations to create truly unique and intricate designs.

How Can You Combine Dichroic Colors?

Once you understand the basics of the CBS color chart, you can start experimenting with different techniques to create truly one-of-a-kind pieces. Combining dichroic colors is where your artistic voice can really shine. By layering, mixing, and even adding other materials, you can achieve stunning effects that go far beyond a single sheet of glass. Let’s walk through a few popular methods that artists use to create depth, blend colors seamlessly, and add a surprising pop to their work. These techniques are a great starting point for your own creative explorations.

Simple Layering Methods to Create Depth

One of the most effective ways to enhance the visual appeal of dichroic glass is through simple layering. When you stack and fuse multiple pieces of dichroic glass, you gain incredible control over the final colors and patterns. This method allows you to build intricate designs that seem to shift and change depending on the angle of the light. By layering a textured piece over a smooth one, or combining complementary colors, you can create a dynamic interplay of light and color. This gives your final piece a sense of depth that makes it far more engaging and visually striking. It’s a straightforward technique that yields beautifully complex results, perfect for artists at any skill level.

How to Use Klyr-Fire for Custom Colors

If you’re looking for a way to blend colors more fluidly, Klyr-Fire can be an amazing tool in your studio. Many artists have found success using it as a medium for mixing colors, especially when working with dichroic extract. You can combine Klyr-Fire with the extract to create a paint-like consistency, allowing for a seamless blend of colors that enhances the overall look of your glass. This technique not only helps with the adhesion of the colors during firing but also adds a noticeable richness and depth to the final piece. It’s an innovative approach that gives you more control over your color transitions, almost like you’re painting with light.

Add a Pop of Color with Metallic Paints

To give your dichroic glass art an extra edge, consider incorporating metallic paints. Combining these paints with the natural shimmer of dichroic glass can produce incredible, color-shifting effects that add a completely unique dimension to your artwork. This is a fantastic way to introduce new textures and finishes that you can’t achieve with glass alone. Whether you’re accenting a piece of jewelry or creating a focal point on a larger panel, this technique opens up a much broader range of creative expression. You can learn more about these fusing and coating techniques to see how you can apply them to your own projects.

How to Handle Common Dichroic Glass Challenges

Working with dichroic glass is an exciting process, but its unique properties can sometimes present a few hurdles. Many artists get frustrated when their projects don’t turn out as expected, especially when dealing with the intense heat of a kiln. The good news is that these challenges are completely manageable once you understand what’s happening. With a little know-how, you can learn to work with the glass instead of against it. By paying close attention to your firing schedules, ensuring your glass is compatible, and learning to guide those beautiful color shifts, you’ll be able to create stunning, predictable results every time. Let’s walk through how to handle each of these common issues.

How to Nail Your Firing Schedules

If you’ve ever been disappointed by how dichroic glass behaves under extreme heat, you’re not alone. The metallic coating that gives the glass its signature shimmer is sensitive, and a firing schedule that’s too fast or too hot can cause it to burn off or look muddy. The key is to use a slow, controlled firing schedule. Start with the manufacturer’s recommendations, but always run a few small test pieces in your specific kiln to see how it behaves. Documenting your schedules and results will help you develop a reliable process for achieving that perfect, brilliant finish without damaging the delicate coating.

How to Avoid Glass Compatibility Problems

Nothing is more heartbreaking than pulling a project from the kiln only to find it cracked. This is almost always a compatibility issue. All glass expands and contracts when heated and cooled, and you need to make sure every piece in your project does so at the same rate. This rate is measured by the Coefficient of Expansion (COE). To avoid stress fractures, you must use glass with the same COE throughout a single piece. While CBS dichroic glass has a protective layer to help it fuse cleanly, you still need to match your COEs. That means pairing COE90 dichroic with other COE90 glass, and COE96 with other COE96 glass.

How to Manage Unpredictable Color Shifts

The way dichroic glass shifts colors is its main attraction, but it can also feel unpredictable. The trick is to see this not as a problem but as a creative tool you can learn to control. The final color depends on the angle of light, the color of the glass it’s fused to, and whether you cap it with clear glass. You can manage these color shifts by layering different pieces of dichroic glass to create intricate patterns with incredible depth. Experiment by firing small test tiles with different base colors and layering combinations. This will give you a better feel for how the colors will interact and help you achieve your intended design.

Where to Buy CBS Dichroic Glass (and What to Budget)

Once you’ve picked out your favorite colors and textures, the next step is bringing them into your studio. Dichroic glass is a special material, and it’s helpful to know where to find a great selection and what to expect for pricing. Planning your budget ahead of time means you can focus on the fun part: creating. Let’s walk through where to shop and how to get the most value for your money.

Shop Our Selection of CBS Dichroic Glass

When you’re ready to start your next project, we’ve got you covered. We offer a wide range of CBS dichroic glass products, perfect for any idea you’re dreaming up. You can find everything from vibrant, color-shifting sheets to unique textures that add incredible depth to your work. If you’re looking for inspiration on how to use these materials, we have some great resources on innovative fusing techniques that can help you get started. Our goal is to provide you with the high-quality supplies you need to bring your artistic vision to life.

A Guide to Dichroic Glass Prices

Dichroic glass is a premium material, so it’s wise to plan your budget accordingly. The price can vary based on the size, coating, and texture of the glass. To give you a starting point, a dichroic extract color sample set from the manufacturer, CBS, costs around $198 and includes seven different solid colors. This is a fantastic way to experiment with a variety of hues without committing to a large sheet of each one. Investing in a sample set lets you see how the colors fire and interact with each other, ensuring you can confidently choose the perfect glass for your larger pieces.

Save Money with Discounts and Sample Sets

If you’re looking to get the best value, keep an eye out for discounts and sample sets. These are often the most budget-friendly ways to build your collection of dichroic glass. Sample sets, in particular, are designed to help artists explore the unique, glowing effects of dichroic glass without a major upfront cost. They’re a worthwhile investment whether you’re just starting out or you’re a seasoned artist wanting to try new color combinations. For more information on what might be available, you can always check the manufacturer’s dichroic glass FAQs for helpful tips and product details.

Details on the 23 Piece Color and Pattern Sets

If you’re ready to explore the full spectrum of what CBS has to offer, their sample sets are the perfect place to start. The 23 Piece Color Sample Set and the 23 Piece Pattern Sample Set are fantastic tools for any artist’s studio. Each set gives you 23 small squares of dichroic glass, measuring 1 1/2 inches each, so you can experiment without committing to larger sheets. The color set includes a curated mix of standard, special, and premium colors, while the pattern set features 23 unique designs. For both sets, you can choose to get them on either a black or clear glass background. This choice is a game-changer because it lets you see exactly how the colors and patterns will interact with light in your projects, helping you test combinations and perfect your designs before you start on a final piece.

Related Articles

• Dichroic Glass in Contemporary Architecture
• A Guide to the Best COE 96 Dichroic Glass
• Innovative Techniques: Dichroic Glass & Metallic Paints
• CBS Rainbow 2 Dichroic Frit 1oz on Yellow Transparent Glass COE96
• CBS Dichroic Quarter Sheets

Frequently Asked Questions

I’m new to glass fusing. Is dichroic glass too advanced for me? Not at all! While it has unique properties, dichroic glass is very approachable for beginners. A great way to start is with precut shapes or a sample set. This lets you experiment with how the colors look after firing without the pressure of cutting from a large, expensive sheet. You can focus on the fun part—arranging your design and seeing the magic happen in the kiln.

Why is it so important that the COE of my dichroic glass matches my other glass? Think of COE as the language your glass speaks when it gets hot. All the glass in a single fused piece needs to speak the same language so it can expand and contract together as a team. If you mix a COE90 piece with a COE96 piece, they’ll move at different rates as they cool, creating stress that will almost certainly cause your beautiful project to crack. Matching your COE is the number one rule for creating strong, lasting work.

My finished piece doesn’t look like the color I started with. What happened? This is a common experience, and it’s usually not a mistake! The final color of dichroic glass is influenced by several factors. The color of the base glass you fuse it to can alter its appearance, and capping it with clear glass can intensify the reflected color. Also, some colors, especially in the red and orange family, are known as “striking” colors, meaning they must be heated to a specific temperature to reveal their true, final hue.

Why is dichroic glass more expensive than standard art glass? The price reflects the incredibly complex, high-tech process used to create it. The color isn’t from pigments mixed into the glass itself. Instead, it comes from vaporizing metal oxides with an electron beam inside a vacuum chamber to apply microscopic layers to the glass surface. You’re paying for a specialized material that manipulates light in a way that standard colored glass simply can’t.

When should I use a sheet of dichroic glass versus the Dichroic Extract? Choose a sheet when you want to cut specific shapes and create structured designs with clean lines. Sheets are the foundation for most projects, from jewelry to larger panels. Turn to Dichroic Extract when you want to add painterly details, texture, or fine, shimmering lines. You can mix it with a medium to paint with it or sift it onto a surface, giving you a level of detail that’s impossible to achieve by cutting glass.