"Dichroic" is defined as the property of having more than one color, especially when viewed from different angels. Dichroic glass is produced by a process called "thin film physics". Hand-rolled sheet glass is fastened to the top of a vacuum chamber. The chamber is heated to approximately 300 degrees and after a vacuum is created, metals such as titanium, silicon, and magnesium are vaporized in a crucible by electron beams. The vapors rise and grow on the glass as metal crystals. The resulting color is determined by the individual oxide composition.

Now here's the magic! One color is reflected from the glass surface and a separate, completely different color is shown when light is allowed to pass through the glass. Dichroic color applied to black glass will reflect all the light and give you a dynamic metallic color. The same Dichroic color applied to clear glass will absorb and reflect light giving an ever-shifting rainbow of color.

Dynamic, alluring, and magical…another wonderful property of dichroic glass is that no two pieces are ever exactly alike. The color will vary like the dye lots in some hand-dyed yarns and the sizes may vary because each bead is made one at a time by hand.

Content provided by Paula Radke Dichroics