Minneapolis Central Library
Minneapolis, MN
PrintingSilkscreen
Personalizing Glass Silkscreen.
Silkscreen printing utilizes factory-applied ceramic enamel paints that are fire-fused onto the glass.
A design is created by placing a mesh screen over a piece of glass and pressing ceramic enamel frit through the pores of the screen. Viracon applies silkscreen prints to the #2 surface, along with a Low-E coating, for optimal solar performance and to meet bird-friendly requirements.
Choose from a library of standard silkscreen patterns and colors, or work with our experts to use a custom color or create your own design.
Silkscreen Patterns.
Choose from Viracon’s library of 22 standard and bird-friendly silkscreen patterns or design a custom pattern of your own.
Ideal Patterns for Silkscreen Print
Single Color Patterns
Printing to
Edge of Glass
Edge of Glass
Repeatable Graduating Patterns
Repeatable Custom Graphic Patterns
Standard Silkscreen Patterns
5065
20% Coverage
1/8″ Dots
1/8″ Dots
5959
30% Coverage
1/8″ Dots
1/8″ Dots
5006
40% Coverage
1/8″ Dots
1/8″ Dots
5102
50% Coverage
1/8″ Dots
1/8″ Dots
5564
50% Coverage
1/8″ Holes
1/8″ Holes
5023
60% Coverage
1/8″ Holes
1/8″ Holes
50148
70% Coverage
1/8″ Holes
1/8″ Holes
5066
80% Coverage
1/8″ Holes
1/8″ Holes
2256
20% Coverage
1/8″ Lines
1/2" Spaces
1/8″ Lines
1/2" Spaces
2973
30% Coverage
1/8″ Lines
9/32″ Spaces
1/8″ Lines
9/32″ Spaces
2030
40% Coverage
1/8″ Lines
3/16″ Spaces
1/8″ Lines
3/16″ Spaces
2002
50% Coverage
1/8″ Lines
1/8″ Spaces
1/8″ Lines
1/8″ Spaces
2050
50% Coverage
1/4″ Lines
1/4″ Spaces
1/4″ Lines
1/4″ Spaces
2032
50% Coverage
1/2″ Lines
1/2″ Spaces
1/2″ Lines
1/2″ Spaces
3058
100% Coverage
Full Flood
(Translucent Colors Only)
Full Flood
(Translucent Colors Only)
Bird-Friendly Standard Silkscreen Patterns
Threat Factors (TF) listed are only achievable when all criteria are met. Learn more about Bird-Friendly Glass.
50956 Bird-Friendly
20% Coverage
1/4” Dots, Staggard
< 2” Spacing | TF 25
1/4” Dots, Staggard
< 2” Spacing | TF 25
51777 Bird-Friendly
1% Coverage
1/4” Dots, 2” Inline
2x2 | TF 20
1/4” Dots, 2” Inline
2x2 | TF 20
51767 Bird-Friendly
0.6% Coverage
1/4” Dots, Staggard
2x2 | TF 20
1/4” Dots, Staggard
2x2 | TF 20
0.6% Coverage
51205 Bird-Friendly
51205 Bird-Friendly
0.6% Coverage
1/4” Dots, Inline
2x4 | TF 25
1/4” Dots, Inline
2x4 | TF 25
2824 Bird-Friendly
6% Coverage
1/8” Lines, 2” On-center, Horizontal or Vertical
2x2 | TF 20
1/8” Lines, 2” On-center, Horizontal or Vertical
2x2 | TF 20
20566 Bird-Friendly
3% Coverage
1/8” Lines, 4” On-center, Vertical
2×4 | TF 25
1/8” Lines, 4” On-center, Vertical
2×4 | TF 25
2070 Bird-Friendly
20% Coverage
1/4” Lines, 1-1/4” On-center, Horizontal or Vertical
< 2” Spacing | TF 25
1/4” Lines, 1-1/4” On-center, Horizontal or Vertical
< 2” Spacing | TF 25
Custom Silkscreen Patterns
Custom Pattern Quick Guide
The following guidelines are intended to assist in developing a custom pattern. When preparing
a custom silkscreen pattern, the amount of glass surface that can be printed depends on the color.
a custom silkscreen pattern, the amount of glass surface that can be printed depends on the color.
| Silkscreen Pattern Guide | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Maximum Size | Pattern Type | Maximum Coverage / Sq. Ft. | Ceramic Enamel Color |
| Dimensions up to
84″ x 180″ (2134mm x 4572mm) —————————————– Unit size up to 75 sq ft (6.97 M2) | *Full Coverage | 100% | V1092 Simulated Acid Etch V1093 Simulated Sandblast |
| Pattern (Minimum object or space size = 1/16″) | 80% | V951 White V1092 Simulated Acid Etch V1093 Simulated Sandblast | |
| 60% | All Enamel Colors | *Not available with Low-E coatings on the same surface, or for interior applications | |
Custom Patterns
Contact your Viracon representative for assistance with a custom pattern.
Contact UsReady to print? Upload your art file.
Upload Art File
Silkscreen Colors.
Viracon uses only environmentally-friendly and lead-free ceramic enamel, the product of choice for color consistency, durability, affordability and longevity.
Choose from a library of 8 standard and 25 custom ceramic enamel colors to bring your silkscreen pattern to life or let us match your color.
Standard Ceramic Enamel Colors
Opaque Colors
V951
White
V952
Warm Gray
V953
Medium Gray
V954
Gray
V955
Black
V957
Subdued Gray
Translucent Ceramic Enamel Colors
1' behind glass
5' behind glass
V1092
Simulated Acid Etch
V1093
Simulated Sandblast
Custom Ceramic Enamel Colors
Opaque Colors
VBC2109
Dark Gray
VBC2127
Stone Gray
VBC2015
Iron Gray
VBC2017
Gunmetal Gray
VBC2019
Smoke Gray
VBC2033
Cloud Gray
VBC2034
Pewter Gray
VBC2039
Timber Gray
VBC2073
Pebble Gray
VBC2128
Light Blue
VBC2002
Slate Blue
VBC2038
Medium Blue
VBC2067
Midnight Blue
VBC2129
Emerald Green
VBC2007
Dark Green
VBC2066
Mustard Yellow
VBC2104
Dark Gold
VBC2105
Light Gold
VBC2014
VBC2113
Frost White
VBC2006
Brownish Beige
VBC2055
Golden Beige
VBC2042
Tan
VBC2029
Brown
VBC2111
Subdued Bronze
Color Match.
Still don’t see what you’re looking for? Contact your Viracon representative for custom color matching.
silkscreenExplore.
Benefits
Why use Silkscreen
Design
Offers a wide range of design opportunity to customize the building facade, from simple to custom patterns.
Comfort
Use silkscreen designs to improve occupant comfort by reducing glare and lowering the SHGC.
Privacy
Dense or full coverage patterns can be used in applications where privacy is required.
Bird-Friendly
Silkscreen patterns can be used to meet stringent bird-friendly requirements.
Printing Guidelines
Printing guidelines for silkscreen
Specifying Printed Glass
Images may be applied to any surface except the exterior (#1) surface. A Low-E coating can be applied to the same surface as the printing. Units with printing should be utilized in applications where the printed surface is protected from exterior elements. The units should not be installed in applications where the printed surface will be exposed to an outdoor environment.
Printing to Edge of Glass
Silkscreen printing, in combination with a Low-E coating, does not require a clear, enamel-free border and can be printed to the edge of the glass.
Standard Silkscreen Pattern Orientation and Registration
The orientation defines the direction of the pattern, such as horizontal lines or vertical lines. Registration identifies where to start the pattern. Below are the standard orientation and registration points for standard silkscreen patterns. Anything not shown below is considered a custom pattern and is subject to additional charges.
Custom Silkscreen Pattern Options
The following options are available with custom patterns, additional charges will apply.
Moiré
Placing a pattern or image on two surfaces within an insulating unit is feasible however extreme caution should be taken during the design process to minimize the potential for a moiré pattern to appear. Moiré is an optical phenomenon that typically appears as a wavy, rippled or circular pattern. It is formed when two regularly spaced, non-aligned patterns overlap. Moiré is not a defect in the glass or the printing process but rather a pattern formed by the eye. For additional information, please review Viracon’s Ceramic Enamel and Ink Visual Characteristics Tech Talk.
Projects
See examples of standard and custom silkscreen projects
Bell Museum of Natural History, University of Minnesota
Minneapolis, MN
CHOP Specialty Care & Surgery Center, King of Prussia
King of Prussia, PA
Gallery
See more Viracon projects in our gallery