News
Capture images in glass

In 2003, Solutia introduced its new technology under the Vanceva brand
umbrella that combined digital imaging with the durability of laminated
glass that preserves the integrity of the images for as long as the
glass is in the building.

In 2003, Solutia introduced its new technology under the Vanceva brand umbrella that combined digital imaging with the durability of laminated glass that preserves the integrity of the images for as long as the glass is in the building. It gives designers complete freedom to customize any piece of glass, while retaining the laser-like precision of digital technology used in architectural graphics, signage, pictogram design, retail and store design and themed environments.

The Vanceva colour interlayer system by Saflex, a unit of Solutia, is made of polyvinyl butyral (PVB) interlayer that uses highly concentrated pigments to create brilliant hues for use in laminated glazing in both interior and exterior applications, including curtainwalls, atriums, skylights and partitions.

The new imaging technology resolves some of the long-standing issues that have plagued designers using glass in artistic, architectural signage or themed applications. Because the image is encapsulated between two pieces of glass, there are no durability issues, scratching problems, unattractive fingerprint permanence or other cleaning issues. The colours will stay vibrant over time. Photo-like reproduction can be obtained and graphic images are sharp. The new technology allows for printing of transparent and opaque graphics simultaneously. Specialty background colours like gold, silver and metallics, and ‘two way’ colours (different colours when viewed on opposite sides of the glass) are also possible.

The process to develop an image is similar to working with a printing house for printed materials like brochures or newsletters. The architect or designer provides an ordinary electronic version of an image which is transferred to a media specifically engineered for lamination and then sent to a laminator. The finished product is not only aesthetically pleasing; it provides all of the qualities and benefits of laminated glass including safety, sound, structural, solar and security performance.

The company’s most recent product introduction to the Vanceva colour interlayer system under the name Saflex, a unit of Solutia, is Tangerine, a vibrant new colour made of polyvinyl butyral (PVB) interlayer that uses highly concentrated pigments to create brilliant hues for use in laminated glazing.

The Vanceva interlayer system is comprised of eight basic colours and three translucent white colours that can be used singularly or multi-layered in various combinations to produce more than 1000 distinctive transparent and translucent colour options. The concentrated pigments in a single sheet of PVB interlayer create vivid hues in specialty colours. Tangerine can be used alone as a single layer in a glass laminate or with any of the white interlayers of the Vanceva system.

In addition to the wide variety of colour options, Vanceva interlayers also give architects and designers the proven performance benefits of laminated glass used in both interior and exterior applications, including curtainwalls, atriums, skylights, partitions and conference rooms. -end-