Glass Fusing with DicroSlide™

DicroSlide™ is a special dichroic-coated paper, which performs like a decal.  You cut out your desired shapes with scissors or a craft punch, soak the cut pieces in distilled water, then slide the dichroic coating (along with its binder) off of the paper, and apply it to your glass prior to fusing.  When you fire your glass the binder burns off, leaving the dichroic coating on the glass.

As DicroSlide was developed mainly as a product for glass fusing and ceramics, the instructions that come with the product explain how to fuse with DicroSlide.  See the DicroSlide product instructions, which are the instructions that come with the product packaging.

Below are some additional glass fusing tips from Georgia Speelman of Glasshopper Patterns, the creator and manufacturer of DicroSlide:

• Putting the DicroSlide on glass with the dichroic side up and allowing a design to dry before covering and firing gives the most uniform finish.  (NOTE:  I let it dry overnight.  –Vickie Wilner)


• DicroSlide has a carrier material on it which keeps it from dissolving when put into water.  In small pieces, such as earrings and pendants, this carrier material vaporizes rapidly.  If fusing pieces that are larger than jewelry size, or if you are including a large piece of solid DicroSlide, it is recommended that firing schedules include a hold at 950°F for 30 to 60 minutes, depending on the size of the DicroSlide area.  (Hold time depends on how much DicroSlide area is in the design.)  This lets the carrier material vaporize and allows air to escape from under the clear cover.  Be sure to do this in a well-ventilated area.


• Distilled water is strongly recommended, because tap water may have minerals, metals, or additives that can react with the metal in the dichroic causing discoloration when fired.


• Be sure to keep the dichroic (shiny) side up when planning the layout.  Or, by placing DicroSlide on glass with the dichroic (shiny) side down (toward the glass) or firing while still moist, a crackled or antiqued appearance can be achieved.


• Put only a few pieces of DicroSlide in the water at one time.


• Keep the DicroSlide slightly damp while moving it on the glass.


• Layering DicroSlide and/or using other colors of glass changes the way colors appear after firing.  It is possible to create many design variations by using layers of DicroSlide on a combination of colored and clear glass.


• DicroSlide starts bonding to glass at 1100°F.  It moves and flows along with hot glass, so it will stretch and may separate during slumping.  It has been combed at temperatures over 1650°F with good results, since it moves and separates along with the glass.

(Instructions and other product information used with permission from Glasshopper Patterns.)