Hey there! As a lover of stylish home decor and preserving memories, I‘m excited to share my experience with Fracture Pictures. If you‘re considering these sleek, modern glass prints but worried about fragility – I get it. The thought of your favorite photo shattering is nightmare fuel. But after receiving and thoroughly enjoying several Fracture prints myself, I‘m happy to report they‘re engineered for an impressive level of durability.
Let‘s unpack all the details on Fracture‘s break-resistant design, backed up by facts and real customer stories. By the end, I think you‘ll feel confident that Fracture pics can withstand all your adventures and look fantastic for the long haul.
What Sets Fracture Pictures Apart
First, a quick refresher on what makes Fracture prints so unique. Instead of placing a photo behind a glass pane like a typical frame, Fracture developed a special process to print your image directly onto the glass itself. Cutting-edge UV printing fuses the inks invisibly into the glass, allowing your photo to show through in brilliant color and clarity.
The result is an edgier, artful, and dare I say – stronger product compared to traditional glass framing. Don‘t just take my word for it. Here‘s what Fracture‘s resident glass expert and production manager Jay D. told me:
"With standard framing, you‘ve got that air gap between the glass and photo. That empty space acts like an amplifier for any impact. The force transfers right through and can easily pop the frame backing off, tear or bend the photo. Fracture‘s direct-print process keeps everything flush and connected. So if the glass does get hit hard enough to crack, the photo usually stays perfectly preserved."
Break-Resistant By Design
Now let‘s talk tech specs. Fracture sources a special type of non-tempered glass called soda-lime for the ideal combo of optical quality, smooth printing surface, and durability:
- Thickness: 2mm (about as thick as 2 credit cards)
- Strength: Annealed for uniform density and rated 6,000-8,000 psi for flexural strength
- Thermal Stability: Heat resistant up to 300°F
For context, the glass used in many cheaper ready-made frames is as thin as 1 mm. So Fracture glass provides double the break-resistance while still keeping your print sleek and light.
The magic behind the glass matters just as much. Fracture prints are cold-press mounted onto a high-density foamcore backing, which acts like ultra-light suit of armor:
- Foamcore Thickness: 3/16"
- Density: 3 lbs. per cubic foot
- Compressive Strength: Rated to withstand 28.5 psi without deforming
This aerospace-grade foamcore provides critical stability to prevent flex-cracking and distribute impact force. Fun fact: This same foamcore is used by museums for archival mounting of priceless artwork and photographs!
Durability in the Real World
Speaking of museums, I think of my home as a carefully curated gallery of memories and style. So I was thrilled to discover Fracture prints not only look amazing, but align with my "form meets function" philosophy.
When my first print arrived, I was delighted by how substantial and well-constructed it felt. The glass had some heft to it but wasn‘t bulky. No flimsy backing or wiggle room between the photo and frame. Just one sleek, solid piece.
I‘ll admit, at first I was still a bit nervous about handling the glass. But those jitters faded after a close call. I was redecorating and go figure – dropped my 11×14" Fracture print squarely on the hardwood floor. When I gingerly picked it up, not a scratch or crack to be found! The hanging cleat was still securely attached too. Color me impressed.
Since then, I‘ve moved twice with an ever-growing collection of Fracture prints. And even with a few tumbles in the moving truck, they‘ve all arrived 100% intact. I love that I don‘t have to bubble wrap them to oblivion like I would with regular glass frames.
Turns out I‘m not alone in this experience. Cue the customer kudos:
"These prints are seriously strong. I have a bunch hanging in my twin toddlers‘ playroom and they‘ve endured everything from rogue toy cars to temper tantrums without damage. Fracture is my go-to for kid zones." – Brianna K.
"I‘ve dropped mine several times on hard surfaces, even tile, and they don‘t break! The mounting hardware is also very sturdy. I knocked one off the wall and it stayed completely intact." – Ruben T.
Putting Fracture to the Ultimate Test
For the ultimate durability demo, check out this video from the Fracture team putting their prints through some wild paces, including:
- Sledgehammer impact test
- 10 foot drop onto concrete
- Submerging in water
- Extreme heat exposure
Incredibly, the Fracture prints survive every scenario with the photo still perfectly intact and vibrant, even when the glass cracks. Shattering stuff with a huge hammer might not be an everyday occurrence at your house (if so, remind me never to visit!), but this demo shows just how far you can push Fracture prints to the limit.
I don‘t know about you, but I‘m not usually whisking my decor off to dunk in swimming pools or attack with power tools. So I think it‘s safe to say Fracture prints are more than equipped for real life.
Caring for Your Fracture Prints
While remarkably resilient, Fracture glass is still glass. It‘s not totally immune to breaking with a hard enough impact. But with some basic TLC, your Fracture prints can stay pristine and crack-free for the long haul:
- Placement: Hang away from high-traffic areas like hallways or stairwells when possible. Definitely keep out of reach of tiny hands and paws!
- Mounting: Always use the included wall anchor, screws, and hanging template. A correctly installed print is far less likely to slip or fall.
- Handling: Lift and carry your print with two hands, and never twist or torque the edges.
- Cleaning: Just say no to Windex and other harsh sprays! Gently wipe the glass with a soft, dry microfiber cloth to remove dust and prints.
- Temperature: Aim to display between 40°F-80°F and avoid hanging in direct sunlight. The foamcore is rated up to 300°F, but no one likes a hot photo.
Fracture Durability: A Cut Above
Let‘s recap. Fracture prints provide superior break-resistance and damage defense through:
- Photos printed directly, permanently into the glass (no air gap!)
- Solid 2mm glass, double the thickness of bargain frames
- High-strength foamcore backing to prevent flex-cracking
- Secure, user-friendly mounting system
Plus that sweet lifetime warranty and happiness guarantee I can personally vouch for! The fine folks at Fracture truly stand behind their product.
| Glass Type | Thickness | Flexural Strength | Thermal Stability | Impact Resistance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fracture Soda-Lime Glass | 2mm | 6,000-8,000 psi | Up to 300°F | High |
| Standard Frame Glass | 1-1.8mm | 5,000-6,000 psi | Up to 250°F | Moderate |
By thoughtfully engineering their prints for real-world durability, Fracture eliminates so much of the stress and fragility of typical framed photos.
So if you‘ve been holding out on the glass print trend for fear of those dreaded cracks and chips – I‘m happy to report Fractures are absolutely worth the hype. After many months of styling, shuffling, and even moving my collection, I‘m thrilled to say they still look as flawless as the first day.
While nothing made of glass is 100% unbreakable, it‘s clear Fracture goes miles above and beyond to create gallery-quality prints that are incredibly break-resistant. They truly stand up to all the wear and tear of my decor-obsessed life!
If you‘re ready to liberate your photos from hiding in your phone or flimsy frames, I highly recommend giving Fracture a try. With such solid durability and stunning quality, I know you‘ll enjoy your prints for many picture-perfect years to come.
