What Is a Glassine Bag?

eHow
July 12, 2011

Glassine is a thin, smooth paper that is air-, water- and grease-resistant. It is usually translucent, resembling wax paper, and dyes can be added to color it or make it opaque. Glassine paper is used to make bags or envelopes for crafts and gift wrap and to preserve stamps and other paper artifacts.

How Glassine Is Made
Glassine paper is made by a process called supercalendering. The paper is first pressed and dried. At the end of the production line is a series of rollers that flatten the fibers so they all face the same direction. The calendaring process is repeated several times, giving the paper its smooth, glossy finish.

Glassine vs. Cellophane
Similar to glassine, cellophane is a clear, brittle paper used for food packaging and crafts. It is transparent and resistant to water and air. While glassine is made with pulverized paper pulp fibers, cellophane is made from cellulose. The cellulose is processed through a series of chemical baths to make it clear, coagulated and plasticized.

Glassine Crafts
Glassine bags can be used to hold candies, baked goods and small food items. They are often used for wedding and party favors. A sheet of glassine paper is sometimes used to stylize wedding invitations. Because it is grease-resistant, glassine can be used to package soaps and potpourri. Glassine can be printed with logos or messages and decorated as paper would be.

Glassine for Preservation
Glassine is often used to preserve paper artifacts. It is not recommended for preserving photographs because of the risk of acid transfer over time, which damages photos. It is useful for storing stamps, trading cards, small paintings or prints and other documents.

References
Innovateus: What Is Glassine Paper?
McGraw Hill Access Science: Cellophane