色・発色
neodymium
Japanese: ネオジウム
A colored metal whose appearance changes from reddish-purple to blue depending on the light source.
Learn More
Neodymium (Nd) is a rare earth element and an additive that imparts a unique dichroism (where the color appears to change depending on the type of light source) to glass. Glass containing neodymium exhibits the alexandrite effect, in which its hue appears to change depending on the type of lighting—appearing purple under incandescent light and pale blue-violet under fluorescent light.
Neodymium glass is popular among collectors for its rare visual characteristics, and when combined with other colors in glass fusing, it allows you to create pieces that take on different appearances depending on the lighting conditions. While the color changes caused by firing are relatively stable, care must be taken regarding reactions with other metal oxides. Be sure to check the actual color under various lighting conditions using a color sample tile before using it in your final piece.
Related Concepts
You will learn about metal oxides, coloring versus discoloration, and color sample tiles as part of your knowledge of color management.
This entry is written in Japanese by Rei Chikaoka and translated for readers outside Japan. If something reads oddly, the original is the source of truth.