38 | Don't make stained glass look like jewelry. Decorative panels made with lead cames, glass thickness, and transmitted light | Airi-chan

Introduction

Simply arranging vibrant glass tends to lean toward jewelry or mosaics. The essence of stained glass lies not in the number of colors, but in how the pieces are held and how light passes through them. Let's build it from the structure.

Design Intent

Fit colored glass into H-shaped lead cames and connect all pieces. The lead cames are a structure, not just a contour decoration. By leaving a small amount of thickness variation, air bubbles, and flow lines, we separate the transmitted light from behind and the colored light on the wall.

Example Commentary

I placed a fictional plant pattern into a limestone frame. The lead cames for the main outlines are slightly thicker, and the colors are five low-saturation shades. This design is easy to deploy for commercial backgrounds without relying on churches or existing architecture.

Full Natural Language Prompt

Vertical 4:5, fictional non-religious plant stained glass. All irregular glass pieces in teal, amber, rose, smoky blue, and transparent are connected by H-shaped lead cames. Limit air bubbles, flow lines, ripples, and thickness variations to allow morning light from behind to pass through. Exclude jewelry, resin, mosaics, existing architecture, and text.

JSON Variable Example

{"motif":"abstract botanical","glass":["teal","amber","rose","smoke blue","clear"],"joint":"H-shaped lead came","surface":["small bubbles","fine striations","waviness"],"light":"transmitted morning light","ratio":"4:5"}

Jinja2 Template

{{ ratio }}の{{ motif }}ステンドグラス。{{ glass | join("・") }}の片を{{ joint }}で全て接続する。表面は{{ surface | join("・") }}。{{ light }}を背後から通す。宝石、樹脂、モザイク、実在建築を入れない。

Substitution Variables, Usage, Composition, Size, Color Scheme

• Pattern: Plants, waves, geometry, abstract bird shapes, seasonal leaves

• Usage: Backgrounds, window panels, lighting, product pedestals, banners

• Composition: Vertical window, circular, triptych, partial close-up

• Size: 4:5, 1:1, 16:9, A3

• Color Scheme: Teal x Amber, Indigo x Milky White, Rose x Smoky Blue, Transparent x Silver Gray

Failure Examples and Correction Prompts

1. Becomes jewelry: "Remove beveling and polyhedral reflections, and return to thin sheet glass and lead came joints"

2. Becomes resin: "Remove uniform transparency and thick rounded edges, and add fine air bubbles and flow lines"

3. Black lines are too strong: "Make the lead cames thinner and keep them a uniform dark gray except for the main outlines"

4. Becoming mosaic tiles: "Remove the grout and change to a structure where H-shaped lead lines hold the glass edges."

5. Light blowing out: "Dim the transmitted light to preserve the shading within the colored glass and the faint projection on the wall."

Summary

Assemble with lead lines before considering color. By adding the unevenness of thin glass and light from behind, it rises not as a jewel, but as a window. Next, try turning a pattern you like into light.

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