Silverlined ~ These beads have a silver lining in the hole, making them shimmer and shine.
Good to use in areas where you want the color to stand out and be noticed. Harsh abrasion and/or extreme age will scratch the lining out of the bead. Transparent ~ means see-through. Light passes through these beads from all angles. Transparent beads usually recede in a pattern. Good to use when you want subtle color.
Transparent Lustre ~ is a see-through glass with a shiny lustre on the surface.
Again subtle color, but with just a flash of light. Depending on what the beads are next to, they will either recede or stand out.
Colorlined ~ is clear glass with a color lining the hole. Even the brightest of these beads tend to recede in a pattern.
Brighter shades of colorlined beads can fade in sunlight over time. Also harsh use, abrasion and/or age will scratch the lining out of this bead. Colorlined beads should always be checked for durability before use. The beads should never be dry cleaned, worn into water or used around aerosol sprays. When used properly and in the proper context, colorlined beads are beautiful.
Transparent AB ~ is see-through glass with an Aurora Borealis (all the colors of the rainbow) finish on the surface. The AB on these beads allows them to stand out in a pattern. Good to use when you want a bright and shiny effect.
Goldlustre ~ is a term to describe the tinge of gold on the surface of these beads. Some may be a single color with the Goldlustre on the surface, others can be a glass of one color and the lustre of another. Because of the brightness of the lustre, these beads will stand out in a pattern.
Fancy ~ includes many styles of glass, colored glass with a different colored lining, with or without an AB finish, and also some special lustre finishes. Most tend to stand out in a pattern because of their brightness and the variety of colors all in one bead.
Colored glass with a colored lining should be treated as the above Colorlined beads.
Opaque ~ is a solid colored glass. No light passes through.This is the most common and least expensive of seedbeads.
They tend to stand out in a pattern unless used with Silverlined or very bright beads, then they will recede.
Opaque Lustre ~ is a solid colored glass with a shiny lustre on the surface. No light passes through, but the lustered finish makes them stand out.
Metallics ~ are solid colored glass with a metal looking finish applied. Very durable, although with harsh chemicals or severe scratching, the surface can be removed. Most metallics tend to be on the more expensive side. This is due to both the chemicals needed to create the colors and the added handling needed to produce the metallic coating.
Galvanized ~ Solid glass with a shiny metal looking coating that is not durable. It will scratch, rub and fade off easily.
Those with a high Ph level can remove the coating just by holding the beads in their hands. (I'm one of those =o/ )
Ceylon ~ is a semi-translucent glass with a shiny pearl finish on the surface. Nice light, bright colors that stand out in a pattern.
Bright pink Ceylon beads can fade in direct sunlight, however they rarely loose their color in bleach.
Giltlined ~ are a semi-translucent opaly glass with a golden metal color lining. Not as bright and flashy as silverlined. More of a subtle glow. The giltlining tends to make the colors warm. Depending on what they are used with will determine if they recede or stand out.
Silverlined AB ~ is a colored glass with a silver lining in the hole plus an AB finish on the surface. The AB finish gives these beads shades of color all their own (ie. the red takes on a fuchsia hue). Bright & Bold. Really stand out in a pattern
Shimmering ~ This is a relatively new finish on seed beads, adapted from a Delica finish. Crystal clear colorlined glass with a shimmering lustre on the surface. Most colors are muted making them slightly recede into a pattern. There are a few colors now with colored glass with a different colorlining.
Silverlined Matte ~ As with the regular silverlined beads, these are colored glass with a silver lining in the hole.
Bright and shiney. The added matte finish dulls the effect slightly but also makes the bead appear to glow. Regardless of the matte finish, these beads still tend to stand out in a pattern.
Transparent Matte ~ see-thru glass with a heavy matte finish. As with almost all mattes, these beads recede in a pattern.
Transparent Matte AB ~ Translucent see-thru glass with a heavy matte finish, plus an AB effect added.
Depending on what these beads are mixed with they can stand out in a pattern.
Opaque Matte ~ Solid colored glass with a matte finish. These beads have a richness to them because of the matte finish.
Silverlined Matte AB ~ Not only does the bead have the sparkle and color of an AB finish, but it also has that look of an "inner glow" that comes from matting a silverlined bead.
Metallic Matte ~ Solid colored glass beads with a metal finish that has been matted. Very durable. Because of the vast array of color play on these beads, they will respond within a pattern either by standing out or receding determined by what they are next to.
