Glassine is a paper product which is grease, air, and water resistant. A special manufacturing process is required to make glassine, and it can be expensive since a single sheet represents a great deal of work in a paper factory. There are a number of uses for glassine, ranging from archival protection to laboratory work. A number of paper suppliers make and sell glassine in a range of colors.

To make glassine, paper pulp is beaten to break down the fibers. The pulp is pressed into molds and allowed to dry into sheets. The sheets are pressed through hot rollers in a process called calendering, which makes the fibers lie flat and in the same direction. Glassine is considered supercalendered paper, since it is subjected to the process multiple times. The end result is a very smooth paper product which can be used as barrier protection from a number of substances.

Basic glassine is almost transparent with a neutral color. The color can be changed with the addition of dyes during the pulping process, and some companies also make opaque glassine with other additives. Many people prefer glassine in its semi-transparent form, since it allows people to see what is lying underneath a sheet of glassine.

In bookbinding and art, glassine is a valuable tool since it can be made with a neutral pH. Sheets of glassine can be used as interleaves to protect fragile books or artwork. The glassine is often bound directly into a book to protect plates from scratches, or used in archival restoration to protect the individual pages of a book from the elements. Glassine for this purpose is available in a range of sizes to meet varying needs.

In laboratory settings, glassine is often used as weighing paper. Weighing paper is used to weigh powders and other small solids to ensure that the scale remains clean, and no part of the solid escapes, since the paper resists leaking and grease, preventing contamination. After weighing, the sheet can be gently folded and used as a funnel to replace the substance being weighed in a safe receptacle. Glassine used for weighing paper is usually meant to be disposable, so that cross contamination is avoided.

Sheets of lightweight glassine are also often found in food service settings such as candy stores and bakeries. A sheet of glassine prevents hand to food contact and also keeps grease down. Boxes of disposable sheets for this purpose are available from restaurant supply houses.