This study analyses the surface of copper-coatedartistic glass produced by electroforming technique,using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) as theprimary characterisation tool. Non-conductive glass substrates were rendered conductive with a powdered-graphite layer and then coated with copper in an acidic copper-sulphate bath. Two families of experimentswere carried out on 3 × 3 cm × 5 mm tiles: a voltageseries (0.1, 0.2 and 0.3 V) and a current series (0.1, 0.2and 0.3 A), each at holding times of 25, 50 and 100minutes, with all other parameters held constant. SEMimaging of the graphite layer, of every depositioncondition, and of the deposit in profile reveals asystematic evolution of the copper morphology. Atlow-to-moderate driving force (0.1–0.2 V, 0.1 A) withsufficient time the deposit consists of fine, coalesced,comparatively smooth grains that form bright,homogeneous films; at 0.2 V it is densest and mostuniform. As the driving force increases (0.3 V and,most markedly, 0.2–0.3 A) the copper grows as coarsethree-dimensional botryoidal (cauliflower-like) spherulites separated by deep crevices, a rough, light-scattering morphology that corresponds to the dark and eventually black surfaces observedmacroscopically; a profile view confirms thecolumnar, mounded growth habit at high current. Adistinctive methodological feature of the work is theuse of powdered graphite, rather than silver or liquidcopper pastes, as the conductivity layer. The SEMevidence provides a micro-structural explanation forthe macroscopic colour and texture and yields areproducible parameter map that allows the artist tosteer the surface from bright metallic to dark patinatedthrough voltage or current and time alone.