Does a painted side of a glass cover for a fluorescent light go towards or away from the light?
I have seen a coat of semi-translucent paint on the inside of a fixture before.  My understanding was that the paint was to help dim the direct brightness of the bulb by making the cover more opaque. The paint was put on the inside to help prevent it being worn away, which is how I would place the glass.  I've seen the paint chipped off the glass before, and putting it towards the bulb may help prevent this. (plus its easier to clean and looks better?)