Acrylic prints are a stunning & unique product for displaying your photographs.
They make colours pop & because you’re viewing the photograph through a thickness of acrylic, they bring a wonderful depth to the image.
Images printed on other mediums can sometimes be enhanced by presenting the print in a frame & frames come in various styles & materials to suit different tastes.
But can you frame acrylic prints? Yes, there are print services that offer framing, but the appeal of acrylic prints is their borderless design which gives them their unique depth. Framing would cover up the edges, thus losing this unique characteristic. But acrylic prints can be mounted in a fashion that creates a border around the photograph.
Why Would You Frame An Acrylic Print?
Mounted photographs, canvas prints & wraps & even metal prints can all be framed.
Framing can offer an extra dimension & appeal to certain images printed on these mediums.
But acrylic prints can be more expensive & they offer that unique borderless appeal which is why most people choose them.
Although as their popularity grows, the cost of acrylic prints is coming down.
The acrylic comes in a choice of thickness, usually ⅛ inch (3mm) or ¼ inch (6.35mm), but some printers may offer an even thicker option, especially if you’re ordering an acrylic photo block.
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Some would argue that framing detracts from their integral design & why they’re popular in the 1st place.
I'm not sure frames detract from the print, I just feel the thickness of acrylic is it's uniqueness, so why cover this up?
If you really want a framed print that offers depth & colour saturation, in my opinion you’re better off choosing a metal photo print.
Metal prints produce amazing image quality, are sometimes cheaper than acrylic & because they're made from a thinner aluminium sheet, many framing options can be used.
Acrylic Photo Frames
It’s possible to frame an image printed to acrylic in another way, not with an actual picture frame as such, but with a border.
Instead of ordering your acrylic print with the image bleeding over the edges, the printed photograph can be smaller, thus creating a border.
Being clear acrylic means the backing board used determines the colour of the border.
Black or white are the most widely used & you can even choose a clear border.
Other Acrylic Framing Options
The main component in why acrylic creates such outstanding image quality is down to the print lab.
A professional printer will use high grade acrylic, photographic papers & inks.
So this high quality image is further enhanced by mounting behind a thickness of acrylic.
But if you already have a photograph, acrylic mounting frames are available through certain department stores.
These frames can be bought for a few dollars, but they’re not going to enhance your image in any way.
It’s like mounting a photograph behind glass, except these are acrylic or Plexiglass.
Final Thoughts
Acrylic prints are a unique way to display a photograph or image.
Even when framed, the image quality will still be outstanding.
I guess it's just personal taste as to whether or not you need to choose this print medium if you're wanting a framed photograph.
Because acrylic printing can be more costly, you need to be sure that the borderless, clean & modern appeal they offer is something you’ll be happy with for years to come .. because not only do acrylic prints look amazing, they can last for decades.
Dive into acrylic prints even further with this complete guide.
I hope this article answered any questions you may have had & please feel free to share.