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EnglishPicture Frames: Types and How to Choose the Right One
Updated
Picture frames do two jobs: they protect what you put inside, and they tell the viewer how to look at it. The right choice depends on three things — what you're framing (a photo, a diploma, a 3D object, a TV), how much protection it needs, and whether a standard size will fit or you need a custom build. ArtToFrame organizes its catalog around exactly these distinctions: Picture Frames, Matted Frames, Print + Frame, Collage Frames, Shadow Box Frames, Acrylic Floating Frames, Diploma Frames, Gallery Walls, Puzzle Frames, Custom Cut Mats, Replacement Glass & Acrylic, Canvas Prints, and a Samsung TV Frame. Below is how to pick among them.
Start with the object, not the frame
The object decides the category before style ever enters the conversation.
| What you're framing | Frame type to look at | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Single photo or print | Picture Frames, or Print + Frame | Standard opening, simple assembly |
| Photo that needs breathing room | Matted Frames, Custom Cut Mats | Mat separates image from frame edge |
| Several photos together | Collage Frames | Multiple openings in one frame |
| Medal, ticket stub, dried flowers, keepsake | Shadow Box Frames | Deep enough to hold 3D objects |
| Print you want to appear to float | Acrylic Floating Frames | No visible mat border; acrylic holds the piece |
| Certificate or diploma | Diploma Frames | Sized and styled for documents |
| A wall of mixed pieces | Gallery Walls | Pre-planned arrangement rather than one-offs |
| Jigsaw puzzle | Puzzle Frames | Sized for assembled puzzle dimensions |
| Samsung TV | Samsung TV Frame | Turns the screen into a framed display |
If your item is flat and standard-sized, you're in the first row. Everything below that row exists because the object doesn't behave like a plain photo.
How matting and size change the result
A mat is the cardboard border between the artwork and the frame. It isn't decoration alone — it keeps the artwork from touching the glass, which matters for anything you care about long-term.
Two practical consequences:
- A mat makes a small image look intentional. A 4" x 6" photo in a large frame without a mat looks lost. The same photo with a wide mat looks deliberate.
- A mat changes the frame size you need. If you want a 2-inch mat around an 8" x 10" print, the frame opening must be roughly 12" x 14". Order the mat and frame together, or use Custom Cut Mats, rather than guessing.
On sizing, ArtToFrame's upload tool states a minimum selectable area of 4" x 6" and a maximum of 56" x 56". Note that promotions on the site do not apply to any product over 29" x 41" on the outside size — so if you're framing large, don't count on a coupon to reduce the price.
File requirements if you're uploading an image
If you use Print + Frame or any upload path, the site specifies:
- Formats: JPG and JPEG only
- Maximum file size: 150MB
- For larger files: send a WeTransfer or Dropbox link by email, using a test image clearly marked "Not To Be Printed"
- Color: RGB files for the most accurate color reproduction
You also confirm you own or have permission to print the image; the company reserves the right to refuse copyrighted images.
Choosing style and material to match the room
Once the category is settled, style is a matching problem, not a rules problem.
- Match the frame to the room's existing metals and woods. A warm oak frame in a room of black metal and glass will read as a mistake even if it's a good frame.
- Let the mat do the color work. A neutral frame with a colored mat is easier to live with than a colored frame, and cheaper to change later.
- For a TV, the frame is furniture. The Samsung TV Frame exists so the screen behaves like decor when it's off — treat that decision the same way you'd treat a large wall piece.
Custom vs ready-made: when each makes sense
Ready-made works when your item is a standard size (4" x 6", 5" x 7", 8" x 10", 11" x 14") and you're not picky about the exact border width. It's faster and simpler.
Custom is worth it when any of these are true:
- The artwork is an odd size, or you want a specific mat width
- You're framing something 3D (shadow box) or a puzzle
- You need a document frame sized to a diploma
- You want a gallery wall where the frames relate to each other by design
ArtToFrame's model is built around custom work — the upload-and-configure flow, Custom Cut Mats, and the shadow box and floating categories all assume you're specifying dimensions rather than picking off a shelf.
Care and replacement parts
- Glass vs acrylic: both are offered as Replacement Glass & Acrylic. Acrylic is lighter and less likely to shatter; glass is harder and less prone to scratching. For large frames or anything hung where it could be knocked, acrylic is the safer default.
- Keep artwork off the glass. Use a mat or spacers, especially for photos and anything with a surface that can stick over time.
- Hang out of direct sun unless you've confirmed the glazing offers UV protection — fading is the most common way a framed piece degrades.
- Replacement parts are a normal purchase, not a failure. If glass breaks or acrylic hazes, you replace the glazing rather than the whole frame.
A quick decision path
- Is the object flat, standard-sized, and single? → Picture Frames or Print + Frame.
- Does it need a border or protection from the glass? → add a mat or choose Matted Frames.
- Is it 3D, a puzzle, a diploma, or a TV? → go straight to that category.
- Is it an odd size or a wall arrangement? → go custom, and confirm the outside dimensions before ordering, since size affects both fit and promotion eligibility.
If you're unsure between two options, the deciding question is usually protection: what will this piece look like in ten years, and does the frame you're considering get it there?