on June 04, 2026
An art print deserves a frame that serves it. The wrong frame — too heavy, wrong colour temperature, wrong material — competes with the image and loses. The right frame is almost invisible: you see the print, not the frame around it.
These are the best frame options for art prints, organised by print type.
For Black and White Photography
Black and white photography is among the most demanding image type to frame well, because any colour in the frame shifts the temperature of the image. A slim black frame keeps the image cool and precise. A slim white frame creates a clean, gallery-like quality. A natural light wood frame adds warmth that many black and white images benefit from, particularly documentary and portrait photography.
ONE MAAY's minimalist frame series and aluminum frames in black or silver work well for most black and white photography.
For Contemporary Art Prints
Contemporary art prints — abstract, graphic, typographic — tend to work best with frames that step back. A slim aluminum frame in black or white lets the print do the visual work. An acrylic floating frame removes the frame from the equation entirely.
The exception is a print with deliberate vintage or craft aesthetics: a hand-printed poster, a risograph print, a letterpress piece. These benefit from a frame with more material presence — a medium-weight wood profile in a natural finish.
For Fine Art Prints and Limited Editions
Fine art prints — giclée editions, original lithographs, signed prints from galleries — benefit from framing that matches their quality. A solid wood frame in a species and finish appropriate to the print's colour palette. UV-protective glass or acrylic to preserve the ink over time. An acid-free mat if the print has white border.
The investment in a well-made frame for a fine art print is proportionate to the print's value. A cheap frame diminishes a significant print. A frame that matches the print's quality creates a display piece worth looking at for a long time.
For Botanical and Vintage Illustration
Botanical prints and vintage illustration work best in frames that share their material quality: natural wood in warm tones, white-painted wood, or pale finishes. The solid wood series in lighter species — oak, pine, ash — or painted finishes suit the archival quality of the subject matter.
A white or cream mat adds breathing room around the image and evokes the presentation of scientific illustration in its original context.
For Posters and Large Format Prints
Posters are typically printed on lighter paper and displayed for visual impact rather than archival preservation. A clean aluminum frame or an acrylic floating mount works well for most posters — the frame is practical rather than precious, which suits the format.
For a large-format print displayed as a significant piece, a heavier wood frame with a wider profile adds the visual weight that makes the scale feel intentional.
Browse ONE MAAY's full picture frame collection to find the right frame for your print.
