As a photographer, the impact of the photos you take goes beyond the images in digital form. When you sell your photos, customers want to know that you put just as much care into providing them with beautifully framed images as you do when photographing them.Â
PrinTribe provides premium-grade printing and framing options for photographers to ensure that your photos are not only produced to the highest quality, but also so that every photo’s longevity is extended thanks to the best printing and framing materials and techniques.
Knowing how to expertly frame a photographic print means your customers won’t be left with a faded photo five or ten years down the track – and they’ll certainly keep coming back for more. With this guide, you’ll find out everything you need to know about the best products to use on the PrinTribe platform for framing your photographic prints, so that you can trust they’ll last a lifetime.
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Which paper should I use for framing photographs?Â
Premium photo paper is best for a professional look that stands the test of time. Our Premium Photo Paper is exhibition and museum-grade standard, which means it produces a richness of colour, particularly for black tones, when compared to matte papers. It’s ideal for creative photography, techniques, and after-effects, as it’s a bright white paper with a cool tint.
With a satin finish at 235gsm, our Premium Photo Paper produces vibrant colour reproduction, meaning your photos maintain their crisp details, and are less reflective than gloss paper. For galleries, competitions, and especially discerning clients, this paper will give the sharpest details and colours of all the PrinTribe papers.
Is cotton rag a good choice for photographers?
PrinTribe’s Smooth Cotton Rag 280gsm paper is an excellent choice for landscape photographers or portrait photographers who seek a softer, more natural feel to their printed images. With its warm, almost creamy-white tint, it has a subtle smooth texture that makes it perfect for this type of photography. It’s even ideal for portfolios as it’s scratch resistant, produced at exhibition and museum-grade standards.
Which matboard is best to use when framing photographs?
Adding a matboard helps minimise fingerprints and scuffs on your photographs, creating an added layer of protection between your photos and the acrylic that increases preservation and longevity.
- Our Conservation Matboard is the ideal choice if your photos are going to be hung for an extended period. Conservation is fade and bleed resistant, pH-balanced, and acid-free, which means your photos are fully protected.
- Our Float Mount Customisation option is a dream for photographers who love a bit of added pizzazz - it brings an extra element of dimension and drama to the photos.
Acrylic finishes - which is best for photography?
TruView® Premium
Our recommended finish for photographers is TruView® Premium acrylic. It’s a crystal-clear acrylic that provides your photographs with 3mm of shatterproof protection, a well as UV protection to drastically extend the photo’s longevity. This finishing touch enhances image clarity, whilst reducing reflection, glare, and the appearance of fingerprints. As a museum-grade acrylic, you can confidently exhibit your work in galleries or museums, as well as present it as a piece of fine art at home.
TruView® Anti-Reflective
With a matte finish, this acrylic removes the most glare from your photographs than any other acrylic. Keep in mind, TruView® Anti-Reflective acrylic can soften the look of your images, so, for instance, it can be chosen as an alternative to using our Smooth Cotton Rag paper.
Standard Acrylic
While our Standard Acrylic isn’t suitable for exhibition use, it’s the most commonly used for hanging up photographs in the home. This acrylic is clear, lightweight, and break-proof, plus it protects your images from harmful UV rays that can negatively affect richness of colour, depth, and clarity overtime.
Are there recommended frames for displaying photography?
Your frame choice reflects your own creative style, which is why it’s important to explore your options to discover which frame suits your photography style best. Check out our top suggestions that we think look best for framing photos.
Contemporary, minimalist frame styles
Minimalist frame styles are perfect options to showcase your photography with visual simplicity and elegance.
Elisabeth in simple black or white creates an elegant, modern aesthetic that works perfectly for black & white photography.
Australian Oak Thin provides an understated, earthy tone to your photographs with a smooth finish, making it a beautiful complementary frame for photographs of Australian landscapes.
Wide, smooth frame styles
For a bolder, weightier profile, we recommend our wide moulding range – especially when offset against a matboard.
Pablo is a premium grade frame available in black or white. Designed and made in Italy, it has a fine gesso coating that provides a smooth finish and reduces the risk of cracks and chips.
Australian Oak Wide is the same as the thin version with an earthy tone and smooth finish yet has a thicker width. Again, it’s the perfect complementary look for landscape photos.
Print to canvas options
If frames aren’t your thing, then you can instead decide to display your photographs using our Premium Canvas Print range.
With seven options to choose from, including a simple Stretched Canvas, your photographs will look exceptional on any wall. For added longevity, we include a 38mm stretcher bar that gives your canvas photo print robust durability, as well as a professional look and feel.
Which framing options will look best for my photos printed on canvas?
Contemporary Style
For photos with a contemporary vibe, we recommend choosing from these framing options for the perfect modern minimalistic look:
- Henri – A classic L-shaped black moulding with sleek edges for a sophisticated shadow look.
- Vincent Walnut – Crafted from solid Meranti timber with fine sanding, classic open-grain finish, and a smooth matte texture.
- Natural Oak – An earthy, on-trend frame crafted from raw natural oak.
