Personalised prints make a lovely unique present for a loved one! Gift someone special with a thoughtful keepsake they can proudly hang on the wall. Whether you are looking for gifts for couples, families or children, or for an special occasion such as an anniversary, new births, or christenings. Or just want to say thank you, you can chose from wall art, framed prints or canvas, there is something unique for everyone!
The history of framed prints has deep roots that intertwine with the evolution of art, culture, and printing technologies.
Today, framed prints are cherished for their ability to personalise spaces, offer artistic appreciation, and preserve memories. Whether showcasing classic reproductions, contemporary designs, or family photographs, framed art prints remain a meaningful and continuing part of home and gallery decor.
The primary difference between a framed print and a canvas print lies in the materials used and the final presentation style:
Framed Print: A framed print typically involves an image printed on high-quality paper (such as fine art paper, photo paper, or poster stock) that is encased in a frame. The print is often protected by a clear glass or acrylic cover. Framed prints offer a smooth, flat finish and allow for intricate detailing, making them ideal for photographs, illustrations, and fine art reproductions.
Canvas Print: A canvas print is created by printing an image onto canvas material, which is then stretched and wrapped over a wooden frame (often called stretcher bars). Unlike framed prints, canvas prints provide a textured surface, giving an artistic and painterly effect. This texture adds depth and dimension to the image, creating a unique visual impact that closely resembles an original painting.
Framed Print: The final appearance depends on the choice of frame, matting, and glass or acrylic cover. It typically offers a polished, classic, or modern look, with the option to match decor through various frame styles and colours.
Canvas Print: Often frameless (unless a floating frame is added), a canvas print has a clean, borderless edge or “wrapped” edges where the image continues around the sides. It creates a more contemporary, artistic appearance.
Framed Print: Due to the frame and glass, it is often heavier and may require more secure hanging hardware.
Canvas Print: Typically lightweight and easy to hang, often requiring less hardware or support.
Framed Print: Protected by glass or acrylic, making it resistant to dust, fingerprints, and UV exposure (depending on the quality of the glass).
Canvas Print: Generally exposed, though there are coatings available for canvas prints to offer some protection against dust, moisture, and UV light.
In summary, the choice between a framed print and a canvas print depends on your preferred style, budget, desired impact, and the type of space where it will be displayed. Framed prints offer a timeless, elegant look with protection, while canvas prints provide a modern, textured aesthetic with versatile, lightweight hanging options.
Personalised framed prints are suitable for a wide range of occasions, adding a thoughtful and meaningful touch to your gift giving. Here are multitude of occasions where they make an excellent choice:
Weddings: Customise with the couple’s names, wedding date, or a special message to celebrate their big day.
Anniversaries: Celebrate a milestone anniversary with a print featuring important dates, memorable locations, or heartfelt sentiments.
Birthdays: Personalised prints can showcase favorite quotes, special memories, or the recipient’s interests for a unique birthday gift.
New Baby or Baby Showers: Mark the arrival of a newborn with a customised print featuring the baby’s name, birth date, weight, and a special message.
Graduations: Celebrate a graduate’s achievements with a print highlighting their school, degree, or a motivational quote to inspire their future.
Housewarmings: Welcome someone to their new home with a custom print that features their family name, a meaningful design, or a location map.
Mother’s Day and Father’s Day: Create a heartfelt print with a personal message, photos, or custom designs dedicated to parents.
Valentine’s Day: Personalised prints with romantic messages, song lyrics, or significant moments make for thoughtful gifts to celebrate love.
Christmas and Holidays: Capture holiday memories, family portraits, or festive designs to add a special touch during the holiday season.
Retirements: Commemorate a career milestone with a custom print that celebrates their years of service, achievements, and contributions.
Engagements: Surprise the newly engaged couple with a print featuring their engagement date or an image of the proposal moment.
Milestone Birthdays (e.g., 30th, 40th, 50th): Custom prints can reflect life accomplishments, memorable events, or favorite moments.
Memorials or Remembering Loved Ones: Create a personalised framed print in honour of a departed loved one, featuring their name, dates, photos, or a meaningful quote.
Friendship Gifts: Celebrate a meaningful friendship with prints showcasing shared memories, inside jokes, or heartfelt words.
Promotions or Career Achievements: Mark a career milestone or new role with a print featuring their title, company, or motivational message.
Thank You Gifts: Express gratitude with a custom print that shows appreciation and recognition of their impact.
Special Achievements (e.g., sports, hobbies, awards): Highlight accomplishments in sports, music, hobbies, or other areas of personal significance.
Personalised framed prints bring a personal touch to any special occasion, making them memorable, cherished keepsakes that last a lifetime.
Caring for and cleaning framed prints is important to maintain their appearance and ensure their longevity. Here are some useful tips on how to properly care for and clean your framed prints:
Keep Away from Direct Sunlight: Prolonged exposure to sunlight can cause fading or discoloration. Display your framed print in a location that avoids direct sunlight or use UV-protective glass.
Avoid Humidity and Moisture: High humidity can cause warping, mold, or mildew on both the print and the frame. Keep your framed prints in a dry, well-ventilated area, and avoid hanging them in damp areas such as bathrooms.
Handle with Care: When moving or touching the framed print, handle it by the sides of the frame to avoid smudges, fingerprints, or damage to the glass.
Use a Soft, Lint-Free Cloth: Microfibre cloths are ideal for cleaning the glass or acrylic cover. Avoid using rough materials that can scratch the surface.
Avoid Harsh Cleaners: Do not use ammonia-based or abrasive cleaners as they may damage the glass or leave streaks. Instead, use a mild glass cleaner or a dampened cloth with water.
Spray Cleaner on the Cloth, Not Directly on the Glass: Spraying directly on the glass can cause liquid to seep under the frame, potentially damaging the print.
Wipe Gently: Use a light touch to clean the surface. Excessive pressure could cause scratches or crack the glass.
Dust Regularly: Dust the frame using a soft, dry cloth, feather duster, or a microfibre cloth. This will prevent the buildup of dirt and dust particles.
For Wooden Frames: If needed, you can use a wood-safe furniture polish or cleaner on a soft cloth. Be sure to test a small, inconspicuous area first to ensure it doesn’t damage the finish.
For Metal Frames: Use a damp cloth to wipe down the frame. Dry thoroughly with a soft cloth to avoid water spots.
Avoid Water on Delicate Frames: Excess moisture can warp or damage certain frame finishes, so use minimal water if cleaning is required.
Matting Considerations: If your framed print has a mat, ensure it is acid-free to prevent yellowing or damage over time. If the matting becomes discoloured, consider replacing it to maintain the print’s condition.
Inspect Periodically: Check the back of the frame for dust, debris, or pests. Ensure the backing and hanging hardware remain secure.
Stubborn Marks on Glass: If smudges or marks persist on glass, use a mixture of distilled water and vinegar on a microfibre cloth to gently remove them.
Removing the Print (if necessary): If you need to remove the print from the frame (e.g., to replace the glass or frame), use clean, dry hands or wear gloves to avoid transferring oils onto the print.
Oil and dirt from your fingers can damage the print. If you need to handle the print itself, wear cotton gloves to prevent accidental damage.
Avoid hanging framed prints near radiators, fireplaces, or heat vents, as excessive heat can lead to warping or other damage.
By following these simple care and cleaning guidelines, you can preserve the beauty and quality of your framed prints for many years to come.
Shadow box frames are a type of display frame that creates a three-dimensional effect by allowing space between the backing and the front glass or acrylic cover. Unlike traditional flat frames, shadow box frames are deeper, providing room to display items of varying thickness. Here’s a closer look at shadow box frames and their uses:
Depth: Shadow box frames are designed with a deeper structure, usually several inches deep, to accommodate objects that cannot lie flat.
Front Cover: The front is typically covered with glass or acrylic to protect the items inside while allowing for clear viewing.
Enclosed Space: This enclosed space creates a display area that offers dimension and highlights the items within, giving a unique visual effect.
Memorabilia Display: Shadow box frames are perfect for preserving and showcasing cherished memories, such as family heirlooms, souvenirs, and keepsakes from significant life events (e.g., wedding invitations, dried flowers, and mementos).
Sports Collections: They are commonly used to display sports memorabilia such as shirts, medals, ribbons, tickets, and other collectibles related to favorite teams or personal achievements.
Military and Service Recognition: Shadow boxes are often used to honour service members by displaying medals, patches, insignias, photos, and flags, serving as a respectful tribute.
Artistic Displays: Artists and collectors may use shadow boxes to frame three-dimensional art pieces, sculptures, or mixed media artwork, creating an interesting and engaging display.
Baby Keepsakes: Shadow boxes can preserve and showcase items like baby booties, hospital bracelets, newborn photos, or the first outfit, making for a special memento of a baby’s early days.
Nature Collections: For those who enjoy nature, shadow boxes are great for displaying items like seashells, pressed flowers, leaves, butterflies, or small natural artifacts.
Travel Souvenirs: Items collected during trips, such as maps, tickets, postcards, and small trinkets, can be arranged in a shadow box frame to create a visual travel diary.
Craft and Hobby Displays: Crafters often use shadow boxes to display their creations, such as handmade jewellery, miniatures, pins, and other decorative objects.
Wedding or Special Event Displays: Preserve wedding flowers, vows, invitations, photos, or small gifts from guests in a shadow box to celebrate the special day.
Collector’s Items: Shadow boxes can be used to display small collections like coins, stamps, figurines, pins, or other collectibles in an organised and attractive manner.
Protection: Items are enclosed, keeping them safe from dust, moisture, and damage.
Customisation: Shadow boxes offer creative freedom to arrange items in visually appealing ways with backgrounds and layouts that complement the theme.
Dimension and Depth: The depth of the frame adds a sense of depth and interest that traditional frames cannot achieve, drawing more attention to the display.
Overall, shadow box frames offer a versatile and visually striking way to display meaningful objects, artwork, and memorabilia, preserving them for viewing and appreciation for years to come.
