Creating custom frames doesn’t have to be difficult. There is a wide variety of materials available to choose from—and what you choose will depend on your budget, what you’re displaying, and where you are displaying it—just to name a few. Here, we discuss the best plastic materials for plastic picture frames and plastic art frames to help you decide what is best for your project.
Why Plastic Materials Are Ideal for Framing
Whether you are framing family photographs or an art collection, plastic framing provides durable protection for your artwork in addition to having unique qualities that other materials don’t offer. Plastic art frames are durable, inexpensive, and lightweight while providing optimal optical clarity to view art.
Key Factors to Consider When Choosing Plastic Picture Frames
There are a few considerations when choosing plastic picture frames. You’ll want to factor in the weight of the art to be framed; the placement of the artwork (for example, if the artwork is placed in a sunny spot and required UV-protection) and of course, your budget.
Top Plastic Materials for Plastic Picture Frames
The right plastic material for picture and art framing depends on your budget as well as where and how you are displaying them. Here are some top choices of materials for plastic art frames and their advantages to help you decide what is best for you.
Acrylic: Clarity and Durability
Frame-grade acrylic, such as Plexiglass or Lucite, offers professional quality for your projects and is manufactured with non-glare and UV-resistant properties to protect artwork if displayed in a sunny area. Acrylic also has high optical clarity providing crystal-clear protection for your art or cherished photographs.
Polycarbonate: Strength and Impact Resistance
Polycarbonate has greater strength than acrylic and is typically used when framing larger artwork. It’s also beneficial for high-traffic areas that require more protection from either sunlight or accidental impacts. Polycarbonate is more flexible than acrylic, and thus, can be shaped into unique shapes without losing its strength and impact-resistant qualities.
PVC: Lightweight and Cost-Effective
PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride) isn’t as popular as acrylic or polycarbonate for plastic picture framing, but it’s an economical choice. PVC is cost-effective and has a lightweight material that offers sufficient protection and is often used in displays or for temporary installations.
Styrene: Budget-Friendly and Versatile
Styrene is the most affordable plastic material for framing. Like other plastics, it is lightweight, shatter-resistant, and protects artwork from scratches and dust.
Benefits of Using Plastic Picture Frames Over Traditional Framing Materials
Durability
Acrylic is 17 times stronger than glass and polycarbonate is 250 times stronger than glass. They are less likely to break and shatter than their glass counterparts, making it an optimal choice.
Acrylic weighs 50% less than glass of the same thickness. This is helpful when framing, hanging, transporting, and shipping larger pieces.
Shatterproof
Glass doesn’t scratch, but it does shatter. Plastic is shatterproof. If the framed artwork falls, it doesn’t have to worry about additional damage from shards.
Cost-effective shipping rates
Plastic’s light weight means it costs less to ship if that’s a concern.
Available anti-glare and UV protection
Clear acrylic sheets are not naturally UV-resistant, but they can be manufactured to be OP3 UV-resistant and P99 glare-resistant. (Acme Plastics’ frame grade plexiglass are 98% UV resistant.)
Customization Options for Unique and Stylish Plastic Picture Frames
You can do more than just slide artwork or photographs in a frame. Plastic picture frames can be customized for a variety of purposes.
Create
Laser print photographs on acrylic for an interesting, multi-dimensional effect. The frame and image become one unique piece.
Customize
Personalize a photo or artwork by etching a message on the acrylic. Perfect for giving as a gift or adding additional elements to the display.
Craft
Plastic, specifically polycarbonate, can be heated and shaped into unique designs to complement your art. This offers endless opportunities to express your creativity.
Protecting Artwork with UV-Resistant and Anti-Glare Options
If lighting will produce glare on your artwork, consider UV-resistant and anti-glare options to reduce glare and reflections while minimizing UV damage. The damage from UV rays includes deterioration of art such as fading.
Maintenance and Longevity of Plastic Picture Frames
Plastic picture frames are easy to clean for a long life. If your frames need deeper cleaning, a non-abrasive cleaner, such as Novus acrylic cleaners, will clean and remove surface scratches.
Choosing the Right Plastic for Your Plastic Picture Frames with Acme Plastics
Acme Plastics offers a variety of plastic materials to create your plastic picture frames and plastic art frames. Our selection will help you protect and display your artwork—whether it’s for your personal collection or professional endeavor. Contact us and let our experts help you find exactly what you need!
