Framing Guide

How to Frame Your Print

Framing is the last decision and the one most people overthink. This guide covers what works, what does not, and where to find frames that suit The Midnight Archive aesthetic without the gallery price. For choosing between HGE and EMA paper, see the Paper Guide.

Matte Prints: Frame with Glass

Matte prints ship in a protective cardboard tube and are designed to be framed. They arrive in standard sizes which fit most off-the-shelf frames without custom work. Use a frame with glass or UV-protective acrylic: paper prints benefit from the protection and the glass adds a finished quality to the piece.

Frame styles that work with Midnight Archive prints:

• Thin black metal or wood: the most versatile. Disappears around the image and lets the art speak. Works on dark and light walls equally.
• Aged brass or warm gold: suits the darker portraits, florals, and old-world landscapes especially well. Adds ceremony without excess. Look for a matte rather than shiny finish.
• Dark walnut or ebony wood: the richest option. Heavy and considered. Best for larger sizes where the frame is part of the composition.
• Avoid bright chrome, white, or ornate gilded frames. They compete with the image rather than containing it.

Where to Buy Frames

• IKEA Ribba and Hovsta: available in black, white, and wood tones. Fits standard print sizes. The most cost-efficient option for matte prints.
• Target Threshold range: better finish than IKEA, slightly higher price. Good selection of black and warm wood tones.
• Framebridge: the premium option. Custom framing at reasonable prices, ships to your door. Worth it for the larger sizes.
• Local frame shops: for pieces you want to live with for a long time.

Matting

A mat adds visual breathing room between the image and the frame. For Midnight Archive prints, choose cream or off-white rather than pure white: pure white reads as clinical against the dark tones in most of the collection. A bone or warm ivory mat suits the palette.

The Simplest Answer

Thin black frame, no mat, matte print, hung at 57 inches center height. That is the default that works for almost any Midnight Archive print in almost any room. Start there.

If your piece arrives damaged, we make it right.