A freestanding acrylic photo frame is judged from two metres away and one metre close up: does the print sit straight, and does the block edge glow or look grey.
A hotel group ordered 400 blocks for a lobby display. The first batch had slots cut 0.3 mm under the print width, and every print was bowed in the middle because it had been forced in.
Acrylic photo frame block dimension and slot
- Border: 10 to 15 mm beyond the print
- Block thickness: 20 to 40 mm
- Slot: print width plus 1 mm, depth print height plus 4 mm
- Base: flat, or two clear feet at 5 mm
The slot is the whole mechanism. A print that drops into a slot 1 mm wider than itself sits flat and can be swapped without force; a slot matched to the paper bows the print and looks like a manufacturing fault.
Faces, edges and the tipping problem
Face polishing is what separates a display block from a cut block. A machined face scatters light and the print behind it looks dull; a polished face transmits cleanly and the edge reads as a bright line.
Tipping is geometry. A block 25 mm thick and 180 mm tall needs either a wider base or a 5 degree back lean; a straight vertical block at that proportion falls over the first time someone brushes the shelf.
For bonding blocks from sheet, acrylic bonding service sets out the joint preparation.
Send your print sizes, quantity and finish preference to oversales@rpplexiglass.com for a frame quotation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What size acrylic block for a photo frame?
The block should be 10 to 15 mm larger than the print on each side. A 100 by 150 mm print sits well in a 130 by 180 mm block at 25 mm thickness.
How wide should the print slot be?
1 mm wider than the print and 3 to 5 mm deeper than the paper height. A tight slot jams the print and a deep slot lets it drop and sit crooked.
Can an acrylic frame be drilled for a stand?
Yes, but the hole must sit at least 8 mm from the block edge and the pin must be a loose fit. A press-fit pin in a 20 mm block puts expansion stress into the material and cracks appear at the hole in warm rooms.