Every Apollith print is offered in two ways. Framed arrives ready to hang in a brushed aluminium frame with a perspex safety glass front, so you can put it on the wall the day it lands. Print-only sends you the print on its own, so you can frame it to your own taste, spend less, and receive it sooner. Choose framed if you want a finished piece with no extra effort. Choose print-only if you already have a frame in mind, want the lowest price, or plan to send it as a gift. Both options use the same full-colour print on 225gsm matt photo paper and come in four sizes, A4 to A1.
What is the difference between framed and print-only?
The artwork itself is identical. What changes is what arrives at your door and what you do with it.
The framed option is presented in a slim brushed aluminium frame with a perspex safety glass front rather than ordinary glass. Perspex is lighter, far less likely to shatter in transit, and safer in a busy home, which makes it a sensible choice for hallways, children's rooms, and rented spaces where you would rather not risk broken glass. It is framed to order and hung straight from the box.
The print-only option is the print on its own, rolled or flat-packed for posting. You supply the frame, which means you can match an existing room, pick a mount, and control the whole look. It costs less and is lighter and cheaper to post, which matters if you are buying several or sending one abroad.
Framed vs print-only: pros and cons
Framed art prints
- Pros: ready to hang the day it arrives; protected behind perspex safety glass; brushed aluminium gives a clean, contemporary finish; no shopping for a frame or trips to a framer; a complete, considered gift.
- Cons: costs more (from £48 at A4 to £128 at A1); heavier to post; the frame style is fixed, so it suits you only if you like a modern aluminium look.
Print-only art prints
- Pros: the lowest price (from £19 at A4); lighter and easier to post, including overseas; total freedom to choose a frame, mount and colour that suit your room; simple to swap or reframe later.
- Cons: not ready to hang out of the box; framing is an extra cost and a separate job; a good frame can add up, so the saving narrows once you have framed it well.
How much does framing add to the price?
Framing is a per-size add-on, so the gap grows with the print. Here is the full picture across the four sizes.
- A4: print-only £19, framed £48
- A3: print-only £29, framed £78
- A2: print-only £39, framed £98
- A1: print-only £59, framed £128
If you are comparing the framed price against the cost of framing a print-only piece yourself, remember that a well-made bespoke frame with safety glazing is rarely cheap on the high street, especially at A2 and A1. The framed option folds that work and that protection into a single price.
Which should you choose?
When framed is the better choice
Pick framed if you want the piece finished and on the wall straight away, if you like a modern brushed aluminium look, or if you are buying it as a gift and want it to feel complete. It is also the safer pick for high-traffic spots and homes with children or pets, because perspex will not shatter the way glass can.
When print-only is the better choice
Pick print-only if you already own a frame, want to match existing pieces in a room, or care most about price. It is the natural choice for a gallery wall where you want consistent framing across several prints, and the easiest option to post if you are sending one to the EU or USA. You also keep the freedom to reframe it down the line.
A reliable rule of thumb: if you can picture exactly where it will hang and you already have a frame style in your home, print-only gives you control and value. If you would rather not think about any of that, framed does the deciding for you.
Does the choice change by subject?
Not really, though it can sway the decision. Our full catalogue spans original digital illustrations of British landscapes and landmarks, from Arthur's Seat and Ben Nevis to Snowdon and Glastonbury Tor, alongside faithful prints of public-domain works by the great masters. A bold landscape often looks striking framed in a hallway or above a desk, while a set of classical works can look wonderful as a print-only gallery wall where you choose matching frames yourself. The artwork and paper are the same either way, so the decision rests on your room and your budget, not the picture.
Frequently asked questions
Is the print quality the same for framed and print-only?
Yes. Both use the same full-colour print on 225gsm matt photo paper, in the size you select. The only difference is whether it arrives in a frame.
What is the frame made of?
The framed option uses a brushed aluminium frame with a perspex safety glass front. Perspex is lighter than ordinary glass and far less likely to break in transit or in a busy home, while keeping a clear, glass-like finish.
Can I buy print-only now and frame it later?
Yes. Print-only is designed exactly for that. You can frame it whenever you like and reframe it later if you redecorate, with no effect on the print itself.
What sizes can I choose from?
Every print comes in four sizes, A4, A3, A2 and A1, in both framed and print-only. For anything else, see our frequently asked questions.
