Custom framing is one of the most profitable services your shop offers. While you might also sell ready-made frames, mat boards, and hanging hardware, your customers come to you for personalized design. Creating bespoke, handcrafted frames is the heart of your business, but achieving the perfect design can be costly without the right approach.
Traditionally, frame shops relied on trial and error, creating physical prototypes until the customer was happy — wasting time, materials, and money. But today, picture frame visualizer software makes it easy to create digital mockups, allowing you to make adjustments in real time and get client approval before anything is built. These tools are available as standalone programs or as part of a point of sale (POS) system.
Here are four of the top picture frame visualizers to help you improve efficiency and keep your customers coming back.
1. FrameVue
FrameVue is a picture frame visualizer built into LifeSaver, a specialized POS system for frame shops. Available at no extra cost to LifeSaver users, it integrates with the system’s other features, making it easy to share custom designs with your customers.
Why choose FrameVue?
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Connect to LifeSaver’s vendor integrations: With direct access to LifeSaver’s built-in vendor integrations, FrameVue makes it easy to show mouldings and matting options. Browse virtual frame materials from top suppliers like CMI, Bella Moulding, and Fotiou, design custom frames, and order the exact parts you need — all within a single platform.
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Upload images easily: Upload your client’s artwork as photos or image files into the visualizer, then crop and adjust them to fit your frames, creating a virtual preview of the final product.
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Expand your moulding library: Need a moulding that’s not in LifeSaver? No problem! Simply snap a photo and upload it to your library. FrameVue will generate a virtual display, giving you even more design customization options.
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Use cloud storage for artwork and mouldings: No need to worry about storage space. LifeSaver securely saves all client artwork and custom mouldings in the cloud. Access your uploads anytime from any device.
Pricing: FrameVue is available as part of LifeSaver on the Starter, Core, and Plus pricing plans. Contact a sales representative for a customized pricing estimate.
2. FrameShop Visualize
FrameShop Visualize is an add-on for WizardCutter’s FrameShop Design, a computerized mat cutting (CMC) program. Developed to integrate with FrameShop Design and Wizard hardware, it lets you create a virtual preview of your custom frame project before production for more satisfied customers.
Why choose FrameShop Visualize?
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Access comprehensive visualization modes: Modify your virtual frame in every detail — layer multiple designs, explore a wide selection of moulding styles, and adjust matting and border sizes to match your customer’s exact specifications.
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Go quickly from designing to cutting: With Visualize, you can move effortlessly from virtual design to real-world cutting. Once your custom frame design is finalized, send it to your mat-cutting machine and start production immediately.
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Work across all Wizard CMCs: No matter which Wizard CMC model you use, Visualize works with all of them. Even without a CMC, you can still access Visualize by logging into your FrameShop account from a compatible computer, allowing you to design custom frames from anywhere.
Pricing: The visualizer is integrated into the framing shop POS software, but requires a paid license for WizardCutter’s FrameShop Design. To activate it, you’ll need to purchase the software and submit an online form to the sales team for licensing.
3. SimulArt
SimulArt is a standalone, professional-grade picture frame visualizer for frame shops and art professionals. It includes everything you need to create virtual designs and share them with customers — no additional software required.
Why choose Simulart?
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Large material database: SimulArt includes over 40,000 preloaded mattings, mouldings, and digital frame materials. Each material comes with up-to-date pricing, making calculating framing and printing costs for your custom designs easy.
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Complex frame design: SimulArt allows you to create virtual representations of custom frames with as many elements as you need, including up to 36 openings and single, double, or triple matting.
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Seamless customer ordering: SimulArt is a picture frame visualizer and an ordering system. With studio access, clients can upload their artwork, select frame materials, and place custom orders in one easy process.
Pricing: Enjoy a 7-day free trial, then choose from three flexible pricing plans — Small Business, Medium Business, or Large Business — based on the size of your store.
4. Artteck Online Designer
Artteck is an all-in-one point of sale solution for frame shops that combines POS features with kiosk software tools, product galleries, e-commerce management, and virtual framing. Its built-in Online Designer offers image editing and picture frame visualization tools to improve your custom framing process.
Why choose Artteck Online Designer?
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3D frame visualizing: Artteck Online Designer uses an advanced rendering engine to display your client’s artwork and custom frames in full 3D. View a realistic model of your frame design and show all angles to your customer.
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Integrated image processing: Adjust your customer’s artwork on the fly with the Online Designer’s image processor. Crop, zoom, flip, perform color correction, and add effects for a perfect fit and design.
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Mobile friendly: Use Artteck Online Designer on any internet-connected device, including smartphones and tablets. No matter where you are or what device you prefer, you’ll have full access to its image editing and frame visualization tools anytime!
Pricing: Download a demo to get an idea of what to expect from Artteck. Then, contact a sales representative for pricing options.
Use a Picture Frame Visualizer for Happier Customers
A picture frame visualizer is an invaluable tool for any frame shop. Instead of guessing how a design will turn out, you can create stunning virtual mockups before production, saving money, time, and materials. But the right software does more than just reduce waste — it transforms how you do business.
With FrameVue on LifeSaver POS, you’re never limited by what’s in the library. Need a specific frame moulding? Select it from the same interface as your POS system, or upload your own. No compromises, just complete creative freedom.
Try FrameVue for free today and take the guesswork out of custom framing. With a visualizer built for professionals like you, creating breathtaking designs has never been easier!
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