Custom Puzzle Framing in Cape Town

Completing a large puzzle can take hours, days or even weeks of patience. Once the final piece is in place, framing it is a great way to preserve your work and turn it into something you can enjoy on the wall.

At Craft Picture Framers in Claremont, Cape Town, we provide professional puzzle framing and mounting for completed puzzles of all sizes. From colourful illustrations and maps to photographic scenes and collector puzzles, we can help you choose a frame and finish that complements the artwork and suits your home.

Bringing Your Completed Puzzle to Us

The most important thing is getting your puzzle to our workshop without the pieces shifting or coming apart.

A few simple options work well:

  • Use a rigid board: Slide or assemble the puzzle onto a firm piece of cardboard, MDF or another flat board that can be transported easily.
  • Sandwich it between boards: Place another sheet of cardboard or board over the puzzle and secure the two together so that the puzzle cannot move during transport.
  • Use a puzzle mat: If your puzzle was assembled on a roll-up puzzle mat, carefully roll and transport it according to the mat manufacturer’s instructions.

We recommend avoiding glue before bringing the puzzle to us. Some household and craft glues can soak into the surface, leave marks or cause the puzzle to warp. We can assess the puzzle and recommend the most suitable mounting method before framing it.

Puzzle Framing Options

The frame should enhance the artwork without overwhelming it. Depending on the style, colours and size of your puzzle, we can create anything from a simple contemporary frame to a more decorative presentation.

Close-Fit Framing

For a clean, modern appearance, the puzzle can be mounted onto a stable backing and framed with little or no visible border around it.

This works particularly well for colourful artwork, photographic puzzles and contemporary designs where you want the image itself to remain the main focus.

Framing with a Matboard Border

Adding a custom-cut matboard surround creates more visual space between the puzzle and the frame and can give the finished piece a more traditional gallery appearance.

Matboards are available in a wide selection of colours, making it possible to pick out subtle colours within the puzzle or create contrast with the frame.

Protecting Your Puzzle

Like prints, posters and photographs, puzzles are primarily made from printed paper and cardboard. Over time they can be affected by dust, moisture, handling and exposure to light.

Framing behind glass helps protect the surface while keeping all the small joins between the pieces clean.

Depending on where the puzzle will be displayed and the level of protection you require, we can offer different glazing options, including:

  • Standard picture framing glass for everyday protection.
  • UV-protective glazing to help reduce fading caused by ultraviolet light.
  • Art Glass for excellent clarity, reduced reflections and enhanced UV protection.

Art Glass is particularly effective for detailed puzzles because the reduced reflection allows you to see the artwork and individual pieces much more clearly.

Frames to Suit Every Puzzle

There is no single frame that works for every puzzle. We have a wide selection of mouldings ranging from simple black, white and natural timber frames to more decorative traditional styles.

When you bring your puzzle into our Claremont workshop, we can place different frame and matboard samples around it so you can see exactly how the finished piece will look before making your choice.

Professional Puzzle Framing in Cape Town

Finished a puzzle you would rather display than put back in the box?

Bring it to Craft Picture Framers at The Stadium on Main in Claremont and we will help you turn it into professionally framed wall art that you can enjoy for years to come.