San Francisco Custom Framing: A Polaroid Shadowbox That Honors Process, Not Trends
At Underglass Custom Framing, a San Francisco frame shop serving the Castro and beyond since 1985, we’ve framed our way through four decades of shifting styles, materials, and visual culture. Trends come and go but good design, careful craftsmanship, and respect for the artwork always stay relevant.
This recent project is a perfect example.
Our client brought in a series of original Polaroids from a 2003 Calvin Klein men’s underwear photoshoot: test images shot during the creative process, never meant to be slick or overproduced. These kinds of pieces ask for framing that doesn’t compete or over-style, but instead gives the work space to breathe.
Framing the Archive, Not the Hype
We designed a custom walnut shadowbox with clean, modern lines and a quiet presence. The Polaroids are floated in a precise 3×3 grid layout, allowing each image its own moment while still reading as a complete series. Floating the photos gives subtle depth and keeps the original materials visible - no trimming, no shortcuts.
Inside the shadowbox, the walls are lined with the same white archival matboard used for the artwork backing, creating a seamless, gallery-like environment. The effect is intentional and calm, almost architectural, less “frame,” more space. It’s a detail you might not notice right away, but it’s exactly the kind of thing that separates museum-quality framing from everything else.
The warmth of the walnut frame plays against the stark tones of the Polaroids, grounding the piece without pulling attention away from the images themselves. It’s restrained, confident, and timeless much like the photography.
Why Experience Matters in Custom Framing
Oversized collections, delicate originals, photographic archives: these aren’t projects you want rushed or treated like a template. With over 40 years as a trusted San Francisco frame shop, we’ve learned when to step back, when to lean in, and how to design frames that still feel right years from now.
Whether you’re framing iconic fashion photography, old rolled-up posters, personal snapshots, or something deeply sentimental, thoughtful framing is about understanding both the object and the person who owns it.
Holiday Framing & Ready-Made Frames in the Castro
If you’re thinking about framing as a holiday gift — for someone else or for yourself — it’s not too late. Alongside custom work, we also offer a carefully curated selection of ready-made frames, available in-store while supplies last. They’re beautifully made, easy to live with, and perfect for photos, prints, and smaller pieces.
Stop by our San Francisco frame shop in the Castro, reach out for a custom framing quote, or bring in something meaningful and let’s talk through it together. After all these years, that part never changes.
