A great map design can still look amateur on the wall if it’s trapped behind cheap glass with no margin. The fix is cheap and fast: a mat board, the right frame for the palette, and a caption. This guide covers the presentation choices that make a printed map - from any flat preset in the MyLaserTools Map Designer - read as a finished piece.

It applies to anything you printed on paper, UV-printed on a panel, or sublimated onto hardboard.

Step 1: Size the Export for the Frame

Decide the frame first, then export to suit it. The 4096 px PNG clears 300 DPI up to ~13 inches and a comfortable 200+ DPI at A3.

  • Square presets frame most cleanly in a square frame with a square mat.
  • For a standard portrait/landscape frame, leave extra map margin on the long sides and crop in the print dialog rather than stretching.
  • Match the aspect ratio at export; never resize a print non-proportionally - it smears the road network.

Step 2: Choose a Mat and Frame for the Palette

A mat board is the single biggest upgrade. A 5-8 cm mat around the art instantly reads as framed art rather than a poster.

Palette Frame Mat
Warm (vintage parchment, midnight gold) Black or walnut Cream
Cool (blueprint, neon night) White or natural maple White

Keep the mat neutral; let the map carry the colour.

Step 3: Add a Caption

A small, well-kerned caption - the city name and coordinates - is what makes a map look professionally produced. Add it as a text layer in the designer before export so it prints as part of the art, or hand-letter it on the mat below the print. Keep it understated and centred in the bottom third.

Mounting Options

Method Best For Notes
Glass frame + mat Paper prints Classic and forgiving; the mat holds the print off the glass
Float frame Paper or panel Mount to foamboard for a modern, borderless edge
Standoffs UV / sublimation panels Float a rigid panel off the wall for gallery depth (enable Corner holes at export)
French cleat Heavy wood/Dibond panels Keeps a large panel flat to the wall

Finishing Touches

  • Seal UV and sublimation panels with a satin varnish for consistent sheen and protection.
  • Dust the print and glass before sealing - trapped lint shows on dark presets.
  • Hang at eye level; group multiple cities with matching frames and even spacing for a gallery wall.
  • Add felt bumpers to the bottom corners so the frame hangs flat.

Make It Yours

  • Three Canadian cities in one palette and matching frames make an instant gallery wall.
  • “Then and now” diptych: the same city in parchment and blueprint, framed as a pair.
  • Float a square panel inside a larger square frame with a deep mat for a museum feel.
  • Pair a printed map with a small laser-cut nameplate mounted below the frame.

Start with our fancy framed map guide to design the print itself, or see the tool’s own finishing notes.