Acrylic prints transform your favorite photos into sleek, personalized wall art with exceptional clarity and vibrant color. By printing your image directly onto a clear acrylic panel, acrylic photo prints create a smooth, glossy finish that showcases everything from family portraits and vacation memories to original artwork and photography.
Shutterfly acrylic prints feature a floating frame design that gives the artwork added dimension while keeping the focus on your image. With multiple sizes, customizable hardware finishes, and the option to upload your own design, acrylic prints offer a distinctive way to create custom wall art for your home. This guide explains how acrylic prints are made, what you can customize, available sizes, how to choose the best image, and how to care for your finished print.
What Are Acrylic Prints?
Acrylic prints are a type of personalized wall art created by printing your image directly onto an optically clear acrylic panel. The acrylic becomes part of the finished piece, giving your photo a smooth, glossy surface that preserves crisp detail and rich color.
Shutterfly acrylic photo prints feature a floating frame design that mounts the acrylic panel slightly away from the wall, creating added dimension while keeping the focus on your image. The aluminum mounting hardware is available in silver, brass, or black to complement your space.
Unlike traditional photo prints, acrylic prints are designed to be displayed as finished wall art. Whether you’re showcasing a favorite photograph or uploading your own custom design, acrylic prints arrive ready to hang and create a polished display right out of the box.
How Are Acrylic Photo Prints Made?
Every Shutterfly acrylic photo print begins with your image, which is printed directly onto an optically clear acrylic panel. This process creates the smooth, glossy finish acrylic prints are known for while preserving crisp detail and vibrant color throughout the image.
Each acrylic print is made with a 0.22-inch UV-resistant acrylic panel that’s finished with machine-polished edges for a clean, polished appearance. The acrylic panel is then assembled with aluminum hardware that supports the floating frame design, creating space between the artwork and the wall once it’s is installed.
Every acrylic print includes:
- Direct printing on an optically clear acrylic panel
- UV-resistant acrylic
- Machine-polished edges
- Aluminum mounting hardware
- Detailed hanging instructions
The result is a finished piece of personalized wall art that’s ready to display right out of the box.
How Can You Customize Acrylic Prints?
Shutterfly acrylic prints offer several ways to personalize your finished wall art while keeping the focus on your image.
You can customize your acrylic print by choosing:
- Your print size
- Your photo or artwork
- Image cropping and positioning
- Silver, brass, or black mounting hardware
Most acrylic print templates are designed to showcase a single image across the entire acrylic panel. This creates a clean presentation that puts your photo front and center without additional design elements surrounding it.
If you’d like to create something more personalized, you can also choose an Upload Your Own acrylic print template. Instead of starting with one of Shutterfly’s existing designs, this option lets you upload a completed design you’ve created yourself. Your uploaded design can include multiple photos, custom text, graphics, borders, illustrations, or any other design elements, all combined into one finished image before printing.
What Acrylic Print Sizes Are Available?
Shutterfly acrylic prints are available in seven sizes:
- 8×10
- 10×14
- 12×12
- 16×16
- 16×20
- 20×30
- 24×36
Whether you’re displaying a favorite portrait, creating a statement piece for your living room, or adding artwork to a gallery wall, there’s a size to fit your space.
Smaller acrylic photo prints work well on narrower walls, in entryways, or alongside other wall art. Larger sizes allow detailed photography and artwork to become the focal point of a room while showcasing the clarity and color acrylic prints are known for.
Before placing your order, measure your available wall space and compare it with the proportions of your image. Choosing a print size that closely matches your photo’s dimensions helps reduce unnecessary cropping and creates a more balanced finished piece.
What Photos Look Best on Acrylic Prints?
Acrylic prints can showcase almost any high-quality image, but photos with sharp detail, strong contrast, and vibrant color often produce the most striking results.
Some popular choices include:
- Family portraits
- Vacation photos
- Landscape photography
- Architecture
- Nature photography
- City skylines
- Black-and-white photography
- Original artwork
- Pet photos
Because acrylic preserves fine details, start with the highest-resolution image available. Clear, well-lit photos generally produce the best results, especially at larger print sizes.
If you’re using an Upload Your Own Design template, keep in mind how your finished design will look once it’s enlarged. Text should be easy to read, and individual photos within a collage should remain large enough to appreciate comfortably from a normal viewing distance.
How Does the Floating Frame Design Work on Acrylic Prints?
Shutterfly acrylic prints feature a floating frame design that mounts the acrylic panel slightly away from the wall using aluminum bolts. The space between the print and the wall creates added dimension while keeping the focus on your image.
Unlike a traditional frame that surrounds the artwork, the floating frame design leaves the polished edges of the acrylic panel visible. This allows the acrylic itself to become part of the finished display while giving your photo a clean, modern presentation.
You can choose silver, brass, or black bolts to complement your décor or nearby fixtures. Every acrylic print includes detailed hanging instructions, and because larger sizes are heavier, they should be installed carefully and according to the included directions.
How Durable Are Acrylic Prints?
Shutterfly acrylic prints are designed for long-lasting display. Each print is made with a 0.22-inch UV-resistant acrylic panel that helps preserve your image while maintaining the glossy finish acrylic prints are known for.
Because acrylic is heavier than many other wall art materials, especially in larger sizes, handle your print carefully during installation. Every order includes detailed hanging instructions to help ensure your acrylic print is mounted securely.
To keep your acrylic print looking its best, avoid using household cleaners or harsh chemicals on the acrylic surface, as they can affect the finish. Follow the care instructions included with your print and handle the acrylic carefully during cleaning and installation.
Acrylic Prints FAQs
What is the difference between acrylic prints and traditional photo prints?
Traditional photo prints are printed on photo paper and typically require a frame or album for display. Acrylic prints are created by printing your image directly onto a clear acrylic panel, creating finished wall art that’s ready to hang.
Can acrylic prints include multiple photos?
Most Shutterfly acrylic print templates are designed to showcase one image. If you’d like to create a collage or include multiple photos, text, or graphics, you can choose an Upload Your Own Design template and upload a completed design as a single image.
Can I add text to an acrylic print?
Shutterfly acrylic print templates do not include editable text fields. If you want your acrylic print to include a name, date, quote, or other wording, choose an Upload Your Own Design template and upload a completed design that already includes the text.
Are acrylic prints glossy?
Yes. Acrylic prints have a smooth, glossy finish that enhances color, contrast, and image detail while creating a polished look.
Do acrylic prints come with a frame?
Shutterfly acrylic prints feature a floating frame design that uses aluminum bolts to mount the acrylic panel slightly away from the wall. The polished edges of the acrylic remain visible, so the print does not require a traditional picture frame.
Can I choose the bolt color?
Yes. Shutterfly acrylic prints are available with your choice of silver, brass, or black aluminum bolts.
Where are Shutterfly acrylic prints made?
Shutterfly acrylic prints are imported and printed in the USA.
Explore More Wall Art Ideas
Whether you’re displaying a favorite family photo, showcasing original artwork, or creating a custom design, acrylic prints offer a distinctive way to personalize your walls. Continue exploring the resources below for more tips on choosing wall art, comparing print materials, and finding the right display option for your space.
- Canvas vs Acrylic Prints
- Gallery Photo Wall Ideas
- Large Canvas Prints for Every Space
- How to Choose a High-Quality Canvas Print
- Canvas Sizes: Choosing the Best Size for Your Space
- Canvas Print Common FAQs
- Canvas Prints vs. Metal Prints
- Canvas Prints vs. Framed Prints
- Best Canvas Prints Online: Trending Styles for 2026
- What is a Gallery Wrapped Canvas?
- Canvas Print Deals
- Best Photo Collage Canvas Print Ideas
- Living Room Wall Decor Ideas
