ImageElements FrameOut is one of the most powerful digital framing and matting tools available today, but many users only scratch the surface of what it can do. Beyond the standard border selections and basic resizing tools lie several advanced capabilities designed to speed up your workflow and elevate your final presentation. Whether you are prepping digital art for a gallery print or optimizing images for an online portfolio, uncovering these tools will change how you finish your projects.
Here are five hidden features in ImageElements FrameOut you should start using right now. 1. Dynamic Texture Mapping
Many users rely on flat colors for their digital mats, completely missing the built-in library of high-resolution paper and linen textures.
What it does: Applies realistic, light-reactive physical textures to your digital mats.
Why use it: It mimics the exact look of premium museum board, adding depth and tangible quality to digital presentations.
How to find it: Open the Matting panel, look for the “Surface Texture” drop-down menu, and adjust the slider to control the lighting angle and texture depth. 2. The Smart Bevel Calculator
Achieving a realistic 3D look requires a precise bevel cut simulation on the inner edge of the mat board, which can be tricky to configure manually.
What it does: Automatically computes the ideal highlight and shadow widths based on your custom mat thickness and a simulated light source.
Why use it: It instantly removes the flat, artificial “vector look” from your frames, giving them a convincing, chiseled edge.
How to find it: Navigate to Frame Properties, check the box for “Enable Bevel,” and select the “Smart Compute” option next to the core color selector. 3. Non-Destructive Multi-Opening Layouts
If you are building a collage or a multi-photo frame, you don’t need to manually cut holes in your background template.
What it does: Generates complex, multi-window mats over your images while keeping each individual photo fully adjustable underneath.
Why use it: You can swap, pan, or resize images within individual mat windows at any point in the design process without ruining the overall layout.
How to find it: Click on the Layout menu at the top toolbar and select “Template Builder” to specify your rows, columns, and custom margins. 4. Color-Match Dropper with Complementary Logic
Manually scrolling through color wheels to find a frame or mat color that harmonizes with your artwork can be incredibly time-consuming.
What it does: Samples a color directly from your artwork and automatically generates a palette of scientifically complementary frame and mat tones.
Why use it: It takes the guesswork out of color theory, instantly providing sophisticated color combinations that make the artwork pop.
How to find it: Select the eyedropper tool inside the Mat Color picker window and toggle the “Show Complementary Schemes” switch. 5. Automated ICC Profile Embedding
Preparing an image for a specific physical printer or digital display often results in color shifts if your profiles aren’t handled correctly.
What it does: Bakes the exact color profile of your chosen frame backing and print paper directly into the exported file metadata.
Why use it: It ensures that “What You See Is What You Get” (WYSIWYG) when sending files to commercial print shops, preventing muddy shadows or clipped highlights.
How to find it: Go to File > Export Settings, and under the Advanced tab, activate “Embed FrameOut Color Space Profile.” If you want to master your framing workflow, let me know:
What type of artwork you frame most often (e.g., photography, digital paintings, scans)
If your final output is for web display or physical printing
I can give you a step-by-step guide to optimize FrameOut specifically for your projects!
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