Shadow Box vs Display Cases: Which Is Best for Memorabilia Framing?

When you have a great win in life, a huge achievement, or create something that is a piece of art and needs to be displayed, your first question is- what is the best way to show this memento off? Some trophies are best displayed flat in a display case, while others deserve to be mounted and hung with a shadow box. How you choose to frame your memorabilia can make all the difference between something passable and something spectacular.

Shadow boxes and display cases may seem similar enough, but they serve distinct purposes and suit different types of memorabilia. Options such as UV protection, the feeling of depth and visibility, can really showcase your memorabilia off the best.

Master Framing, the best custom picture framers in Sydney, is going to lay out for you the differences between shadow boxes and display cases, and which type of memorabilia is suited for each.

We’ll help you make an informed choice about how best to show off your achievements and milestones to the world.

What are Shadow Boxes?

Shadow boxes are like an enclosed picture frame, but with depth, able to house three-dimensional items and keepsakes. Where a traditional frame would be flat, displaying photographs and certificates, a shadow box can display medals or jerseys, creating a stunning floating effect.

Shadow boxes can be up to 5 centimetres in depth, although Master Framing can custom-build a shadow box for you for those special mementos that need extra space. We can protect your shadow box with UV-resistant glass, and acid-free mounting so your memories are preserved, they won’t fade or decay in the sunlight, or stain from using cheap backing.

Shadow boxes have a sturdy frame, which again we can customise to fit the special items being framed. The deep setting is often fabric-covered foam, and with a removable rear panel you can hold and admire your memories if you want. You can even have optional LED lighting installed for a dramatic effect.

What Memorabilia Fit Best in Shadow Boxes?

Shadow boxes hang on the wall, so think of how your mementos would look, hanging up, but displayed in a special way. Wedding photos with special items such as the satin horseshoes often given to brides, or the cufflinks the groom wears, all combined in the one frame is a great way to utilise a shadow box.

What other ways can you best use a shadow box?

• School Graduation. Graduating caps or tassels, diplomas and honour cords look great hanging on the wall, framed near the degree or certificate of graduation.
• Baby keepsakes. A hospital bracelet, first pair of shoes, or the first lock of hair from a hair cut.
• Concert mementos. Signed photos, or even vinyl records, concert tickets or a drumstick if you were lucky enough to catch one.
• Collections. Stamps or coins or Lego minifigures all look good displayed in a shadow box.
• Sports Jersey. Team jerseys, grand final medals, baseball gloves, cricket bats, all great looking in a shadow box.
• Military Memorabilia. Caps and uniforms, medals, dog tags or a bayonet even. Shadow boxes are a great way to display and honour military service.
• Small Art. Pottery pieces, small sculptures and other distinct, tiny art, look spectacular in a shadow box.

Tips For Using a Shadow Box

• Understand the depth of your shadow box. You want enough depth so your displayed items are not crushed against the glass, but not too far back that you struggle to see them.
• Make sure you secure the displayed items in a way that does not damage them now, or if you try to remove them. Pins or velcro are good, glue is not so good.
• Understand how the backing material will impact the display. Contrasting colours are good, bulky backing can hide pins or tape if you try to secure the items.
• Flatter items such as photos or tickets look best behind bulkier items such as a baseball or a medal. It gives a good field of view.

What are Display Cases?

Display cases are specially designed cabinets with transparent glass or acrylic sides. They are designed to both display your treasures and protect them from the environment. You will commonly see them in museums and retail stores, but they look just as special in your home. They can feature locking mechanisms to secure your valuables, while still keeping them on display.

They are typically made from tempered glass or high-quality acrylic for durability and safety. The variety of display cases you can have is astounding. Freestanding cases, countertop units, incorporated with other display types and cabinets. Master Framing can custom-build display cases to suit your needs.

Display cases can be lit on the inside to help show off your mementos with LED lights or special downlights and, as mentioned, can be securely locked to keep your keepsakes safe from wandering hands.

For high quality or delicate items your display case can be temperature-and humidity-controlled for best-practice preservation.

Display cases are also very accessible. If you want to change out what you’re displaying, it is often much easier to do so than with a shadow box.

What Memorabilia Fit Best in Display Cases?

In general, larger items that are difficult to hang, would work well in a display case. Also, items which look good from different angles,so you can walk around and admire them. Such items can include:

• Collectable Figurines. Action figures, scale models you may have built vinyl figurines of popular fictional characters.
• Sports Memorabilia. A signed baseball sitting in a glove, helmets, basketballs or footballs that are signed.
• Lego and Other Models. The large, collectable Lego models look great in a display case. Or if you’ve built a model ship or a model aeroplane,they look great on display.
• Family Heirlooms. Framed photos from years gone by, a special china plate, birth certificates, or even photo albums from your family’s history.
• Music and Entertainment. Rare vinyl records, musical instruments, perhaps a signed guitar. If you have caught drumsticks, or a guitar pick, or you have musical props or a custom to display.
• Awards and Jewellery. Medals and trophies, necklaces around a bust, or ear ring sets that look good under the sparkly lights.

Tips For Using a Display Case

• Choose a case that is big enough for what you want to display, but has enough space to not crowd your items.
• Have your display case well-lit. Determining if downlights or LED lights are best to light your treasures but not over-expose them and be too bright.
• Ensure the glass or acrylic case is UV protected so delicate items such as photos or documents don't fade in the sun.
• How you arrange and display things is important. Be considerate about how you lay out your mementos. Will we be able to see them well? Do you need risers to elevate items off the shelf for more depth and shape to the display?

Which Choice is Best For You?

Which of these two options best displays your memorabilia? If you have items to display with mainly one point of view, such as team jerseys, medals or academic achievements, then a shadow box is likely your best option. If you have something to display that needs a full 360 degrees to appreciate it, then a display case could be the answer.

Shadow Boxes hang on the wall and can look very much like an art gallery. Can you imagine walking into a room and seeing sports memorabilia hung on the wall, each with a small downlight to highlight them?

Display boxes can sit in the corner of a room, or in the middle, and you can walk around them, admiring the memorabilia from all angles. It is a very modern aesthetic, very much like a museum, perfect for highly valued treasures.

Here is a quick guide to help you:

The team at Master Framing understand everything there is to know about framing and displaying works of arts, mementos and those special keepsakes. Contact us today and our team of experts can discuss which option best displays your memorabilia. We can give you layouts for shadow boxes and discuss custom framing options, or the best lightning ideas for showing off your collectable Gundam figures.

Treat your mementos as art, something worthy of display, and find a fitting way to display them, with Master Framing, your custom picture framing experts in Sydney and the surrounding suburbs.