Snap Floaters

How the Snap Floater System Works

The system has two main components:

1. A removable Baltic birch art panel.
2. A matching magnetic mini floater frame.

The artwork is painted, printed, transferred or mounted on the removable wood panel. When the completed panel is placed inside its matching floater, hidden magnets pull it into position and hold it securely.

The panel can be removed by hand whenever the artwork needs to be changed. No tools are required, and there are no clips, brackets or screws attached to the visible face of the panel.

Panels of the same shape and size can be exchanged between matching frames. This makes it possible to display several artworks using one frame or to show one artwork with several different frame finishes.

Available Shapes and Sizes

Rectangle	Round	Triangle	Ellipse	Heart	Pentagon	Hexagon

2"	3"	4"	5"	6"	7"	8"	9"	10"

Snap Floaters are available in a range of traditional and geometric shapes:

Round panels are measured by diameter. For rectangles and other geometric shapes, the listed size generally represents the longest overall dimension of the panel.

Each panel is precision matched with the corresponding frame of the same shape and size. A panel must be paired with its matching floater because different shapes and sizes use different dimensions and magnet positions.

The smaller sizes are suitable for individual desktop displays, while multiple matching pieces can be combined into larger grids, rows, clusters and wall installations.

Available Frame Finishes

Snap Floater frames are available in seven finishes:

Natural Baltic birch displays the original wood grain and layered construction. Walnut-colored birch retains the wood character while providing a darker, warmer appearance.

Matte black and matte white provide clean contemporary presentations, while metallic gold, silver and bronze create more decorative or traditional-looking displays.

Since the panel and frame remain separate, customers can change the frame finish without altering or permanently reframing the artwork.

How to Mount Snap Floaters on a Wall

Snap Floaters can be mounted using the supplied double-sided magnetic adhesive wall-mounting pieces. The adhesive piece is first attached to a clean, smooth and dry wall surface. The Snap Floater is then positioned over the magnetic wall mount.

This method allows the entire floater to be installed without visible screws or brackets. The artwork panel can still be removed from the front without removing the frame from the wall.

For a more permanent or traditional installation, a small hanging hole or recessed mounting point can be included on the back of the floater. A regular picture nail or suitable wall screw can then be used.

Nail or screw mounting is generally recommended for textured, dusty, uneven, delicate or recently painted walls where adhesive mounting may not provide a dependable bond.

Tabletop and Free-Standing Display

Rectangle, pentagon and hexagon Snap Floaters can be displayed as free-standing pieces when positioned on a stable bottom edge. They can be used on a wall or placed directly on a flat tabletop without a separate easel.

Suitable display locations include:

• Desks and workstations
• Bookshelves and display shelves
• Fireplace mantels
• Reception counters
• Retail shelves
• Display cabinets
• Gallery tables
• Craft-show displays

Free-standing displays are particularly useful for gifts, small original paintings, family photographs, collectible art and frequently changed seasonal artwork.

How the Panels and Floaters Are Made

Snap Floater art panels and frames are made from 1/4-inch Baltic birch plywood. Each component is precision cut using a CO2 laser.

Rather than producing the entire depth from one solid piece of wood, several individually cut plywood layers are carefully aligned and permanently glued together. This creates the required frame depth and internal structure.

Layer-by-layer construction allows the panel recess, magnetic openings and frame profile to be formed accurately. It also makes it possible to produce rectangles, circles, ellipses, triangles, hearts, pentagons and hexagons using the same general construction method.

After cutting, the layers are checked, aligned, glued and pressed together to form a strong, lightweight finished component.

Laser-Cut Edges and Natural Burn Marks

A CO2 laser cuts wood using concentrated heat. As a natural result of this process, the cut edges of the Baltic birch plywood may appear slightly darkened, toasted or burned.

These darker edges are normal and are part of the character of laser-cut wood products. They may remain visible on unfinished raw panels and natural birch floaters.

Edge tone may vary slightly from one piece to another because plywood contains natural wood fibers, adhesive layers and variations in density.

Painted matte and metallic finishes cover the visible exterior edges, so laser-darkened areas are generally not noticeable on fully finished frames.

Minor differences in wood grain, color, burn tone and layered edge appearance are normal and do not affect the function of the frame or panel.

How the Magnetic Attachment Works

Snap Floaters use small but extremely strong permanent rare-earth magnets. The magnets are installed inside precision-cut openings in the panel backing and corresponding areas of the floater frame.

Each magnet is permanently glued and fixed inside its opening using a strong adhesive. The magnets are not intended to be removed, adjusted or repositioned by the customer.

When the panel is brought close to the frame, the magnets pull the two components together. Their locations help align the panel and maintain a consistent floating gap around the artwork.

The magnetic system remains hidden after the panel is installed, preserving the clean appearance of a traditional gallery floater frame.

• Fast panel installation
• Strong and secure magnetic hold
• Hidden attachment points
• Consistent panel alignment
• No visible clips or screws
• Easy artwork removal and replacement
• Reusable frame system

Preparing the Baltic Birch Panel

The top surface of the art panel is genuine Baltic birch plywood. It may be used in its natural unfinished condition or prepared using standard wood-panel painting methods.

Basic Surface Preparation

1. Inspect the panel and make sure it is clean, dry and free from dust or loose particles.
2. Lightly sand the surface with fine sandpaper when a smoother finish is desired.
3. Remove sanding dust using a soft dry cloth, brush or suitable tack cloth.
4. Apply a compatible sealer, primer, clear ground or gesso according to the selected artistic medium.
5. Allow every preparation coat to dry completely before sanding or applying the next coat.

Several thin coats are generally preferable to one very heavy coat. Excessive moisture applied to only one side may increase the risk of temporary movement or warping.

Artists should prepare a sample panel first when using an unfamiliar coating, resin, solvent, adhesive or mixed-media process.

Using Gesso, Sealer or Clear Ground

For a Traditional White Painting Surface

1. Lightly sand and clean the wood surface.
2. Apply a thin coat of artist-quality acrylic gesso.
3. Allow the gesso to dry completely.
4. Lightly sand if a smoother finish is required.
5. Apply two or three additional thin coats as needed.

A properly prepared gesso surface can be used for acrylics, oils, gouache and many mixed-media techniques.

For a Visible Natural Wood Grain

To preserve the appearance of the Baltic birch, use a compatible clear sealer or transparent acrylic ground instead of opaque white gesso.

Clear preparation allows the natural grain and color of the wood to remain part of the finished artwork.

For Oil Painting

When painting with oils, properly isolate and prime the wood surface using products recommended for rigid wood supports. Follow the coating manufacturer's instructions for drying time, number of coats and compatibility.

Mounting Prints, Photographs and Paper Artwork

Photographs, fine art prints, paper artwork, fabric and other lightweight materials may be mounted to the front of the Baltic birch panel.

The adhesive or mounting process should be selected according to the artwork material, expected display environment and desired level of permanence.

Possible mounting methods include:

• Archival dry mounting
• Pressure-sensitive mounting film
• Archival adhesive sheets
• Repositionable adhesive for temporary displays
• Suitable gel medium for collage
• Specialized fabric or paper mounting adhesive

The artwork should be aligned carefully before permanent pressure-sensitive materials are applied. Once bonded, some adhesives may not allow repositioning.

Individual Art Displays

A single Snap Floater can be used as a complete miniature art display. Its compact format is suitable for small original paintings, photographs, prints, illustrations, resin work and collectible artwork.

Individual displays work especially well in locations where a traditional large frame would be too dominant, including small walls, bookshelves, workspaces, counters and display cabinets.

Artists may also sell an artwork as a complete panel-and-frame set, while offering additional interchangeable panels separately.

Grid and Collage Arrangements

Multiple Snap Floaters can be combined to create a coordinated modular wall installation. Square and rectangular shapes are particularly suitable for clean, evenly spaced grids.

Common arrangements include:

• 2 by 2 grids with four artworks
• 3 by 3 grids with nine artworks
• 4 by 4 grids with sixteen artworks
• Horizontal rows
• Vertical columns
• Staggered layouts
• Asymmetrical gallery arrangements

A 4 by 4 arrangement of square Snap Floaters can present sixteen individual artworks as one large visual composition. The artwork may form a continuous theme or remain a collection of independent pieces.

Grid installations work well for family photographs, botanical studies, small paintings, color studies, travel collections and limited-edition print series.

Hexagon and Honeycomb Arrangements

Hexagon Snap Floaters can be combined into honeycomb-style patterns. One hexagon may be placed in the center with additional floaters positioned around it in rings, branches or expanding clusters.

The arrangement may be perfectly symmetrical or may grow organically across the wall. Additional hexagons can be added later without replacing the original display.

Honeycomb arrangements are suitable for:

• Nature and botanical artwork
• Family photo collections
• Travel photography
• Abstract color studies
• Educational displays
• Retail presentations
• Corporate installations

Consistent spacing between the exterior edges helps the complete arrangement appear organized and intentional.

Round and Circular Arrangements

Round Snap Floaters can be arranged as circular groups, spirals, rings, waves, constellations or scattered clusters.

A circular installation may use one central artwork with matching round floaters positioned around it. Alternatively, several pieces may be arranged in a loose organic pattern.

Round layouts are especially effective for portraits, botanical subjects, celestial themes, family photographs, abstract artwork and coordinated color collections.

Different sizes can be mixed to create movement and visual hierarchy, while matching sizes create a cleaner and more mathematical arrangement.

Mixed-Shape Gallery Walls

Rectangles, rounds, ellipses, triangles, hearts, pentagons and hexagons can be combined into a creative mixed-shape gallery wall.

One larger or visually stronger piece may be used as the center of the arrangement, with smaller shapes positioned around it. An alternative is to balance several equal-size pieces across the display area.

Repeating one frame finish can unify several different shapes. Using multiple finishes can create a more decorative, collection-style presentation.

Consistent spacing between pieces is recommended so the overall composition remains organized even when different shapes and orientations are combined.

Interchangeable and Seasonal Displays

The magnetic system makes Snap Floaters especially useful for artwork displays that change regularly.

The frame can remain mounted while the art panels are exchanged for:

• Seasonal artwork
• Holiday designs
• New family photographs
• Children's artwork
• Monthly art collections
• Limited-edition prints
• Retail promotions
• Educational themes
• Restaurant menu artwork
• Office recognition displays

Artists may offer replacement panels as collectible items, allowing customers to build a growing art library without purchasing and installing a new frame for every piece.

Optimized Geometric Layout Studio:

The Geometric Layout Studio is an advanced design tool for creating optimized arrangements of repeated geometric shapes inside a larger boundary shape. Simply choose an outside shape such as a circle, rectangle, square, hexagon, pentagon, ellipse, triangle, or heart, define its dimensions, then select one or two sets of repeated inner elements with their own shapes, sizes, quantities, and spacing. The studio automatically generates multiple layout variations while respecting edge clearances, element spacing, symmetry, collision detection, and manufacturability, making it ideal for laser-cut products, decorative panels, wall art, perforated patterns, vent covers, architectural screens, and other precision geometric designs.

Instead of relying on fixed templates, the studio uses multiple packing and composition algorithms, including hexagonal packing, honeycomb lattices, concentric rings, radial layouts, spirals, Fibonacci patterns, perimeter arrangements, and optimized random distributions. Each design is evaluated for balance, symmetry, negative space, density, and visual appeal before the highest-quality layouts are presented. Finished designs can be exported as true-scale SVG files, making the tool an efficient way to explore thousands of possible geometric compositions and quickly discover elegant, production-ready layouts.

Try the Geometric Layout Studio to create optimized geometric layouts and download production-ready SVG files.

Applications and Creative Uses

Snap Floaters can be used for a wide variety of artistic, photographic, decorative, educational and commercial applications.

Their compact scale also makes Snap Floaters suitable for artist markets, craft fairs, museum shops and other locations where display space is limited.

Why Baltic Birch Plywood Is Used

Baltic birch plywood provides a strong, stable and relatively lightweight foundation for small art panels and floater frames.

Its advantages include:

• Smooth natural wood surface
• Good dimensional stability
• High strength for its thickness
• Relatively low weight
• Attractive natural wood grain
• Suitable surface for painting and mounting
• Compatibility with precision laser cutting
• Layered edges that complement the product design
• Good support for rigid artwork
• Ability to accept many primers and art mediums

Because wood is a natural material, grain pattern, tone, small knots and minor surface variations may differ from one panel to another. These variations are normal and help make each unfinished panel unique.

Benefits of Snap Floaters

• Artwork can be installed or changed in seconds.
• No tools are required to attach the panel to the frame.
• The magnetic connection remains hidden from view.
• The recessed design creates a gallery-style floating gap.
• Frames can be reused with multiple art panels.
• Panels can be paired with different matching frame finishes.
• Individual pieces can become part of a larger wall arrangement.
• Selected shapes can be displayed on a wall or tabletop.
• The rigid Baltic birch panel supports many artistic mediums.
• The compact format is easy to collect, store and rearrange.
• The system is suitable for artists, collectors, galleries and retailers.
• Additional art panels can be sold separately from the frame.

Floater Shapes:

Rectangle	Circle	Oval	Vertical Ellipse	Egg	Water Drop	Pebble	Bean
Capsule	Lens	Almond	Paisley	Guitar Pick	Rounded Shield	Cloud	Rounded Diamond
Rounded Triangle	Rounded Pentagon	Rounded Hexagon	Heart