Hey everyone, it’s Mia here from the Resin Medium Photo Frame team—we make those frames you see that blend custom resin with printed media, and lately, I’ve been answering the same question from customers nonstop: “Is the resin on your Resin Medium Photo Frame waterproof?” Resin Medium Photo Frame
First off, let’s get one thing straight—this isn’t a yes/no answer I can yell from the rooftop, because resin isn’t a single material. When we make our frames, we use two main types of resin for the top coating (the stuff that seals the photo and gives that glossy, smooth look): epoxy resin and UV-cured resin. I’ll break down what that means for waterproofing, plus the real-world scenarios you’ll actually run into with these frames.
Let’s start with how we use resin on our frames, because that’s key to the whole thing. Our frames aren’t just a block of resin with a photo stuffed inside. We take a high-quality, glossy photo (or other media—like a watercolor print, postcard, even a handwritten note that’s special to you) and adhere it to a solid wooden or MDF base. Then we pour a thin, even layer of resin over the top, right? For epoxy, it’s a mix of two parts—resin and hardener—that we stir, degas (to get rid of those tiny bubbles that would mess up the finish), and then spread to a 1/8” or 1/4” thickness, depending on how thick you want the top coat. For UV resin, it’s a single-part formula that we cure under a UV lamp for a few minutes—super fast, which is why we can do custom small batches without waiting 24 hours for epoxy to set.
Now, waterproofing. Let’s talk about epoxy first, because that’s what 90% of our frames use for the bulk of orders. Most food-grade epoxy resin is pretty dang resistant to water, right? But wait—there’s a catch. Not all epoxy is created equal. Cheap, no-name epoxy (the kind you find at craft stores for $10 a gallon) might have additives that break down when exposed to water over time. But we use industrial-grade epoxy—we test every batch before it hits our shop, so we know exactly what it can handle. When cured properly (no under-mixing, no pouring in cold temperatures that cause it to not fully harden), our epoxy top coat is hydrophobic. That means water beads up on it, like on a freshly waxed car. Drop a glass of water on a cured epoxy frame, wipe it off with a paper towel, and there’s zero residue, no warping, no fading of the photo underneath. That’s the good part.
But here’s the thing—water isn’t just plain H2O. What if you spill soda on it? Or coffee? Or pool water with chlorine? Soda has sugar, coffee has acids, pool water has chemicals. Our epoxy still holds up pretty well to those, but if you leave a puddle of soda on the frame for, like, three days straight, the sugar might seep into any tiny micro-cracks (yes, even the cured epoxy has super tiny ones you can’t see with the naked eye) and cause a faint discoloration over months. For regular, everyday spills though—like knocking over a water glass at your desk, or a kid spilling juice near a frame on the wall—epoxy is more than enough.
Now UV resin. That’s the other stuff we use sometimes for smaller, thinner frames, or custom pieces where we want a super high-gloss finish without the thick epoxy layer. UV resin is also hydrophobic when cured, but it’s a bit more fragile than epoxy. It’s thinner, so it’s more prone to scratching, and it doesn’t hold up as well to prolonged water exposure. Like, if you hang a UV resin frame in your bathroom, where it’s constantly exposed to steam every time you shower? Over a year or two, the UV resin might start to yellow a little, or the edge might peel away from the base. Epoxy can handle bathroom steam way better—we’ve got a customer who’s had her epoxy frame above her bathroom sink for two years, and it looks brand new. UV resin? We don’t recommend that for high-moisture areas.
Wait, but what about the part where the resin meets the base and the photo? That’s the other weak spot, not the resin itself. Even if the top coat is fully waterproof, if there’s a gap between the resin edge and the wooden base, water can seep in there over time. That’s why we do a few extra steps when making our frames—we sand the base really smooth before adhering the photo, we use a archival glue that creates a tight bond, and when we pour the resin, we make sure it flows all the way to the edges, so there’s no gap. We also do a final edge seal with a tiny brush of resin on all four sides, just to close any tiny gaps that might have formed during pouring. If you skip that step, even a great resin will let water in. That’s a mistake a lot of small frame makers make, by the way—they just pour resin over the top and call it done, and then wonder why their frames start peeling after a few months.
Now, let’s get real about what “waterproof” actually means here. A lot of customers ask if it’s safe to hang their frame outside, or submerge it in water. No. If you submerge any resin frame (ours or anyone else’s) in water for hours, even epoxy, eventually water will find its way into the edges. Outside, you’ve got rain, temperature changes—extreme heat can make resin a little soft (but not sticky, cured resin stays solid) and cold can make it contract, which might create tiny gaps at the edges. We make our frames for indoor use, mainly—desks, living rooms, bedrooms. If you want a frame for a outdoor patio, we make a special weather-resistant version with an extra UV-stabilized epoxy layer, and we seal the edges twice, but even that’s not for being in direct rain 24/7. That’s a myth people spread—“resin frames are waterproof enough for the pool!” No, that’s not true.
I’ve seen people test our frames, though. Last year, a customer dropped her epoxy frame in a sink full of dish soap water when she was washing dishes, realized it, pulled it out after 10 minutes, dried it off, and the photo underneath was still perfect. No fading, no warping. That’s the kind of everyday use we’re talking about. Another customer had a toddler spill a whole sippy cup of apple juice on her kid’s frame (it was epoxy, thank goodness), she wiped it right up, no stains. But if you leave a wet towel leaning against the frame for a week, that’s different. The constant moisture at the edge will get in.
Wait, let’s talk about aging too. No resin is 100% waterproof forever. Even the best industrial epoxy will start to break down after 10, 15 years, especially if it’s exposed to harsh sunlight (sunlight has UV rays that can make resin yellow over time—another reason UV resin is bad for sun-exposed areas). Our frames do have a UV-stabilizer added to the epoxy, so they don’t yellow as fast, but they’re not indestructible. If you have a frame that’s been on your wall for 20 years, yeah, it might have a faint yellow tinge, but the photo underneath will still be safe, because the resin held up.
I get why this question is so common. People love our resin frames because they look sleek, they protect the photo way better than glass (glass scratches, right? Resin is more scratch-resistant, though not totally scratch-proof—you still have to be careful with keys or sharp objects), but they’re nervous about water. Let’s clear up the confusion once and for all: our Resin Medium Photo Frame’s resin top coat is water-resistant for everyday spills, steam in the bathroom, splashes from the kitchen, all that stuff. It’s not fully waterproof for prolonged submersion or outdoor use in bad weather. The key is knowing what you’re using it for.
Now, if you’re still on the fence, let’s talk about how we help customers. When you order from us, we send a little care sheet that says exactly what to do: wipe spills right away, don’t hang it in direct rain, if you want a frame for a bathroom, go with epoxy not UV. We don’t hide the limitations, because we want our customers to be happy with their frames for years, not disappointed because they put it somewhere it doesn’t belong.
Lately, we’ve been thinking about making an outdoor version, but we don’t want to overpromise. It would have a thicker epoxy layer, edge sealing, UV protection, but even then, we’d still say it’s not for being in a pool. The technology just isn’t there for a fully waterproof resin frame that can handle constant water exposure 24/7. The edges will always be a weak point, because they’re the point where the resin meets another material.
Wait, another thing: what about different types of media? Our frames work with photos, art, even fabric prints. If you use a fabric print, the resin is still waterproof, but if you spill something on it, you have to be careful not to rub it too hard, because the fabric is softer than paper. But that’s not a resin issue, that’s a media issue.
I’ve had customers email us after a year, saying their frame is still perfect, and they’ve spilled coffee on it twice, or hung it above their kitchen sink. That’s the kind of feedback we love. We’ve also had one customer who accidentally left her frame in the shower for a few hours (she had it on a shelf and forgot it was there when she was cleaning), and when she found it, the photo was a little damp, but once we dried it off, it was totally fine. The resin didn’t let any water get to the photo—just a tiny bit seeped under the edge, which wiped right up.
So to wrap this up, the short answer is: yes, our Resin Medium Photo Frame’s resin top coat is water-resistant enough for everyday use (spills, steam, splashes), but it’s not fully waterproof for prolonged submersion or consistent heavy water exposure. The type of resin matters—epoxy is better than UV resin for moisture-heavy areas. And the edge sealing we do is make or break for keeping water out long-term.
If you’re looking for a frame that can handle a little kitchen chaos, or a bathroom accent, our frames are perfect. If you need something for a pool house or outdoor patio, we can work with you to create a custom version that’s as weather-resistant as possible.
We’re always here to answer questions—just reach out if you want to chat more about what kind of frame fits your space, or to place an order for your own Resin Medium Photo Frame. We’re happy to customize any piece, too, so you can add your favorite photo, artwork, whatever you want.
And that’s the real tea on resin and waterproofing, no fancy jargon, just what we’ve learned from making thousands of these frames and hearing from our customers.
Resin Medium Photo Frame References:
- "Epoxy Resin Properties and Applications" – Industrial Polymer Science Journal
- "UV-Cured Resins: Performance and Limitations" – Journal of Coatings Technology and Research
- "Photo Preservation Methods for Custom Framing" – Archival Materials Association Guidelines
- "Water Resistance of Polymer Coatings on Wooden Substrates" – Wood Science and Technology Publication
Pujiang Guangguan Handicraft Factory
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