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Polaroid Frame Generator

Give your photos the classic instant-camera look. Upload an image, pick a frame color, add a caption, and download your Polaroid — all in your browser.

100% Client-Side Processing

All processing happens in your browser. Your photos are never uploaded to a server.

Supported: JPG, PNG, WebP, GIF, AVIF, BMP.

Table of Contents

What is a Polaroid Frame?

A Polaroid frame is a thick white border that mimics the iconic look of instant-film photographs. The signature asymmetry — equal borders on the top and sides, with a noticeably wider bottom border for the caption area — is instantly recognisable and gives photos a nostalgic, personal feel.

Polaroid frames are popular for social media posts, photo collages, scrapbooks, digital greeting cards, and anywhere you want to add a retro, handmade aesthetic to a digital image.

How It Works

  • Upload any JPG, PNG, WebP, GIF, AVIF, or BMP image.
  • Choose a frame color: white (classic), cream (vintage), black (bold), or custom.
  • Adjust the side and bottom border thickness with the sliders.
  • Optionally type a caption and pick a font style, size, and color.
  • Click Generate Polaroid to render the framed image on a canvas.
  • Download as PNG or JPG.

Everything runs entirely in your browser using the HTML5 Canvas API — no server upload required.

Tips for Great Results

  • Square photos work best. Polaroid prints were originally square (roughly 3×3 inches inside the frame), so a square crop gives the most authentic look.
  • Increase the bottom border if you want a prominent caption area, or decrease it for a more minimal modern take.
  • Cream frames add a warm, aged feel; black frames give a sleek, gallery-style look.
  • Handwritten fonts (Caveat, Dancing Script) feel the most authentic. Use the system sans-serif for a clean, modern caption.
  • Download as PNG for the highest quality; choose JPG if you need a smaller file.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are my photos uploaded anywhere?

No. The entire process runs in your browser using the HTML5 Canvas API. Your photos never leave your device.

Why does the caption use a web font?

The handwritten font styles (Caveat, Dancing Script, Pacifico) are loaded from Google Fonts to give the most authentic Polaroid handwriting look. The system sans-serif option requires no external font and works offline.

Can I use a transparent PNG as input?

Yes. The transparent areas of your photo will be preserved in the output when you choose PNG format. If you choose JPG output, transparent pixels are composited against the frame background color.

What size should my photo be?

Any resolution works. For print-quality output, start with an image that is at least 1000×1000 pixels. The border thickness sliders are in pixels relative to your original image size — larger source images need larger border values.