Magic: The Gathering collecting includes a category most sports cards don't: altered art. Between chase rares, special showcase and borderless treatments, and cards personally altered or signed by artists, a Magic collection often has more variety in what's actually being framed than a typical sports card display.
That variety means a one-size-fits-all approach to framing doesn't always serve a Magic collection well, since an altered card and a straight graded chase rare have genuinely different display needs.
This guide covers the framing considerations specific to Magic cards, from grading trends to handling altered and artist-signed pieces.
For general sizing basics, the measuring guide elsewhere in this series is a useful starting point.
A high-value chase rare or mythic, whether pulled from a Draft Booster or a Collector Booster, follows the same standard card dimensions as the rest of the set, which means it fits EVORETRO's standard frame formats without any special accommodation. Once graded, these cards fit comfortably in either the wooden or acrylic PSA-style frame.
For a chase card you're not planning to grade, a magnetic-holder frame still gives it a proper, secure raw display option while keeping the card fully visible.
Wizards of the Coast's showcase and borderless card treatments have become a major part of what collectors specifically chase in modern Magic sets, often commanding stronger secondary market interest than a standard-border printing of the same card. These special treatments still use standard card dimensions, so they fit standard frame formats the same as any other card.
Because showcase and borderless cards are frequently the visual centerpiece of a Magic collection, prioritizing UV-protective glass for these specific pulls helps preserve their distinctive artwork against fading over time.
A professionally altered Magic card, where an artist has extended or reworked the card's original artwork, is a genuinely unique piece, and most grading companies won't encapsulate an altered card the same way they grade an unaltered one. That means an altered card is more likely to be displayed raw, which makes a properly fitted magnetic-holder frame especially important for this specific category.
Handling an altered card with extra care during mounting matters here too, since the alteration itself, often hand-painted, can be more delicate than the card's original printed surface.
Magic cards signed by their original illustrating artist, or by a notable competitive player, carry a different kind of collecting value than a standard graded chase rare, tied to the signature and its provenance rather than pure market rarity. These cards are often displayed raw in a magnetic-holder frame, similar to an altered card.
For a signed card with significant value, some collectors do pursue authentication or grading services that specifically account for the signature, which would then move the card into a standard PSA-style frame format once encapsulated.
Magic's deep card pool supports a wide range of display themes: a specific color identity, a favorite Commander deck's key pieces, or a set of cards from one particular artist across multiple printings. A 3-slot frame works well for showing a small, connected grouping like this.
Grouping by visual theme, like all-foil or all-showcase treatments displayed together, also creates a striking, cohesive look for collectors drawn more to aesthetics than to a specific in-game category.
Foil cards and full-art basic lands can show glare differently under direct lighting compared to a non-foil card, which is worth testing against your actual display setup before finalizing frame placement. A UV-glass frame helps protect the foil treatment's finish over time in addition to reducing fading risk.
Full-art lands, while often less individually valuable than a chase rare, make for a visually striking multi-slot display when several are grouped together by art style or set.
Commander's popularity has made deck-specific display themes a common approach for Magic collectors, framing a handful of a beloved deck's most iconic or highest-value pieces together rather than displaying cards purely by rarity or set. This creates a display that tells the story of a specific deck's identity.
A 3-slot frame works particularly well for this kind of Commander-focused grouping, letting a collector showcase a deck's commander alongside two of its most significant supporting pieces in one cohesive display.
Most grading companies won't encapsulate an altered card the same way as an unaltered one.
No, they use standard dimensions and fit standard frame formats.
Often yes, though some pursue specific authentication or grading for signed cards.
Yes, testing under your actual lighting setup helps avoid unexpected glare.
Whether it's a chase mythic, a showcase treatment, or a personally altered piece, your Magic collection deserves real display space. Check out EVORETRO's Wooden Display Frame for Magnetic Card Holders for a raw favorite ready to show off.
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