Fraimic’s e-ink picture frame turns your wall into an AI art gallery

A new picture frame generates custom artwork when users describe what they want to see, displaying artificial intelligence (AI)-created images on a paper-like screen that resembles a painting more than a digital display.

Fraimic’s smart canvas uses OpenAI’s image generation technology to create original artwork from spoken descriptions. The device displays these AI-created images on a color e-ink screen that reflects ambient light, much like traditional paper, thereby eliminating glare and blue light emissions common in LCDs.

Source: Fraimic / Kickstarter

Users activate the system by tapping anywhere on the frame’s wooden border. A built-in microphone captures their description, and within seconds, the requested image appears on the Spectra 6 display.

The Chicago-based team launched its Kickstarter campaign in September with a modest $10,000 goal. They’ve now secured $799,630 from 1,359 backers, with 17 days remaining in the campaign, which ends on October 23.

Anthony, the company’s founder, demonstrated the technology in promotional videos by requesting “a painting of a night scene, a house with lights on inside, in a kind of realistic precisionist style.” After a moment, the frame generated exactly that image on the display.

Fraimic operates without mandatory apps or ongoing charges. Users upload personal photos through any web browser connected to the same Wi-Fi network. The company promises the interface works equally well on phones, tablets, or computers.

The e-ink technology offers unexpected benefits beyond its paper-like appearance. Because these displays only consume power when switching images, the 10,000 mAh battery can potentially last up to five years for the standard model and four years for the larger version.

“After trying a basic digital photo frame, I’ve been dreaming about a high-quality device like this,” explained Ben Weiler, one of the Kickstarter backers. “We plan to use our large Fraimic to display our best family and travel photos in our living room.”

Claire Lackstone, another backer, sees broader applications for the technology. “I think this is the next generation of art and I love the idea of being able to change up my art based on my mood, the season and any special events,” she wrote in the campaign comments. “The voice AI will be a fun party trick too.”

The frames come in two sizes. The standard version features a 13.3-inch display within a 14-by-18-inch frame, priced at $299 during the campaign. The large model offers a 31.5-inch display in a 24-by-36-inch frame for $729.

Post-campaign prices will jump to $399 and $999, respectively.

The development team claims over 30 years of combined experience in product design, manufacturing, and software engineering. Future updates will introduce Movie Mode, which automatically displays film posters. Music Mode will display album covers from Spotify during playback.

Manufacturing is scheduled to begin in November, with production validation set for December. The team expects to ship units worldwide by May 2026, though they acknowledge potential delays common to crowdfunded hardware projects.