Understanding Magic: The Gathering Card Frames

Magic: The Gathering has undergone several major design shifts in its 30+ year history, and the card frame is the most visible of these changes. Whether you are designing a "boomer" style proxy for your Old School deck or a sleek, modern custom card, understanding frames is key to making your cards look authentic.

The Original Frame (1993-2003)

Often called the "Old Frame" or "Pre-8th Edition Frame", this design features a textured, parchment-like background for the text box and a very distinct, marble-like texture for the card borders.

Key Characteristics:

• Textured Backgrounds: Each color had a very distinct texture (e.g., Green was wood grain, Blue was water).
• White Text: Most names and type lines were white.
• Artifacts: Brown border with a grainy metal texture.

When to use it:

• For nostalgia-themed custom sets.
• For commanders that feel "ancient" or powerful in a classic way.

The Modern Frame (2003-2014)

Introduced in 8th Edition (and mirrored in Mirrodin), this frame cleaned up the lines and standardized the text boxes. It introduced the modern "rounded" look that defined Magic for a decade.

Key Characteristics:

• Cleaner Lines: The textures were smoothed out.
• Larger Art Box: The art became slightly more prominent.
• Equipment: A new subtype of artifact was introduced with this frame.

The M15 Frame (2014-Present)

The current standard frame, introduced in Magic 2015 via the M15 Core Set. The most notable change was the black bottom curve (the "Holofoil stamp" area) and a new font for the card collection info.

Key Characteristics:

• Holofoil Stamp: Rares and Mythics have a security stamp at the bottom.
• Beleren Font: The card name and headlines use the proprietary Beleren font.
• Variable Color Borders: Frames for colored artifacts, vehicles, and more.

Designing Your Custom Card

When using TCGCustom, you can often toggle between styles or use the default modern layout. To make your card feel "real":

1. Match the Era: Don't put a Vehicle (Kaladesh era) in an Alpha frame unless you are doing a deliberate "timeshifted" design.
2. Readability: Ensure your text contrasts well with the frame.
3. Consistency: Use the correct set symbols and rarity colors.

Start designing today by clicking "New" in the top bar!