One frame. Two takes.

Double Take Frames

Physical photos that change in the blink of an eye, according to a timer you set.

Print the frame yourself from the free design, or choose how much of the build you want done for you.

How it works

Two printed images sit inside one physical frame - along with a tiny clock mechanism, a bit of thread, a trap door, and a falling weight. When the time is up, the frame reveals the hidden image.

Watch the demo

Designed to travel. It can keep counting through normal packing, shipping, jostling, tilting, and being turned upside down. It only needs to be upright when the timer finishes.

Wait, why?

Halloween. April Fools. Baby reveals. Pet nonsense.

Family holiday cards. Promposals.

Sincere messages of hope and inspiration, if you must insist.

Imagine giving someone a framed photo, letting it sit quietly on a shelf, and then - days or weeks later - it suddenly becomes a different picture.

At last, the perfect marriage of complexity and uselessness. How do I get one?

You build it!

Download the free print files and print the frame and plastic parts. The Hardware Bundle supplies the tested non-printed components and materials for one build.

This whole 3D-printing craze doesn't interest me.

Fair enough.

We'll print every plastic part and send it with the hardware and materials. You do the assembly. That's the Ready-to-Assemble Kit.

Take the hint. I want a fun prank gift, not a project.

You're missing out!

But if you insist, the Finished Gift arrives built, loaded, tested, and ready to give. It'll cost ya.

How exactly does it work?

Simple: a clock winds a string, which pulls a zipper, which releases a latch, which drops a weight, which yoinks a photo, which reveals another.

You lack imagination, Mr. Double Take, if that is your real name.

It's not.

With a few small changes to the core mechanism, I could turn it into something else entirely. I might even combine it with ideas of my own and make something truly wild.

I bet you could!

The 3D design files are yours to tinker with. Show me what you've got. If it's good, I might even help you sell it.

Will I enjoy putting this together?

That depends almost entirely on what kind of project you enjoy.

This is a miniature machine disguised as a gift: part assembly project, part puzzle, and part experiment. If you enjoy examining unfamiliar parts, understanding how they interact, and making small adjustments until a mechanism comes to life, it is probably your kind of fun.

No individual step is especially difficult. But if you want a quick, strictly linear project that never asks you to stop and think, it may be more aggravating than enjoyable. The build rewards curiosity, patience, and a willingness to tinker.

Can it count down while it ships?

Yes. It is designed to keep counting through normal packing, shipping, jostling, tilting, and being turned upside down. It only needs to be upright when the timer finishes so gravity can do its job.

Can I choose one of the image pairs in the gallery?

Yes, but we would rather see what you come up with.

Can I use any type of photo or paper stock?

The reveal sheet requires the specified specialty paper.

The other image can use just about any roughly 5x7 photo or paper stock.

Won't it seem weird to give someone a photo in this frame?

Probably. A cover story helps. Try: "My friend started 3D-printing frames and gave me one."

Does it make noise?

A little. The clock mechanism ticks softly, but unless your recipient is already inspecting the frame for tiny hidden machinery, they are unlikely to notice.

The reveal makes a small thud when the weight drops. A small piece of fabric or felt at the bottom helps muffle it.