Artefex 6mm vs Gallery Panels: Which Should You Choose?

When you’re choosing a painting surface, you’re not just picking a flat board to put paint on. The panel you choose will influence how your brush feels, how your art looks on the wall, and how your piece holds up over time. Artefex, known for its professional archival painting supports, offers two top-tier options for artists who want durability and a gallery-ready presence: the 6mm Honeycomb Core Panel and the Gallery Panel.

At first glance, they might sound similar. Both are built on aluminum composite material (ACM), which means they’re rigid, warp-resistant, and designed to last a lifetime. But their structures and purposes are different, and knowing those differences will help you make the right choice. Let’s dig into how each panel works, what it feels like to paint on, and when you should pick one over the other.

Understanding the 6mm Honeycomb Core Panel

Structure and Build

The Artefex 6mm panel is built with an aluminum sandwich: two thin sheets of aluminum bonded to a lightweight honeycomb core. That honeycomb structure is the secret to its strength. Imagine thousands of tiny hexagons inside the panel, each acting like a support beam. The result is a surface that is incredibly stiff yet surprisingly lightweight. At about 1/4 inch thick, the 6mm panel is thicker than Artefex’s standard 3mm board but still slim and modern in profile.

What It Feels Like

When you pick up a 6mm panel, the first thing you notice is how light it is for its size. A large 24×36 inch panel can be lifted easily with one hand, yet when you tap it, it feels rock solid. There’s no flex, no bounce, no sense that it will warp over time. Painting on it is like painting on stone or metal, but without the weight of either. Your brushstrokes stay crisp, your palette knife doesn’t dig into soft fibers, and your layers of paint sit proudly without the surface sagging.

Why Artists Love It

The 6mm honeycomb panel is especially loved for large-format work. Artists who paint big know how frustrating it is when a wooden panel bows or a stretched canvas starts to sag. With honeycomb, you can go as large as 5×10 feet and still trust that your panel will remain perfectly flat. That stability is crucial for oil painting, where cracking can occur if the support shifts even slightly. Acrylic painters, too, benefit from the surface, especially if they use heavy gels or thick collage materials. The honeycomb support keeps everything secure.

Understanding the Artefex Gallery Panel

Structure and Build

The Artefex Gallery Panel is a bit different. Instead of a honeycomb core, it starts with the standard 3mm ACM panel mounted on a 1-inch deep wooden cradle. Think of it as a panel and a frame built together as one. The cradle is usually made of Baltic birch, giving the panel a sturdy, square profile. From the front, it looks just like any Artefex panel. From the side, though, it has the depth and presence of a gallery-wrapped canvas.

What It Feels Like

When you hold a Gallery Panel, it feels more substantial. The cradle gives it weight and thickness, so it doesn’t feel like a slim board but rather like a finished piece of artwork. You can grab the sides, rest it on a shelf, or mount it on the wall without needing extra support. Many artists find this format reassuring. It’s ready to hang as soon as the painting is done, no framing required.

Why Artists Love It

The Gallery Panel is the go-to choice when presentation matters. If you’re showing in a gallery, selling to collectors, or simply want your art to have that “ready-to-display” look, the 1-inch depth is perfect. You can paint the sides black or continue the painting around the edges for a finished appearance. If you prefer frames, these panels fit beautifully into floater frames. For artists who want an all-in-one support and display solution, the Gallery Panel is unbeatable.

Rigidity and Archival Stability

Both panels are archival, but they achieve stability in different ways.

• 6mm Honeycomb Panel: Strength comes from within. The honeycomb core means the entire surface is evenly supported, making it resistant to bending and humidity changes. It’s especially trustworthy for oversized paintings, where even the tiniest flex can cause damage over time.
• Gallery Panel: Strength comes from the combination of aluminum and cradle. The front surface resists environmental shifts, while the wooden cradle locks everything in place and prevents edge flexing. For medium to large works, this design is extremely stable.

In terms of archival performance, both are excellent. Oil and acrylic artists can rely on either without worrying about warping, cracking, or surface instability.

Weight and Handling

Weight is a deciding factor for many artists.

• Honeycomb Panel: Incredibly lightweight. A 4×8 foot honeycomb panel weighs less than 20 pounds, which is astonishing compared to a wooden panel of the same size. This makes it ideal for shipping or transporting to shows.
• Gallery Panel: Still lightweight compared to solid wood, but heavier than honeycomb because of the wooden cradle. The trade-off is convenience: it’s easier to handle during painting and hanging, since the cradle gives you something solid to grip.

If you plan to ship your artwork frequently or carry it outdoors, honeycomb might be the smarter option. If you want something that feels solid and display-ready right away, gallery might be better.

Framing and Display

Here’s where the differences really show.

• 6mm Honeycomb Panel: Slim and sleek. Works best when placed in a traditional frame or floater frame. The edges are clean but thin, so it usually looks unfinished without a frame. Artists who plan to frame their work almost always lean toward honeycomb panels.
• Gallery Panel: Thick and modern. Designed to be hung unframed, just like a gallery-wrapped canvas. The 1-inch edge can be painted or left natural, giving a professional finish right out of the studio. If you want a frame, floater frames work perfectly.

So the choice here depends on whether you like the frameless, modern look or prefer to showcase your work with a traditional frame.

Which One Is Best for Different Situations?

Let’s break it down by painting style and situation:

• Large Oil Paintings: Choose the 6mm Honeycomb Panel. It’s light, rigid, and will keep your painting stable for decades. This is often considered the best panel for large oil paintings.
• Medium-Sized Oils or Acrylics for Galleries: Choose the Gallery Panel. It looks impressive on the wall without needing a frame and gives your work a professional presence.
• Acrylic or Mixed Media with Heavy Texture: Both work well, but honeycomb is lighter if you’re adding a lot of material. Gallery gives you the convenience of ready-to-hang depth.
• Small Studies or Works That Will Be Framed: Honeycomb is more practical. It’s thinner, easier to frame, and usually less expensive than Gallery.

Modern, Frameless Presentation: Gallery Panel all the way. Its 1-inch cradle is designed for exactly this purpose.

Cost Considerations

Artefex panels are premium products, and both honeycomb and gallery types are more expensive than simple wood panels. Between the two, Gallery Panels usually cost a bit more because of the added cradle. The question is whether that added cost saves you money or time later. For instance, buying a Gallery Panel means you don’t need to purchase a cradle or frame separately. With honeycomb, you might spend less up front but add cost later when framing.

Making the Final Choice

So, which should you choose: Artefex Gallery Panel vs 6mm Honeycomb Panel?

• Pick 6mm Honeycomb if you want the lightest, most rigid panel possible, especially for large oil paintings or acrylic works that will be framed. It’s practical, strong, and easy to transport.
• Pick Gallery Panel if you value presentation and convenience. It’s thick, professional, and ready to hang without a frame, making it a favorite for exhibitions and contemporary displays.

The truth is many artists use both. They choose honeycomb panels for projects that require framing or long-distance transport, and gallery panels for showpieces meant to impress collectors right off the wall.

Whichever you choose, you can trust that your art is supported by one of the most archival, stable, and artist-friendly surfaces on the market today.