diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 2ea33e7..02b8a91 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -113,6 +113,7 @@ target_sources(
     src/ctrace.cpp
     src/exceptions.cpp
     src/from_current.cpp
+    src/formatting.cpp
     src/options.cpp
     src/utils.cpp
     src/demangle/demangle_with_cxxabi.cpp
diff --git a/include/cpptrace/basic.hpp b/include/cpptrace/basic.hpp
index d6240a6..b5fb4ea 100644
--- a/include/cpptrace/basic.hpp
+++ b/include/cpptrace/basic.hpp
@@ -182,8 +182,6 @@ namespace cpptrace {
         inline const_iterator cbegin() const noexcept { return frames.cbegin(); }
         inline const_iterator cend() const noexcept { return frames.cend(); }
     private:
-        void print(std::ostream& stream, bool color, bool newline_at_end, const char* header) const;
-        void print_with_snippets(std::ostream& stream, bool color, bool newline_at_end, const char* header) const;
         friend void print_terminate_trace();
     };
 
diff --git a/include/cpptrace/formatting.hpp b/include/cpptrace/formatting.hpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c697e3d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/include/cpptrace/formatting.hpp
@@ -0,0 +1,66 @@
+#ifndef CPPTRACE_FORMATTING_HPP
+#define CPPTRACE_FORMATTING_HPP
+
+#include <cpptrace/basic.hpp>
+
+#include <memory>
+#include <string>
+#include <functional>
+
+namespace cpptrace {
+    class CPPTRACE_EXPORT formatter {
+        class impl;
+        std::unique_ptr<impl> pimpl;
+
+    public:
+        formatter();
+        ~formatter();
+
+        formatter(formatter&&) = default;
+        formatter(const formatter&);
+        formatter& operator=(formatter&&) = default;
+        formatter& operator=(const formatter&);
+
+        formatter& set_header(std::string);
+        enum class color_mode {
+            always,
+            none,
+            automatic,
+        };
+        formatter& set_color_mode(color_mode);
+        enum class address_mode {
+            raw,
+            object,
+            none,
+        };
+        formatter& set_address_mode(address_mode);
+        formatter& set_snippets(bool);
+        formatter& set_snippet_context(int);
+        formatter& include_column(bool);
+        formatter& set_filter(std::function<bool(const stacktrace_frame&)>);
+
+        std::string format(const stacktrace_frame&) const;
+        std::string format(const stacktrace_frame&, bool color) const;
+
+        std::string format(const stacktrace&) const;
+        std::string format(const stacktrace&, bool color) const;
+
+        void print(const stacktrace_frame&) const;
+        void print(const stacktrace_frame&, bool color) const;
+        void print(std::ostream&, const stacktrace_frame&) const;
+        void print(std::ostream&, const stacktrace_frame&, bool color) const;
+        void print(std::FILE*, const stacktrace_frame&) const;
+        void print(std::FILE*, const stacktrace_frame&, bool color) const;
+
+        void print(const stacktrace&) const;
+        void print(const stacktrace&, bool color) const;
+        void print(std::ostream&, const stacktrace&) const;
+        void print(std::ostream&, const stacktrace&, bool color) const;
+        void print(std::FILE*, const stacktrace&) const;
+        void print(std::FILE*, const stacktrace&, bool color) const;
+    };
+
+    CPPTRACE_EXPORT const formatter& get_default_formatter();
+}
+
+#endif
diff --git a/src/cpptrace.cpp b/src/cpptrace.cpp
index a30bd5c..ed445b0 100644
--- a/src/cpptrace.cpp
+++ b/src/cpptrace.cpp
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 #include <cpptrace/cpptrace.hpp>
+#include <cpptrace/formatting.hpp>
 
 #include <cstddef>
 #include <cstdint>
@@ -9,6 +10,7 @@
 #include <string>
 #include <vector>
 
+#include "cpptrace/basic.hpp"
 #include "symbols/symbols.hpp"
 #include "unwind/unwind.hpp"
 #include "demangle/demangle.hpp"
@@ -129,41 +131,13 @@ namespace cpptrace {
         return detail::get_frame_object_info(raw_address);
     }
 
-    static std::string frame_to_string(
-        bool color,
-        const stacktrace_frame& frame
-    ) {
-        const auto reset   = color ? RESET : "";
-        const auto green   = color ? GREEN : "";
-        const auto yellow  = color ? YELLOW : "";
-        const auto blue    = color ? BLUE : "";
-        std::string str;
-        if(frame.is_inline) {
-            str += microfmt::format("{<{}}", 2 * sizeof(frame_ptr) + 2, "(inlined)");
-        } else {
-            str += microfmt::format("{}0x{>{}:0h}{}", blue, 2 * sizeof(frame_ptr), frame.raw_address, reset);
-        }
-        if(!frame.symbol.empty()) {
-            str += microfmt::format(" in {}{}{}", yellow, frame.symbol, reset);
-        }
-        if(!frame.filename.empty()) {
-            str += microfmt::format(" at {}{}{}", green, frame.filename, reset);
-            if(frame.line.has_value()) {
-                str += microfmt::format(":{}{}{}", blue, frame.line.value(), reset);
-                if(frame.column.has_value()) {
-                    str += microfmt::format(":{}{}{}", blue, frame.column.value(), reset);
-                }
-            }
-        }
-        return str;
-    }
-
     std::string stacktrace_frame::to_string() const {
         return to_string(false);
     }
 
     std::string stacktrace_frame::to_string(bool color) const {
-        return frame_to_string(color, *this);
+        // return frame_to_string(color, *this);
+        return get_default_formatter().format(*this, color);
     }
 
     std::ostream& operator<<(std::ostream& stream, const stacktrace_frame& frame) {
@@ -195,89 +169,34 @@ namespace cpptrace {
     }
 
     void stacktrace::print() const {
-        print(std::cerr, true);
+        get_default_formatter().print(*this);
     }
 
     void stacktrace::print(std::ostream& stream) const {
-        print(stream, true);
+        get_default_formatter().print(stream, *this);
     }
 
     void stacktrace::print(std::ostream& stream, bool color) const {
-        print(stream, color, true, nullptr);
+        get_default_formatter().print(stream, *this, color);
     }
 
-    static void print_frame(
-        std::ostream& stream,
-        bool color,
-        unsigned frame_number_width,
-        std::size_t counter,
-        const stacktrace_frame& frame
-    ) {
-        std::string line = microfmt::format("#{<{}} {}", frame_number_width, counter, frame.to_string(color));
-        stream << line;
-    }
-
-    void stacktrace::print(std::ostream& stream, bool color, bool newline_at_end, const char* header) const {
-        if(
-            color && (
-                (&stream == &std::cout && isatty(stdout_fileno)) || (&stream == &std::cerr && isatty(stderr_fileno))
-            )
-        ) {
-            detail::enable_virtual_terminal_processing_if_needed();
-        }
-        stream << (header ? header : "Stack trace (most recent call first):") << '\n';
-        std::size_t counter = 0;
-        if(frames.empty()) {
-            stream << "<empty trace>\n";
-            return;
-        }
-        const auto frame_number_width = detail::n_digits(static_cast<int>(frames.size()) - 1);
-        for(const auto& frame : frames) {
-            print_frame(stream, color, frame_number_width, counter, frame);
-            if(newline_at_end || &frame != &frames.back()) {
-                stream << '\n';
-            }
-            counter++;
+    namespace detail {
+        const formatter& get_default_snippet_formatter() {
+            static formatter snippet_formatter = formatter{}.set_snippets(true);
+            return snippet_formatter;
         }
     }
 
     void stacktrace::print_with_snippets() const {
-        print_with_snippets(std::cerr, true);
+        detail::get_default_snippet_formatter().print(*this);
     }
 
     void stacktrace::print_with_snippets(std::ostream& stream) const {
-        print_with_snippets(stream, true);
+        detail::get_default_snippet_formatter().print(stream, *this);
     }
 
     void stacktrace::print_with_snippets(std::ostream& stream, bool color) const {
-        print_with_snippets(stream, color, true, nullptr);
-    }
-
-    void stacktrace::print_with_snippets(std::ostream& stream, bool color, bool newline_at_end, const char* header) const {
-        if(
-            color && (
-                (&stream == &std::cout && isatty(stdout_fileno)) || (&stream == &std::cerr && isatty(stderr_fileno))
-            )
-        ) {
-            detail::enable_virtual_terminal_processing_if_needed();
-        }
-        stream << (header ? header : "Stack trace (most recent call first):") << '\n';
-        std::size_t counter = 0;
-        if(frames.empty()) {
-            stream << "<empty trace>" << '\n';
-            return;
-        }
-        const auto frame_number_width = detail::n_digits(static_cast<int>(frames.size()) - 1);
-        for(const auto& frame : frames) {
-            print_frame(stream, color, frame_number_width, counter, frame);
-            if(newline_at_end || &frame != &frames.back()) {
-                stream << '\n';
-            }
-            if(frame.line.has_value() && !frame.filename.empty()) {
-                stream << detail::get_snippet(frame.filename, frame.line.value(), 2, color);
-            }
-            counter++;
-        }
+        detail::get_default_snippet_formatter().print(stream, *this, color);
     }
 
     void stacktrace::clear() {
@@ -289,13 +208,12 @@ namespace cpptrace {
     }
 
     std::string stacktrace::to_string(bool color) const {
-        std::ostringstream oss;
-        print(oss, color, false, nullptr);
-        return std::move(oss).str();
+        return get_default_formatter().format(*this, color);
     }
 
     std::ostream& operator<<(std::ostream& stream, const stacktrace& trace) {
-        return stream << trace.to_string();
+        get_default_formatter().print(stream, trace);
+        return stream;
     }
 
     CPPTRACE_FORCE_NO_INLINE
diff --git a/src/formatting.cpp b/src/formatting.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..16f40d9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/formatting.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,294 @@
+#include <cpptrace/formatting.hpp>
+#include <cpptrace/utils.hpp>
+
+#include "utils/optional.hpp"
+#include "utils/utils.hpp"
+#include "snippets/snippet.hpp"
+
+#include <memory>
+#include <cstdio>
+#include <string>
+#include <functional>
+#include <iostream>
+#include <sstream>
+
+namespace cpptrace {
+    class formatter::impl {
+        std::string header = "Stack trace (most recent call first):";
+        color_mode color = color_mode::automatic;
+        address_mode addresses = address_mode::raw;
+        bool snippets = false;
+        int context_lines = 2;
+        bool columns = true;
+        std::function<bool(const stacktrace_frame&)> filter = [] (const stacktrace_frame&) { return true; };
+
+    public:
+        void set_header(std::string header) {
+            this->header = std::move(header);
+        }
+        void set_color_mode(formatter::color_mode mode) {
+            this->color = mode;
+        }
+        void set_address_mode(formatter::address_mode mode) {
+            this->addresses = mode;
+        }
+        void set_snippets(bool snippets) {
+            this->snippets = snippets;
+        }
+        void set_snippet_context(int lines) {
+            this->context_lines = lines;
+        }
+        void include_column(bool columns) {
+            this->columns = columns;
+        }
+        void set_filter(std::function<bool(const stacktrace_frame&)> filter) {
+            this->filter = filter;
+        }
+
+        std::string format(const stacktrace_frame& frame, detail::optional<bool> color_override = detail::nullopt) const {
+            return frame_to_string(frame, color_override.value_or(color == color_mode::always));
+        }
+
+        std::string format(const stacktrace& trace, detail::optional<bool> color_override = detail::nullopt) const {
+            std::ostringstream oss;
+            print_internal(oss, trace, false, color_override);
+            return std::move(oss).str();
+        }
+
+        void print(const stacktrace_frame& frame, detail::optional<bool> color_override = detail::nullopt) const {
+            print(std::cout, frame, color_override);
+        }
+        void print(
+            std::ostream& stream,
+            const stacktrace_frame& frame,
+            detail::optional<bool> color_override = detail::nullopt
+        ) const {
+            print_frame_internal(stream, frame, color_override);
+        }
+        void print(
+            std::FILE* file,
+            const stacktrace_frame& frame,
+            detail::optional<bool> color_override = detail::nullopt
+        ) const {
+            auto str = format(frame, color_override);
+            std::fwrite(str.data(), 1, str.size(), file);
+        }
+
+        void print(const stacktrace& trace, detail::optional<bool> color_override = detail::nullopt) const {
+            print(std::cout, trace, color_override);
+        }
+        void print(
+            std::ostream& stream,
+            const stacktrace& trace,
+            detail::optional<bool> color_override = detail::nullopt
+        ) const {
+            print_internal(stream, trace, true, color_override);
+        }
+        void print(
+            std::FILE* file,
+            const stacktrace& trace,
+            detail::optional<bool> color_override = detail::nullopt
+        ) const {
+            auto str = format(trace, color_override);
+            std::fwrite(str.data(), 1, str.size(), file);
+        }
+
+    private:
+        bool stream_is_tty(std::ostream& stream) const {
+            // not great, but it'll have to do
+            return (&stream == &std::cout && isatty(stdout_fileno))
+                || (&stream == &std::cerr && isatty(stderr_fileno));
+        }
+
+        void maybe_ensure_virtual_terminal_processing(std::ostream& stream, bool color) const {
+            if(color && stream_is_tty(stream)) {
+                detail::enable_virtual_terminal_processing_if_needed();
+            }
+        }
+
+        bool should_do_color(std::ostream& stream, detail::optional<bool> color_override) const {
+            bool do_color = color == color_mode::always || color_override.value_or(false);
+            if(
+                (color == color_mode::automatic || color == color_mode::always) &&
+                (!color_override || color_override.unwrap() != false) &&
+                stream_is_tty(stream)
+            ) {
+                detail::enable_virtual_terminal_processing_if_needed();
+                do_color = true;
+            }
+            return do_color;
+        }
+
+        void print_internal(std::ostream& stream, const stacktrace& trace, bool newline_at_end, detail::optional<bool> color_override) const {
+            bool do_color = should_do_color(stream, color_override);
+            maybe_ensure_virtual_terminal_processing(stream, do_color);
+            print_internal(stream, trace, newline_at_end, do_color);
+        }
+
+        void print_internal(std::ostream& stream, const stacktrace& trace, bool newline_at_end, bool color) const {
+            if(!header.empty()) {
+                stream << header << '\n';
+            }
+            std::size_t counter = 0;
+            const auto& frames = trace.frames;
+            if(frames.empty()) {
+                stream << "<empty trace>\n";
+                return;
+            }
+            const auto frame_number_width = detail::n_digits(static_cast<int>(frames.size()) - 1);
+            for(const auto& frame : frames) {
+                print_frame_internal(stream, frame, color, frame_number_width, counter);
+                if(newline_at_end || &frame != &frames.back()) {
+                    stream << '\n';
+                }
+                if(frame.line.has_value() && !frame.filename.empty() && snippets) {
+                    stream << detail::get_snippet(frame.filename, frame.line.value(), context_lines, color);
+                }
+                counter++;
+            }
+        }
+
+        void print_frame_internal(
+            std::ostream& stream,
+            const stacktrace_frame& frame,
+            bool color,
+            unsigned frame_number_width,
+            std::size_t counter
+        ) const {
+            std::string line = microfmt::format("#{<{}} {}", frame_number_width, counter, frame_to_string(frame, color));
+            stream << line;
+        }
+
+        void print_frame_internal(
+            std::ostream& stream,
+            const stacktrace_frame& frame,
+            detail::optional<bool> color_override
+        ) const {
+            bool do_color = should_do_color(stream, color_override);
+            maybe_ensure_virtual_terminal_processing(stream, do_color);
+            stream << frame_to_string(frame, do_color);
+        }
+
+        std::string frame_to_string(const stacktrace_frame& frame, bool color) const {
+            const auto reset  = color ? RESET : "";
+            const auto green  = color ? GREEN : "";
+            const auto yellow = color ? YELLOW : "";
+            const auto blue   = color ? BLUE : "";
+            std::string str;
+            if(frame.is_inline) {
+                str += microfmt::format("{<{}}", 2 * sizeof(frame_ptr) + 2, "(inlined)");
+            } else {
+                auto address = addresses == address_mode::raw ? frame.raw_address : frame.object_address;
+                str += microfmt::format("{}0x{>{}:0h}{}", blue, 2 * sizeof(frame_ptr), address, reset);
+            }
+            if(!frame.symbol.empty()) {
+                str += microfmt::format(" in {}{}{}", yellow, frame.symbol, reset);
+            }
+            if(!frame.filename.empty()) {
+                str += microfmt::format(" at {}{}{}", green, frame.filename, reset);
+                if(frame.line.has_value()) {
+                    str += microfmt::format(":{}{}{}", blue, frame.line.value(), reset);
+                    if(frame.column.has_value() && columns) {
+                        str += microfmt::format(":{}{}{}", blue, frame.column.value(), reset);
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+            return str;
+        }
+    };
+
+    formatter::formatter() : pimpl(std::make_unique<formatter::impl>()) {}
+    formatter::~formatter() = default;
+
+    formatter::formatter(const formatter& other) : pimpl(std::make_unique<formatter::impl>(*other.pimpl)) {}
+    formatter& formatter::operator=(const formatter& other) {
+        pimpl = std::make_unique<formatter::impl>(*other.pimpl);
+        return *this;
+    }
+
+    formatter& formatter::set_header(std::string header) {
+        pimpl->set_header(std::move(header));
+        return *this;
+    }
+    formatter& formatter::set_color_mode(color_mode mode) {
+        pimpl->set_color_mode(mode);
+        return *this;
+    }
+    formatter& formatter::set_address_mode(address_mode mode) {
+        pimpl->set_address_mode(mode);
+        return *this;
+    }
+    formatter& formatter::set_snippets(bool snippets) {
+        pimpl->set_snippets(snippets);
+        return *this;
+    }
+    formatter& formatter::set_snippet_context(int lines) {
+        pimpl->set_snippet_context(lines);
+        return *this;
+    }
+    formatter& formatter::include_column(bool columns) {
+        pimpl->include_column(columns);
+        return *this;
+    }
+    formatter& formatter::set_filter(std::function<bool(const stacktrace_frame&)> filter) {
+        pimpl->set_filter(std::move(filter));
+        return *this;
+    }
+
+    std::string formatter::format(const stacktrace_frame& frame) const {
+        return pimpl->format(frame);
+    }
+    std::string formatter::format(const stacktrace_frame& frame, bool color) const {
+        return pimpl->format(frame, color);
+    }
+
+    std::string formatter::format(const stacktrace& trace) const {
+        return pimpl->format(trace);
+    }
+    std::string formatter::format(const stacktrace& trace, bool color) const {
+        return pimpl->format(trace, color);
+    }
+
+    void formatter::print(const stacktrace& trace) const {
+        pimpl->print(trace);
+    }
+    void formatter::print(const stacktrace& trace, bool color) const {
+        pimpl->print(trace, color);
+    }
+    void formatter::print(std::ostream& stream, const stacktrace& trace) const {
+        pimpl->print(stream, trace);
+    }
+    void formatter::print(std::ostream& stream, const stacktrace& trace, bool color) const {
+        pimpl->print(stream, trace, color);
+    }
+    void formatter::print(std::FILE* file, const stacktrace& trace) const {
+        pimpl->print(file, trace);
+    }
+    void formatter::print(std::FILE* file, const stacktrace& trace, bool color) const {
+        pimpl->print(file, trace, color);
+    }
+
+    void formatter::print(const stacktrace_frame& frame) const {
+        pimpl->print(frame);
+    }
+    void formatter::print(const stacktrace_frame& frame, bool color) const {
+        pimpl->print(frame, color);
+    }
+    void formatter::print(std::ostream& stream, const stacktrace_frame& frame) const {
+        pimpl->print(stream, frame);
+    }
+    void formatter::print(std::ostream& stream, const stacktrace_frame& frame, bool color) const {
+        pimpl->print(stream, frame, color);
+    }
+    void formatter::print(std::FILE* file, const stacktrace_frame& frame) const {
+        pimpl->print(file, frame);
+    }
+    void formatter::print(std::FILE* file, const stacktrace_frame& frame, bool color) const {
+        pimpl->print(file, frame, color);
+    }
+
+    const formatter& get_default_formatter() {
+        static formatter formatter;
+        return formatter;
+    }
+}
diff --git a/src/utils.cpp b/src/utils.cpp
index 0841841..c0a76bb 100644
--- a/src/utils.cpp
+++ b/src/utils.cpp
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 #include <cpptrace/utils.hpp>
 #include <cpptrace/exceptions.hpp>
+#include <cpptrace/formatting.hpp>
 
 #include <iostream>
 
@@ -27,12 +28,9 @@ namespace cpptrace {
 
     CPPTRACE_FORCE_NO_INLINE void print_terminate_trace() {
         try { // try/catch can never be hit but it's needed to prevent TCO
-            generate_trace(1).print(
-                std::cerr,
-                isatty(stderr_fileno),
-                true,
-                "Stack trace to reach terminate handler (most recent call first):"
-            );
+            formatter{}
+                .set_header("Stack trace to reach terminate handler (most recent call first):")
+                .print(std::cerr, generate_trace(1));
         } catch(...) {
             if(!detail::should_absorb_trace_exceptions()) {
                 throw;