We derive an extension of the Walnut–Daubechies criterion for the invertibility of frame operators. The criterion concerns general reproducing systems and Besov-type spaces. As an application, we conclude that $$L^2$$
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frame expansions associated with smooth and fast-decaying reproducing systems on sufficiently fine lattices extend to Besov-type spaces. This simplifies and improves recent results on the existence of atomic decompositions, which only provide a particular dual reproducing system with suitable properties. In contrast, we conclude that the $$L^2$$
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canonical frame expansions extend to many other function spaces, and, therefore, operations such as analyzing using the frame, thresholding the resulting coefficients, and then synthesizing using the canonical dual frame are bounded on these spaces.