Unaltered .jpg files from your photo storage folder work best (Mobile – Apple Photo App, Android Gallery / PC – Any folder where original images are stored / DSL cameras) Thumbnails or reduced images placed in word processing apps lack the resolution necessary for detailed work. Color photos are fine. Digital uploads of old printed photos are also an option. Scanning at high resolution is the best option (see paragraph 4), though we understand not everyone owns a scanner now. Take a clear closeup with your phone and follow the same recommendation for other digital photos. Just bear in mind the resulting copy probably won’t be perfectly straight. It will require cropping to remove the surface behind the photo and to “square” it – straight sides, not shape. Choose photos carefully, to ensure important details aren’t at the edges where they might get cropped, or if you opted to have an image placed in a circle.
Any photos taken by a professional photographer require a signed copyright release, detailing the number of copies we can create, before we move an order into production. This rule also applies to any logo or trademark not owned by clients. Customers will be held liable for the violation of copyrights if we receive any complaints about using an image without permission. Copyrights and trademarks are the primary income source of Intellectual Property, and there are no exceptions to this rule. Unless we, or another designer submitting finished artwork, already possess the required license to use something registered by sports teams and institutions. (Such as local/higher education, entertainment, government agencies, law enforcement or corporations.)
Our production equipment requires specific file types, and we possess the means to produce more sophisticated designs than typical templates. We ask that any included text is uploaded in a Word compatible document or app. The other option for submitting text is through email, after the order is placed. We require the invoice number to match text to the correct order. Please edit carefully for typos before uploading. I will copy/paste the text into the production file and complete the requested type options there. Keep the text you use to something basic, like Times New Roman or Arial, and choose Typestyle, Type Setting Method and Placement from the drop down menus. Type can be placed on a basic straight line or on a curved path. It’s also possible to rotate text blocks at various angles. I recommend choosing “Designer’s Choice” under the Typestyle menu if you want text on a path or an angled text block. Not all font styles are compatible with these options. See the following paragraph if you want to set your own text.
Fellow graphic artists are welcome to submit their own designs per product size specifications. Completed Art and Logos can be uploaded as print-quality PDF, EPS, JPG & PNG (no background). I recommend converting all fonts to paths before exporting and uploading your completed PDF & EPS artwork. We can’t guarantee your font choices are installed on our computers, and there are occasions when they aren’t properly packaged with a PDF. Resolution should be a minimum of 300 dpi. 600 dpi is best for our UV laser engraver. Select your desired size, orientation for 6″ x 9″ slate, “None” for the other options, and “Yes” on the Completed Artwork drop-down menu. Paragraph 2 also applies to this option. Please upload an official copy of your reproduction/license agreement when you place an order.
Production time varies from 2 – 7 days, depending on the process; less time for laser engraving and more for CNC carving. Rush production is not recommended for more complex designs; or when resin work is included, since it requires a specific amount of time to cure. Please plan accordingly if the item is a gift and has a specific deadline. Don’t forget to include shipping time. Flat rate shipping doesn’t calculate rush shipping options. It’s designed to cover standard UPS (4-5 days) and various USPS options, though we will select 2-3 day Priority Mail whenever it’s applicable. These standards aren’t guaranteed during high volume periods, like end-of-year holiday shipping. We respectfully ask that you add the desired rush fee to your cart if you need us to reduce production time. It will subtract 1 to 3 days, depending on the product.
All orders of custom products require a valid, working email address. Proof approval is required before we start production. We can’t be held liable for mistakes after a proof is approved. All pertinent email communication regarding custom orders will remain in our records. Pre-designed art is included in this requirement. We must complete additional computer processing for dimensional CNC Carving, and most are aware Laser Engraving is basically a burning process. Color photos won’t be produced in their original form. You will receive a digital facsimile of your completed item as a proof, because we want you to see an approximation of the finished piece. It’s the only way we can show you what you’re paying for, before you receive your order. Customers should approve a proof the same day they receive it. Otherwise, we can’t promiss completion within a stated production time. It’s OK to make changes. But expect to use more than a day to review and provide final approval, if you make multiple adjustments to the production artwork. There will be no refunds of an order, or rush fees, when customers delay this process beyond a reasonble time limit.
This category of products is non-refundable and non-returnable. Customized products can’t return to our inventory for resale, and we feel obligated to manage natural resources responsibly. Which is goal we can only achieve with a community who appreciates our work. We will not ship any item that shows an obvious defect. Since we have no control once an order leaves our hands, packaging will always be more than adequate and include a shipping notice with tracking number and insurance. Please contact the shipping carrier first if a package and its contents arrives damaged, is lost or late. That’s why insurance, covering the order’s full value, is included in the shipping cost. Notify us after you start the process. Provide the order number, photographic proof of your package’s arrival condition, and a copy of your correspondence with the carrier. Once your claim is resolved and paid by the carrier, you may request a replacement through the same email chain. Completed production artwork is retained for one year. It is saved so exact replacements or additional copies can be made. A new invoice will be sent through PayPal for replacements and order repeats.