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Frequently
Asked Questions:
General
FAQs
1. Can I use a photograph taken by a professional?
3. My pictures aren’t perfect.
Should I edit them before sending them to you?
4.
I would like my photo(s) cropped. What do I do?
5. I can’t decide what pictures would work best. Can I send
you extra pictures?
6.
What is “antiqued” photo-coloring?
7. Do you have a cancellation or refund policy?
8. What payment options do you offer?
9. How are the orders shipped?
FAQs
for Photo Greeting Cards, Announcements & Invitations
1. How does the order process work?
2. I can’t decide between using a color photo or black &
white. Can you make 2 proofs?
3. Can I request more than one design per order?
4. Can I make changes to the designs?
5. Can the designs be customized for other occasions such as
birthday parties or thank you cards?
6. Do you offer a design only service?
7. Will I receive a proof before printing?
8. Can I make changes to the proof?
10.
What type of paper do you print on?
11. Are envelopes included with my order?
12. Do the 5 x 5 square cards require extra postage when
mailed?
13. What is the turnaround time for my greeting card, announcement
or invitation order?
14.
Is there a Christmas deadline?
15. Can I reorder if I don’t have enough?
FAQs
for Storyboards & Albums
3.
What types of
changes can I make to the proof(s)?
4.
What is the
turn-around time for my Storyboard order?
6.
If I choose to have
my storyboard(s) printed, what type of paper do you use?
7.
What printing
options do you offer for albums?
8.
What is the Model
Release form for?
FAQs
for Inspired Canvas Creations (ICCs)
1.
What is an
Inspired Canvas Creation?
2.
What type of
photos work best?
3.
What is the turn
around time for an Inspired Canvas Creation?
4.
Is there an extra
shipping charge for ICCs?
6.
How do I choose
colors for my ICC?
v General FAQs
1. Can
I use a photograph taken by a professional?
Yes, with permission from the photographer. In order to use professional photographs from
a studio or photographer, a signed release from the
studio/photographer must first be obtained before I will be able to copy,
reproduce, or use the photo(s) in any of my designs. I must respect the copyright
law and the work of other artists and that’s why it’s
so important that I have a signed release. Please keep in mind that the
photographer is not under any obligation by law to provide this release and
that unauthorized use of professional images is illegal and severe fines and penalties may be imposed
for any copyright violations. If you have a studio image that does not
indicate who created the work and you are not aware who created the work
(e.g. sports photos, cruise pictures, school portraits, etc.), you may be able
to claim that the work you are requesting is for “fair use” and that you are
unable to contact the photographer. If you choose to scan your professionally-taken images on your own, you
are assuming the legal risk for violating any copyright. By submitting these
images to me, you agree to assume full responsibility if any conflicts arise
with the photographer (see Copyright Indemnification below).
VERY IMPORTANT: If you have been provided printable
resolution images on CD from your photographer,
I do not need a copyright release for these images. However,
it should be noted that it is not always the intent of the
photographer to provide a "blanket release" even if they have
supplied these images to you. By submitting these images to me, you agree to
assume full responsibility if any conflicts arise with the photographer (see Copyright
Indemnification below).
Copyright Indemnification: Purchaser agrees to hold harmless
DistinctivePhotoCreations.com for all costs, expenses, attorney’s fees or judgments
resulting from any claims or lawsuit made against DistinctivePhotoCreations.com
for any grounds claiming that the work produced violates any copyright or
proprietary right of any person or entity.
Please have your photos ready to send immediately
after submitting your order. E-mail your
photo(s) as .jpeg files at 300 dpi. If you send me a photo less than 300 dpi, the
quality will still be acceptable as long as the file size is at least 400Kb
(kilobytes) but larger is highly recommended. I will e-mail you if I believe that your
photo size is not adequate. Please note
that if you still choose to proceed with the order, I cannot be held
responsible for
poor printed quality resulting from inadequate resolution or file size. If you
decide to scan your pictures, it is best that you scan the picture at 600
dpi.
For photo album orders where large numbers of photos
will be sent, an FTP option is available.
Please e-mail me for instructions.
Mailing your photos is also an option. Please e-mail me to request the mailing
address and your original pictures will be returned with your order.
3. My
pictures aren’t perfect. Should I edit
them before sending them to you?
Please send me the original version of your
photos. I can change your photo color to
black & white, sepia or antiqued. I
can also color correct your photo to naturalize skin tones. For orders of $100 or more, I can make
adjustments to your photos, such as removing red eye, correct minor skin
blemishes, etc. In most cases, I can remove date stamps from photos but
this is not guaranteed.
4. I would like
my photo(s) cropped. What do I do?
Please keep in mind when cropping an image and resizing it larger,
resolution is lost. If you would like me
to crop your image, I am happy to do so and I will let you know if I believe it
will negatively impact the quality of the finished product and offer
alternatives for you to consider.
5. I
can’t decide what pictures would work best. Can I send you extra
pictures?
Yes. If you can’t decide which picture to use in
your design, send a few extra and let me create a few options. When the
proofs are e-mailed, you can decide which photos you like best, and let me know
of any necessary changes.
6. What is “antiqued” photo-coloring?
Antiqued photo-coloring has muted color tones that resemble a “faded”
photo. It will add an elegant touch to
your design. It is also a great option
if the colors in the original photo are too bold but you don’t want a black
& white photo. There are examples of antiqued photos in my gallery.
7. What
is your cancellation or refund policy?
My goal is 100% customer satisfaction. While I
strive to prevent errors, please consider that the PROOF PROCESS is extremely
CRITICAL - it is imperative that you check your proof carefully and completely,
particularly in regards to spelling and punctuation. If you are at work, or are
otherwise pressed for time when viewing your proof, I suggest that you delay
approval until you have more time to go over the proof thoroughly. Errors that
are found after printing are the sole responsibility of the customer. By
submitting an order, you are agreeing to this policy.
·
If I haven’t started the design process,
there is no charge.
·
If I’ve created a proof and you
decide to cancel your order, the design fee for storyboards and the deposit for
photo albums will not be refunded. For
photo greeting cards, announcements and invitations, there will be a $15 design
fee charged. This is to cover my time
and expenses for the design process.
·
Once the order is sent to the printers, changes are
not possible. There may be an occasion where
you made a mistake during the proof process in regards to the personalization
that you did not catch. In this
instance, I cannot give a refund but I will offer a "one time" edit,
and re-produce the item(s) at a 50% discount, not including shipping fees.
·
If you have received your printed
order and you are not happy with the quality, contact me and return your order
within 2 weeks and I will reprint it free of charge. However, if I communicated
to you during the proof process that your image(s) were not acceptable
resolution and you continued with the order anyway, I will not be responsible
for poor print quality and will not be able to re-print the order.
·
In the event any order was produced incorrectly due to an error entirely
on my part, I will promptly re-produce the item(s) and ship them free of
charge.
8. What payment options do you offer?
I will send you an invoice that you can pay with your
Visa, MasterCard, Discover or American Express card through PayPal.
9. How
are the orders shipped?
Your order is packaged with care and sent via USPS Priority Mail to the
address listed on the order. Each order will include a delivery
confirmation. However, I cannot be held
responsible for shipping delays or lost orders due to the USPS.
I can ship to anywhere in the US, including Alaska, Hawaii and APO/FPO
addresses. If you are outside the US, I can create your design and you can have
it printed locally.
Colorado residents are charged
sales tax at the local rate of 7.9%.
v FAQs for Photo Greeting Cards, Announcements
& Invitations
1. How
does the order process work?
First decide on a design for your greeting card,
announcement or invitation. Then click on the “order” button, submit the
completed order form and e-mail me your photo(s). An e-mail will be sent to confirm your order
and then leave the rest to me!
2. I can’t decide between using a color photo or
black & white. Can you make 2
proofs?
If you are not sure if you want your pictures in color
or black & white, let me know. I can send you two proofs using the same
design, one with a color photo(s) and one with a black & white photo(s) so
you compare the difference.
3. Can
I request more than one design per order?
Yes. However,
for every additional design, there will be a $15 design fee charged in order to
cover my time. There is a limit of two
designs per order.
4. Can
I make changes to the designs?
Your design can be customized to reflect your
style. Examples of common change
requests are: font style, colors, wording and sentiment changes. Any
design can be customized to your preferences. Just let me know the changes in
the “additional instructions” section on the order form.
5. Can
the designs be customized for other occasions such as birthday parties or thank
you cards?
Yes. Any design can be customized to fit any
occasion. Just let me know the details in the “additional instructions”
section of the order form.
6. Do
you offer a design only service?
Yes. I can custom design a greeting card,
announcement or invitation for a $25 design fee, that you can then have printed
yourself. I will send you a high-resolution .jpg file once the proof has
been approved and payment has been received.
7. Will
I receive a proof before printing?
Yes. I won’t
send anything to the printers without receiving your approval beforehand.
8. Can
I make changes to the proof?
Yes. You will
have two opportunities to make changes to your proof before any extra design
fees are applied. Of course, I hope to
get it right the first time but I realize that this is not always practical or
possible. The first proof is based upon
the information you provide to us when placing your order. If necessary, this
is the time where you can make corrections, revisions or clarifications with
regard to your text, image placement, and any cropping issues that may arise.
The second proof is to confirm and review the previous change requests. If a
third proof is needed, it will be done at no extra charge. Any additional proofs after the third will be
charged an additional design fee of $15 which will be applied to the order. Keep in mind that you will want to be as thorough as
possible in your first proof response as each revision extends the order by a
business day or two.
Yes. The
minimum order for greeting cards, announcements and invitations is 24. Please keep in mind that cards are only sold
in packs of 24.
10. What type
of paper do you print on?
I am very concerned about the impression my cards give when they are
received by you, your family, friends and associates. Therefore, I only use professional
printers to ensure my clients receive quality products. Three different choices are available for postcards
and folded cards: 100# card stock, pearl paper with a beautiful iridescent
sheen on both sides or linen paper for a classic elegant touch. Your cards are printed on the highest quality
paper in the industry, will not fade and will last a lifetime.
11. Are
envelopes included with my order?
Yes, envelopes are included with your order at no
additional cost.
12. Do
the 5 x 5 square cards require extra postage when mailed?
The USPS requires additional $0.17 cents postage for
the square envelopes.
13.
What is the turnaround time for my greeting card, announcement or
invitation order?
Orders are received Monday through Friday, between the hours of 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. Mountain time, however, a
confirmation e-mail will be sent within moments of the placement of any order. Once I receive your photos, I will begin work on your
proof immediately during business hours. The following schedule represents the scheduled turnaround time - however,
I regularly have proofs ready for
viewing in two business days or less. Please note that all orders
placed on Sunday are scheduled the same as orders placed on Monday.
|
Day I receive your photos: |
Your proof will be ready |
|
Monday |
Friday |
|
Tuesday |
Monday |
|
Wednesday |
Tuesday |
|
Thursday |
Wednesday |
|
Friday |
Thursday |
|
Saturday |
Thursday |
|
Sunday |
Friday |
Remember, that it is important that I receive your proof
approval in a timely fashion, otherwise the production of your order will be
delayed. Once you e-mail me your approval and payment, then the order
is sent to the printers. From this point, the process time is 5-7
business days (8-12 business days to Alaska , Hawaii and APO/FPO
addresses). If you need to rush the order, additional fees will apply.
Let me know when placing your order, and I will send you an email with a quote.
14. Is there a
Christmas deadline?
For 2008, the “deadline” for ordering holiday greeting cards with
guaranteed delivery for Christmas mailing will be Friday, December 5th.
You are welcome to place orders after the deadline but due to proof times, printing
times and shipment times, I cannot guarantee you will receive your order in
time for Christmas mailing.
15. Can
I reorder if I don’t have enough?
Absolutely. I keep your design on file for 60
days. If you decide you need more,
e-mail me and let me know. There is a minimum re-order of 24. You can expect to receive
your re-order within 4 business days of submitting your request and
payment. If you need to rush the order, additional fees will apply. Let me know when placing your re-order, and I
will send you an email with a quote.
v FAQs for Storyboards & Albums
A storyboard
(also called a one page layout) is exactly what it says it is - a few photos
placed on a single page using a variety of elements and artwork that help the
photos tell a story. It is amazing to see the difference between 3 or 4 (or
more) photos nicely framed or in a photo album and using those same photos in a
storyboard!
When you place
a storyboard order, I will design 3 storyboards using your images. You choose
the storyboard sizes and styles. All 3 designs can be the same size and use the
same images but done in different styles or you can request the same style for
all 3 designs but choose different sizes and use different images - you
decide! Another great idea is to have me
create a storyboard for each child in your family so they coordinate and can be
displayed as a group. The options are
limitless.
You’ll have two
opportunities to make changes before the design is finalized. Of course, I hope to get it
right the first time but I realize that this is not always practical or
possible. The first proof is based upon
the information you provide to me when placing your order. The second proof is
to confirm and review the previous change requests. If a third proof is needed,
an additional design fee of $20 will be applied to the order. Keep in mind that you will want to be as thorough as
possible in your first proof response as each revision extends the order by two
business days or more.
3. What
types of changes can I make to the proof(s)?
The proofing process is critical and should be done very
thoroughly. Notify me of any
corrections, revisions or clarifications with regard to your text. Color, font,
photo size and image placement changes are also common requests.
4. What is
the turn-around time for my Storyboard order?
Within 5-7
business days of receiving your order confirmation, you will receive a link to
view the storyboard proofs. (If you need your storyboards sooner, please
indicate that on the order form - an additional fee may apply.) I can modify
any of the layouts (change out photos, resize images, change background or
artwork colors, etc.) two times at no extra charge. Any additional changes
after the second modification will be charged a redesign fee.
When you decide
to purchase your storyboards, I will send you the high- resolution files (300
dpi), which you can then have professionally printed. I can also print and mail
your storyboards for an additional fee.
5. Why is printing extra?
Designing Storyboards and Albums
is usually done for professional photographers who most often would rather use
their own printers or photo lab. If you
are not a professional photographer but would like me to design a storyboard or
album, I offer to print your storyboard or album for you for an extra fee.
6. If I
choose to have my storyboard(s) printed, what type of paper do you use?
The
professional photo lab that I use for all of my printing needs uses Kodak Professional
Portra Endura Paper with a Luster matte finish that resists fingerprints. Accurate color, realistic saturation,
excellent neutral flesh reproduction and brighter colors are just a few of the
attributes to this paper. You will see improved color saturation, and excellent
skin-tone reproduction, as well as brighter blues, cyan, purples, and
reds. With this paper don’t worry about
your prints fading - the standard is 100 years in home display and 200 years in
dark storage.
7. What
printing options do you offer for albums?
I
have a few different album printers and binders that I use depending on the
style that my clients request. They all
offer professional quality products in a wide range of sizes, finishes, cover
styles, etc. Contact me for more
information on your options.
8. What
is the Model Release form for?
A signed Model Release form allows
me to use storyboards and albums with your photo(s) on my website in my
gallery. Anyone who signs a Model
Release form will receive a discount on their entire order.
v FAQs for Inspired Canvas Creations
1. What
is an Inspired Canvas Creation?
An ICC is a very special,
one-of-a-kind piece of artwork that I will create using your photos. The photos will transform, after going
through several steps and editing techniques, into a personalized treasure to
last for generations. The finished
product is mounted on artist’s canvas and rivals something you would find in a
high-end art gallery.
2. What
type of photos work best?
First select photos that have a
definite focal point. Landscape and architectural photos are ideal for an ICC
but photos with human subjects can be used as well - although the definition of
the subject matter is reduced in the process. Avoid photos with busy
backgrounds so that the subject or focal point doesn't get lost during the
transformation process.
3. What
is the turn around time for an Inspired Canvas Creation?
Within 1-2
business days, you will receive an email confirming that I have received your
order information and pictures. A deposit for half of the amount of the order
is due before I can proceed with your Inspired Canvas Creation so I will
include an invoice via PayPal for payment.
Once the deposit is received, it will take approximately 4 weeks, to
complete and mail your order.
4. Is
there an extra shipping charge for ICCs?
Yes. The shipping charge is based
upon the size of the canvas.
I have found that frame choice is
a very personal décor decision and that it is best if clients choose their own
frame after they receive their ICC. A
wide variety of frames are available on the market.
6. How
do I choose colors for my ICC?
Consider where you plan to display
your ICC, and determine what color families would complement the surrounding
décor. You can choose from several
suggested color palettes that work with almost any décor. You can also hand-pick your color selections
and inform me of the hexadecimal or RGB color values. Please understand that gradients of colors
are used in the ICC process, so the specific colors you choose will be used as
a base for the ranges of colors in the final product.