Spell It Out Photos

DONATIONS

Where does the 5% donation for Breast Cancer go?

Our Joy & Laughter cards are as meaningful as they are beautiful.   5% of your purchase will go to the Stanford Cancer Center (http://cancer.stanford.edu/) as a donation in the name of our much missed friend Mary.  (Click here to read Mary's story - blog entry titled Remembering a Friend)

PRODUCT INFORMATION

Q. Do you have any Artistic Tips for creating a good photo letter art piece?

A. Yes, there are some things to pay attention to when making your creation.

- Choosing color photos? Balance is the key word.  Our color shots are beautiful and rich.  However, all green shots on one side can make the creation seem lopsided.  Pay attention to the color balance.

-         Some of our letters are big and bold, while others take on a more subtle look.  You can choose all of one or the other.  You can also mix them up, which creates a great eclectic piece.  Just remember to balance the photos.  Try not to have all bold letters on one side.  Play around with the letter choices.  We’re sure you’ll find just the right mix.  Of course, if you can’t, give us a call or send us a note, we’ll help you!

Q. Do you have punctuation and symbols?

-         We currently have an ampersand (&), dash (–), exclamation point (!), and a period (.) available. You just need to type these into your word or statement and you will be given the opportunity to choose the image you like.

-         We also have a hearts available, located in the O category.  Just place an O where you would like a heart in your word or statement.

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Photos and Framing

Q. Where do those letters come from?

We get asked this quite often.  Finding letters is such a fun adventure.  Our letters are a combination of finds.  However, ALL photos are taken by us.  This ensures that they ALL are the original property of Spell-It-Out Photos.

NATURE - Some letters are beautifully created by nature.  They are precious, because just as nature formed them, nature can alter them too.  The 100+ year old Eucalyptus tree that we have as a “W”, is a breath taking tree by itself, let alone forming a letter.  One of our “Y’s” is an old tree deep in the Rheem Valley.  Mother Nature has provided us with some spectacular letters.

STRUCTURES - Other letters are architectural finds.  We’ve found so many letters in bridges, barns, buildings, and fences.  It’s endless.  We have a great “E” where the middle rung of a fence board had broken over the years.  It’s beautifully weathered and creates a very rustic “E”.  The “H” from the Golden Gate Bridge is a memorable landmark, which can also be in your creation.

EQUIPMENT - Honestly, some of the equipment (sports and ski/snowboard) shots were actually found as they are shown.  However, many are ones we notice, but need to recreate due to lighting or background issues.  Some are just ideas that have come to us.  These are a bit more planned, but certainly serve their purpose.

Q: How can I separate words or add spaces when creating my letter art?

A: It’s not an option on an individual framed piece.  However, you can create two words and  have them individually framed and placed next to each other on the wall.  You also have the option to put spaces in the photo panoramic pieces.  With those, you can use 19 characters in total, spaces allowed.

Q. Why can't I mix color, sepia and/or black and white images?

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Q: Are your framed pictures ready to be hung on the wall when they arrive?

A: Yes, our frames have a wire attached and are ready to hang.  We even provide the wall hardware (30 lb weight).   We suggest using a couple nails that have been leveled for longer pieces.

Q. Do you use museum backing?

A: Museum backing wraps the entire back of the frame with paper, making it difficult and messy to get to the photos.  We love giving you the option to change your letters.  Our backing is easily removed and reassembled.  This will allow you the option to change your letters if you’d like.  Many people like certain shots for the seasons or specialty shots for the holidays.  This will enable you to purchase our photos individually so that you can create a different look if you’d like a change.  Keep checking our photo gallery as we expand our collection and add different themed letters.

Q. Are your mats acid free?

A. Yes. Our matboards – are acid and lignin free.  They contain conservation grade surface papers for optimum bleed and fade resistance. This will keep your mat color from fading over time.  Acid free mats are also better for the preservation of the photos.

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Q. Why do you double mat?

A.  We double mat to add depth and additional tone.  The inside mat will be the color that surrounds and separates the letters.  The outside mat will surround the entire word leaving a ½ inch border of the inside mat showing. The outside mat really brings it all together and draws your eye to the word.  Remember, this is a high end custom piece of photographic letter art.  Double matting adds a subtle distinction to your creation.

Q. How do I choose the best mat color?

A.  It’s really a matter of preference.  However, keep in mind that the frame and mat should compliment the photos, not compete with them.  We’ve chosen artistic neutral tones for that reason. Black makes the photos pop more than any other color.  That is a good inside mat choice.

Take into account the wall on which your creation will hang.  Make sure that the mat and frame will flow with the wall color.  Is the room filled with cool or warm tones?  That will help with your selections.

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Q. What size are the pictures?

A. The size of picture varies depending on the number of letters in your creation.  The size of the picture will be displayed as you finish your creation.  You can go in and edit before confirming your choice. Please see below to get approximate sizes.

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Q. What are the sizes of the finished creations?

A. The size of the overall frame varies depending on the length of your word and if you are choosing canvas or frame.  Once you create your piece, the size will show on the screen.  You will have the opportunity to see the sizes before placing your order. See the chart above for approximate sizes.

Q. Can I order my letter creation in a vertical format?

A. Our custom creations only come in a horizontal format. Vertical formatted creations quickly become too long (remember - the photo height is larger than the photo width).

We occasionally offer special creations in a vertical format, please check our other products section.

Q. Can I purchase the photos individually?

A.  Yes, we offer the option to purchase the photos individually.  We encourage you to use this option as a chance to have alternatives to a creation that you’ve already done with us. You may want to change the letters for variety or content.  Also, as our themes grow, you’ll have even more options to spice up your creation.

Change your wall decor with the season.  Try having a summer and winter set of photos.

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Q. Are these original photos?

A. Yes. All of our photos are taken by Spell It Out Photos.  Besides having control over the photo integrity of the piece, we enjoy making it personal.  Each photo is a find. We take pride in creating our photo gallery ourselves.  There are some funny stories behind many of our photos; like when Sue fell into the rose bushes trying to just get a little closer on one shot.

Q. Why do you have the same shot in a gallery twice?

A. We don’t really have the same shot twice. We MAY have the same subject twice.  The background color is different.  Since we offer color photos for your creation, we wanted to give you the most options.  In Artistic Tips, we talk about “balance” of a creation.  We took some shots from a high standpoint, to give you one background (mostly grass or fields) and then we took the same shot from a low standpoint (we’ve laid on the ground many times) to give you that subject with the sky in the background.  That way, you have more options for color balance.  OR you may just like one shot better than the other.

ALSO, some subjects create multiple letters and they are both too good to ignore.  For instance, the San Francisco Bay Bridge  has an X and a K it its span.  They both were very good letters, so we decided to include them both in the gallery.

Q. How can I be notified when you add more letters, themes, or products to your site?

A. Easy, just sign up for our newsletter and we will keep you posted on our site changes and news.  You can follow us on Facebook too.  We’ll definitely mention all of our new additions on there.

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Q. Where are your photos printed?

A. All of our photos are printed at a professional lab that controls and inspects the color quality on every picture.

Glass Tiles

Q. How are the images applied?

A. The glass tiles create an HDTV effect on the images.  Our images are printed on glass with an adhesive, foamcore material backing.

The glass edges are grounded to be dull for safety.

Q. How do I hang them?

A.  Each tile backing has a centered notch, which makes it easy to mount and display with the hanging hardware provided   (3 x 3 glass tiles come with a haning tack.  All others come with an anchor screw).

Q. How thick is the glass?

A.  The Glass Tiles are standard thickness (single-strength) ultra clear glass (thats a little more than 1/16th of an inch or 2mm).

Photo Panoramic Prints

Q. What are these printed on?

A. These are simply really long photos printed on high quality photo paper.

Q. How should I hang it?

A. Oh there are so many options.  See our Cool Ideas section for a number of hanging options.

Q.  The images are not completely sharp on the site, will the final product be sharp and in focus?

A. Of course!  For speed of upload and functionality on the web site, the thumbnail images are created at a low resolution dpi. Your final creation will be output from
a high resolution image that is clear, sharp and completely in focus.

Q. Can I use your photos or download them from your site?

A. Reproduction for profit of our photos is strictly prohibited.  These are copyrighted images. We love that people want to share our creative flare, but we do need to be watchful of how our images are used.  Pop us an email if you have a question.  We're happy to chat.

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ORDERING

Q. Will you send me an e-mail confirmation after I order?

A. Yes, You should receive an e-mail within a few minutes of your order.

Q: Can I have a letter art created and sent to another person?

A: Yes, this option is available during the check-out process, just have the product shipped to the appropriate address.

Q: I am sending my order as a gift. Can I add a personal message in the order?

A: Yes. In the order-confirmation step of the checkout process, in the box labeled "Please leave a note to us", tell us to add your message and we will include your note with the package.

Q: I am sending my order as a gift.  Can you just put in shipping information and not the cost?

A: Absolutely; in the "Please leave a note to us" box, let us know that you'd like us to do that.

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Q. What is your return policy?

A: Spell It Out Photos is committed to quality products and your satisfaction.

If for any reason you are not completely satisfied with your purchase, you may   return it within 30 days of receipt and receive a credit towards a replacement or a full refund for the price of the product. Shipping charges will not be refunded.

When shipping your item back to us, we strongly encourage you to return your item via a trackable method.  Remember, without a physical item, we cannot  process your return request.

If your item arrives damaged, please follow the Damaged Upon Delivery instructions and we will gladly replace your piece with your original specifications.

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Q: Is my credit card and personal information secure on this website?

A: Yes. We only collect personal information in order to respond to your questions or to process your order, and we do not share your personal information with anyone. All transactions are processed through Paypal, a secure payment processor, and we never see your credit  card information.

Q. Do I have to have a Paypal account to purchase products from your site?

A. No, you are not required to have a Paypal account to purchase products from our site. We accept all major credit cards, and Paypal handles card processing even without a Paypal account.  We use Paypal for all of our online processing for security and convenience.

Look for the area below the PayPal log-in that says, "Pay without using a PayPal account".

Q. Is PayPal safe to use?

	A. PayPal protects your financial information with industry-leading security and fraud prevention systems. When you use PayPal, your financial information is not shared with us, the merchant. Once your payment is complete, Paypal will email you a receipt for this financial transaction, and you will also receive a separate email from us with your order information.

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Q. What if I have a problem ordering?

A. Send us an e-mail at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , or call (888) 277-1613

DAMAGED UPON DELIVERY

If your order arrives in less than satisfactory condition, we offer a convenient Photo Return option that speeds replacement.

1. Simply take one digital photo of the damaged item and one of the shipping container in which it arrived.
2. Attach the images to an email and send to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Please include in the body of the email: your name, order number, the shipping ID, a brief description of the reason for the return.
3. Your request processes within 48 hours and you will receive an email letting you know your replacement is in the works.  Do keep in mind that replacements are custom orders too.  So the timing may be the same as the orignial order, but we will do our best to speed up the process.

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SHIPPING QUESTIONS

Q. How long will my order take to arrive?

A. Please allow 2-3 weeks for custom pieces (frame & canvas prints).  Since each piece is created just for you, it simply takes a bit more time.  For other products (stationery and poster), allow 7-10 business days.

Q. How much does shipping and handling (S/H) cost?

A. Your shipping charges will be calculated at checkout based on location and quantity ordered.

Q. Do you ship internationally?

A. We currently just ship to the continental United States, Alaska, and Hawaii.

Q. Do you have different shipping options?

A. You will be given shipping options upon check out. However, please keep in mind that overnight shipping doesn’t mean your item will be packaged and shipped in one day. It still takes time to create a custom order. Once your photo letter art creation has been individually created, it will ship according to your specifications indicated at checkout.

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