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- Finding Pricing on Pieces
- Will I contact you ~~ YES!
- Engraving Photographs
- Engraving Clipart
- Engraving Text
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Other Information
- Pricing for Completely Custom work
- Forms
- Release Form (contact us)
- Request for Estimate Form (contact us)
- Copyright Request Form (contact us)
- Copyrighted Photos & Artwork
- Shipping and Handling Charges
- Methodology and Testing of this site
This is the first web site that I have seen on the internet that offers custom pieces ordered across the internet with limited personal contact. It doesn't mean it doesn't exist. It means it's the first I've seen :-). I wrote this web site, so this is MY way to deal with the issue of ordering customized products on the internet. Please feel free to offer suggestion on how I can make it easier for YOU.
In order to find the exact price on any of my standard pieces in The Store:
- If available on the page, select Size.
- select Photos/Art to engrave.
NOTE: If you are not ready to order enter the number of photos you think you might want to engrave on a single piece.
For example, you may have 4 grandchildren. However you may not have all 4 grandchildren in the same photo where they all cute. You may engrave different photos or parts of photos to the same piece. Contact us with questions!
- enter Text to Engrave.
NOTE: If you are not ready to order enter the word TEST, or anything you desire.
- select Fonts.
NOTE: If you are not ready to order just accept the default "Artist Selects Fonts".
- select "Artwork Delivery Method"
NOTE: If you are not ready to order just accept the default "Email Artwork".
- select "Include Easel"
NOTE: If you are not ready to order select "No"
- enter "Special Instructions/Comments"
NOTE: You are not required to enter anything in this field.
- click "Add To Cart"
NOTE: You are not purchasing yet, only finding the completed price including shipping.
After you click "Add To Cart", you will see a summary of what you are interested in ordering. Please check this form carefully. You may remove the item from your card and start over as many times as you need by following the procedure above.
If you cannot read the Shopping Cart because the font is too small, please press CTRL + (don't press shift!).
CTRL - resets to default size.
After you place an order I will contact you by telephone or email. Whether placing an order by phone or internet I must have your daytime and evening contact information.
- At that time I will describe exactly what I need from you to make your piece a one-of-a-kind, family heirloom.
- I will also send you a list of questions I need you to answer so that I may get to know you. This will help me so that I can help make this a one-of-a-kind, family heirloom.
- I will not call you at work if you tell me not to.
- When I do call you at work I will always ask to make sure I am not disturbing your work.
Some pieces include engraving a photo. On items that allow engraving photographs (see item description), the price includes 15 minutes of preparation and touch-up time for one photograph for engraving. This is approximately the amount of time it will take to do the photo preparation and minor touch-ups as long as the photo you provide is clear and has contrast.
NOTE: There are times when you may want a specific photo engraved, but that photo may require significant touch-ups or work. We charge $1.25/minute to do touch-up and design work beyond the initial 15 minutes. Send your photo(s) to us through email (preferred) or postal mail and we will evaluate the photo(s) before work actually begins. If the photo will require more time than the allotted 15 minutes we will contact you and will provide you with a written estimate that will be honored for 30 days.
It may be possible to engrave more than one photograph on the same piece, however there is an additional charge per photo because each photo needs to be processed. See each product description for pricing and see Why do we charge extra. Please contact us with questions.
- We require an original photo or a digital photo that is at least 300 DPI.
- High-contrast photos work best
- No photos printed on a home printer. Professionally printed photos only please.
- We cannot reproduce copyrighted materials. This includes all professionally taken photographs, such as school pictures, senior pictures, and the like. I am sorry, but it is against the law.
Typically the background is removed from the image and only the subjects are engraved. See examples throughout the website. However, sometimes the background "makes" the photo and it will be engraved as well, see grandma.
This is left at the discretion of the artist, however you may add a comment in the "comments" box and your wish will be evaluated when determining the best image processing.
If an email address is provided a proof will be emailed to you for evaluation and comments before engraving your piece.
The turn around on your piece is a lot faster when you email a digital image reproduction of your photograph. This image must be at least 300 DPI. See minimum requirements above. We can accept most digital image formats. If possible, please crop the image to the subject(s) of the engraving. Also, if possible please ZIP your photograph.
After you order on line you will receive a confirmation email of your order. Please FORWARD this email to artwork@time-honoreddesigns.com. Attach each piece of artwork to this email. Make sure to include any special instructions. Make sure that you correctly associate each file name with the piece that it should be engraved on.
We will contact you by phone or email with questions.
We cannot accept photos that are printed on a home printer. Please have the photo printed at a photo shop on quality photo paper.
Any photograph that is mailed will be returned to you with your order. Please include a printout of your order confirmation email, include any special instructions. Please make sure that you correctly associate each photo with the piece that it should be engraved on.
We will contact you by phone or email with questions.
We cannot be responsible for photos that are lost in the mail.
Please make sure to include a letter with your contact information and instructions for each photograph! We will contact you when we receive your information.
Mail to:
Time-Honored Designs
Attn: Artwork
1 Hanover Lane
Derry, NH 03038
Why do we charge extra for photo and artwork engraving?
First, the cost of engraving your piece is included in the price of the piece. The cost of processing a photo for engraving is kept separate so that you have the option to control the cost of your piece.
It is a multi-step process to prepare a photo or artwork, such as seals and logos, for engraving. Often we make corrections to photos pixel by pixel. Sometimes we digitize the photo several times and copy the "best parts" of each photo into a single image so that we can obtain the best detail and shading. Each individual image must be processed in the same way. In summary, it takes a lot of time to digitize photographs to achieve optimal results.
However, we are reasonable. We will not recharge you for digitizing the same photo that is to be engraved on multiple pieces. For example, you order a marble plaque that includes digitizing a photograph in the price and you also order a crystal paper weight, which does not include engraving a photo, but you want to use the exact same photo on both pieces. We will not charge you to re-digitize the same image. Please make a clear note of your intentions in the Special Instructions section on the order form and do not select number of photos to engrave.
Please note: A single photograph with 2 distinct sections to be engraved is counted as 2. A single photograph with 1 image, even if that image includes multiple subjects, is counted as 1 image.
Some pieces only allow clipart and text engraving. See product descriptions.
Ok, so I am not as organized here yet as I should be... Ok, I'm not organized AT ALL yet in this area. I am working on producing a catalog of clipart. However, in the mean time, please tell me what you want engraved.
For example, if you are displaying a wedding photo you may want bells, or inner-locking wedding bands. If you are engraving on a playing card box you may want "that perfect hand" engraved.
I will work with you and before anything is engraved I will email you a digital copy for approval.
The short answer is... anything you want. However, I will not engrave threats or condescending strings of text. In general, I don't care what you want engrave. If for some reason I do not feel I can engrave your requested text I will contact you before engraving and give you the option of a change or a return.
Please check your spelling very carefully when entering it in the "Text to engrave" fields. We will do the best we can to proof all text before it is engraved and we will contact you if something does not look right. But we cannot be responsible for spelling mistakes unless they are our fault!
This is left at the discretion of the artist, however you may add a comment in the "comments" box and your wish will be evaluated when determining the best image processing.
I do not limit the quantity of text, however, simple looks better. I cannot stress this enough. Simple looks better. See examples throughout the website.
We offer several font styles that may be selected when ordering a piece. While the calligraphy font and the script fonts are offered, I do not recommend using these unless the text being engraved is large. I will contact you before engraving if I believe there's an issue with your font choice.
Pricing for Completely Custom work:
$75.00/hour design time, 10 minute minimum.
$65.00/hour laser "lease" time, strict requirements. Please ask.
Plus Materials:
- We do not greatly mark up the price of materials.
- Typically we charge per piece, plus any fees, such as shipping, that we had to pay. Our profit is in our labor.
- We try to use only high-quality materials and we do change materials as necessary.
- You MAY NOT be able to get the exact same beading, for example, if you order at 2 different times.
- We charge for ALL materials used to create your piece. We usually do a lot of test cuts/engravings prior to the final cut/engraving. This is required so that your final piece is of high-quality. I must use materials to make these test engravings/cuts.
Example: You may want something special engraved on a wine glass. You may provide the wine glasses to us. You will need to provide at least 1 extra wine glass for mistakes.
Also, prior to touching YOUR glasses we will likely buy a cheap set of similar wine glasses that will get trashed with design practice. That cheap set may cost $5.00. You can have all pieces at the end if you want, or we will recycle them. This is your choice as you will have paid for them.
- We will not engrave one-of-a-kind anything without a written release. Mistakes DO happen!!! This is an art, not a science.
- If we make a mistake and damage your piece we will not charge you for our design time or laser time, but we cannot be responsible to compensate you for the cost/value of the piece. There is no exception to this. All we can do is offer a sincere apology. Please understand this.
Release Form
Request for Estimate Form
Copyright Request Form
Please be aware that we are unable to duplicate copyrighted materials, such as professionally taken photos, artwork, and such, with out the written permission of the copyright holder. Please accept our apologies, however we must abide by the law.
If you would like to engrave a copyrighted photo you must obtain express written permission for Time-Honored Designs to make the engraving. Ask and I will provide you with a form that you can send to the copyright holder, along with a self-addressed stamped envelope. It is your responsibility to obtain permission. In my experience, permission is often granted. If you provide us with copyrighted works we cannot start engraving until we have the signed (by the artist) permission form in our office.
With regard to shipping and handling, we try to charge actual shipping plus $1. That's sometimes hard to figure out through automation. We do the best we can, though. Sometimes you come out a little better and sometimes we come out a little better. If there's a BIG difference where it comes out to our advantage I will contact you and credit your charge card for the difference. If it's just a dollar or two I won't bother.
Basically I'm trying to tell you that we try hard not to rip you off with shipping fees. The extra $1 we charge is for the boxes and packing materials. These things are fairly costly and $1.00 really does not quite cover it in most cases.
Methodology and Testing of this site
Information coming soon.
