Below, we've listed a number of our most frequently asked questions. Also, you'll find helpful hints to make your personalized photo products the best it can be.

Choose a photo with good focus and high contrast. A white subject on a white background will not yield the best product, nor will dark on dark. We will do minimal color correction where obviously needed, but it is always best to send a good, crisp photo. We may need to crop your photo to best achieve a proportion of 8x10 (see picture on right - click to enlarge).

For digital photographs, please make sure that the photo is of reasonably high resolution, as a photo that is too small will result in a muddy, low resolution end product. We suggest a minimum of 1280 x 960 pixels, or roughly 4 megapixels- of course the larger the product, the more the better.

Any photograph taken by a professional photographer cannot be reproduced without written permission from the photographer. We cannot accept photographs of copyrighted materials, such as theme characters and sports mascots.

Please be sure to read our disclaimer and liability statement indicated below before you complete your order.

Q: WHAT PHOTOS CAN I USE? A: Any photo you like! There are a few guidelines we'd like to offer, though.

* High contrast - a nice, high contrast photo will always work best. If there is a good deliniation between lights and darks, good detail in the subject and a balance in contrast, your blanket or wall hanging will turn out beautifully.

* Large Subject Matter - if your subject matter (a person, a pet, a building, etc) takes up the majority of the photo, you will be able to see more detail and the colors will be more vibrant and true-to-life. If the subject is too small, you might consider cropping the photo so that the subject takes up roughly 60-80% of the image. Keep it simple. This is not an absolute necessity, but it will make for a better finished piece.

Creative cropping of your photo will result in a better composition, and ultimately, a better finished piece. If you would like us to crop your photo to best show the subject matter, please indicate so when you place your order.

* Color - try to choose a photograph with realistic coloring. If the face in the photograph is bright pink, chances are that your photo woven product will not look as realistic as you hope. Try to pick a photo with good skin tones, nice colors and one that is not too faded or old. Remember, while we will do some minor color correction and tone enhancements, what you send is what you will receive. The better and more realistic your photo is, the happier you will be with the finished product.

* Old Photos - while we can certainly make your photo woven product from any photo, older photographs are not always the best choice. They can be faded or the color can change over time. For best results, pick the clearest, most color-rich older photograph you have.

* Focus - please make sure that the photo you send is in focus. We can do minimal sharpening, but a crisp photo will always work best.

* Black & White Photos - we can create your photo product from a black and white photo. No problem!

Q: WHAT ABOUT DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY?
A: No problem! You can send your camera files to us directly in JPEG format. We recommend that you use at least a 2 megapixel camera or higher. When taking digital images, set your camera at the highest possible resolution. You can always reduce the resolution later. Low-resolution images cannot be increased without loss of image quality. If you over-compress, the image will be blurry and pixelated. It is better to send a larger file as opposed to a smaller file. Please follow the above suggestions, as it will help yield the best finished piece.

Q: HOW SHOULD I SCAN IN A PHOTOGRAPH TO CREATE A DIGITAL IMAGE FILE?
A: When scanning in photographs, please use a resolution of 250-300 d.p.i.

Q: HOW MANY PEOPLE, PETS, ETC. CAN I HAVE IN MY PHOTO?
A: You can have as many as you'd like, but remember that the smaller the detail, the less likely it is to show up in a woven piece. A blanket with a couple of large faces will yield higher detail in those faces compared to a photo with 10 people in it.

PERSONALIZED "JACQUARD WOVEN" PRODUCTS

Q: HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE TO RECEIVE?
A: Jacquard Woven personalized photo items take approximately 2-3 weeks. Often, much faster. A lot of that depends on the time of year and the number of orders we have. ALWAYS give yourself more lead time before big holidays! Our Jacquard Woven "Personalized" Photo Products (Throws, Tapestry Wall Hangings, Pillows & Totes) ship for FREE! (as indicated in item description).

Q: ARE THE PRODUCTS PRINTED?
A: No. These products are Jacquard woven with the photo image woven in.

Q: WILL THE IMAGES AND COLORS FADE?
A: No! The images are woven of high quality 100% cotton, so they will never fade - even after repeated washings.

Q: ARE THESE PRODUCTS WASHABLE?
A: All our Jacquard woven products are 100% cotton, and highly durable. The colors won't fade, but we do suggest that you machine wash on gentle or hand wash (no bleach of course), and tumble dry on low. You can expect a lifetime of beauty and vibrant colors from your personalized Jacquard woven heirloom.

Q: WHAT IS THE PRODUCT PIXEL DIMENSIONS FOR JACQUARD WOVEN TAPESTRY PRODUCTS? A: See Chart below:
53x70 Throw 768x1025
60x50 Throw 1025x850
80x60 Throw 1366x1025
17x17 Tote & Pillow 502x502
16x14 Eco Tote 472x413
17x13 Purse 507x362
26x34 Wall Hanging 768x1025
53x40 Wall Hanging 1566x1205

Q: WHAT IF I WANT A TEXT MESSAGE ON MY PERSONALIZED THROW?
A. If you are designing your own tapestry with "PICTUREWEAVE - DESIGN YOUR OWN PHOTO TAPESTRY", you will have full access to a wide selection of formats, borders, text fonts, and design tools when you enter the studio. If not using Pictureweave, any text must be on the digital photo before sending to us (this can be done if you have a photo editing program or if you bring to a store that lets you put your digital camera card in their machine to add text).

Q: HOW DO I SEND MY IMAGE TO YOU?
A. We offer three options, via e-mail to contact@wovenartandbeyond.com either at the time of purchase, later, or by regular mail at:

Woven Art & Beyond
Radio City Station
P.O. Box 1823
New York, NY 10101-1823
212-397-4038

Please keep in mind if you send by regular mail, processing will not begin until we receive it. Please do not send the original photo (read our disclaimer below). When sending Via E-mail at time of purchase, please reply to your Order Confirmation you will receive after purchasing and attach your image OR if sending later, send to contact@wovenartandbeyond.com with your order number from your confirmation on the subject line and the image attached. After you've uploaded your photograph, our portrait artists will review the picture to ensure it's ready for production. If we have any questions or concerns we'll be in touch via email within 24 hours.

REFUNDS AND RETURN POLICY

Because each product is woven specifically to the customer's order from materials provided by the customer, we are not able to offer refunds for these one-of-a-kind custom products. We guarantee that all our items are 100% free from defects in materials and workmanship.

Q. WHAT IF MY PERSONALIZED PHOTO PRODUCT IS DEFECTIVE?
A. You should be 100% satisfied with your purchase from us. If you notice a manufacturing defect, please contact us at contact@wovenartandbeyond.com WITHIN TEN (10) days for a Return Authorization Number, and we will then arrange to have the product picked up from you via UPS or FedEx. You can either have the product exchanged, or receive a full refund including your shipping charges.

See "TAPESTRY CARE & MAINTENANCE" for FAQ on caring for your Jacquard woven tapestries.


FAQ FOR PERSONALIZED "PRINTED" PRODUCTS (Dye Sublimation including Handbags and Totes, and Polar Fleece Blankets.

Q. WHAT ARE THE IMAGE REQUIREMENTS?
A. See above.

Q. HOW DO YOU TURN A PHOTO INTO PAINTED ART?
A. Utilizing proprietary technology, skilled artists transform YOUR favorite photos into fine art looking just like an original oil painting. Each museum quality print, hand bag, furniture, vinyl cutout or fleece blanket is digitally hand-painted using archival inks which will not scratch or fade in a lifetime. Made in USA.

Q: IS THE PHOTO REALLY PAINTED BY AN ARTIST?
A: Yes. Our talented Artists literally digitally paint each image within their computers utilizing our proprietary technology. The artistically painted image is then printed on either high quality artist paper, handbags/totes, furniture, vinyl mural cutouts, fleece blankets, microsuede blankets and pillows, etc. using archival inks which will not scratch or fade in a lifetime.

Q. HOW MANY PEOPLE, PETS, ETC. CAN FIT ON THE PILLOWS?
A. Unlike the Jacquard woven pillows (photo woven in) where it is best to use one person/pet, etc. per pillow (the smaller the detail the less likely it is to show up), as long as your picture is sharp with at LEAST 1-2 megapixels, you can have many more people, etc. The smaller details will come out nice and clear.

Q: HOW SOON WILL MY PERSONALIZED PHOTO DYE SUBLIMATION ORDER SHIP?
A: From image receipt, your product will ship within 1-2 weeks unless expedited delivery is selected. ALWAYS give yourself more lead time before big holidays!

Q: WHAT IS YOUR RETURN POLICY ON PERSONALIZED DYE SUBLIMATION PRODUCTS??
A: We strive to please all customers. Quality satisfaction terms on all finished products are based on the image requirements being met. If the image requirements are not met, before producing the product we will contact you requesting an alternative image meeting our requirements. If the requirements cannot be met, we will provide the you with the option of continuing production with that image. In that case, the sale will be final. For finished products that have been produced after having met the image requirements, there is a 100% satisfaction guarantee. In the unlikely event of receiving our product and not being satisfied, please contact us at contact@wovenartandbeyond.com WITHIN 7 days of receipt of your order, and we will instruct you on how to return the product. We will either redo it for you or you can receive a refund, including all your shipping costs.


PERSONALIZED PHOTO "KNITTED" PRODUCTS

Q. WHAT ARE THE IMAGE REQUIREMENTS?
A. See above.

Q. WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WOVEN AND KNITTED?

Woven: Threads going over/under, over/under (or variations such as over, under, under, over.) Most work shirts are made with woven fabric. Denim is woven. Most bedsheets are woven. Woven things only stretch noticeably on the bias, i.e. on the diagonal between the threads that are 90' to each other.

Knitted: Threads are knit on needles, and produce a fabric made of a bunch of little loops linked to each other. Sweaters are knits, Polo shirts are knits, women's swimsuits are usually knits. T-shirts are knit. Knit things stretch in most directions; some more than others, depending on the type of knit.

Both our woven and personalized knitted products use 100% quality Cotton and made in USA.

Q. IS IT TRUE THAT THE IMAGE WILL NEVER FADE?
A. The image will not fade or wash off. It is knitted into the 100% cotton throw. The best way to describe the fabric is to say that it is exactly the same as a sweater. Each throw is processed and inspected before shipping to guarantee your satisfaction.

Q. WHAT ARE THE CARE INSTRUCTIONS FOR PERSONALIZED PHOTO KNITTED THROWS?
A. Machine wash in cold water. Air or tumble dry, gentle cycle. And of course, you should never use bleach when washing this product.

Q. HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO MAKE?
A. Fulfillment is 7-10 business days from the day we receive the photo. ALWAYS give yourself more lead time before big holidays!

Q. WHAT IS OUR RETURN POLICY FOR PERSONALIZED PHOTO KNITTED PRODUCTS?
A. Our manufacturers take great pride in producing the best possible personalized knitted throw for you. However, in the unlikely event of a manufacturing defect in your knitted photo throw, please contact us at contact@wovenartandbeyond.com WITHIN 7 days of receipt of your order, and we will instruct you on how to return the product. We will either redo it for you or you can receive a refund, including all your shipping costs. All items are 100% guaranteed.

Q: HOW WILL MY ORDER BE SHIPPED?
A: We will UPS or FedEX Ground ship your finished product. If an email address is provided with the order, we will email a FedEx or UPS tracking number.

GENERAL QUESTIONS:

Q. HOW DO I CONTACT CUSTOMER SERVICE WITH ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?
A. You can contact us at contact@wovenartandbeyond.com or call (212) 397-4038. However, we prefer e-mail -- you will get a faster response. We will contact you within 24 hours, usually a lot sooner. By telephone, it can take up to 48 hours for us to respond.

Q. CAN I TRACK SHIPPING?
Yes, as long as you provide your e-mail address at checkout, we will then notify you with a tracking number when the product ships. You will receive it from our e-mail "contact@wovenartandbehond.com." TIP: Sometimes e-mails are sent to a bulk/spam folder. Please check your folder if you do not receive your tracking number, or set your e-mail to accept our e-mail address.

WHAT PAYMENTS DO YOU ACCEPT?
We accept Paypal (do not need an account and no fees charged to you), Visa, Master Card, American Express, and Discovery. We also accept money orders and personal checks but cannot process your order until your personal check clears.

Q: DO YOU SEND TO MILITARY BASES AND U.S. PROTECTORATES?
A: If your order is being shipped to APO, FPO or other armed services addresses, Guam, American Samoa, or other U.S. Protectorates, we will proudly mail your finished product via United States Postal Service (no tracking provided). For more information on filling out address forms to these addresses, please consult the U.S. State, Protectorates, and APO/FPO abbreviations list. Please note that packages sent to military addresses may take longer to deliver due to USPS restrictions.

Q. DO YOU GIFT WRAP
A. Sorry, at this time we do not offer gift wrapping or gift message service since most our products are shipped directly from our manufacturers. But, if you are shipping a gift, you may try what some of our creative customers have done: Add a small note in the SHIP TO NAME and/or ADDRESS Fields!

The packing slip does not include any pricing information. The e-mail notifications, however, do reference pricing so if you are sending a gift, we suggest you do not use the recipient's e-mail address.

If you still can't find the answer you're looking for, please feel free to e-mail us at contact@wovenartandbeyond.com. We look forward to making a quality, custom heirloom just for you! Also, please see for additional information for each type of product.

MANUFACTURER'S DISCLAIMERS AND LIABILITY

A. Liability This unique product may require creative photo cropping and composition. The photo may be enlarged or reduced so as to create the most beautiful rendition in either a vertical or horizontal format.

Black and white photos will be woven as black and white, and color photos will be woven in color.

We will return your photos and pictures unharmed.

The submission of any photos or any other documents constitutes an agreement by you that if such photo or document is damaged, lost or mishandled by our company, agents or employees, even though due to negligence or of any of the foregoing, to replacement of a 24 exposure roll of film. While we will use all due diligence to ensure the safety of your photograph and will make all attempts to return your photo with your blanket, we suggest that you send copies of any photo that is irreplaceable or highly valuable.

ALL ORDERS ARE CUSTOM PRODUCED AND YOUR ORDER CANNOT BE CANCELLED

B. No Copyrighted Photographs Copyrighted photos will not be accepted without written permission from the photographer. A copyrighted picture will usually be identified as follows: 1)the words "Copyrighted photo - do not copy" imprinted on the back of the photo, 2) a copyrighted logo or 3) a professionally published photo or artwork e.g. magazine photo. Please use a different photo if you are in doubt as to whether your submission is copyright protected.

C. Image Disclaimer We try to reproduce the pictures as close to the original as possible but due to several factors, the colors may vary slightly from what you see on your computer monitor. The first factor in color variance can come from the individual tapestries as they are woven from many threads which are dyed, so the dye can be slightly different from batch to batch. Secondly, everyone"s computer monitor is different in its age and how its settings are set. Due to all these possible variants, we cannot guarantee that these images represent the actual colors of the product. Returns due to color discrepancies will be considered a return of a non-defective item.