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Shipping Times
We typically process and ship orders in 2-3 weeks
but this can vary according to the extent of photo editing and design
alterations made. The shipping time can be delayed depending on
changes you request once we submit your initial design layout back to
you for approval.
We also offer RUSH and URGENT processing options for
an additional fee. These options may not be possible at all
times according to our workload during holiday seasons and during
large project runs when our laser has a backlog of production work.
In case we are unable to meet your delivery request, we will give you
the option of canceling your order completely or refund the selected
expediting fee at your request.
The RUSH option moves your order to the head of the
line for design work and is then produced as normal for the laser
etching portion of the job. You must also select a shipping
option (Ground or Express) when completing the order.
The URGENT option moves your order to the head of
the line for both design and laser etching. We give your order
our quickest attention for all steps required. You must also
select a shipping option (Ground or Express) when completing the
order.
When specifying RUSH and especially URGENT
processing options, you should try to be very specific on what you
want or how you want your crystal design to look. Any changes or
re-designs will ultimately affect the delivery time.
Ordering
Process
We've done our best to make ordering a custom laser
crystal a simple process...which it is. The detailed
instructions are provided below in case you have any difficulty.
You are welcome to Contact Us and we
will walk your through the ordering process over the phone if
necessary.
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After you have determined the type of product your
desire, the order process is very simple. If
you are not comfortable with or don't want to order on-line, you can
either Contact Us to order by phone or
download our Order Form
and complete it according to the
Ordering By Mail
instructions. On-Line ordering
is very secure and safe - we use a secure payment system as we explain
on our Payment Options page.
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Using our On-Line Store, simply select the crystal
you desire and select the various options as shown on the ordering
page to specify how your crystal should appear. If any of
the Options are unclear or you don't see what you desire as a
selection, explain in the "special instructions" field or in the
"other comments" box on the Checkout screen.
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Once all the options are selected, input a
quantity if more than 1 is desired. Discounts for multiple
quantities will NOT be shown until you reach the final checkout page
prior to payment information. Click the BUY button to place
the item in your virtual shopping cart.
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Your Photo: you
will be given a link upon completing your order where your photo can
be uploaded to our server, you can email it to us, or you can mail
it to us if we need scan it for you.
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You will be shown a confirmation page listing all
of the input you specified. You have several options at this
point: a) Continue Shopping; b) Delete Items or Update Totals; or c)
Proceed to Checkout. You can shop for other items or visit
other pages within the site and the items will remain in your
shopping cart and are reflected in the small box in the upper right
side of each page. Once you are ready to complete your order,
click any of the CHECKOUT buttons or Shopping Cart links and then
click the CHECKOUT button on the shopping cart page.
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The CHECKOUT page will ask for your personal
details. You may enter a "Ship To" address if you
want delivery somewhere other than your "Bill To" address. You
will be required to check the box agreeing to our "Terms and
Conditions" for your order and you may review that agreement by
clicking the appropriate links.
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You may enter a Coupon or
Discount Code on this CHECKOUT page which will then be reflected in the
final total showing the provided discount amount - Click Here
for more info.
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At the bottom of the Checkout page, select your
preferred method of payment - Credit Card, PayPal, or Email/Fax -
see the Payment Options page
for more details.
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After successfully completing the Customer
Details page and clicking the CHECKOUT button, you will be presented
with a screen to select your desired shipping method and and
associated charges. Then after making this selection and
clicking CHECKOUT again, your total invoice for your order showing
any applicable discounts or coupon amounts will be presented.
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If you selected Credit Card or PayPal as payment
option, clicking the CHECKOUT button again, will now take you to a
secure Credit Card input window at our bank's website or to the
PayPal site with the order total and other information transported
to that site. After entering correct credit card information,
you will be returned and presented a final order confirmation page
which is also emailed to the address you provided.
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If you selected Email/Fax, you will be shown a
final order confirmation page which is also emailed to you. Print
this out and mail with your check or fax with the written credit
card information to the address provided on the
Payment Options page.
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If your product utilizes one of your photographs, we
cannot start until we have the photograph !!! ...so you are not
finished yet.
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Follow the instructions provided in the Image
Preparation section below and then submit the photograph(s) to us
either by uploading to us at the Order
Status and Image Upload page or by mailing prints, negatives, or CD's as
appropriate. The Image Upload page will require you to enter a
matching Order ID number and email address from your order.
The Order ID is shown on your confirmation email. After
successfully entering your order details, you will be presented with
a page showing your order status and a LINK to the image upload
page. You can optionally use the link provided in your order
confirmation email to go directly to the image upload page.
PLEASE name your image files starting with your OrderID.
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Once we receive your image, we will make the
necessary enhancements as specified in your order for captions,
cropping, etc. If you select the "rendering" option at extra
cost for your order, we will return a rendering to you via email for approval
within a few days. Note that this will add up to one week for
delivery.
After 7 days, we will assume it approved unless we hear from you
sooner. You are provided one opportunity to make any
corrections or adjustments. We may also make some suggested
alterations if we see a way to improve the presentation of the image
and captions.
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After approval, your crystal will be produced and
then shipped direct to you as specified in your
order.
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Discount Policy
We typically provide discounts for multiple
quantities of the same crystal design. For all crystals with an
engraved photo, there is a 10% discount when ordering 2 or more
identical crystals. For higher quantities or for Discounts on
other type crystals, please Contact Us to
obtain a Discount Coupon Code or Quotation.
Photo Advice and Image Preparation
Obviously, the best photo is any photo that you
treasure as having special meaning. Beyond that, photos with
good contrast and properly exposed usually work well although we have some tricks
to enhance the contrast. Photos with a "busy" background
sometimes don't turn out as well and based on our experience, we might
suggest to you that we "remove or blur the background" which is one of
the options you may select. We do this using PhotoShop. A
white wedding gown against a white or light colored wall won't work
out as well as against a darker background - but then, neither does
the actual photograph either. Similarly, dark hair
or dark clothes against a dark background does not show up very well since the laser
does not burn any pixels for the darkest colors.
If you cannot
see the edges of objects or persons clearly in the actual photograph,
they will be even less visible in a grayscale image created by the
laser. You might want to consider looking how your image appears
in grayscale prior to choosing the image to have engraved. Most
imaging software like that residing on most PC's or with Digital Cameras
can do this - simply select to convert the image to grayscale to get
an idea how it will appear (this is only for conceptual purposes, you
should still send us the color image and let us do the
conversion). For subject matter with a dark edge, we usually
recommend either lightening the background or removing it and applying a
"glow" behind the dark areas to help define their edges. We
also use a variety PhotoShop techniques to manipulate the image.
If your photograph for a Laser Crystal is digital,
then it is very easy to upload it as mentioned in the Order
Process section. The laser engraves at roughly 120dpi so for a
5" x 7" crystal, the image file should be at least 800x600 pixel
resolution (about 500kb). Higher resolution is better if
available but it is not necessary to send us large 5-10 MB image files
as smaller ones will do fine. Send your files in JPEG format to
conserve transmit times. The compression loss from a TIFF file
will not have any impact on the quality of the laser engraved image.
If you only have a smaller file, we can still work with it but the
engraving may not be as detailed as possible with a higher resolution
image.
You can also send us a printed photograph or negative.
We will return the print as you indicate in the options. If the
print is valuable, one-of-a-kind or not replaceable (no negative), then we suggest your
best choice would be to have it scanned locally somewhere such a Kinkos,
Staples, CVS, etc where you can obtain the scanned image on disk or
CD. Take it home and
send us the digital image rather than risk damage to the photograph in
the mail.
When scanning photographs, have them scanned such
that you end up with roughly a 1200 x 1600 pixel image. Scan
your photo in RGB or other color modes even if they are black and
white. For very old photographs that have yellowed or faded, try
to get the scan to look as close as possible to the original and let
us improve the image unless you are proficient with PhotoShop
techniques. Try to choose a photo that does not have a textured
paper as the scanner will likely pick the texture up during the scan
process. If your only choice is a photo with texture, send it to
us anyway as we have some techniques for removing the texture.
If you do decide to mail the photograph, make sure
you mail it with some kind of tracking number and packaged in a proper
photo-mailer envelope or between sheets of cardboard and insure it as
necessary. The customer accepts all risk for any damage that may
occur to a photograph sent to us and we will make every effort to
return it in good condition but we do accept any responsibility for
any damage to your photograph. Again, if there is a concern,
make a copy or get a local scan made that can then be sent to us
electronically or via computer disk.
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Layout
and Caption Advice
There are a multitude of options in how your crystal
can be designed to incorporate one or multiple photographs, captions
and graphics. The photograph will usually dictate the best
presentation (vertical or horizontal). It is usually recommended
to crop photos closer to the faces of the subject unless the
background is important for the theme of the crystal. Multiple
photographs can also be used in a multitude of ways - side by side,
one overlaid upon the other, etc. To see some examples of this,
download our
Anniversary Examples PDF
or view the on-line presentation by clicking
HERE.
Captions added to your laser crystal give it
character and help to bring out the special meaning behind the image.
Sometimes, just a name or date isn't enough and you desire something
more such as a special verse or quote. If you need advice or
help finding just the right caption or verse, our
LINKS page has a section of references to
several web libraries of quotations, poems and verse to suit
practically any occasion. You can find your desired verse or
quotation there and then come back to complete your order.
Captions can be placed onto your photograph
as you specify. While the captions can sometimes be overdone,
often they give the piece a special meaning. Don't be afraid to
request more complex caption designs since our software gives us
almost unlimited capabilities for text that is curved, outlined,
shadowed and much more. Examples of various captions can be seen
on the crystals depicted in our GIFT IDEAS
pages or the
Anniversary Examples PDF.
Most photographs will usually dictate where the
best locations for a caption will be. You may specify a location
(upper left, lower center, etc) in the option selections of the order
process. You may
also specify that we create a "clear area" or "remove or
blur the background" for the caption wherein we
erase or blur the background or erase part of the image to provide a
clear area onto
which the caption can be engraved, thus making it stand out
prominently. Alternatively, on some photos it works well to use
a black text with a white outline or vice versa and place the caption
right onto the image. This creates a more subtle appearance that
some customers prefer.
Depending on the photograph, we can usually crop one
edge of the photograph to make room for the caption above or below or
to the side by the way the photo is positioned within the bounds of
the crystal. Simply select "Crop Image Edge" for the caption
style if this is desired.
Another alternative that we use which works well for LONG
captions or "verses" on flat crystals, is to select a crystal in the opposite
orientation as the photograph and only use part of the flat crystal
for the photograph and the unused portion for the caption. For
instance, use a landscape oriented 7"x5" crystal for a portrait oriented
image (long edge vertical) and place it to one side which will provide
an open area in the crystal of roughly 3" wide by 5" high for the
caption or verse.
If you desire, you may also specify that you will
send a sketch of how you want the image and caption laid out for your
crystal. You may mail this or fax it to the number shown on your
confirmation email or contact us to discuss
your concept or to get further advice from our experienced designers.
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Font for 2D and 3D Crystal
Captions
The samples below may appear incorrectly if font not
loaded on your computer.
This is Verdana or Arial style font
This is Times Roman style font
This is Script
style font
Several additional Fonts are available for 2D PhotoCrystals, the
FONTS.PDF Example Document
provides a depiction of the other fonts we typically find attractive
once engraved (this file requires Adobe Acrobat Reader, a free
download at www.adobe.com).
If you have a specific font in mind, just explain it with your order
and if necessary, we will contact you if it is not possible. For
3D Cubic type crystals, the text is typically a 3D font from the list
above. There will be an additional charge for any fonts not
listed for 3D cubic style crystals.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How do you make these Laser Photo Crystals?
Photo crystals are made using a special laser that
focuses its beam of light to a precise point. Your image is
transformed into a grayscale image having a resolution of
approximately 120dpi. In simple terms, each bright pixel in the
image is then printed by a burst of light from the laser that creates
a small inclusion or void inside the crystal at the depth of focus
chose by the laser software. The focus point is actually below
the surface of the crystal and is how the laser is able to create 3
dimensional objects. Each inclusion picks up light from the base
or from the room and creates the white regions of the image. The
intensity of white and gray is rendered by layering the inclusions at
multiple depths. Dark portions of the image have no laser
engraved point or inclusion. To see a simulated Close-Up Example of the
laser etched crystal, Click Here.
See also:
Sub-Surface Laser Engraving and the Laser Engraving and
Etching Process
How long will these Photo Crystals last and how
durable are they?
Actually, that's the beauty of a Photo Crystal - the
image is forever eternalized and will last forever unless the crystal
is melted down
or broken into 1000's of pieces. The crystal used is optically
perfect crystal glass that has no tint to it and is very stable and
will not yellow or color with age, unlike some lower cost products
used by other suppliers, mostly off-shore. The
crystal will break if dropped on a hard surface, so care
should be taken to place them in a location not susceptible to being
knocked onto the floor like any other valuable item. The surface is as durable as normal
crystal so you should clean it with a soft cloth and handle it with
the cloth to avoid fingerprints.
How long will the LED lights in the light bases last?
The reason we use LED lights is to have the longest
possible life for the light. LED's do not get hot like regular
light bulbs and consume much less energy. The AC Adapter
typically outputs 6V DC so the energy consumption is very low and most
people leave them on all the time as they make a great nightlight as
well. The LED bulbs are typically rated for 80,000 hours.
It is more likely that the AC Adapter will fail before the LED bulb.
Replacement AC Adapters can be found at most Radio Shack stores or you can
contact us for a replacement in the unlikely event that it fails.
What makes a good photograph for a Laser Photo
Crystal?
Obviously, the best photograph is any photo that you
treasure as having special meaning to you or your loved ones. Beyond that, photos with
good contrast in them usually work well although we have some tricks
to enhance the contrast. Photos with a "busy" background
sometimes don't turn out as well and based on our experience, we might
suggest to you that we "remove or blur the background" which is one of
the options you may select. We do this using PhotoShop. A
white wedding gown against a white or light colored wall won't work
out as well as against a medium or darker background. Similarly, dark hair
against a dark background does not show up very well since the laser
does not burn any pixels for the darkest colors. We usually
recommend either lightening the background or removing and applying a
"glow" behind the dark areas to help define the edges. We
also use some PhotoShop trickery to manipulate the image. If you
want the background removed, please pick a photograph that has a plain
or solid colors in the background. We have to charge extra to
remove "busy" backgrounds - ie, taking out the background from a photo
taken inside your house with many items in the background, is possible
but time-consuming and therefore we may come back to you with an extra
charge once we see the photograph.
Can I send a printed photograph and will it be
returned?
Absolutely, prints work well and we will scan them
for you. You can define the photograph format in the selection
options. We will return the print as you indicate in the
options. If the print is valuable, one-of-a-kind or not
replaceable (no negative) like maybe a 75 year old print of your
grandparents, then we suggest your best choice would be to have it
scanned somewhere such a Kinko's and send us the digital scan rather
than risk damage to the photograph in the mail. Have it scanned
such that you end up with roughly a 1200 x 1600 pixel image. If
you do decide to mail the photograph, make sure you mail it with some
kind of tracking number and packaged in a proper photo-mailer envelope
and insure it as necessary. The customer accepts all risk for
any damage that may occur to a photograph sent to us and we will make
every effort to return it in good condition but we cannot be held
responsible for any damage. Again, if there is a concern, make a
copy or get a local scan made that can then be sent to us
electronically or via computer disk.
Can I get one of these 3D Facial photos like I've
seen in Las Vegas or Disney-Epcot?
This is not possible across the Internet obviously.
The only way to get a 3D engraving of your face is to sit in front of
a special type of scanner which is only possible if you visit one of
these kiosks or retail locations that provide this service. We
may offer 3D Scanning in the future through some of our Dealers.
We do have a computer technique for rendering what we call "2-1/2 D"
using a regular photograph in which we create a sort of "relief map"
effect to the photo giving it more depth. While not the same as
a 3D engraving, it does make some photographs look more interesting.
Contact us if you are interested to get this type service only
available for certain photos.
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