Frequently Asked Questions
You have questions? We have answers! If you don't find your answer on this page, or still have questions, please contact us and one of our friendly customer service reps will be happy to help you.
OUR PRODUCT
All of our artwork is created by hand by talented artists who specialize in the style that you choose. The process is different for each of the art styles but in all cases you receive a high quality fine art print that looks just like the original work (optional Giclée printing is also available). Pencil sketches and watercolors are created the old-fashioned way without the computer, then digitized for final touches and a high quality printing. Artists painstakingly create our Oils by hand using digital brush strokes that are very visible in the artwork. This style CANNOT be created using filters. Like Oils, the other styles are created by hand using digital tools that require all the same artistic talent as traditional methods.
It is a French word meaning "to squirt". It is a high-tech digital printing process used to make fine art prints. The process is known for its rich color (or rich gray tones in the case of pencil sketches) and razor-sharp detail and is the closest duplication of an original artwork that is humanly, mechanically or technically possible. The resulting art print has every nuance of the original image The Giclée art print has become a standard in the art industry embraced for its exceptional quality by major art galleries and museums worldwide.
Artwork comes with Personal License meaning that the artwork is yours to keep and you can make all the copies you want for personal use. We retain full copyright of the artwork, and we retain all rights to use the artwork that we generate on a royalty-free basis. In addition, real estate professionals purchasing artwork as a client gift are also allowed under the Personal License as long as the artwork is of the clients property. If you would like to use your artwork for commercial purposes such as for company web sites, presentations, business cards, billboards, logos, stationary, marketing collateral or other uses please select the Commercial Use option when ordering which provides you with commercial ownership rights for this purpose. A Commercial Use license does NOT give you the rights to modify or resell the artwork in any form (such as on t-shirts, promotional material etc.) without written permission from Leading Edge Gifts LLC. We may be very willing to grant a license for this use but need to understand the anticipated uses first. As with personal use, we retain full copyright of the artwork, and we retain all rights to use the artwork that we generate on a royalty-free basis.
GiveAmasterpiece.com is part of Leading Edge Gifts LLC. We have been in business since 2002 and our great success is due to the fact that we bend over backwards to exceed our customer's expectations. Our confidence in our talented artists and high-quality products allow us to offer a complete satisfaction guarantee. At the time you order, you are given the option to request a Proof of the completed artwork (recommended). If selected, we do not proceed with printing and framing until you are completely satisfied with your artwork and approve it. You may request reasonable changes as long as they are the same style you selected originally and use the same photo (for example, you can't ask the artist to create a Sketch style after he/she has created an Oil style, or you can't ask the artist to paint using a new photo after having the work done with the original photo). Our artists will work with you until you are COMPLETELY SATISFIED and in the rare case that you are not, you may cancel your order and get a full refund. Sometimes people do want to change the scope of the work a little or a lot. If the changes required will result in additional charges, we will get your approval before doing the work. After shipment, we guarantee that the artwork you receive is what you approved and that it is defect-free or we will replace it. If you do NOT choose to receive a Proof, we will guarantee that the artwork is defect-free or we will replace it. See our refund policy for more details.
Wrapped means that the artwork actually wraps around the sides. If you choose the 1.25" wrap, the outside 1.25" of the artwork will show up on the side. Wrapped canvas provides a unique feel that is attractive to most art styles, particularly Oils and Pop Art.
We accept credit cards on most international orders. We perform a fraud check that flags high risk orders for more information or a different payment method like a wire transfer. The flags consider high risk countries like Russia, Malaysia, Indonesia and other high risk countries in Asia, Africa, and Eastern Europe. If your order has been flagged for Wire Transfer payment, we will review your order and follow up with an email with wire transfer information. It is unfortunate that a few bad apples can ruin it for everyone. We apologize for any inconvenience but we are a small company that has been burned by fraud in the past.
ORDERING
It's simple and it's fast! First, after taking a look at examples of our work and deciding on the art style that you want, go to the ordering page for that art style. On that page you can select options to customize your order. Second, upload your photo after the order is placed by logging into your account (you will create an account during the checkout process). Third, at the time you order you will be given a date when you can expect it. You will receive an email with a link to view and approve your artwork on or before your proof date (you may also log into your account - please make sure that [email protected] and [email protected] are on your safe senders list). Finally, we print, frame (if applicable), and ship your order based on the selections that you made in your order.
Artwork prices are based on the number of subjects in the finished artwork. A subject can be a person, pet, house or whatever else you want our artists to paint/draw. Just call or email if you are not sure.
Our prices are based on drawing/painting what is in the photo but email us with what you want and we will let you know if we can do it. Also, in the case of the Pen/Ink and Car Caricature styles, you are given the option to provide text to be included.
Yes.
Yes, you have the option of adding a digital version to your order for a small fee. You can add these items during the checkout process at the bottom of the order review screen. Simply hit the "Continue Shopping" button, then the "Add-Ons" order button, then make your selections. If you have already ordered and want to add items go to "Place Order" and scroll down to the Add On section. If your original order has not shipped yet then call us to combine shipments.
PHOTOS
Quality photos are the key to fantastic artwork. Here are some important guidelines:
- For best results, photos should be at least 500 x 500 pixels and at 150 dpi.
- Photos should be sharp and in-focus. For most styles, our artists need to be able to clearly see the subject's eyes if he/she zooms in.
- Lighting and contrast should be good. The photo should not be too light or too dark and should not have too much shadowing unless you want that in the artwork.
- Artwork always looks better when the subject(s) fill up the majority of the picture frame. We can't overemphasize this enough. Take a look at the gallery and you will see that the close-ups yield stunning results. The Lich style particularly lends itself to ultra close-ups. You can crop photos yourself or select the option for use to do it for you.
- Our artists base the artwork on the photo so make sure its a good one!
- Check out our Photo Tips for examples of good and bad photos.
You can upload your photos right after the order process by logging in to your account. We generally do not accept photos by email because it can cause confusion and add time/cost. We accept all standard image file types (.jpg, .gif, .tif, .png, .psd).
For those who only have hardcopy photos, we recommend getting them scanned at a high dpi and then uploading them.
If acceptable photos are not received within 1 business day of placing your order, we may need to recalculate your proof date.
Yes. If you are scanning a photo, we recommend scanning it at 300 dpi or higher and saving it as a .jpg file. Just about any mail, office supply, or copy store will offer scanning services. Examples include UPS stores, FedEx/ Kinko's, Office Depot and Staples.
TIMING
Generally, artwork is done in 4-8 business days. Non-canvas orders will be ready for shipment from Arizona about 2-4 business days after proof approval. Canvas orders will be ready for shipment from Colorado in about 5-6 business days after proof approval. Delivery is dependent on the shipping method you chose. You get a firm artwork completion date at the time you order. Important: See timing page to get a real time estimate of when your Proof would be available if you ordered right now - it considers our capacity, order volume, holidays and vacations. It also shows how long it takes to print and frame orders after approval which need to be considered to ensure you get your artwork when you want it. You can always speed things up by selecting the Art Rush option and Expedited shipping during checkout.
Since work begins on your artwork right away, your credit card is charged when your order is received.
Yes, we provide you with a low-resolution preview of your final artwork on-line so you can review it to ensure that it is in accordance with your original instructions. Upon your approval, we queue your order for printing and final processing. Note that revisions (not included in your original instructions) may result in additional charges and may delay the delivery of your order. Once you've approved your order, it is placed on our "orders to print" queue - if you request revisions after we've printed your order, this can result in additional charges as well - please review your order carefully, including spelling of any words, before you approve your order.
SHIPPING
During checkout, you are given a variety of shipping method options to select from to suit your needs for timing, cost, and risk. Canvas orders are shipped from our canvas partner in Colorado. For all other orders, we use UPS/USPS live rate lookups to calculate the cost. It is important that you consider all the factors below when making your decision. We highly recommend UPS because of tracking and insurance. Please understand that if you choose a shipping method that does NOT provide tracking and insurance, you assume the risk of delays, damage, or loss.
Delivery Timing:
- Everything except Canvas Orders are shipped from Gilbert, Arizona.
- UPS/FedEx - See the FedEx map UPS map to see transit times for Ground shipments.
- UPS does not deliver on Saturdays or Sundays (In some cases, UPS can deliver on Saturdays, but you must contact us to make special arrangements).
- Note that shipments to some countries (particularly Canada) may incur additional duties and/or taxes that are not included in the price.
- At Leading Edge Gifts we meet or beat our timing commitments but we are at the mercy of FedEx, UPS and USPS to deliver your order to you. Delays by FedEx, UPS or USPS due to bad weather or some other reason are out of our control. We will pass along insurance proceeds that we recover to impacted customers.
Unfortunately our systems and processes do not allow us to charge your UPS/FedEx account.