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Frequently Asked Questions
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We're asked certain questions every day and those are summarised below - if your question isn't addressed, please feel free to contact us.
Q: Do I have to supply photographs in digital format?
In a perfect world, yes – but we can offer a transfer service if most of your precious memories are still on glossy paper. Contact us for details.
Q: How many images will I need?
The more images you can provide the better the finished mosaic will be. As an example, a one-metre-square mosaic broken into cells measuring 25mm each will contain 1,840 cells. If you can furnish us with loads more
than that, the software has more choices to find the perfect match for each cell. If you can’t provide that many, there are tricks we can perform to increase your catalogue (see below). Bear in mind too that if all your pictures are of green fields and we're trying to create a mosaic of a pink face, something has to give!
We'll be more than happy will look at your chosen base image and catalogue of
photographs and advise the best way forward.
Q: How do I get my images to you?
Most of our clients copy their images to CD's or a DVD and get them to us via the good ol’ postie. Do remember to make
a complete back up of all your precious images. If you are a lovely geek with
the toys and the wherewithal to upload to our FTP site that’s even better.
Q: How long does the whole process take?
From the time we get your catalogue the normal process will be between 3 -4 weeks for you to take delivery of your finished mosaic. Printing to photographic paper rather than canvas will take a few days off this time. We will contact you to review the finished mosaic before it goes off for printing. This stage has been known to add a couple of weeks if everyone in the family gets involved!
Q: You mention "creating" additional images. What do you mean?
Using digital techniques we can crop, divide an even recolour your original images. The quickest option is to use our sophisticated face detection software. This works particularly well for
weddings and family gatherings where there are multiple faces in each shot. The software ‘lifts’ each individual face and creates another new photo from each one.
Q: Do you only print to canvas or glossy paper?
Not at all! You can have your image made into a poster, a rolled canvas, a professionally stretched and ready to hang canvas, a cushion, a rollerblind, a sheet of aluminium,
a floating acrylic sheet....... In fact the options are endless. We work with cutting edge digital printers in the UK so if you have an unusual request just ask. We love a challenge.
Q: Mosaics - how much?
There are two steps to the process - the first is us building the mosaic image, and the second is the printing element.
Typically the bigger the final image, the more it will cost to print, and the more complex your requirement is, the more work's involved for us, and again the cost will rise.
Not helpful? Okay... in the most common case, where we're building a mosaic from pictures you supply and printing onto canvas, a typical cost for a metre-square stretched canvas is UK£400, currently about US$800
Q: Any famous customers?
Perhaps not surprisingly, some of our customers would prefer to retain their privacy. One's a very famous rock and roller, another's a household-name newspaper baron, but that's all we're allowed to say!
One large commission was for the P&O vessel, Ventura, which was launched in April 2008 and has forty four mosaics adorning the stairwells over fourteen decks featuring
tens of thousands of photos by the very talented Vanessa Ballard.
That said, most of our customers are people wanting to give family members or friends a very special gift, to celebrate a special occasion - a birthday, a wedding, retirement, and so on. A mosaic is a fabulous present - unique and very personal!
We hope these help to answer your questions about the process. If you have a question we haven’t covered please just click here to get in touch.
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