Well For Instance's bespoke card design and print service is unique and so we suspect you have some questions. We have compiled below the most common ones; however contact us if you have a specific request that is not covered here.
CHRISTMAS CARD FAQ
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WEDDING/CIVIL PARTNERSHIP INVITE FAQ
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Christmas Card FAQs
How Does it Work?
Go online and select the card template design that you want from the range available. We have grouped them into themes but you can view all if you wish. This is the template from which your card will be created.
Select the number of caricature images that you wish to have included in your card [up to 10 dependent on the template] from the drop down menu.
Select the printing order from the available range [Image only, 50, 100, 250, 500 or 1000] from the drop down menu.
Select the amount (per card) you wish to donate to charity [10p is the minimum]. Charity donations are only made on printed card orders.
If you want to have your company logo added to the inside of the card then select the option from the pull down menu.
Similarly, if you want to have signatures added to the card then select yes from the pull down menu. All signature images should be based on our downloadable signature template which you can then scan electronically before uploading later in the ordering process.
If you have been given a discount code then enter this to obtain the advertised discount. Early orders will automatically be given the discount stated on the homepage. In the event that the discount code and the early order discounts differ, we will always apply the larger of the two.
Once you have clicked submit then you are automatically given a detailed quote and if you are happy then click proceed to continue the order process.
The next stage is the personalisation of your card. Enter your company or family name, address and contact details. Your company or family name will be incorporated into the outside greeting and you have the option of having this information printed on the inside of the card too.
At the next stage of ordering you will automatically asked to upload image files for the faces that need to be caricatured. The default is one upload picture per face to be caricatured - but it will not be a problem if a single picture contains more than one face (just as long as the faces are clear). Image files must be in jpeg (or jpg) format.
If you have selected company logo or scanned signatures at stage 1 of the ordering process then you will also be asked to supply these as uploaded files too. Once selected you then need to upload the files to us - dependent on your file sizes and the number of caricatures, then this may take some time. Please be patient.
If you have selected image only (i.e. you are not printing the card) then you will automatically skip this stage; otherwise you are required to type the inside card greeting message or accept our standard Season's Greetings message.
Then select the charity (or charities) you wish to donate to. If you don't want to have a charity's logo printed on the inside of your card then un-tick the option box. At this stage you are also given the chance to tell us some specific instructions.
You are then shown an order summary. Please read this through carefully since it contains the names and spellings we will use to create the cards. Assuming all is well then you will be asked to pay using our secure online checkout.
Once this is complete then you will automatically be sent a payment confirmation by e-mail as well as a separate e-mail detailing your order.
We now create your bespoke image - dependent on demand this will be 10 working days from receipt of order.
We then e-mail you an adobe acrobat (pdf) file containing a low resolution version of your image for your final approval. You have 5 working days to approve the card - usually via e-mail.
Assuming all is well we print your cards. At the same time we e-mail you a high resolution image in jpeg format that is yours to keep and use as you please. The finished cards are sent out to you in the post complete with blank envelopes - usually 5 working days after your approval.
How long does it take?
We usually take 5 to 10 working days to create the image which is emailed out to you for approval.
You then have a further 5 working days to point out any errors or omissions before it is sent to be the printed which requires a further 5 working days to create the printed cards and post out to you.
What if I don't like the image?
We ask you to visit our rogue's gallery before placing the order so that you are familiar with our style of caricature. It is your responsibility to ensure that you have permission to send and use the photos we caricature.
Please be aware that the expression you have in your photo is the one you will be depicted with in your caricature; therefore we strongly recommend that you say "Cheese"! Try to take pictures in daylight as opposed to night time so they show your "true colours", and remember that your caricature will have the same haircut as you have in the photo, so keep photos as up-to-date as you can. Also, try to send us close-ups of your face so we get a good look at you! And finally, remember we've never met you, so we can only create your caricature using the picture you provide us with.
We caricature in a relatively tame manner - certainly compared with the street artists you find in tourist locations. Our style is a cross between a cartoon and caricature.
Clearly we are going to emphasise parts of your face based on the picture you've supplied. We don't use computer programs to scan your face instead these are unique images created by our team of artists.
If you are really unhappy then contact us to discuss the problem once we have sent you the proof copy for approval. In special circumstances we will change those images which are causing offence. We will certainly make changes to correct spelling mistakes and such like.
Once the card is printed (i.e. after you have been sent the proof via email and had time to comment) no further changes are possible.
What size is the end product, what quality of materials do you use?
Our Greetings Cards are A4 sized card folded to A5 (approx.148mm x 210mm when closed) printed full colour inside and outside onto quality heavyweight 400gsm art card.
At the moment we only offer this size and specification, since it represents the thickest and best quality card we have been able to source within the UK. You won't be disappointed, these are not flimsy, cheap cards.
Each card comes supplied with 100gsm matching envelope.
Our marketing takes the form of posting out a sample card using the same materials and printing resolutions we specify for the end product. If you want a sample then click here and we will post one out to you free of charge.
The website pictures are by necessity a much poorer quality than the end product.
If you ordered image only then you will have the end product e-mailed to you as a pdf file and jpeg image (both usually circa 200 kB each in size).
Why can I only pay using the secure online payment service?
We are able to offer our fantastic rates because we have deliberately kept administration and accounting functions to the minimum possible. We therefore have no staff to chase payments and send out invoices.
We may however be willing to change if enough of our customers give negative feedback on the issue via our contact us page.
We use Paypal as our on-line payment gateway since they protect sensitive information using their encryption software. For more information about Paypal please visit their website.
What happens if I want more than faces caricatured?
Well For Instance is based on the premise of adding faces into our pre-prepared templates. However if you want a totally bespoke card created from scratch then we will happily provide a quotation. Just contact us and list your requirements.
Please bear in mind however that totally bespoke cards require much greater input from our artists and we will not be able to offer the service at busy periods. That said get in touch and we will help as much as we can.
I don't want my face caricatured but I still want to order from your card range. How do I do this and what are my options?
Simply pick the card in the usual way and select zero for the number of new and existing caricatures required. The payment process will automatically skip the sections relating to uploading image files so that you continue through to the checkout in the usual way.
We send e-mail Christmas cards and donate the money saved to charity. How can you help?
We create bespoke images which happen to be printed as greeting's cards. If you would rather e-mail your Christmas cards to customers and friends, then we can provide the front card image on its own.
Simply select ‘image only’ from the order volume pull down menu when ordering and proceed as normal. Your price will only reflect the costs to create the image.
We send this out to you as a JPEG or adobe pdf images as standard (usually circa 200 kB in size). If you want different formats then let us know when you order and we will endeavour to help if we possibly can.
We are currently only set up to donate to our selected charities based on card sales (10p per card is the default); although you are free to give more. If you are only ordering the image then please give the money you have saved to charity – either our selected charity partners or direct to your own favourite.
Photo & Logo guidelines : formats, file sizes etc.
Please be aware that the expression you have in your photo is the one you will be depicted with in your caricature; therefore we strongly recommend that you say "Cheese"! Try to take pictures in daylight as opposed to night time so they show your "true colours", and remember that your caricature will have the same haircut as you have in the photo, so keep photos as up-to-date as you can. Also, try to send us close-ups of your face so we get a good look at you! And finally, remember we've never met you, so we can only create your caricature using the picture you provide us with.
You can send only send your photo files as jpeg images. The file size should not be larger than 1.5 megabytes. If you are not sure then upload your images - we will be in contact if we need a larger or clearer image.
File size restrictions are more for your benefit than ours - since large files take longer to upload to our website. Once the files are uploaded we automatically compress large files before they come to us, so that we don't get inundated with huge files.
If you don't have all the photos / logos / signatures available then you can still proceed and complete your order. Once we receive your order and start to process it, we will get in touch so that you can send any outstanding files to us via email (or the post if necessary). If you would prefer then contact us before you place the order.
Company logos and scanned signature images should be submitted in one of the following file formats: jpeg, gif, tiff and pdf.
Note, we have a downloadable template which you can print out and add your signatures onto. This is at the same scale dimensions for the card so what you write is what you get.
What if my order volume and/or number of caricatured faces does not match your range?
We have limited the number of caricature faces for any given template design up to a maximum of 10 for certain templates. Any more than this and it becomes very difficult to distinguish individual faces within the final printed card.
If you have more than 10 faces, why not break your order into more manageable chunks. That way you can have different styles of card to send to different customers. You could have different cards to represent different departments within your company. Alternatively you could have a competition to decide who should be in the card - spin bottles, pin tails - your choice.
If you specifically want more faces included then please contact us and we will discuss your requirements.
We have created a range of order volumes to reflect what we feel are the requirements for 90%+ of our customers. If you want a different order volume then by all means contact us and we will endeavour to quote you direct. Orders smaller than 50 are not possible at this time (sorry).
How do I add signatures to my order?
Signatures should be scanned (you can use colour if you want) and uploaded using the following file type criteria: jpeg [as per your digital camera], gif, tiff or pdf.
We have a downloadable template which you can print out and add your signatures onto. This is at the same scale dimensions for the card so what you write is what you get. Remember to have the scanned image file ready for uploading when you place your order.
If I am a returning customer will I be eligible for a discount?
Our standard price list is based on creating caricature images from scratch. If however we have processed your order before then we will of course have your image on file.
If you want us to use the same caricature image again (but in a different template scene) then the caricature imaging costs are zero.
When ordering simply do not include the existing caricature when adding up the total number of caricatures entered during the order phase. Then under special instructions mention that you are a returning customer - please quote your previous order number. We will then be in touch via e-mail to clarify your requirements.
What happens to my image, original photo and contact details?
We store all the caricatures we create together with the original photographs on our systems. These images are not reproduced except in the instance when you wish to take advantage of our re-ordering service.
Your contact details will be stored on our system and not shared with any third parties. You may be sent a reminder about next year's Christmas card. We at Well For Instance hate unsolicited letters, so we will try to restrict communication to e-mails whenever possible.
What if I have an identical twin?
Good news. We operate a buy one twin get one free policy. You do have to be identical though! We can always give you a matching jumper if that doesn't bring back too many painful memories.
Help with order Step 1
Select the number of caricature images that you wish to have included in your card [up to 10 dependent on the template] from the drop down menu.
The available range of caricature faces for a given template automatically changes dependent on the card selected. You may therefore need to select a different card template if your desired number of caricature images is greater than the maximum available.
Select the printing order from the available range [Image only, 50, 100, 250, 500 or 1000] from the drop down menu.
If your order volume and/or number of caricatured faces does not match the available range then click here.
Select the amount (per card) you wish to donate to charity [10p is the minimum]. Charity donations are only made on printed card orders. To find out more about our charity partners click here.
If you want to have your company logo added to the inside of the card then select the option from the pull down menu. This option is not available to "image only" orders.
Similarly, if you want to have signatures added to the card then select yes from the pull down menu. All signature images should be based on our downloadable signature template which you can then scan electronically before uploading later in the ordering process. This option is not available to "image only" orders.
If you have been given a discount code then enter this to obtain the advertised discount. Early orders will automatically be given the discount stated on the homepage. In the event that the discount code and the early order discounts differ, we will always apply the larger of the two.
Once you have clicked submit then you are automatically given a detailed quote in step 2, if you are happy then click proceed to continue the order process.
Help with order Step 3
Your contact name and your e-mail address are only used when we e-mail you, the information entered is not used to personalise the card. That part comes next.
Family or company name should be typed as you would like to see it on the outside of the card. If you are a family then just give your surname, eg Smith.
Address, telephone, fax, e-mail and web address fields should all be filled in where possible. You are given the chance later in the ordering process to decide which of these fields are printed on the inside of the card. If any field is not applicable then please leave blank.
Help with order Step 5
In this section you will be able to personalise your card. If you have selected image only as opposed to a printed card order volume then you will only be able to personalise the card outer.
Personalising the Card Outer
Whatever you entered for company (or family) name in order step 3 will be shown; for example if you entered ABCD Limited; then the outside of the card would read "from ABCD Limited". If you wanted something different (e.g. from all at ABCD Limited) then simply enter this in the space provided.
Personalising the Card Inner
On the inside of the card the standard printed message is "Season's Greetings". However, you have the option to type whatever greeting you wish in the space provided.
The remainder of the personalisation options for the inside of the card are boxes which you must tick if you want them printed on the inside of the card. Your company name, address and contact details, if selected, will be printed on the bottom of the card.
Finally you have the option of choosing which of our partner charities will benefit from your card order; you can either select one of the charities individually or share the donation equally. The charity logos are printed on the inside of the card (opposite the space for your signatures); you have the option to not have these printed - simply un-tick the box.
Special Instructions
If you want to tell us something specific relating to your order then here is the space to tell us. Perhaps you would like to be the first child or reindeer in line or would prefer it if there were less bottles surrounding you in the card design.
Wedding/Civil Partnership FAQs
How Does it Work?
Go to our Weddings / Civil Partnerships section within Card Range and select the invitation template design that you want from the range available. This is the template from which your invitation will be created.
Select the printing order from the available range [Image Only, 50, 75,100, 150, 200, 250 or 500] within the drop down menu. If you require more than 500 please contact us. If you wish to print your invitations at home or use a local printing company please click "Image Only".
Once you have clicked Submit then you are automatically given the full cost of your order, and if you are happy then click Proceed to continue with the order process.
The next stage is the personalisation of your invitation. Firstly, enter your name and contact details. The address you put here is where we will send your finished invitations to. Next, enter the text you want displayed on the front of the card, the default is invitation.
You now have the option to specify the text you want printed on the insert sheet fitted within the outer card. You can chose to split your order between Day Invites and Evening Invites as you so wish, e.g. on an order of 150 cards you may wish 100 of these to be Day Invites and 50 to be Evening Invites. At this stage you are also given the chance to give us any other specific instructions you may have. Don't worry if you can't decide what you want displayed at this stage as you can always leave it blank and e-mail us later.
At the next stage of ordering you will be asked to upload image files of your faces to be caricatured. The default is one upload per face to be caricatured - but it will not be a problem if a single picture contains both of your faces (just as long as both faces are clear). Image files must be in jpeg (or jpg) format.
You are then shown an order summary. Please read through this carefully since it contains the names and spellings we will use to create the invitations. Assuming all is well you will then be asked to pay using our secure online checkout.
Once this is complete then you will automatically be sent a payment confirmation by e-mail as well as a separate e-mail detailing your order.
We now create your bespoke image - depending on demand this will be 2 weeks from receipt of order.
We then e-mail you an Adobe Acrobat (pdf) file containing a low resolution version of your image, together with the text for the insert, for your final approval. You have 1 week to approve the image - usually via e-mail.
Assuming all is well we print your cards. At the same time we e-mail you a high resolution image in jpeg format that is yours to keep and use as you please. The finished invitations, with inserts, are sent out to you in the post complete with blank envelopes - usually 3 weeks after your approval.
If you have chosen image only when ordering then obviously your images will be with you just as soon as you are happy with the draft versions.
How long does it take?
For printed cards based on our standard template range, the whole process should usually take up to but no more than 6 weeks from receipt of your order assuming you approve the artwork within a 1 week period.
If you are opting not to chose from our range of templates, instead going for a totally bespoke design then these time guidelines do not apply. Please contact us at the time to discuss time scales involved, as it will depend on the nature of the design.
What if we want a wholly bespoke image?
If you want a bespoke image then contact us with a design brief and we'll quote you to carry out the work. Costs for wholly bespoke images are dependant on the artwork requirements and will subsequently be quoted on an individual basis. However, if you simply want small variations to existing templates then this may be free of charge.
What if I don't like the image?
We ask you to visit our rogue's gallery before placing the order so that you are familiar with our style of caricature. It is your responsibility to ensure that you have permission to send and use the photos we caricature.
Please be aware that the expression you have in your photo is the one you will be depicted with in your caricature; therefore we strongly recommend that you say "Cheese"! Try to take pictures in daylight as opposed to night time so they show your "true colours", and remember that your caricature will have the same haircut as you have in the photo, so keep photos as up-to-date as you can. Also, try to send us close-ups of your face so we get a good look at you! And finally, remember we've never met you, so we can only create your caricature using the picture you provide us with.
We caricature in a relatively tame manner - certainly compared with the street artists you find in tourist locations. Our style is a cross between a cartoon and caricature.
Clearly we are going to emphasize parts of your face based on the picture you've supplied. We don't use computer programs to scan your face instead these are unique images created by our team of artists.
If you are unhappy then contact us to discuss the problem once we have sent you the proof copy for approval. We will be happy to change those images until you are satisfied. We will certainly make changes to correct spelling mistakes and such like.
Once the card is printed (i.e. after you have been sent the proof via email and had time to approve it) no further changes are possible.
What size is the end product, what quality of materials do you use?
Our Invitations are A5 sized cards folded to A6 (approx. 105mm x 148mm when closed) printed full colour outside onto quality 400 gsm art card. This represents the best quality card we have been able to source within the UK. You won't be disappointed; these are not flimsy, cheap cards.
The inserts we use are of beautiful 100gsm hammer textured white paper.
Each invitation also comes supplied with a white C6 100gsm envelope.
If you want a sample then click here and we will post one out to you free of charge.
If you chose Image Only rather than having us print your order, you will receive your invitation in jpeg format at a resolution suitable for you to print out as an A4 sized image. We will also send you the matching insert as a word document complete with matching banner for you to add your own text to.
Why can I only pay using the secure online payment service?
We are able to offer our fantastic rates because we have deliberately kept administration and accounting functions to the minimum possible. We therefore have no staff to chase payments and send out invoices.
We may however be willing to change if enough of our customers give negative feedback on the issue via our contact us page.
We use Paypal as our on-line payment gateway since they protect sensitive information using their encryption software. For more information about Paypal please visit their website.
What if my order volume does not match your range?
We have created a range of order volumes to reflect what we feel are the requirements for 99% of our customers. If you want a different order volume then by all means contact us and we will endeavour to quote you direct. Orders smaller than 50 are not possible at this time (sorry).
What happens to my image, original photo and contact details?
We store all the caricatures we create together with the original photographs on our systems. These images are not reproduced except in the instance when you wish to take advantage of our re-ordering service.
Your contact details will not shared with any third parties. You may be sent a reminder about Christmas cards and other services we offer. We at Well For Instance hate unsolicited letters, so we will try to restrict communication to e-mails where possible.
Can I change the word "Invitation" on the front of my invite to anything else?
The word "Invitation" can by replaced by "Wedding Invitation", "Civil Partnership Invitation", "Tying The Knot", or anything at all that you'd like. We've used the simple "Invitation" as each invite contains an insert with all your details, which will vary depending on whether it is a day invite or an evening invite. This keeps the front consistent, which will save you money as one design fits all.
How will the insert in my invitation by worded?
The inserts are slips of hammer textured paper on which will be printed any information you'd like, all to your own personal specifications, all centrally aligned. The insert sheet is glued to the inside of your card. You are given the opportunity to provide us with separate versions of wording that you'd like, thus dividing your order (at no extra cost) between daytime and evening invitations.
Unless otherwise stated, the typeface used on your insert will be the same as that used on the front of your invitation.
We do not print the names of individual guests on your inserts. Instead, there will be a dotted line for you to personally write these names on.
I am having a civil partnership, can I choose designs from the range of invitations for straight weddings?
Yes, of course! However, please be aware that only the faces are caricatured; bodies remain as they are within the templates. Please don't hesitate to contact us if you have any further requirements.
