FAQ

What's on this page?

Answers to all the questions you might have about prints and presentation options, sizes, shipping, and more. Can't find the info you're after? Contact us.

Where can I see actual prints?

At the moment, only in Hong Kong, at two locations:

Our print studio is located in Discovery Bay, and you’re welcome to come by and view prints any time, by appointment. Please get in touch!.

We normally have a stand at the monthly Handmade HK markets in DBay Plaza.

Our framers, Artmen Gallery in Wan Chai, carry a wide (if not complete) range of our prints. You can find them at G/F, 110 Queens Road East. They’re open from 10am until 8pm, Monday to Saturday. Telephone: 2861 1023.

What materials are my print made from?

Our print studio

Our prints are original digital inkjet prints, produced using high quality heavy paper or canvas and archival pigment inks in a 10-colour large format printer.

We source the highest quality materials from around the world to ensure that your print has the best and most vibrant colour possible, and will last for decades.

Prints produced for traditional framing are made with a high quality heavy (230gsm) matte paper. Prints for face mounting must be made on a high-gloss paper for the best results. See more about face mounting, below.

Matte prints for traditional framing are made with a generous border to facilitate handling, and for a gallery-quality finish when framed.

How long will my print last?

Framed print

With proper care, your prints will last for decades without noticeable change. Your prints are made with archival pigment inks which will show little or no change over time. The longevity of your print depends primarily on how well the substrate (paper or canvas) is protected.

Traditional framing, behind glass with acid-free materials, will protect the inks and paper from atmospheric contaminants and humidity, as will face mounting and the protective varnish used to finish canvas prints. Prints should always be displayed out of direct sunlight or other sources of strong UV radiation. Dry mounting prints prior to framing is optional but recommended to ensure your prints remain flat and free from ripples, especially in humid climates.

However, as we have no control over the conditions under which prints will be displayed, and as all dyes change over time, no absolute guarantee against changes can be given.

Will my print be the same colour as I see on my screen?

While every effort is made to show the images on this site accurately, and produce prints that are as faithful as possible to the digital files, the colours in prints can vary from those files. An image printed on white paper can never be as bright as when viewed on computer or device screens.

Screens are light sources, made up of red, green and blue pixels (RGB), resulting in vibrant, saturated colours. Prints are made using inks consisting of cyan, magenta, yellow and black (CMYK), and are viewed by reflected, rather than transmitted, light. While we use the latest 10-colour printer technology that also includes green and orange ink channels, and the highest quality archival inks, the CMYK process can still only reproduce a range of colours that is smaller than RGB, so some small variations are inevitable.

What's the exact size of my print?

Unframed print

Matte prints for traditional framing are made with a generous border to facilitate handling, and for a gallery-quality finish when framed.

Our stock sizes for unframed matte paper prints for traditional framing are:

Single-frame print sizes

  • Small print: A4, 201x297mm (8.25x11.7in), image 152x227mm (6x9in)
  • Medium print: A3, 297x420mm, (11.7x16.5in), image 203x305mm (8x12in)
  • Large print: 406x610mm (16x24in), image 305x457mm (12x18in)
  • X-Large print: 610x864mm (24x34in), image 457x686mm (18x27in)

Panoramic print sizes

  • Small print: 610mm (24in) wide, image 559mm (22in) wide
  • Medium print: 1041mm (41in) wide, image 984mm (38.75in) wide
  • Large print: 1550mm (61in) wide, image 1435mm (56.5in) wide

For panoramic prints, the height of each print varies with the height of the image.

Face mounted print

Gloss prints for face mounting are actually made with a border which is trimmed off to produce the borderless finish, so the image is subject to a small amount of cropping – usually no more than 5mm on all sides. The sizes quoted here are the finished size of your mounted print.

Our stock sizes for unframed gloss paper prints for face mounting are:

Single-frame gloss print sizes

  • Small print: image 203x305mm (8x12in)
  • Medium print: image 305x457mm (12x18in)
  • Large print: image 40.5x61cm (16x24in)
  • X-Large print: image 61x91.5cm (24x36in)

Panoramic gloss print sizes

  • Small print: image 61cm (24in) wide
  • Medium print: image 104cm (40in) wide
  • Large print: image 155cm (60in) wide
  • X-Large print: image 216cm (84in) wide

For panoramic prints, the height of each print varies with the height of the image.

For sizes of Canvas prints, see 'Can I get my print on canvas?' below.

Can I get my print in an even larger size?

In most cases, yes.

Panoramic images are made by stitching together a number of camera frames, resulting in very high resolution files. Most will print to 214cm (84in) wide; many, especially those produced from 2013 onwards, will print up to 500cm (196in) wide without degradation of image quality.

Most single-frame images can be printed up to 76x114cm (30x45in); those from 2013 onwards at sizes up to 91.5x137cm (36x54in).

Viewing distance is a major factor that affects how much an image can be enlarged and still retain acceptable quality. Viewing a print at close range demands a higher level of sharpness and detail than from across a room. Maximum print size is determined by the visual quality of the printed image under close inspection – from a distance of about 30cm (12in). Many previous clients have been impressed by how much detail their prints show; they can easily locate their own house, apartment or office.

If you're interested in a larger print, please contact us for more details, and pricing.

Can I get my print in a custom size?

Certainly.

We understand that, sometimes, the space where you'd like to hang your print is just too small – or too large – for our print sizes. If you require a print in other than our stock sizes, we'll be happy to make a custom print to your requirements.

As special order items, custom sized prints are priced the same as the next largest stock size.

If you're interested in a custom print, please contact us.

What kind of frame will my print come in?

Framed print

Our stock frames for matte paper prints are black wooden profiles, white acid-free mats, and plain glass. Frames are supplied with a cable on the reverse side, ready to hang.

Frame profile widths for both panoramic and traditional prints are:

  • 20mm for Small prints
  • 30mm for Medium and Large prints
  • 40mm for X-Large prints

Additional options are available on request, including a larger or different frame profile; acrylic instead of glass for shatter resistance and safety; and a number of options for Tru Vue® glass or acrylic, for museum-grade UV protection and optimum non-reflective viewing quality.

Framing options attract additional costs. Please contact us for details and pricing.

Framing is normally only available for customers in Hong Kong, as shipping framed prints internationally is rarely cost-effective. However, we are happy to supply a quote for shipping on request. Please contact us with your enquiry. We offer unframed prints for overseas customers, so framing can be carried out by your local supplier.

What is face mounting? Is it right for my print?

Face mounted print

Face mounting offers a clean, contemporary display option. Face mounted prints are particularly suited to interior décor with a clean, minimal design, but will provide a focal point in any room or office.

Prints for face mounting are made on an archival quality heavy (255gsm) gloss paper with a subtle metallic look for additional visual impact. Particularly effective for landscape or night-time images, they will have a life of 100+ years.

Face mounted prints are finished with no border, so the image is the same size as the print. Images are cropped slightly as they're physically trimmed to the finished size.

Your print is mounted to a sheet of 4mm acrylic using special optically clear adhesive, and backed with a 4mm aluminium dibond sheet for perfect flatness. No frame, no borders; your print just floats in space in front of your wall.

Face mounting includes an aluminium framework on the rear of the print to provide complete rigidity and make hanging easy. A wooden hanging block to attach to your wall is included.

The face mounting process is normally only available for customers in Hong Kong, as shipping finished facemounted prints internationally is rarely cost-effective. However, we are happy to supply a quote for shipping on request. Please contact us with your enquiry. We offer unmounted prints for overseas customers, so the face mounting can be carried out by your local supplier.

Can I get my print on canvas?

Canvas print, gallery wrapped

Absolutely.

Canvas prints provide an economical option for presentation, particularly for larger print sizes.

Heavyweight 100% cotton white canvas is finished with a water-based flexible gloss varnish to provide UV protection and water resistance, giving your prints longevity of many years. Canvas prints are produced with a 76mm (3in) white border, to allow for gallery wrapping onto a stretcher frame.

Our stock sizes for canvas prints are:

Single-frame canvas print sizes

  • Large print: image 40.5x61cm (16x24in), plus 76mm (3in) border
  • X-Large print: image 61x91.5cm (24x36in), plus 76mm (3in) border

Panoramic canvas print sizes

  • Medium print: image 104cm (40in) wide, plus 76mm (3in) border
  • Large print: image 155cm (60in) wide, plus 76mm (3in) border
  • X-Large print: image 216cm (84in) wide, plus 76mm (3in) border

The height of each panoramic canvas print varies with the height of the image.

A gallery wrap finish on a wooden stretcher frame completes your print at a fraction of the cost of traditional framing. Stretchers are quality pine, 1.5in (38mm) thick, braced to prevent warping or twisting, and are supplied ready to hang. Stretchers are available for prints up to 120in (3 meters) wide.

The stretching process is normally only available for customers in Hong Kong, as shipping finished stretched prints internationally is rarely cost-effective. However, we are happy to supply a quote for shipping on request. We offer unframed canvas prints for overseas customers, so the stretching process can be carried out by your local supplier.

If you're interested in a canvas print, please contact us for more details, and pricing.

Will my print have the watermark I see on the images on this site?

Dog 1992

Absolutely not.

If you’re thinking of buying one of my prints – thank you!

Rest assured that the ugly watermarks you see on this site won’t appear on your print. They are for my online security.

I hate watermarks. I hate that I have to to disfigure my images in order to protect my intellectual property, but it’s a considered business decision to do so.

For a more detailed explanation of why I feel this security measure is necessary, see this blog post.

How is my print packaged and shipped?

Our prints are usually shipped internationally by Hongkong Post registered airmail or via their Speedpost international courier service. Unframed prints are shipped rolled in protective cardboard tubes or boxes, depending on size.

Shipping a framed or face mounted paper print or stretched canvas internationally is rarely cost-effective, as all but the smallest sizes exceed the size limit for shipping by Hongkong Post. International courier charges easily exceed the cost of framing, so having your print framed or face mounted by a local supplier is usually the most economical solution.

However, as there are sometimes situations where this is not possible, or desirable – when the framed print is a gift, for instance – we're happy to supply a quote for courier shipping on request.

Please contact us to discuss your requirements.

How much does shipping cost?

The costs of international deliveries for unframed prints are:

Registered international surface mail

  • For A4, A3, and 61cm-wide panoramic prints: HK$75.00
  • For 16x24in, 24x36in, and 61cm-wide panoramic prints: HK$125.00
  • For 155cm-wide panoramic prints: HK$400.00

Registered international air mail

  • For A4, A3, and 61cm-wide panoramic prints: HK$150.00
  • For 16x24in, 24x36in, and 61cm-wide panoramic prints: HK$250.00
  • For 155cm-wide panoramic prints: HK$500.00

Speedpost international air courier

  • For A4, A3, and 61cm-wide panoramic prints: HK$450.00
  • For 16x24in, 24x36in, and 61cm-wide panoramic prints: HK$450.00
  • For 155cm-wide panoramic prints: HK$550.00
How long does delivery take?

Delivery times depend on the specifics of your order, on your location, and on the delivery method.

Unframed prints are usually available from stock at our print studio in Discovery Bay; if not, they can be ready for pick-up or despatch within 24-48 hours. Framing adds about a week, and face mounting up to two weeks, to production time.

Normal delivery times for unframed prints vary from same day (addresses in Discovery Bay in Hong Kong only) to 2-3 days (for elsewhere in Hong Kong), to 4 weeks or more for international deliveries.