frequently asked questions
When I place my order, why can't you give me an exact delivery date?
We wish we could give you an exact date, but the reason that we can't is that the total time your order takes is partially dependent on you. We offer unlimited edits to your chosen design, and we turn around each edit within one business day. We cannot know in advance how many edits you will request, if any at all! We can be sure of the variables on our end - once we receive your order and your high resolution pictures, your initial e-proof will be available within one business day. Each edit request will be completed within one business day. Once you approve your proof for printing, photo paper cards will be completed in 2 business days, or card stock cards will be completed in 5 business days. If you upgrade to Express Mail shipping, you will receive your cards within 2 business days of mailing.
How do I get my pictures to you?
After you've placed your order, use our simple photo
upload page. Please send your photos straight from your camera or scanner
without modification. We'll take care of any adjustments the photos need such
as cropping, color correction, "red eye" removal, etc. You can also email your pictures to orders@purplestork.com
What tips do you have for taking
pictures of my baby?
We have a fun, photo-illustrated
tutorial on how to use a regular digital camera to take stunning images
of your baby for your annnouncement. You can take professional-looking
photos yourself!
My pictures are in color. Can
you convert them to black and white?
Yes! In fact, we prefer to do it ourselves.
We have a special process for doing the conversion and we
prefer to receive your unedited file from your camera or scanner.
We'll take care of color conversion, cropping, and any other
editing.
Do I have to use a digital camera?
You can use whatever camera you have available. We do love
digital cameras because you can take so many pictures and
immediately see if they are coming out well or if you need
to reshoot. If you are using a film camera, you can either
scan the image yourself or take it to a place like Kinko's
to have it scanned.
Can I use scans from professional or studio photos?
Yes, as long as you provide a release from the photographer. If your photographer
or studio chooses to allow it, they will have a form they can forward to us
granting permission to reproduce the images.
I can't decide which design I want. Can I see several
different ones up front?
The cost of the announcements includes the creation of one design, with unlimited
edits to your chosen design for free. If you would like to see an additional
different card, there is a $15 design fee for each different design. This fee
is only if you wish to see multiple different cards, such as the Noah design
and the Bennett design. (Variations on the same design, such as changing a Noah
design from sepia toned to half sepia, are included in the cost with no additional
charge.)
Do your designs work for twins,
triplets, or special births?
Yes! Since every order is custom designed just for you, we can make it perfect
for your unique situation. Here are some examples
of announcements we've designed for twins and triplets.
I have a lot of pictures and I'm
not sure which would work best -- can I send over some extras?
Yes! We love having a selection of pictures to choose from.
If there are any in particular that you especially want included,
just let us know.
My baby is already 3 months old - is it too late to send a birth announcement?
Everyone knows how time flies when you have a new baby. You are not alone!!! Every single day, we design announcements for babies that are 3, 4, 5, 6 months old - whether your little one is 3 days, 3 weeks, or 3 months, everyone will love to receive an announcement featuring your baby's sweet face.
What payment methods do you take?
We accept payment from Visa, Mastercard, Discover, American Express, and Paypal.
Do you ship outside of the United
States?
At this time we can only take orders for printed cards within the USA. However,
we would be happy to create a design-only announcement for you to have printed
in your own country. We do ship to APO/FPO addresses using USPS Priority Mail.
Can I approve a proof before printing?
Absolutely! We will design your announcement within one business day of receiving
your order and your photos. Your e-proof will be sent to you via email and is
viewable online.
Can I make changes once I see the e-proof?
Of course! We offer unlimited changes to your chosen design - we are happy to
work with you until it's just perfect. We have a fast, one business day turnaround
time for all change requests.
What do you mean by "two business days"?
Business days are Mondays through Fridays, excluding holidays. (We are closed
on weekends, New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day,
Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and the day after Christmas.)
What size are your announcements?
Questions about Printed Cards...
What are your photo paper announcements like?
The photo paper cards are printed on photo paper through a development process
just like real photographs. The paper is professional-grade Fuji Crystal Archive
paper with a lustre surface, which is a non-glossy surface with a very subtle,
rich texture that resists fingerprints. Our announcements are generously sized
at 5x7.
What are your card stock announcements like?
The card stock announcements are also sized at 5x7, and are printed with a real
printing press onto matte 100# white card stock. The photo quality is similar
to what you would see in a magazine - it is a completely different printing
process than printing photographs. The card stock announcements are available with square corners and with special rounded corners. We think they look fantastic!
Can I get a sample card?
Sure! Just click here to order a sample.
What are the shipping and handling charges?
The flat rate charge for all orders is $5 for shipment via US Postal Service
Priority Mail.
Note: all orders placed between November 15 and the end
of the year must be shipped via Express Mail. The cost varies based on the weight
of the package and will be calculated by our shopping cart when the order is
placed.
What is your return policy?
We guarantee your satisfaction. If for any reason there is
a problem with your printed cards, simply return them for a reprinting or a
full refund.
What if I mess up an envelope
when I'm addressing it?
We totally understand! You will receive an extra envelope for every 25 cards you
order, just in case.
Since these are large cards do I need extra postage
to mail them?
A regular first class stamp works just fine for these cards.
Can I reorder photo birth announcements after my
initial order?
Absolutely! We keep your design on file for a year, and you can reorder at any
time at the original price per announcement. Just send email
to orders@purplestork.com for details.
There is no minimum reorder.
Questions
about the Design-Only Service...
What is this all about?
You can get a fabulous Purple Stork designed card -- printed
yourself! We will create a design using your photos and once
you approve the e-proof, we will send you a high-resolution
jpeg file for your photo lab.
Where can I get my own announcements
printed?
Any photo lab that accepts digital files can print our announcements. Walgreens,
Costco, Target, Ritz Camera, etc all provide this service. Also, you can print
them on your home printer if you prefer. The lab will view the file we send
as a digital photograph, and will charge the same price as a digital photo. For example, if you request a design-only 4x6 file from us, then your lab cost will be whatever your chosen photo lab charges for a 4x6 photo print.
What sizes do you offer?
Although our printed cards are all generously sized at 5x7,
we offer the design-only option in either 4x6 or 5x7 so you
can choose the size print that fits your budget.
Where can I get envelopes to mail these?
We offer envelopes in 4x6 and 5x7 sizes.
Any other questions? Please ask us at orders@purplestork.com
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