The Walk Through - How It Works
Creating your own photo gift or customised accessory, is easy - as long as you know what photo. graphic or text you want.
YOU - Step 1. You decide on the picture you would like and which item you would like made.
YOU - Step 2. You fill in our order form online, or on paper and post. You can order online and then post the original photo too.
US - Step 3. We review your instructions and photo, bringing to your attention any concerns. You may like to discuss a particular treatment.
US - Step 4. Our expert team of art workers, printers, makers and finishers start work on your picture and then produce your item. We call you when it's ready to arrange delivery.
THE PROCESS
Buying a personalised photo handbag, canvas print, or photo book at first thought probably sounds simple. Some people believe there is a quantity of ready made bags and books that just get overprinted with photos. Whilst that is true of many companies it is not so with us. We custom make everything from flat raw materials and assemble them to order. These are the steps that allow us to produce the very best results.
SERVICE
We offer a personal service. We encourage phone inquiries to discuss aspects of your product. We try and be as helpful as possible - so you are able to consult with us on the right size and finish and photo treatment for you. We contact you again at the finishing point to arrange delivery. We receive plenty of testimonials and phone calls of thanks - some comments can be viewed here.
YOUR PHOTO
This is most important bit..........
We are photo driven. Photos can be old or new original photos, slides or digital files. We can scan original paper photos (large or small) providing an excellent digital file to work from. Digital camera photos are simple to work with – easy to download from your camera and easy to upload to our website. It’s no surprise the standard shape of a digital camera photo is the same shape as the print areas on our core products - but we can make any shape photo fit. Naturally we are very careful with your original photos if that's your format and they are always returned.
ARTWORKING YOUR IMAGE
This is the first area where we have to skillfully prepare the photo for best results before it gets printed. Once you have sent your image, our first consideration is the look and feel - Is it going to make a great item? If not we relay news that the choice of photo may be bettered and request a new selection to aim for a better looking finished product.
Even if the look and feel of the photo is good, how is the quality? This is more to do with the condition, or file resolution but more on that later. We make a careful assessment as to whether the photo will print successfully to provide stunning results. And if we feel we need a better quality scan or better resolution image we call to discuss and obtain a new version. Then, if the quality, look and feel are terrific does the image need any retouching?
Retouching is often considered to be a specialist area, and we provide as part of the service a significant retouching service free of charge that helps to improve the image to achieve great results. This includes red eye reduction, date stamp removal, dust and scratch reduction, and blemish removal.
PRINTING YOUR IMAGE
Another key aspect is the print from your photo we artworked. Again it is very easy to take for granted. After all people print photos regularly colour printers in our homes and work. But here, we are printing onto fabric - and not any old fabric - a specialist textile that has to hold the print and colour for years and fit in with the fashionable quality and design of the bag, blanket, cushion itself. We select the material that is the best for printing on and holds all the key qualities for perfect durable print. We then ask does it fit in with our design and fashion styling? We use a technique that impregnates the ink deep in to the fabric with terrific durability and reproduction quality. We know this finished printed fabric to be outstandingly tough, yet does not fray, smudge or crease. It's not all textile, we print lots of paper and other products too.
PRODUCTION
Once your photo has been prepared and successfully printed, we start workshop production. All the items are made by hand by trained professionals with years of experience.
Every single item starts of life as raw material, flat fabric, leather hide, and a pattern in our workshop, or plain uncovered book blocks.
To make one bag from a standing start takes two hours after the print has been prepared. This is a good deal of time and indicates the care and value you get. It is not often one gets a bespoke handmade item these days so we think that is an experience for you to relish.
All our products are made here in London. We make them here because we want to be able to see and monitor the production and turn them around as quickly as possible. Most products are made in a few days but often we’re same day dispatch.
HI TECH and TRADITIONAL SKILLS
We are one of the few businesses that enthusiastically breathes life into traditional UK industry craft skills; bag making; bookbinding, sewing and framing. Historically the UK used to be a world leader in these types of manufacturing say 150 years ago. Today most of that production capacity is in the Far East. But we harness the best of hi tech online, digital printing, mail-order, with the traditional hand made skills and make is all happen on our premises.
GET STARTED
A : Choose that perfect photo
B : Choose the product you want to make
C : Place your order. You may either place your order online with your digital file or you can order online and post the photo. If you need someone to assist you in the ordering process, just contact us.
Customer Reviews
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Bought for: boyfriend RecipientsAge: 41-50 Occasion: Birthday
The canvas that I ordered is exactly what I wanted, its the perfect gift. The quality is great and the order to delivery time was excellent.
Nicola A from Lancashire Review date May-2012
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Bought for: husband RecipientsAge: 20-30 Occasion: Birthday
My Hubby liked the oyster card holder and I was quite surprised myself that you can print on leather like that, even the small detail of the pic is great. I have not seen this before. You also made it » Read more of this review on Oyster Card Holder
Anne from London Review date Apr-2012
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Bought for: girlfriend RecipientsAge: 41-50 Occasion: Treat
The boxes arrived today in perfect condition. I wanted to tell you how grateful I am for the effort you put into them. They look amazing, and you guys are even more amazing. I’m sure my soon-to-be-fia » Read more of this review on Box Of Love
Kenneth from Heathrow Review date Feb-2012
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Bought for: brother RecipientsAge: 20-30 Occasion: Treat
The canvas product is of a very high standard. The service and communication from your team throughout the process was excellent.I would like to confirm that my order arrived today and I am over the m » Read more of this review on Photo Canvas Prints
Joanna F from Felixstow Review date Feb-2012
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Bought for: Children RecipientsAge: 3-6 Occasion: Birthday
You are THE BEST!Very efficient. We ordered the cushion late friday evening and it arrived Tuesday morning the following week.
Cushion was protected in a bag.Excellent quality cushion. Very clear an » Read more of this review on Personalised Cushions
Hannah Fione from Croydon Review date Feb-2012