Shown below is information and answers to the most frequently asked questions we receive. If you have additional questions please use the “Contact” link shown above.
Prints: Framing, Matting and Display
Copyrights: Permissions and Restrictions
Prints
Historical Print Shop prints are 8-1/2" x 11" in size. Frames or mats are not included (we do not sell mats or frames). Prints are custom printed for each order— not mass produced. Each Historical Print Shop print is created using fine quality archival paper, which is heavyweight, acid free, lignin free, and calcium-carbonate free. Included with each print is a protective, clear sleeve, made of archival material. This clear sleeve provides long term scratch resistance protection, as well as keeping out contaminants such as dust, dirt, and other airborne materials. Also included is a heavyweight, light-proof, black envelope for long term storage of your print, in case you do not wish to frame it. This envelope keeps out light that could affect your print (all artwork is affected by light, see the following subjects “Prints: Storage” and “Prints: Framing and Display”).
Each Historical Print Shop print starts with a digital remastering process of the source material (photographs, engravings, etchings, lithographs, paintings, etc.). The source material is often in need of restoration, which is carefully done, but not to a degree that would change the character of the image. In cases of severe cracks and faults in the source material (such as a rare daguerreotype) we leave the imperfections alone, as they are an important and authentic part of the historical material. Prints are black and white, with a slight warming tone if that is shown in the original source material.
You can be assured that when you place an order for our prints a highly skilled printmaker will create the print. The print is created, carefully examined, approved, and left to dry for a 24-hour period before it is shipped to you. Each print is then enclosed in a clear, archival quality sleeve, and then enclosed in a black light-proof protective envelope, and reinforced with heavy duty packaging materials before being shipped to the customer.
Prints: Storage
If you do not intend to frame your prints then attention to proper storage will insure maximum life for your prints. Comparative studies of properly stored artwork versus framed and displayed artwork showed the stored artwork having almost twice the life span of the framed and displayed artwork. Proper storage avoids exposure to light that can damage the prints. We suggest that you store prints in archival sleeves, envelopes and archival boxes. Be careful about using plastic sleeves to store items. While this can be an effective method of minimizing damage through handling you need to use inert products that will not deteriorate over time or chemically interact with the print. Included with each print shipped from the Historical Print Shop is a protective, clear sleeve, made of archival material. This clear sleeve provides long term scratch resistance protection, as well as keeping out contaminants such as dust, dirt, and other airborne materials. Also included with prints shipped from the Historical Print Shop is a heavyweight, light-proof, black envelope for long term storage of your print, in case you do not wish to frame it. This envelope keeps out light that could affect your prints. Archival storage boxes are another good method of minimizing damage — both by protecting an object from physical damage, but also by minimizing the exposure of an item to environmental fluctuations (archival storage products are available from art supply stores and archival material specialists, which can found on the World Wide Web). Avoid hanging or storing anything in the basement, attic, or any other place with extremes in temperature and humidity. A stable, cool, dry environment is best. Avoid storing artwork directly near working fire places, radiators or heating/air conditioning vents.
For more information on this subject see the following Web sites:
http://aic.stanford.edu/library/online/brochures/objects.html
http://www.loc.gov/preserv/care/mat.html
http://www.conservationregister.com (click on “Guidance” and also click on “Caring For”).
Prints: Framing, Matting and Display
Historical Print Shop prints are 8-1/2" x 11" in size, and are shipped without frames. They are designed to be used with the following framing methods:
When using mats or frames, it is important to use 100% rag (archival) mats or spacers to prevent the print from touching the glass or plastic. 100% rag mats or spacers do not have the contaminants found in regular paper, and help protect your prints. Ask your framer for 100% rag fiber, acid-free, alkaline-buffered matboard, sometimes called “Museum Board.” Ask your framer what will be used to attach the artwork to the mat. The best solution is to use corners or edge-strips of acid-free paper or good quality paper, so that nothing needs to be attached directly to the artwork. Another method is to use “hinges” of Japanese paper (sometimes called “Rice Paper”) attached with starch paste or methylcellulose. Sticky tape (also called “pressure-sensitive tape”) should never be used. Some tapes are called “acid-free” or “archival” but still they can damage artwork and be difficult to remove. In a pinch, acid-free gummed linen tape is less damaging than other tapes, but it is too heavy and brittle to make a first-rate hinge. Avoid dry mounting, heat mounting, cold mounting, spray adhesives, and similar mounting methods. A proper mat has both a window and a back mat that are the same size and the same material. The artwork should be attached to the back mat, not to the window. Another sheet of acid-free board is usually placed behind the mat within the frame, to give extra support. Avoid using foam boards for this purpose even if they have acid-free paper on the exterior. It is the foam on the inside that is the source of the off-gassing of damaging materials. If your frame isn't deep enough for all these layers, it probably isn't strong enough to do its job.
Be sure and select a glass or plastic that has UV (Ultraviolet radiation) protection. This helps protect your print from harmful UV (Ultraviolet radiation) that comes primarily from sunlight and/or fluorescent light and will cause prints (or any artwork, including paintings) to fade. Glass can be a hazard since it breaks easily, which can damage artwork and injure people. We suggest talking to a knowledgeable framer about these issues. Framers are experts on this subject.
When hanging artwork, avoid exterior walls (walls with the outdoors on the other side). The temperature and humidity changes more near these walls than they do elsewhere, and this will cause damage to the artwork over time. Avoid hanging artwork near evaporative cooler vents. “Swamp coolers” add moisture to the air, which lowers the temperature but can be damaging to artwork. Clearly, the best overall method for display is to minimize the exposure to light which the artwork receives. Prints on display should never be hung onto walls exposed to direct sunlight. Any wall display locations should be selected with an eye towards minimizing sun or other continuous light exposure. Museum standards emphasize the need to keep artwork away from direct sunlight as much as possible, and to always have it protected with UV glass or plastic.
Terms that are coming into use for long-term protection are “Preservation Matting and Framing” and “Conservation Mounting and Framing.” For more information on these subjects see the following Web sites:
http://aic.stanford.edu/library/online/brochures/objects.html
http://www.loc.gov/preserv/care/mat.html
http://www.conservationregister.com (click on “Guidance” and also click on “Caring For”).
Payment Method
Our method of processing online payments is PayPal. Underneath every print shown in our Web site is an “Add to Cart” icon. When you click on that icon your selection is placed in a PayPal “Shopping Cart.” You can then select “Continue Shopping” or “Proceed to Checkout,” which then takes you through the easy-to-use PayPal checkout system, allowing you to stop the process at any time, or continue to complete the transaction. Even if you have never shopped online before, you will find the PayPal process very easy and extremely secure. There are many advantages for online buyers and sellers when using Paypal. One of the most important advantages to you, the buyer, is that you can choose to pay using your credit card, debit card, or bank account. Merchants who use PayPal never see the buyers credit card, debit card, or bank account information; all of that information is held and processed by PayPal. Merchants only receive instructions from PayPal, telling them what to ship and where to ship it to. This allows you to make secure purchases without revealing your credit card number or other financial information to the merchant. Additionally, all PayPal transactions are covered with 100% protection against unauthorized payments sent from your account. As a strong fraud-prevention measure, PayPal sends an e-mail confirmation for every online payment that you make using PayPal. Currently PayPal has a network of more than 103 countries and regions, and in multiple currencies, ideal for international purchases and shipments.
Ship To Address
For maximum security, PayPal recommends that you have all online orders sent to the same address as that used with your credit card. This eliminates the possibility of someone using your card to have shipments made to someone else. We suggest you follow PayPal's recommendation and have your prints shipped to the address that is used with your credit card.
Shipping: Within the USA
Prints are custom printed for your order, allowed to properly dry, and shipped within 1–2 business days from the date of your order. Standard shipping fee includes USPS First Class Mail to any address in the United States. Typical delivery time is 5–7 business days from the date you place your order. If you wish a different shipping method, such as a Next Day/Express method, please use the “Contact” link, found at the top of each page, just under our banner. Tell us the shipping method you prefer and we will quote you a price. The most popular request we receive for Next Day shipments is UPS.
Shipping: Outside of the USA
As shipping charges vary for each international city and country, it is best that we provide you with a custom quote for your location. Please use the “Contact” link, found at the top of each page, just under our banner. Tell us the city and country you wish the print(s) shipped to and we will quote you a price. Typical international carriers we use are FedEx and UPS, the most popular being UPS.
Gift Certificates
If you would like to order a print for someone as a gift, but are not sure exactly which print the person would prefer, consider the Historical Print Shop Gift Certificates. This is a popular option with our customers, especially when purchasing a gift for people in specialties such as medicine, law, computers, and of course, when selecting a print from the Writers section for a serious reader.
Gift Certificates are easy to order and redeem; a two-stage process:
1) Ordering
Gift certificates are ordered from this Web site without the need to specify the actual print desired. We then send an e-mail to you with a Gift Certificate in PDF format. You then print the Gift Certificate out on your own printer and give the person of your choice the Gift Certificate. There is space on the Gift Certificate for you to write a note to the recipient if you wish to.
2) Redeeming
The recipient then goes to our Web site, selects the “Gift Certificate” link, and then specifies the print they wish to receive. We then mail the print directly to them. No price is shown on the Gift Certificate that the recipient receives, only instructions on how to redeem the Gift Certificate. The person who receives the Gift Certificate can order any print shown in our Web site.
To order a Gift Certificate click on the “Gift Certificate” link, found at the top of each page, just under our banner.
Copyrights
All of the Historical Print Shop (HistoricalPrintShop.com) Web site, including text and images, is copyrighted. Copyright © 2007. HistoricalPrintShop.com. All rights reserved. Additionally, each print in the Historical Print Shop (HistoricalPrintShop.com) Web site has been digitally remastered, restored as required, and is copyrighted. Each print has an invisible digital watermark which is tracked on the World Wide Web. Permission and restrictions applying to images from this Web site are shown below (Copyrights: Permissions and Restrictions).
Copyrights: Permissions and Restrictions
Permission is herby given to use one (1) image from the Historical Print Shop (HistoricalPrintShop.com) Web site for your use on a non-commercial or commercial Web site. This permission is granted with the following requirement. The following text and hyperlink must be shown adjacent to the image used on the your Web site:
Image Source: HistoricalPrintShop.com
(The words HistoricalPrintShop.com are to contain a hyperlink to: http://www.historicalprintshop.com)
Permission is not automatically given for reproduction of any of our Web site images or our final printed images (prints) for use in any print media. Each print in the Historical Print Shop (HistoricalPrintShop.com) Web site has been digitally remastered, restored as required, and is copyrighted. Each print has an invisible digital watermark. If you would like to use any of our images in your print project, please contact us to discuss permissions via the “Contact” link, found at the top of each page, just under our banner.
Permission is not given to resell any of our images or prints, in any format (digital or print media). You do not have the right to resell any images or prints in the Historical Print Shop (HistoricalPrintShop.com) Web site.
Additional Questions
If you have questions that have not been answered here, please use the “Contact” link to send us your questions. This link is also useful is you are located outside of the United States and wish to obtain a quote for the shipping cost for prints to be sent to your location. The “Contact” link is found at the top of each page, just under our banner.