Question: How are your prints produced and what quality can I expect?
Answer: Our digital reprints are better than the often faded and damaged originals! The colors have been restored to their original luster and they are printed using 8-color Giclée technology on heavyweight art papers (or canvas)——not flimsy poster paper! The colors are guaranteed not to fade under normal circumstances (behind glass, no direct sunlight, etc.) for more than 80 years! These are some of the reasons why our prints can be found in the collections of Macy's, Hilo Hattie, Duty Free Shoppers, DFS Galleria, and prestigeous gift stores in Hawaii, on the Mainland, and in Japan.
Question: I purchased one of your posters at Honolulu International Airport. It came rolled up in a tube and I haven't unpacked it yet. Since it's probably been in this tube for a while is there anything I should pay attention to when I unpack it?
Answer: Good question! In the worst case, your poster has reacted to moisture in the air, temperature, and pressure. It will begin uncurling itself soon if you place it on a flat surface, such as the floor or a table. Avoid flattening it forcibly as this may cause warps. Once it is mostly flat you can place some heavy objects on the edges, or perhaps cover it with some heavy books. In a few days it will be suitably flat for framing.
Question: What should I pay attention to when I receive my prints and posters?
Answer: First, you should check for damage. While we take every precaution to ensure that your items arrive undamaged, accidents do happen. We gladly replace product damaged during shipment.
Second, do not attempt to straighten your posters upon unpacking them. They will naturally unroll and flatten out when placed on a flat and dry surface such as a table or the floor. Forcefully straightening them will leave them with warping and possibly creases.
Question: At a Maui gift store I purchased three of your vintage prints. How can I find out more about their artists or their history?
Answer: If you click on the above picture, it will take you to the Print Categories. There, you can call up pages that should list the picture(s) you purchased. On clicking a picture a corresponding page will open, listing more information about the image.
FAQ Index:
Straightening Posters
Matting/Framing
Shipping
Question: If the poster doesn't go with the room's colors, can it be returned?
Answer: Yes, we will exchange undamaged prints for a different choice, and pay shipping once per occurrence (no one else does!). Please, visit our Satisfaction Guaranteed page.
Question: How can I tell if a piece is an original print?
Answer: At our location we can easily show you the difference between an original and a reproduction. Obviously, price is an indication, but since these are dated materials discoloration, page "ears," and other signs of handling need to be considered. Often, these pieces were products with a utilitarian purpose and as such the back may give you as much information as the front. Reprints would not have any printing on the back, would not only look and feel new but also on close inspection reveal the modern printing process used.
FAQ Index:
Straightening Posters
Matting/Framing
Shipping
Question: What is a double-mat?
Answer: All our mats are so-called double-mats, which means that two instead of one sheet of acid-free matboard is used, the top one cut slightly wider than the one below, thus adding depth and texture to the print.
Question: What type of frame is recommended for optimum display?
Answer: The choice of frame depends on personal taste, and any frame that protects the print from dust and moisture is fine. However, we recommend Koa wood frames for added lustre and durability, since this wood not only has a rich appearance, it is also a high quality material that will keep its natural shine for many years.
To learn more about Koa wood, please follow this link.
Question: Received the koa and bamboo frames the other day. What kind of polish/oil should I put on them? Please advise as to the finish to give it a shine.
Answer: There are two oils we recommend for non-waxed Koa:
1: Furniture polish. We use Milsek, a special polish with orange peel mixed into it. It brings out the luster of koa really well. The bottle can be purchased in furniture stores.
2: Kukui nut oil. It is the traditional Hawaiian oil that koa wood carftsman prefer, but it's expensive and hard to find. We located the following sources:
alohagiftbaskets
gotchacoveredkauai
For bamboo frames we recommend just a light spray of Windex to polish up the frame.
If you received frames with plexi-glass, they are best cleaned with just water. Again, be careful not to scratch the surface or to let water get in the frame.
Question: What should I pay attention to when displaying my framed print?
Answer: First, have the print framed if it isn't already. Then, to maximize its appearance pay attention to where you display the print. A wall facing away from sunlight is preferred, as sunlight may cause fading over time, in spite of the high quality of the pigments used. Our Ultrachrome inks are of archival quality, guaranteed to last over 80 years. Never illuminate artwork direcly with a spotlight. There are specially designed fixtures, lamps, and glass/plexiglass on the market that limit ultra-violet exposure of artwork. At a later date we intend to display links to companies that market such products.
Question: What is the best way to mat and frame my posters?
Answer: Due to their size, the matting and framing of posters is best left to a professional framer. If you do attempt this yourself visit your favorite art supply store and have them advise you on special acid-free mat board and hinging tape. However, if you buy your print(s) and frame(s) at the same time from us, your prints will arrive neatly framed, complete with hanging hardware which requires some assembly. When indicated as such, frames come 'Ready To Hang.'
Question: Why don't you put the hanging eyes and wire on your frames?
Answer: Because of our Satisfaction Guaranteed policy you must be sure you accept the framed prints before hanging wire can be attached. Experience has taught us that if the customer returns items (we're lucky as we receive less than 10 returns in a year) less attention is paid to careful packaging, and attached screws and wire can bring damage to the frame or other frames when shipped together. Attaching the supplied hardware is simple and should take just minutes. Just make sure you pre-dent the wood with something pointy like a nail before placing a screw on it to keep it from sliding away. Generally, the wood is soft enough to allow for screwing the eye in by hand, otherwise use pliers. If you want to pre-drill the hole be careful not to go too deep. As a rule, position the eyes about 1/4 - 1/3 from the top of the frame, and leave some slack in the wire without it protruding above the frame. The wire can simply be wound to keep it from sliding back through the eye.
FAQ Index:
Straightening Posters
Matting/Framing
Shipping
Question: How will you ship my ordered items?
Answer: We ship our large (20x28 "A" size) and mini-poster (16x20 "AA" size) rolled up in a tube, while our matted and framed prints are shipped flat and bubble-wrapped.
Question: I understand the shipping part, but what's the meaning of 'handling?'
Answer: 'Handling' is another way some businesses charge customers for wrapping your items and generating an invoice. While we pass the cost of shipping on to the customer (and sometimes not, as during a promotion), we do not charge for 'handling,' except when special packaging is required. Therefore, the shipping fee we charge should closely resemble the cost of shipping. If you feel you have been charged too much, please let us know. Read more about our shipping policy.
FAQ Index:
Straightening Posters
Matting/Framing
Shipping
