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Frequently Asked Questions

Returns.

Product Information.

Framing Help.

Glossary

Returns.



1. Can I return an item that I received as a gift?
To return goods, please save the item(s) and packaging. Be sure to include a copy of your invoice (packing slip) with your return, along with an explanation stating why you are not satisfied with the item(s). We will gladly accept a gift return for exchange within thirty (30) days from date of shipment. See our terms and conditions for full details.

2. What is your return policy?
We offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee. If for any reason you're not completely satisfied we will gladly accept a return for exchange or for refund (less S&H), provided the item is returned within thirty (30) days from date of shipment. See our terms and conditions for full details, including our policy for gift returns.

3. How do I return an item?
To return an Art.com-purchased item, please return the item(s) in the same packaging it was shipped in. Be sure to include a copy of your invoice (packing slip) with your return along with an explanation stating why you are not satisfied with the item(s). We will gladly accept a return for exchange within thirty (30) days from date of shipment. See our terms and conditions for full details.

Product Information.


1. Do you supply what is needed to hang my framed print?
Yes. Everything you need to properly hang your frame is included with your purchase.

2. How should I clean my framed item if acrylic glazing was used?
Many glass cleaners cannot be used to clean acrylic. Wash carefully with a solution of mild soap or detergent and lukewarm water. Use a soft, damp cloth, applying only light pressure. Rinse with clean water and dry by blotting with a damp cloth or chamois. Take care to prevent any cleaning solution from seeping between the glazing and the frame, which could damage the matting or the print.

3. Is the image on your site accurate to what I will be sent?
We strive for a high degree of image accuracy. However, in some cases, the visual representation may be approximate. Occasionally, minor modifications occur between printing runs. If you are not satisfied with the product you receive, you may return it within 30 days for a full refund.

4. How accurate are the item dimensions listed on your Web pages?
We carefully verify the accuracy of the dimensions of all images on our site. If you are not satisfied with the product you receive, you may return it within 30 days for a full refund.

5. What kind of art do you sell?
Art.com is the world's leading marketplace for open-edition reproductions -- that is, prints, posters, photographs -- and limited-edition prints, covering a wide range of tastes from classical fine art to popular culture kitsch to educational themes to sports, music, or movie celebrities. In addition, we provide high-quality custom mounting, matting and framing services to enhance your art purchase. We offer a one-stop online shopping experience that lets you acquire art that is as unique as you are.

Framing Help.


1. How is your framing different from my local art and framing shop?
At Art.com, we use the same high-quality framing components that you would find in traditional fine framing stores, with generally much more variety. Our assemblers are professionally trained and we pride ourselves on our state-of-the-art facility. In addition, we can offer you the convenience of at-home shopping, 24 hours a day. And, you will receive your framed purchase delivered to your door in far less time than ordering through a local frame shop. Our customers frequently tell us that the quality of our matting and framing has surpassed their expectations.

2. Do you offer double or triple matting options?
Yes we do. To find multiple matting options for a print, simply select the product, click the "Custom Frame" button, and click "Step 2, Matting." If you need help, contact our Customer Support Center toll free at 1-800-952-5592 or via email at support@art.com.

3. What kind of mats do you offer?
We have a wide range of high-quality matting materials, including paper, textured, fabric and suede. We also let you see the effect of various mat treatments on your print in our Custom Frame Shop.

4. What kind of glass do you use?
We use glass or acrylic on our framed products. We offer eight glazing options, including standard glass, nonglare glass, standard UV glass, nonglare UV glass, and standard acrylic, nonglare acrylic, standard UV acrylic, and nonglare UV acrylic. The option you choose depends on the size of the framed piece, the location where your picture will hang, and the kind of protection your art item needs. Our Framing Help section provides more information on our glazing options, or you can contact our Customer Support Center toll free at 1-800-952-5592 with any questions.

5. Can I buy just a frame, mat, or glass?
Sorry, but we do not offer this option. We do not sell framing materials unless purchased and assembled with a print we offer.

6. Can all items on the site be framed?
We provide framing of art items to a maximum framed size of 43" x 52" -- this includes 95% of the art items on our Web site. If you select a framing size of 43" x 52" or larger, you will be advised to choose a smaller size.

7. Can you assist me with art framing choices?
We sure can. Framing suggestions can be found within our Customer Frame Shop. If you'd like, contact our Customer Support Center toll free at 1-800-952-5592 or via email at support @art.com with your framing question and we will be happy to assist you.

8. Can I frame a print I already own?
No. We do not provide framing services for pre-owned prints. All of our framing materials are custom fitted to prints we provide.

Glossary.


1. What is moulding?
Moulding is the wood or metal decorative material used for framing a a print or poster At Art.com, we use the finest quality mouldings, just as you would find in traditional fine framing stores. Our wood moulding is made of high-quality solid wood and comes in a wide variety of colors and styles. Our metal moulding is made of aluminum and comes in many shapes, sizes, and finishes. We offer frosted, matte, brushed, and glossy finishes.

2. What is foam board?
Foam board is a lightweight, stiff backing affixed to a print or poster, either framed or unframed . At Art.com, we use Fom-Cor, known for its exceptionally smooth surface and rigid core. The heat and pressure of a dry-mount press activates the adhesive coating on the Fom-Cor forming a smooth, permanent bond with the print.

3. What is mat board?
Mat board is a thick, stiff paper border around a print or poster. Our mat board is made of paper that is buffered to an alkaline pH (to prevent acid damage to the print) and provides consistent colors, clean creamy bevels, and smooth cuts.

4. What is acrylic glazing?
Acrylic is a clear plastic composite often used in place of glass where safety, weight and ease of handling are a concern. Acrylic is much more impact-resistant than conventional plate glass and has similar impact strength compared to tempered glass. In addition to its excellent impact strength, an acrylic sheet of the same size and thickness is half the weight of glass. At Art.com, we use acrylic glazing for most framed pieces with a size of 20" x 24" or larger.

5. What is a serigraph?
A serigraph is an original silk-screen color print. Serigraphy (or silk screening) is a stencil process in which ink is forced onto the material to be printd through the meshes of a silk or organdy screen, which has been prepared to have pervious printing areas and impervious nonprinting areas.

6. What is the difference between a wall poster, a fine art poster, and a fine art print?
Generally the difference is in the level of quality. Wall posters are typically printed in large volume on less expensive paper, fine-art posters are printed on good-quality paper, and fine-art prints are printed with careful attention to true color reproduction on high-quality paper.

7. What is a lithograph?
A lithograph is a printing technique based on the principle that oil and water do not mix. Using oil-based ink or a grease crayon, an image is drawn on a flat stone or metal plate. Water is applied to the surface and is repelled by the areas where oil-based images have been drawn. The entire surface is then coated with an oil-based ink that adheres only to the areas drawn in oil, ink, or crayon. The image is then printed on paper. Lithography became a popular printing technique because thousands of exact replicas could be made that were like drawings on paper, without degradation of the image.

8. What is offset lithography?
Offset lithography is an industrialized version of the same printing technique as lithography. By using modern printing presses, high-quality reproductions are produced faster and in higher volumes than with manually-produced lithographs.

9. What does 'S/N' mean?
S/N is a symbol used to indicate that a limited edition print has been signed and numbered by the artist himself/herself.

10. Will the value of a limited edition increase like other collector items?
By their nature of being limited in number, demand for certain limited edition prints can be greater than the number of reproductions produced for the edition.˙ Once an edition is sold out from the publisher, which means that the print is no longer available from the publisher but may still be available from an authorized dealer,˙the prints are considered to be on the Secondary Market. This means that the print can be bought and sold by any dealer or individual, often above issue price, depending on supply and demand.

11. Why do Limited Edition prints cost more than other prints on the Art.com web site?
The premium price of limited editions is a function of the limited supply of each product, and the exceptionally high quality of these prints. Typically, the more manually intensive the process is, the more each limited-edition print will cost.

12. What is a numbered print?
Numbering refers to labeling on a print that specifies its place in the order of its production when it is one of a limited edition.

13. What is a reproduction?
A reproduction is a copy or facsimile of an origianl work. The end product of a reproduction is significantly faithful in its resemblance to the form and elements of the original.

14. What is an edition?
An edition is a set of identical prints, sometimes numbered and signed, often printed under the supervision of the artist. Two numbers are often written at the lower edge of a print -- the first indicating the print's place in the order of all prints in the edition, the second number indicating the total number of prints in the edition.

15. What is a Limited Edition?
A limited edition is a series of identical prints, which are limited to a one-time printing of a certain number of pieces. The artist determines the size of the edition, and usually signs and numbers each individual piece.

16. What is a print?
A print is a graphic image that has been duplicated one or more times. There are various technicques used to create a print, such as serigraphy (or silk screening), lithography, etching, and offset printing. Prints, especially limited editions are considered fine art and can be highly valued.

17. What is an original?
An original work is considered to be an authentic example of the works of an artist, rather than a reproduction or imitation.