FAQ
How long does it take?
You will usually receive your beautiful book or collage 4-6 weeks from receipt of artwork. The process can take a bit less or a bit more time depending on how quickly the book is approved by the customer and how many pieces you send. During busy periods, the turnaround time may take slightly longer. If you would like your book quickly, please get in touch and we'll try our best to accommodate you. International orders will take longer to ship.
Do I get the artwork back?
Yes, we will return your artwork via recorded delivery along with your finished book. If you choose not to have the artwork returned, we'll recycle it for you. Just let us know when we send you an invoice.
What kinds of art can I include?
Just about anything. Paintings, drawings, cards, little notes, scrap books, cut-outs, collages and 3D objects. Each side of a card or page of a book counts as one piece. If you only wish to include certain pages of a workbook or certain sides of an artwork that has art on both sides, please label these clearly (eg with a post-it note or in clear pen or pencil, 'not this side'). We would caution against sending anything too delicate that might be damaged in transit.
What artwork works best?
Bright colors and good contrast work best. Sculptures, 3D art and unusual shapes also look fantastic. For the collages, pieces where the image and color fill the frame look the best. Please avoid folding the art as the creases can be difficult to remove. That being said, don't discard something you love because it has a few wrinkles or tears. Our team of professional designers can work wonders in Photoshop. Keep in mind that artwork with low contrast such as pale pencil will not print well but once again our expert designers will do their best. We try to make pieces look as true to life as possible, but if you see something in the proof that you would like enhancing further (eg brightening, darkening or cleaning up) please let us know and we will try to enhance it further for you. We suggest only choosing pieces that will travel well. We would not want any of your delicate pieces to get damaged in transit.
What if I submit more artwork than required?
Please be sure to include the correct number of pieces for your book. If more pieces of artwork are submitted than the number written on your submission form, we will charge for the extra pieces. If you're not sure what artwork to include, we can edit it down for you, excluding any pieces we don't think will work so well, for a charge of 30 EUR per hour.
Can I include text in the book?
Yes, we are happy to include captions at a cost of 0,50 EUR per caption. Dedications can be added to the title page free of charge.
Can I add a photograph of my child to the book?
Yes, we usually include a title page with a photo of the child, their name and dates of the artwork (eg 2012 - 2016). We can also add additional photos to the body of the book.
Can I add a dedication to the book?
A personalized dedication can be added to make an extra special gift. It can be handwritten or typed, whichever you prefer. Dedications can be added free of charge.
Can the artwork appear in a chronological order?
Yes. Please clearly number the back of each piece of artwork and tick the box on the art submission form to say that the book will be chronological. We recommend that customers let us move pieces around slightly to make a more beautiful book, but it's up to you. You can indicate this on the form. Alternatively, you can group the artwork into sections (eg school years) and we'll mix the pieces up within the years. This is recommended as it allows us to make the most beautiful layouts possible by matching pieces with similar themes, colors and styles. Please note that if you'd like us to put the work into date order for you, there will be an additional charge for this service.
How big are your Doodle Club shipping boxes?
Our shipping kit boxes are 57 x 34 x 7 cm. If you're sending the artwork of more than one child and think that you can fit all of the artwork in one box, please get in touch and we'll send you an art submission form to print. If you're sending artwork for multiple children or multiple books or collages (eg different school years), please separate the artwork clearly and complete one art submission form for each book or collage.
How is the artwork laid out in the books?
The artwork will be laid out in the way we think will look best. Some pieces will get their own page and others will be grouped with other similar images that make them stand out.
Can I make any changes to the PDF mock up?
We allow up to three small changes, but we cannot completely redesign the layouts. Examples of changes could be swapping one image for another, or making an image bigger or smaller.
How much does shipping cost?
The delivery of your book will cost you nothing.
Why not do this myself?
A first attempt at making an art book would take you roughly 40 hours and will probably prove harder than you think. Professional photography will ensure the best possible image of your artwork and editing expertise is essential when dealing with wrinkled paper, gray shadows, lousy color reproduction and unwanted backgrounds. Our graphic designers create beautiful fine art layouts and our books are professionally printed and bound using premium quality materials.
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