Frequently Asked Questions (Quacks)

How does the whole process work?

It is a simple, three step process. First, browse our galleries until you find a design you like, or that can be modified to suit your needs. Second, fill out the free digital proof request form with your desired customizations and complete your design request to receive a unique order number. You will receive an instant price quote based on the information you gave. Finally, after you have sent your photos (if applicable) at the appropriate quality with any necessary releases, you will receive your first proof in 1-2 business days. Each change and additional proof will take 1-2 business days also. Once you have settled on a proof for printing, you will be sent an invoice. Once paid in full, the design will be printed and sent to you.

How long does it take to complete my cards?

Our current proofing time is 1-2 business days once we receive all your photos at a usable quality with their applicable releases (download our standard release here if your photographer does not have one of their own). Additional proof/change requests: 1-2 business days. Estimated printing time: 3-5 business days. Estimated domestic US shipping time: 2-3 mail days via USPS Priority Mail, 1-2 mail days via USPS Express Mail - international clients will receive shipping quotes with their first proofs or can request them from the shipping department. No rush processing is available at this time.

What shipping methods are available?

USPS Priority Mail (2-3 days estimated) is our standard shipping method. USPS Express Mail (1-2 mail days estimated) is available upon request, as is UPS or FedEx shipping (these options are more expensive, however). For international shipping, please see the next question.

Do you ship internationally?

Yes. When you place your free proof request and submit your photos, you will be sent an e-mail from our shipping department with an estimated time and cost for shipping to your country. Times range from 12 mail days to FedEx 1 - 3 day delivery. We can ship anywhere the United States Postal Service delivers. You can check the list by going to their site at USPS.com. All times and costs are estimates and the final amount will be sent to you on your invoice once you have approved your final proof. It is also important to note that customs fees, duty taxes or other charges might apply to your country. This is something for which you are responsible, so please keep that in mind when placing an order. Customs delays are also possible, so be sure to allow extra time for your order to arrive.

How do I submit my photos to you?

There are 2 ways you can submit photos to us.

First, we recommend sending them as direct attachments via email. DO NOT use a service such as AOL Photo Share, Snapfish, Picasa, Kodak, etc. These services will shrink and compress your images to a point where we can not use them. Also, if you use a web-based email (Hotmail, AOL, GMail, etc) be sure to attach your pictures as "Files" and not as "Pictures." Make sure that your order number is in the subject line so that we can quickly process your request.

Secondly, you can mail the photos to us if you do not have access to a scanner or digital copies of the pictures. E-mail Customer Service for our USPS shipping address.

All photos submitted must be taken by you or accompanied by a signed release from your photographer (when you purchase a CD with reprinting rights, it generally comes with a release, please scan that in or take a photo of it and send it to us along with your photos). If your photos appear to be professionally taken but are not, please have the person who took the photos complete our photo release form, leaving the studio name blank if it is not applicable, and return it with your photos as a .jpg or .pdf to expedite your order processing.

How should my digital pictures be formatted?

If you are sending us pictures from your digital camera, import them at their original size to your computer and then attach the full-size .jpg images, one or two at a time, to e-mails to photos @ lilduckduck.com (if they are larger than 3 MB each, you may size them down slightly for ease of e-mailing without loss of quality on your printed product). If you are planning on scanning in your pictures, please make sure you are saving them to a .jpg file at 300dpi resolution with at least a 150% size (see our scanning tutorial for more detailed instructions). If you scan in professionally taken photos, they still require a signed release from the photographer.

Is there anything you will not print?

Yes. We will not print anything showing private body parts (those normally covered by swimwear) on anyone. Any newborn photos with the "Cute bottom" picture must be submitted from a professional studio & no frontal shots can be accepted. Also, we will not print profanity or offensive gestures.

My scanner isn't working. Can you help me?

Sadly, while we are quite brilliant with our own scanners, there are so many that is difficult to provide support to every model. Please see our scanning tutorial for detailed instructions, if that does not work, please read the directions that came with your scanner, visit the manufacturer's website, or if all else fails, go to your local FedEx/Kinko's/Staples/Office Depot/UPS store location where you can use their scanning equipment.

I had a friend/family member take the photo. Do I still need a release?

Yes, a signed release must be given allowing Lil' Duck Duck, LLC to reprint the photograph(s) for use on your design, the photographer can use our release and just leave the studio name blank if it does not apply (the rest of the form must be completed, forms will only be accepted via scanned attachment, clear photos, fax or postal mail. You may not type out the release in an e-mail body or a text editor such as Word and send it to us as that is not a signed legal release.). Lil' Duck Duck reserves the right to decline any release for any reason and to hold the proofing of your order until the validity of the release can be confirmed through direct contact with the photographer.

Can I use pictures from a professional photo session?

If you are supplying us with a photo taken by a professional photo house, the image is owned by them. We cannot reprint any of these images without consent from the photographer, regardless of the country in which the photos were taken or the photographer resides. Release forms are standard and your photo house should have them on file, you may have even received one if you purchased a CD/reprinting rights for your images. If they do not, have them complete our photo release form. Please have them e-mail (as a .jpg or .pdf attachment only with a handwritten signature), fax or snail mail the release to us, they can also take a clear photo of the completed release form and return that to us. By sending us your photos & the applicable releases, you certify that you have permission from the photographer to allow Lil' Duck Duck to reprint your images for your design & agree to hold harmless Lil' Duck Duck, LLC, for all costs, expenses, attorney's fees or judgments resulting from any claims or lawsuits made for any grounds claiming that the product produced violates any copyright or proprietary right of any person or entity.

Should I scan in my whole picture or try to crop it myself?

When you are scanning in your photos, feel free to scan the entire photo image (but not the whole scanner bed, select only the photo image). We can handle specific cropping needs. It is always better to have more to fall back on than too little. Please make sure that the resolution/depth is set to 300(dpi) and the size/scale set to at least 150% (more details are on our scanning tutorial page). Also be sure to save your images as .jpg files, saving them as .pdf, .bmp or .tif images or as a Word or other text editor document will result in loss of quality, probably making your files unusable, or may make your files too large to send via e-mail.

Can you convert my photos to Black & White and vice versa?

We can convert your image into Black & White as well as sepia. However, we do not have the ability (nor the time) to convert Black & White images into color. If you wish to custom-tint your images (i.e. have a pink bow on an otherwise black & white photo) please do so before sending the image to us, as we do not offer that service at this time (the ducks are busy creatures!).

Do you do any other products such as business cards or novelty items?

We can do other card printings such as business cards, bookmarks, postcards, etc. using a logo that you have already created and for which you own the reprinting rights (we do not do any logo design at this time). Anything involving external objects (i.e. the invitation coming out of a pen, magnets, the invitation being attached to a real rubber ducky, ribbons, hole punching, etc) cannot be done at this time, although you may request for a space to be left on your design for you to punch a hole if desired.

Can I call you about my design?

While our child, Lil' Duck, is certain that the phone is his own personal property, he's not that great at answering questions for you yet (he's only four!). Our business was created for our little one (more about us here), so we work via e-mail to allow him to play and spend time with us, as well as to keep everything in writing (it's the fastest way for us to handle incoming requests). Just write us with your questions and we'll be happy to answer them via e-mail.

Can I get envelopes in advance of the actual design order so I can start addressing them?

Sorry, but we do not have extra envelopes available at this time.

I am having trouble with USPS, UPS, or my local mail service in their delivery of my package.

Once your order has left our office, you are sent a shipping notification with a tracking or delivery confirmation number (depending on your shipping method). If something happens with your package in transit or it is delivered to the wrong address, we can not be held responsible if the information provided to us is incorrect. Likewise, if your information is correct and your package has not arrived in the allotted time, you will need to contact your local Post Office for any and all follow up. Express Mail packages require a signature, and other shipping methods may also require a person to be home depending on your location and carrier guidelines. We have no control once the package leaves our office and cannot be responsible for lost, damaged or misdirected packages. Please let the shipping department know if you would like to purchase insurance up to $500 on your order by clicking here. Once you receive your order, please be careful in handling your cards and package them appropriately for individual mailing. We cannot be responsible to damage incurred to your cards after they leave our office, including mailing postcards without envelopes or mishandling your cards.

Can I have a cartoon character or another copyrighted image on my announcement?

Not as a graphic. Most characters, like Mickey Mouse, Dora, Lightning McQueen, etc, are copyrighted images and cannot be used. However, if you have personally taken a picture of a character, perhaps of figurines on a wedding cake or a street character at a theme park, we can use your photo. We may also use a photo of your child with the themed toy or stuffed animal, wearing a themed shirt, etc, & we can use similar colors & font to create the feel for your themed party. You also may not overlay a copyrighted graphic onto your photo file (clip art is included unless you own the reprinting rights & have a signed document to that effect). This also extends to logos, sports graphics and other copyrighted materials which cannot be used without a valid release from their owner/copyright holder.

I am not sure what your different stocks look like. Can I order a sample?

Yes, if you live in the US. The complimentary sample pack will include our single sided lustre and metallic finish photo paper and our slight gloss finish card stock. We cannot offer samples of specific designs at this time as we use a professional printer for each order, we will send you sample designs that we have in stock. Card stock orders are printed right onto the stock using real liquid ink, the weight of the standard stock is 110 lb. and it is finished with a slight gloss coating (you can still write messages on it if desired with a ballpoint pen). Contact the shipping department with your US address to request this sample pack.

How many changes am I allowed to my proof and do you charge per change?

Currently we do not charge for reasonable changes to your order, however, due to time limitations we do have a limit of 7 changes per order. If you do go over that limit, there will be a $15.00 fee per change for time spent. There is no cancellation fee at this time for unpaid proof requests. Also, while we do not charge for your changes, please respect that we are doing proofs for other clients and we can not give you a proof for every design on the site. Please choose one for your event and let us know if you would like to combine elements (you may e-mail us detailed instructions) from various designs. If you have questions please contact Customer Service.

Do you have a list of fonts or colors from which I can choose?

No. The reason is that our list is very, very long and we have learned from experience that the quickest thing to do is to browse our galleries and locate a font you like in one of our other designs. Let your designer know which design you would like to make the switch with and you will be all set. As for the color, we can use any color in the spectrum. However, since monitors differ in color temperature we recommend matching a color in one of the photos you have sent or specifying the color via the universal RGB number. Please view our Image & Standards page for more information on color differences.

Do you have a printed catalog I can order?

Due to the custom, ever-changing nature of our products, our catalog is kept online only at this time. You may visit our galleries to see all of our designs, of course.

Can I just order the digital version of my design and print it myself?

Unfortunately, this is not available due to high volume & copyright restrictions.

Can I order blank cards?

We create custom designs for your event, so we will customize your cards with all the necessary details for your event at no additional charge. Our photo paper and card stock cannot be put through your home printer or copier, as it will ruin both the cards and your machine. If you wish just a simple, generic message or your photo without a message on one of our designs, just make those notes when requesting your custom digital proof. We can also leave space for you to hand write notes and additional party details on our card stock paper (photo paper is like your personal photos, not suitable for writing).

Do you print cards in other languages?

Yes. However, we can not translate the text for you. If you wish to have the text in another language, please provide us with the text in the language you would like it to appear (exactly, checking for grammar & spelling as we will not be able to do that for you). Please send this text via e-mail as a screenshot (.jpg, .bmp, .tif or .pdf image) because our order form tends to eat some characters. You are responsible for spelling & grammar, as always. If you wish for your order to be printed in more than one language, please provide all wording in all languages & each language must be ordered in sets of 25 only due to printer requirements (i. e. we cannot do 15 in English & 15 in Polish, it must be 25 and 25) .

Are envelopes included if I do not order return address printing?

Yes. You will always receive white 28 lb. unlined envelopes with your order with the exception of bookmarks & Lil’ Ducky cards (2x3.5" small cards, used for valentine cards, RSVP cards, insert cards and gift tags, among other things). We suggest mailing all of our other cards in envelopes, including those formatted as postcards, as we cannot be responsible for damage to your cards during the mailing process. 5x5" cards will be shipped with 5x7" envelopes, 5x5" envelopes are available upon request (although you may always purchase your own envelopes from your local paper store and use them instead as we do not charge an additional fee for our envelopes).

I am an event planner/photographer and would like to know more about your business.

We are always happy to provide professional design services to photography houses. Please e-mail Customer Service for more information.

Can I get a hard copy of my proof?

No. Due to our use of a professional printer for the best possible quality, we can only print a minimum of 25 cards at a time, therefore we only offer digital .jpg proofing with watermarks. If you wish to see the stock in order to make your final decision, please request one of our free sample packs.

Can I mix and match elements of different designs?

Yes. We realize that everyone has different tastes and want to make your designs as unique as possible. Simply pick the design that matches your final design as closely as possible and in your order reference the other images from which you would like to borrow elements.

Do you accept orders for custom designs?

Many of the designs you see on the site are designs inspired by our clients. Simply pick the design that is closest to your final concept and then describe in detail in your design notes & e-mail what you would like to see changed. We do not create designs entirely from scratch due to time constraints and do not have the staffing to create graphics, clip art, logos or banners at this time. We do have a large library of graphics, so if you wish a specific item to be placed on your design, just request it in the design notes field or contact Customer Service.

What kinds of payment do you accept?

We accept all major credit cards (VISA, MasterCard, Discover, AmEx), eChecks & Paypal payments, all via PayPal as a secure payment processor.You do not need a PayPal account to pay via PayPal, you may use a credit card to pay, this is just a secure way to process your payment. Never send any credit or bank card information via e-mail, it is unsecured and we will not process payment information sent this way for our own protection.

Can I split shipments to two or more different addresses?

Yes, you will pay an additional shipping fee though, of course. If you need part of your order to go to a different address, please make sure you communicate that clearly to us when you send your photos for your proof. You may also split the return address printing (i.e. if you wish to order invitations and then give the thank you cards to the honoree as a gift, we can print your address on the invitation envelopes and their address on the thank you envelopes).

Can you get any design on any of the stocks?

No. For example, photo stock can not be double sided as it is printed on photo paper that has the typical photo backing you get when you develop your own film. Please refer to each product’s individual page to see what type of paper is available for that design.

Can I order different color envelopes?

No. All envelopes come in white and are 28 lb. weight, unlined. 5x5" cards will ship with 5x7" envelopes, 5x5" envelopes are available upon request. However, you may certainly purchase your own envelopes from a local paper store in any color/weight you wish to fit our cards, as we do not charge an additional fee for our envelopes.

Can you do return address printing?

Yes. We will print your return address centered on the back flap of each white, unlined, 28 lb. envelope in black ink only with the matching or a complementary font from your order. Raised or embossed printing is not available. However, we cannot print your individual guest or recipient addresses on the front & do not offer a mailing service at this time. 5x5" cards will ship with 5x7" sized envelopes unless 5x5" envelopes are requested.

Will my order be used on your website?

We do use some photos as examples in our galleries with the photographer's permission. We will always change your personal information before posting anything & you may choose when placing your proof request whether you wish your photos to be displayed.