Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is your turnaround time?

    Prints up to 12x18 are usually done in about 3 hours. Most other orders are produced in 1-3 business days. Items produced by partner labs can have a 2-3 week turnaround. These items indicate this in their description, and are applicable for cardstock card orders, film, notepads, books, and probably a couple other things I can't remember at the moment. But check the description when you order!

    You will be notified by text and/or email when your order is complete and ready for pick up, or has been shipped. Keep in mind turnaround time can vary depending on the print item and the size of the order. Busy seasonal times may also cause a variance in production times.

  • What are your store hours?

    Tuesday-Saturady: 10am - 4pm

    Sunday and Monday CLOSED

    If you have trouble getting to the shop during normal business hours, we offer after-hours delivery and pickup as well as appointments!

  • What color mode and profile should I use?

    Images uploaded to our website should be in RGB color mode with the sRGB color space.

  • How big should my file be?

    These are our recommendations. File sizes listed are based on an average image with minimal compression. Smaller files may produce acceptable image quality.

    4x5 - 400x600
    4x6 - 400x600
    5x7 - 500x700
    8x10 - 800x1000
    11x14 -1100x1400
    12x18 -1200x1800
    16x20 - 1600x2000
    20x24 - 2000x2400
    30x40 - 3000x4000
    36x48 - 3600x4800
    40x60 - 4000x6000

  • What payment methods do you accept?

    Cash, Checks, and all major credit cards: Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover

  • Is there a minimum order amount?

    There is no minimum order, but there is a $0.50 service charge on orders below $3 that helps us maintain profitability and efficiency while also ensuring that we are providing high-quality services to our customers.

  • Do you offer Shipping?

    We sure do! Most products can be shipped anywhere in the world. For out of the lower 48 states, contact us for ship cost. We don't ship anything rigid larger than 16x20. All orders ship via USPS or UPS.

  • Do you have a return policy?

    You can return unpersonalized products that are in unopened and original packaging with store receipt within 30 days. Refunds for purchases made with credit will credit back to the card used at the time of purchase. This may take up to 5 business days upon receipt of the returned product/merchandise and may take 24-48 hours to update on your bank statement. If paid with cash, you will receive your refund right away so long as it isn't more than $100. If you paid with a check, or your cash refund is more than $100, a check will be written to you and mailed with 3 business days.

  • Our quality promise.

    We are committed at PhotoSynthesis to provide you with quality products that meet or exceed your expectations. We always shoot to WOW you! However, mistakes can be made. If you find our goods or services are faulty, please let us know. We will work with you to address your concerns. *Please note that differences in color between the original file and original image data are not a defect.

  • Our copyright policy

    By clicking PROCEED TO CHECKOUT, I declare that I am the owner or have permission from the owner of any copyright to the files/photos included in this order. By declaring that I am the owner or have permission from the owner of any copyright to the files/photos included in this order, I authorize and grant a non-exclusive license to PhotoSynthesis and its agents to produce the photos. I agree to pay the charges and for printing the photos and to indemnify and hold harmless PhotoSynthesis and its agents for any and all liability from any claims brought by any other person claiming interest in the files/photos.

    All images are copyrighted by someone, even ordinary family photos. It is PhotoSynthesis's intention to comply with the copyright laws and protect the ownership rights of copyright holders. At times, the existence of a copyright claim or the identity of the copyright owner is not apparent. The person who possesses the photo is not always the copyright owner. The purpose of this policy is to provide a method for determining who is the copyright owner, and provide guidance on handling copy requests.

    Our Policy in Handling Copyrighted Photos.

    It is our policy to make every effort possible to protect the rights of professional photographers. We will not accept clearly copyrighted work without the written permission of the photographer/creator. Photographers have the responsibility to identify and mark their photographs sufficiently to permit others to know whom to contact to obtain permission to copy. These marks would include, but are not limited to; photographer or studio name, studio logo, the actual copyright symbol or watermarked paper indicating “DO NOT COPY”. If there is no such notice or other indication that the image was taken by someone else, it may be copied. To assist you in obtaining permission to copy a photograph we recommend you contact the Professional Photographers of America at 1-800-786-6277.

    Authorized Exceptions

    Copies can be authorized under the following circumstances if there are no other factors suggesting the law would be violated: • The customer has a written consent to copy or manipulate the order from the photographer or studio named in a copyright notice or other marking. • A prior agreement with the photographer giving a blanket consent for this customer to obtain copies in the future without further documentation. • Copying or restoring a photograph is permitted for the personal use of a customer in cases where the photographer or studio is unlikely to object to copying. Here are examples of reasons why a photographer would be unlikely to object; very old photograph, damaged print, or prints made by photographers not able to be located after a reasonable effort. • A claim of "fair use" may also permit the copying of a print. A “fair use” would include; education or research, the area of the photo being copied, the number of copies, the function of the copy, and impact of the copies on the photographer’s potential resale market. • Document the claim in writing with a description of a legitimate fair use. The copy or manipulation must be appropriate and limited to the fair use purpose which is claimed.

    Appearance of Professional Photos

    It is often difficult to determine whether a photo was taken by a professional. When a copy is requested, the overall appearance must be considered. The following are some factors to consider in concluding whether a photo is a professional photo: • The presence of a copyright notice, i.e., the copyright symbol, the word "copyright" and the name and year. • The name of a photographer or studio. • Use of paper with a professional watermark or notice. • Unusual marks or alterations to a photo to cover or eliminate the above markings. • Formal poses characteristic of a sitting. • Even distribution of lighting and the absence of natural shadows. • Use of background typical of professional photos. • The photo was published, such as in a textbook, magazine or newspaper. According to FEDERAL COPYRIGHT LAW, reproduction rights to a photograph remain with the photographer. To insure compliance with this law PhotoSynthesis will reproduce a photograph only with written consent from the copyright owner. "For photographs created on or after January 1, 1978, copyright protection generally lasts for the life of the photographer plus 70 years. For photographs created before 1978, the rules are more complex, but generally involve a term of 95 years from publication or 120 years from creation, whichever is shorter. After the copyright expires, the photograph enters the public domain, meaning it can be used freely without permission."

  • Sexually explicit images.

    PhotoSynthesis has a legal obligation to report sexually explicit images involving minors to the proper authority. We reserve the right to refuse sexually explicit photo(s) and cancel/refund your order.

  • Is my personal information safe when ordering from your website?

    Yes, your payment and personal information is always safe on our website. Our Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) software is the industry standard and among the best software available today for secure commerce transactions. It encrypts all of your personal information, including credit card number, name, and address, so that it cannot be read over the internet.

    We respect and are committed to protecting your privacy. We may collect personally identifiable information when you visit our site. We also automatically receive and record information on our server logs from your browser including your IP address, cookie information and the page(s) you visited. We will not sell your personally identifiable information to anyone.