Help/FAQ

How do I have a custom painting created from one of my pictures?
* Determine the size and quality of canvas that you want.
* Purchase the canvas or canvases that you want
* After your purchase, email your color choices and picture to us
* We will then email you 1-5 digital images (also called comps or proofs) of what your custom painting will look like based on the composition(s) our artists think look best
* After your approval we’ll paint your custom work of art, let it dry for 24 hours and then ship it to you by UPS Ground or USPS Priority Mail

What if the picture I want to use isn't a digital image? Or what if I can't email it to you?
No problem. If you can't scan it or email it, then just send it to us in the mail. We'll mail it back to you along with your custom work of art. Send your image to:
Elyas Beria
Orders Department
Custom Canvases
142 Stockholm St. Suite 204
Brooklyn, NY 11221

What format should my digital image be in?
Almost all formats are suitable. The most common image formats are JPEG, JPG, GIF, BMP, TIFF, and PNG.

What’s the minimum resolution a digital picture needs to be in? If it’s a huge picture should I still send it via email?
The higher the reslution, the better, but digital images do not necessarily need to be very high in resolution in order to for us to use them. In most cases a digital image at low to medium resolution will work fine. If you don’t want to email a huge file you can save a copy and shrink the image or save it at a lower resolution and email the smaller file to us. But let us know that a higher resolution image is available; if we need the original higher resolution file we will contact you. When in doubt simply email the higher resolution file to us.

What if I like several colors but can't decide which ones will look best?
Just email us your picture and we'll create digital images of what your custom painting might look like with the colors you're interested in. You can then decide which color combination you like best. If you have no idea which colors might look best, we are happy to make recommendations.

What if I want to use colors other than the standard Custom Canvases colors?
Simply contact us with your request. Depending on the colors that you want to use we can either accommodate your request without any extra charge or if a special order of paint is necessary we may request a small fee to cover the added expenses. Please note that all computer monitors display colors differently and we may not be able to match a particular color EXACTLY.

How long will it take for me to receive my custom work of art?
Please allow about two months. In some cases you may receive your painting in less time and in other cases it may take a bit longer, please ask for an estimate after your proof if created. As mentioned above, after we receive your payment and the image you want to use, we will create anywhere from 1-5 digital images (called "comps" or "proofs") of what your custom painting will look like based on the composition(s) our artists think look best. After you approve the necessary comps we will then begin painting. If your order is time sensitive (e.g. for a birthday or anniversary) please contact us to find out what the current timeframe is. Remeber, you always have a custom greeting card option if your deadline is less than the time we need to paint your work of art (see the next question below.)

Please note that if you're paying by check, eCheck, or money order, work will not begin until your payment has been processed and cleared. If you order multiple paintings, a multi-painting project, or if your painting(s) are particularly large or intricate, it could take longer than four weeks. Please ask for an estimate.

What if I need my painting sooner than two months?
If you are giving your painting as a gift we will do our best to get it to you as soon as possible but if you need your painting sooner than we can provide it, you have the option of requesting a free custom greeting card which incorporates your digital proof, showing the gift recipient exactly what their painting will look like.

Do you ship to other countries?
Yes we do. If you are an international customer please contact us first BEFORE you attempt to place your order for shipping costs and availability.

Does a real person paint these, or are you just printing it onto canvas?
Yes, a real person paints each individual custom painting. We don't use mass production techniques like silk screening, thermal canvas printing, or giclée to create our custom works of art.

Which forms of payment do you accept?
You can pay either with a check, money order, or with Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express via PayPal. The secure PayPal payment process is integrated into your shopping cart. There’s no need to take any additional steps. Just check out and make your purchase as you normally would. Please note that if you're paying by check, eCheck, or money order, work will not begin until your payment has been processed and cleared.

Can I pay with a credit card using your integrated secure PayPal payment process even if I don’t have a PayPal account?
Absolutely. After you check out, simply indicate that you don't have a PayPal account and then make your purchase as you normally would.

My browser is telling me your site isn’t secure, how can I trust you with my credit card information?
We don't actually collect your credit card information ourselves. All credit card payments are handled through PayPal which is one of the Web's most secure and accepted payment processors. Once you place your order and click to pay, you are transferred to our secure payment page hosted by PayPal. This is where you enter your credit card info, once you reach this point the page is secure and your browser should indicate so. PayPal does not relay credit card numbers to us, they process the payment themselves. To find out more about PayPal visit www.PayPal.com.

Can you ship my order overnight rather than UPS Ground?
Yes, for an additional fee depending on the size of your order and the destination. Please contact us first before you place your order for pricing. Unfortunately, at this time this additional fee will have to be charged separately from your order.