What constitutes a blank surface?
A blank surface is any surface other than a UL accessory. The most typical example of a blank surface is a wall, though you can also design for a door, window, cabinet, or any other space. Within the MyDesign Suite application, you can create a virtual replica of your existing surface by selecting “Blank Surface” from the surface dropdown menu, then inputting surface dimensions and selecting a matching color.
What does it mean to mirror my expression?
When you mirror an expression, you flip your current design backwards for use on glass, acrylic, or another transparent surface. For instance, if you placed your mirrored design on the inside of a car window, the design would appear as your original design when viewed from the outside.
What is the difference between total expression size and letter height?
Total expression size refers to the size of your overall expression. Letter height is the size of a letter A in the font you selected, and this height affects the size of each letter in that specific expression element.
Why is there a question mark near some features?
The question mark denotes a help function for specific features like the Advanced Tools. When you place your mouse arrow on the question mark, a window will open with additional information on that feature.
How do I title my expression?
When you save your MyDesign expression, you can give it a name you will remember. Your expression will then be saved in the My Saved Expressions section of MyDesign Suite, where you can access it at a later time. For more information on how to save and title your expression, refer to the comprehensive online MyDesign tutorial.
Can I separate a two-part UL Exclusive Expression or adjust the size, color, and font of the UL Exclusive Expression I select?
UL Exclusive Expressions (catalog expressions) are the proprietary designs of Uppercase Living and have been preset to certain manufacturing sizes. When you select a UL Exclusive Expression in MyDesign, you must keep the font provided within that expression. You can then choose the size and color to be applied to the whole expression, as outlined in the current Idea Catalog.
Can I add more than one custom expression to my design?
You can add as many different custom and UL Exclusive Expressions as you would like. Just be aware that every new text box you add will be counted as an individual part.
I have multiple parts in my expression. How will I receive them?
Individual elements within your MyDesign expression will arrive separately and must be applied to your surface separately as well.
How do I match up multiple expression elements on my surface?
Custom MyDesign expressions do not come with registration marks; however, registration marks will appear on any Two-Part UL Exclusive Expressions you order. We recommend printing out your completed design from MyDesign Suite and using this sheet as your reference as you apply each part. You can then trim any excess backing paper around each expression element (for easier handling) and match each part visually according to your printed design.
Once I’ve ordered my saved design, can I access it again and make changes to it?
Once you’ve saved your MyDesign Suite expression, you can access it in the My Saved Expressions section of MyDesign Suite. If you haven’t yet ordered your design, you may open the saved expression and make as many changes as you would like. Once you’ve ordered your expression once, you cannot make changes to the saved file. You may, however, copy it into a new design or reorder it to give as a gift or place on another surface in your home. Please note: If you copy an expression, you must save it with a new name.
If I start a MyDesign expression during a promotion but don’t order it until after the promotion deadline, can I still receive the promotion price?
Regardless of when you started your MyDesign expression, you will only receive the promotion price when you submit the expression to Uppercase Living before the promotion deadline.
How do I know how much my order will cost?
MyDesign Suite provides pricing details as you design your element. Pricing is separated into total, subtotal, and individual element pricing. For more details on how to track your pricing as you design your custom expression, refer to the MyDesign Tutorial.
Can I exchange a MyDesign Expression?
You can only exchange a MyDesign Expression because of a quality defect. If your design is exchanged, you will receive the exact same design you ordered previously.
How will my expression ship if some letters were positioned off the MyDesign Suite screen when I ordered it?
As you design your expression, be aware that what you see in the MyDesign screen is what will be shipped to you. If the letters of your expression have dropped off your selected accessory, you may want to adjust the text size and/or font to ensure that your expression arrives whole and fits the accessory when you apply it. If the letters have dropped of your blank surface, try adjusting the surface dimensions. The dimensions remain the same when you switch from an accessory to the blank surface option, so the size may be too small for your existing wall or door.
1. What is a Photo Print made of?
Every Photo Print you create will be printed on special vinyl that is easily applied and that can be removed and reused again and again.
2. Approximately how many times can I reuse my Photo Print?
As long as it is applied to a clean, dry surface—free of dust and debris—your Photo Print should be reusable over and over again.
3. Can Photo Prints be wiped and cleaned like the regular vinyl?
Yes.
4. Do I need to be a digital photography expert to order or assist someone in ordering a Photo Print?
No. With some simple digital photography basics and help from the UL Photo Prints application, anyone who can take digital photos, transfer them to their computer, and shop on the Web should be able to order a Photo Print.
5. I want to shoot a photo for my Photo Print. What should I keep in mind?
For the best results, use a 3- to 10-megapixel camera on its highest resolution setting, avoid using the digital “zoom” function (optical zoom is ok), and do not change the resolution of the photo before you upload it in the UL Photo Prints application. See the chart under Question #12 for specific details on the size of Photo Print you can likely create with your camera.
6. As I select my photo for UL Photo Prints, what should I look for?
The UL Photo Print application is programmed to consider general photo quality and will not accept photos that are too poor of quality to produce even a 2’ x 2’ Photo Print. The application cannot identify every aspect of poor quality, however, so we recommend selecting a photo that is:
7. What photo file formats do you accept?
Uppercase Living accepts the following file formats: JPG, PNG, GIF, TIF, and BMP.
8. Is there a limit to how big my photo file size can be when I upload it in the Photo Prints application?
Yes. The maximum file size is 10 MB.
9. The Photo Print application states that my photo should be “complete” in order to create an adequate contour-cut Photo Print. What does this mean, exactly?
“Complete” means that the object you choose to cut out of your photo should be an independent image when it is removed from its background. Pay particular attention to whether or not your defined object is obstructed by other objects in the photo, includes noticeable shadows or reflections, or is missing legs, arms, etc.
10. What does it mean to have my contour-cut Photo Print object “fill the frame” of my uploaded photo?
In this instance, we are referring to the edges of your photo as a frame. Look at the object of your photo again with the “frame” in mind. Does the object fill most of your photo, or is it only a small object in the distance?
11. I want to use a printed photo for my Photo Print but I don’t have a digital copy of the photo. Is there still a way to use the photo for my Photo Print?
Many photo shops and camera stores will digitize (scan) photos and, depending on the quality of the digitizing process, can give you a photo that will look great as a Photo Print. However, there are several ways of digitizing a printed photo, so digitizing does not guarantee that your photo will have the same quality as the one taken digitally.
12. What size of Photo Print can I expect to create with my specific digital camera?
To determine the size of Photo Print you can create with your digital camera, refer to the chart below, keeping in mind that this is a general guideline and not an exact representation. The chart assumes that you have set your camera to its highest resolution setting and—if you intend to create a contour-cut Photo Print—are capturing an object that makes up at least 75% of your photo’s frame. Be aware that within the Photo Print application, a full photo may yield more size selections and a contour-cut photo with a defined object that makes up less than 75% of the full frame may yield fewer size selections. If your image is blurred, out of focus, or lacked enough light when it was taken, it will not print well, even if it is within the right dimensions or was taken with the proper megapixels.
Approximate Camera Resolution Available Photo Print Sizes
| Approximate Camera Resolution | Available Photo Print Sizes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2x2 | 4x4 | 5x4 | 6x4 | 8x4 | |
| 3 megapixel | x | ||||
| 4 megapixel | x | x | |||
| 5 megapixel | x | x | x | ||
| 6 megapixel | x | x | x | x | |
| 10 megapixel | x | x | x | x | x |
13. I know what photo I want to use for my Photo Print. What size of Photo Print can I create with it?
The easiest way for most users to determine available Photo Print sizes is to upload a photo in the Photo Prints application and allow the system to display the sizes you can create, based on the quality of your photo and the size of your defined object (for a contour-cut Photo Print).
Intermediate users can estimate the size of Photo Print your photo can create by first determining the pixel dimensions of your photo and then comparing those dimensions with the chart below. This can be done by opening your photo in any picture-viewing program on your computer and viewing the image properties. (Sometimes this information is easiest to acquire by right-clicking on the photo/file reference in Windows File Explorer and accessing the “properties” option.) With your photo dimensions, you can then refer to the Approximate Pixel Dimensions of Your Photo column in the chart below to determine the size of Photo Print your photo can likely produce (depending upon the type of Photo Print you wish to create).
The chart below is a general guideline and assumes that the object of your photo—if you intend to create a contour-cut Photo Print—makes up at least 75% of your photo’s frame. Be aware that within the Photo Print application, a full photo may yield more size selections and a contour-cut photo with a defined object that makes up less than 75% of the full frame may yield fewer size selections. If your image is blurred, out of focus, or lacked enough light when it was taken, it will not print well, even if it is within the right dimensions or was taken with the proper megapixels.
| Approximate Pixel Dimensions of Your Photo | Available Photo Print Sizes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2x2 | 4x4 | 5x4 | 6x4 | 8x4 | |
| 2050 x 1550 | x | ||||
| 2450 x 1600 | x | x | |||
| 2600 x 1900 | x | x | x | ||
| 3300 x 2450 | x | x | x | x | |
| 3900 x 2600 | x | x | x | x | x |
A Note for More Curious Users
You don’t have to be a technology guru to order a Photo Print, particularly since the Photo Print application walks you right through the ordering process and allows you to order only those options that are available for the photo you have uploaded. While most users may not care, some users like a bit more detail on how digital images and Photo Prints work. For you, here’s more information—not essential, but interesting to note.
Digital image quality and enlargement capability is a characteristic of the number of basic image elements or dots—commonly referred to as pixels—that are packed into a given image. A pixel is one dot element in a digital photograph, and each digital image is made up of millions of these tiny pixels.
A digital camera is measured by the millions of pixels (mega = million, 1 million pixels = 1 megapixel) it can capture in a single photograph. The more pixels captured in the image, the larger the image can be scaled to your desired Photo Print size without losing significant quality. As a photo is enlarged, the loss of quality becomes apparent in the form of graininess or pixilation, especially when viewed at close range. On larger Photo Prints, some pixilation may be acceptable, since you will most likely be viewing the picture from a distance. When you look at your Photo Print from a few feet away, the dots (or pixels) you see up close will blend together to form one solid, great-looking image.
14. Can I use a photo program to crop and enlarge an object in my photo before I upload it? It is highly recommended that you avoid adjusting your original photo in any way. When you crop or enlarge an object from your image in a photo program, you artificially spread the same number of pixels out over a larger area, which will cause your photo to lose resolution quality. However, if you do enlarge the object in your photo editing program, and the image still meets the pixel requirements in our system, you will be able to upload and print the image.
15. I want to order a contour-cut Photo Print. If I define my object within the Photo Prints application using only a general box, how will you know exactly what I want you to cut out? There is an extra step in the Photo Print manufacturing process where an image technician manually identifies the object you wish to contour cut—using the box you draw as a general guideline—and determines the best way to cut out the object. Because of this extra step, it is not feasible for us to provide you with the visual results online during the ordering process, but we are confident that you will be pleased with the final product.
16. Can I create a black and white version of my photo within the Photo Print application? No, you will need to change your photo to black and white using a photo editing program before you upload it in the Photo Print application. If you simply change the photo’s color to black and white, you shouldn’t lose any quality on the resolution of the photo; however, keep in mind that any additional manipulation of your original photo may cause you to lose quality.
17. I want to place my Photo Print on the inside of a window. Can Uppercase Living print my Photo Print so that the photo shows on the side with the adhesive? Uppercase Living is unable to process Photo Prints in this manner.
18. Can I upload a logo for my Photo Print? Yes. Logos can be uploaded if they are not licensed or trademark protected by another individual or if you obtain permission from the licensor or trademark owner. Similar conditions may apply to a photo of the logo. For more details, refer to the legal Terms of Use on the Uppercase Living website. Since most logos are detailed or intricate, please be aware that your Photo Print may only be border-cut (contour-cut with a white border around the edges and with white vinyl between letters or images on the interior of the logo).
19. Can Uppercase Living cut out the interior of a logo? Uppercase Living treats logos differently than lifestyle shots within the Photo Prints process. If a logo is uploaded, it will be border-cut, meaning the outer edges of the logo will be cut out but any details on the interior of the logo will not be cut.
20. Am I allowed to create a Photo Print of a celebrity? As long as the photo you use is not copyrighted or you have permission from the copyright owner. Additional permission may be required to make any commercial use of the photo. For more details, refer to the legal Terms of Use on the Uppercase Living website.
21. Do I need to prove permissions to use professional photos? Permission is needed from the owner of any copyrighted photo used to create a Photo Print. For more details, please refer to the legal Terms of Use on the Uppercase Living website.
USING THE PHOTO PRINT APPLICATION
22. When would I need to use multiple boxes when defining objects for my contour-cut Photo Print?
If your photo includes two or more objects and you wish to contour-cut the objects individually, you may need to identify those objects using multiple boxes. See below for more details:
23. How will the Value Pack come?
Your Value Pack will include the following replicas of your original contour-cut Photo Print. If your contour-cut Photo Print includes multiple objects that are cut out separately, your Value Pack images will arrive the same way.
24. I selected a contour-cut Photo Print, but I don’t see the cutout I defined displayed in the shopping cart. Did I do something wrong?
No. There is an extra step in the Photo Print manufacturing process where an image technician manually identifies the object you wish to contour cut and determines the best way to cut out the object. Because of this extra step, it is not feasible for us to provide you with the visual results online during the ordering process; however, we are confident that you will be pleased with the final product.
25. The photo I selected for my contour-cut Photo Print is of high enough quality to upload; however, when I define my object, I cannot click the Next button to continue.
You may be trying to define too small an object for the quality of your uploaded photo. When you define an object by drawing a box around it, the system effectively enlarges that portion of the image and then determines if the image can be used for a Photo Print. Because a great deal of quality could be lost in the process (increasing the size spreads the same number of pixels out over a larger area), the system may not allow you to proceed to the next step because the resulting Photo Print would be too pixilated (grainy) for even the smallest Photo Print. We recommend uploading a photo of higher quality, defining a larger area to contour cut, or finding an acceptable photo with an object that fills more of the frame.
26. I am only able to create a square Photo Print with my rectangular photo. How will Uppercase Living make my photo fit?
If your photo is rectangular but can only be purchased as a square, or you wish to have your image in the 2’x2’ or 4’x4’ size, the image will be proportionately resized to fit on the selected size of vinyl. For example, if you upload a horizontal 4x3 photo and select the 4’x4’ size, the image will be 4 feet wide but only about 3 feet tall, and any unprinted vinyl will be removed. Don’t worry, Uppercase Living will not crop your photo or distort it in any way as we create your Photo Print.
27. I received my Photo Print and was surprised to see that my image was somewhat grainy when I view it up close. Is this correct?
The bigger the Photo Print, the more likely it is to appear a bit grainy or pixilated when viewing it up close. Keep in mind that all Photo Prints are meant to be viewed from a distance, similar to a big screen TV. When you look at your Photo Print from a few feet away, the dots (or pixels) you see will blend together to form one solid, great-looking image. Because Photo Prints are generally meant to be viewed from a distance, we have tried to establish a balance between the need for uploading a very high-quality image and one’s desire to select as large a Photo Print as possible from an average digital camera. The Photo Prints application enforces our minimum level of acceptance based on anticipated viewing distance. Of course, the higher the quality of the photo you upload, the higher the quality of the final product.
28. What's the exchange policy on Photo Prints?
Similar to other MyDesign expressions, we will exchange Photo Prints that have manufacturing defects, are damaged, dirty, etc. The customer will receive a Photo Print of the same photo as a replacement. UL may require that the original Photo Print be returned before a new one is sent. Any other issues regarding exchanges or returns will need to be handled on a case-by-case basis by having your Demonstrator contact Demonstrator Services.
29. I created a Photo Print of my son on the football field, but when it arrived, my son’s leg in the photo was shaded green. Did I do something wrong?
Look closely again at your original photo. If your son is standing in grass or on another green surface, the green on his leg is most likely a reflection of that surface. If you choose to take a photo in bright lighting, make sure you pay close attention to how surrounding objects might affect the object you wish to cut out. Are other objects casting shadows or reflections on your primary object? If so, try to either find another photo or take the photo in the early morning or late evening, when the sun is not quite so glaring.
30. Do you have any special tips for applying Photo Prints (particularly the large ones)?
Please refer to the application instructions and application video, which are available on any Demonstrator Website and on www.uppercaseliving.com. Application instructions will also be available with every Photo Print you or your customer purchases.
31. Can I apply my Photo Print to any surface?
As long as the surface is clean, smooth, and dry, nearly any surface (e.g., walls, cabinets, windows, wallpaper) will work. Pebbly or rough-textured walls are not friendly to Photo Prints.
32. Will my Photo Print damage my wall?
No. Photo Prints are perfectly safe for walls. The vinyl’s special low-tack adhesive does not leave any residue and will not pull off paint as long as the paint is in good condition and isn’t already peeling. If you are concerned about damage to your surface, we recommend removing and reapplying your Photo Print every 6 months.
33. How do I move my Photo Print to a new location?
Identify a new location for your Photo Print and clean the surface using a dry, lint-free cloth. With the help of a friend (or two friends, if your Photo Print is large), carefully remove the Photo Print from the original surface and either carry it (if it is within walking distance) or place the Photo Print on its backing paper and transport it to its new location.
34. Should I save the backing paper of my UL Photo Print?
Definitely. We recommend saving both the backing paper and the tube your Photo Print came in so you will have a safe place to put your Photo Print should you need to move or store it.
35. What if I want to move my Photo Print but no longer have the backing paper it came on?
Use wax paper. Peel the Photo Print off its surface and place it on a clean, flat surface STICKY SIDE UP. Place enough wax paper to cover the entire area of your Photo Print, then roll up the Photo Print around a large tube. Do not fold your Photo Print! Folding will create creases that will be difficult to smooth out completely.
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