FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions

About ARTFLAKES

What is ARTFLAKES?

ARTFLAKES is a place where you can order unique artworks in different kinds of products. Artworks that can rarely be bought anywhere else, handmade only for you - and that for prices so fair you will question our sanity. We want to help artists, photographers, illustrators and archives to sell their work as real products. And we help all individualists of this world to stop buying standardized goods off the peg.

How can I contact you?

If you have any questions regarding ARTFLAKES or any problems related to your purchase you can reach our customer service at:

By Email:
service@artflakes.com

ARTFLAKES has to utilize filters to keep junk mail out of our inbox. If you have not received a response within 1-2 days, please Email your concern again, or give us a call. Our filters may have grabbed your mail by mistake!

By Mail:
admago GmbH
Bahnhofstr. 38
99084 Erfurt

Germany

ORDER PRODUCTS

How do I place an order?

After you have selected a print, size, frame, and mat selection you would like to purchase, just click on the Add to “Shopping Cart” button. You can finish the ordering process by clicking on the “Checkout” button, or you may keep shopping by clicking on the “Continue Shopping” button. You may return to your shopping cart at anytime to checkout by clicking on “Shopping Cart” in the upper right hand corner of the header. During the checkout process you'll have to fill in your shipping and billing address and your chosen method of payment. To complete your order placement confirm your order and complete the checkout.

What payment methods do you accept?

Payment on ARTFLAKES is uncomplicated and can be made by credit card, direct debit, PayPal or payment in advance. Depending on the country you are ordering from, these options may be limited.

Is it possible to use different addresses for shipping and billing?

Yes. During checkout you can enter different addresses for shipping and billing.

What about my personal data – are they safe?

Of course your personal data are safe with us. They are only needed for the contract of purchase and are not distributed to third parties. All safety relevant data (e.g. address) are submitted safely via SSL encryption.

What happens after I placed my order?

Once you have completed your order you will receive an automatic confirmation email that summarizes all important details. Should you stumble upon a mistake, please contact our customer service at service@artflakes.com.

Can I save items in my shopping cart and purchase them later?

If you have an ARTFLAKES account and you are logged in, you may save items in your shopping cart. The items will still be in your cart when you log back in. You can view your cart at any time by clicking on the “Shopping Cart” link in the upper right hand corner in the header. If you don't have an ARTFLAKES account, we recommend you to open one to make sure your chosen items will still be in your shopping cart in the future. To open an account is free. Read more about opening an ARTFLAKES account here.

Why is the print that I am looking to purchase not offered in the size that I want?

When artist upload their pictures, they do so in a certain resolution. If our system determines that the file by the artist is not large enough to render a good quality print at that size, you may see that some sizes are not available for purchase. Instagram photos for instance are solely available in our smallest size due to their resolution.

Do you offer gift-cards?

We are currently not offering gift-cards.

Does ARTFLAKES give quantity discount?

Yes, please contact the customer service at service@artflakes.com.

I'm planning an exhibition, can you help me?

You are planning an exhibition? Great! Although we can't help you with the organizational part or with the promotion of your exhibition, we might be able to help you with your prints. In this case, please contact our customer service at bulkorders@artflakes.com.

PRODUCT INFORMATION

What is print-on-demand?

Print-on-demand means that every print and poster is produced to order. So, every product you order – yes, even every single greeting card – is individually made for you. To meet your needs, ARTFLAKES offers different kind of products in different sizes and executions. And all prints and posters are made with the best materials to make sure that every artwork is produced with the care it deserves.

What is a poster?

A poster is a classic and affordable option for a wide variety of pictures. Posters from ARTFLAKES are printed in high quality and available in multiple different sizes. Smaller posters are great for smaller spaces or if you plan to hang multiple posters in a group. Bigger posters are perfect for large walls. Our posters are printed on matte 250g/sqm premium paper with high-definition pigment ink.

What is an art print?

Art prints from ARTFLAKES are suitable with a wide range of picture content – reproductions, photography, illustrations - and are available in up to four different sizes. Elegant wooden frames turn these art prints into classy artworks. If you want you can underline the brilliancy of color of our prints with an individually cut mate – acid-free of course. All of our art prints come with clear and break-proof acrylic glass, and are delivered ready for hanging.

What is a canvas print?

Canvas prints are a stylish and contemporary way to turn your home into a gallery. We solely use high-quality materials for our canvas prints, which includes high-definition ink and premium canvas (340g/sqm). Every ARTFLAKES canvas print is mounted on a specially manufactured wooden stretched bar, which comes in two different width, 2 cm and 4 cm. The border of the print can either be white, black or printed. Finished with hangars, our canvas prints are ready to hang on your walls.

What is a gallery print?

A gallery print from ARTFLAKES surely is one of the most classy ways of presenting a picture. With a ARTFLAKES gallery print you can bring the gallery look into your home. It is printed directly on a solid alu-dibond plate. After that the print is either laminated or sealed with acrylic. In the latter case the print is sealed with long-lasting and elastic silicon under a high-quality plate made of acrylic glass. Gallery prints are delivered ready for hanging.

What is a greeting card?

Whether birthday greetings, invitations or just for the fun of it: greeting cards are one of the most beautiful ways to send personal messages. Different to their digital siblings email and text message, greeting cards last longer and can even be hung up your walls at home! ARTFLAKES greeting cards are folded and printed semi matte. With every greeting card you order at ARTFLAKES you will also get a matching envelope.

What does white border or printed border mean regarding a canvas print?

White border means that in this version the picture stretches over the front of the stretcher bar, whereas the side parts remain white. Printed means that the the oversized softend picture stretches over the front of the stretcher bar as well as over the side parts.

Is there a border on posters?

Yes, there is. Posters have a 5 mm white border all around.

What kind of paper do you use for posters and prints?

For our posters and prints we use exclusively high-quality material: 250g premium paper.

What are the frames made of?

Our frames are made of wood and available in white, brown and black.

What kind of mats do you offer?

ARTFLAKES offers acid-free mats in two different colors, black and white.

Are hangings already attached?

Yes, all our prints (framed art print, canvas print, gallery print) are ready to hang.

Where do you produce your products?

Our products are mainly produced in Germany as well as in the United States.

Shipping & Delivery

How long does it take until my order is shipped?

All of the products ARTFLAKES offers are custom made for you. We are constantly working on speeding things up, but individual manufacturing does take its time. Nevertheless we generally try to deliver your order within five working days after payment and in 95% of cases this is successful.

Does ARTFLAKES ship abroad?

ARTFLAKES is shipping worldwide. Do not forget, however, that shipping to remote islands and cottages in the middle of nowhere may take more time than the five business days we usually aim for.

How much is shipping?

Are the products packed safely?

We try our best to make sure that our products survive their journey to your front door without any damage. Thus all art prints are wrapped in protective sleeves and sturdy cardboard envelopes. Posters are rolled up in special mailing tubes.

I ordered two different items, but only received one. Why?

Depending on what kind of item you ordered, it may happen that your order will be split in two or more items. For instance, if you ordered a poster and an art print, you will receive two different deliveries since both are packed differently. But don't worry, there will be no extra costs for you.

RETURNS

Is it possible to return an order?

We are confident in the quality of our products and your satisfaction is 100% guaranteed. If for any reason you are not satisfied with your purchase, you may return it within 14 days of receipt for a full refund on the price of the item.

What if my order is damaged when it arrives?

Items that arrive damaged should be immediately reported to ARTFLAKES customer service. In order to process damaged items, please report any damage caused during shipping to service@artflakes.com as soon as possible. Please include your order number for quicker processing.

How do I return a order?

Please contact our customer service via email or phone before sending back any items. Otherwise your return cannot be processed. Moreover, by doing so you help us discovering possible weak points of our products and clarifying misunderstandings. To return an order to us, please pack it in the original packaging and send it to the address below. If you send back an item because you do not like it, shipping charges will not be refunded. Should you return a product due to quality defects or damage, ARTFLAKES will take care of the shipping charges.

Please send all returns to:

FINEART FACTORY GmbH
Naumburger Str. 28
04229 Leipzig
Germany

Customer Satisfaction Guarantee – What does it mean?

Due to the outstanding quality of all our products we are convinced that you will be satisfied with everything that leaves our shop. If this should not be the case, however, we will take back every product – even if it was custom made for you – within 14 days of purchase.

SELLING ON ARTFLAKES

Who can sell on ARTFLAKES?

ARTFLAKES is a free community where everybody can sell their pictures as art print, poster or greeting card. If something is ordered, ARTFLAKES takes care of printing, payment and shipping, and pays the artist a revenue share. ARTFLAKES is open for professionals as well as amateurs. Read more about opening an account here.

How much does using ARTFLAKES cost?

ARTFLAKES is 100% FREE!

How much money do I earn with ARTFLAKES?

This depends on you. On ARTFLAKES you can choose how much you make with every sale. You decide what markup will be applied to your works. We recommend a markup of 20%. ARTFLAKES will automatically show you the basic prices for your picture in each of the available sizes and different product options. From this basic price, you decide what markup will be applied to the artwork and displayed as the final price to customers. This markup amount is what you will earn on the single artwork you sell! You can change the markup any time. The markup for an artwork counts for all products. So, you cannot set for the same artwork different markups for a poster on the one hand and an art print on the other hand. However, every artwork can have a different markup. If you choose to markup your print 100% or more of our stated basis prices you are quite welcome to do so. But remember, the bigger the markup, the more expensive the art print or poster gets for the customer.

Where can I see how much I earned?

You can check your earnings and payments in the “My Sales” section in your dashboard. Login to your account and click the “My Sales” button on the top right of the page next to your name.

How do I receive my earnings?

After your first sale, you must provide ARTFLAKES with accurate payment information. Go to “Manage Profile” in your dashboard to enter your information. The payment is possible by bank transfer (only applicable if you live in the EU), via PayPal worldwide and Skrill (Moneybookers). All personal information of course will be kept private and secure.

When will I be paid for my sales?

All revenue shares which you request by the 15th of the month will be paid at the end of the same month. In order to be "payable" the associated order has to be paid and at least 30 days old. After the 30 days you can request your payment by clicking “Order Payment.” 30 days is the period ARTFLAKES needs to resolve customer service issues and possible returns. It also takes us some time to process our orders and our customer service policy allows buyers to return items within 14 days if they are not satisfied.

One of my pending revenue shares is crossed out. What does that mean?

When you see a revenue share crossed out, that means that the order was canceled by the customer. These can have different reason.

Can I sell original artworks on ARTFLAKES?

It is not possible to sell original artworks on ARTFLAKES. What you can do is, you can link to your personal website or your gallery's website. You can also post your email, post show links and when you write your picture descriptions you can let customers know that your originals are still available. But when it comes time to selling your originals we stay clear. It’s up to the buyer and you or your representative to close the deal.

Can I sell limited editions on ARTFLAKES?

At the moment it's not possible to sell your artworks as limited editions. ARTFLAKES only provides open ended editions, which means as long as the picture is on our site, we'll print it on demand. But feel free to keep track of how many times your print sells and remove the picture from your gallery in order to keep anyone else from ordering one once you reach your determined limit.

What about my copyright, are my pictures safe?

Yes, 100%. You remain owner of the copyright. You only allow ARTFLAKES to produce prints and posters. And of course you can terminate this agreement at any time.

How can I increase my sales?

By promoting yourself and your prints and posters. For instance, you can integrate your ARTFLAKES shop into your website or your blog by putting up a link or using one of the banners we made. But the easiest way is to connect your ARTFLAKES account with Facebook and Twitter. This way all your friends, fans and followers will be kept up to date about your newest pictures. To do so, just go to the buttons “Facebook” and “Twitter” in your dashboard.

How are you marketing ARTFLAKES and helping artists sell their works?

We are marketing our site through many ways from traditional banner/ad purchases, to Google ad buys, to affiliate marketing programs, to SEM/SEO and newsletters. We focus on efficient online marketing, which has proven very well in the past.

We are also have many tools (and are building more) for artists to promote their heart starting with banners and badges, which you can integrate in your own website or blog. We give you also the possibility to connect your ARTFLAKES shop with Facebook and Twitter and the ability to add links in your profile to any other place on the web where you promote your art.

ACCOUNT MANAGEMENT

How do I create a free ARTFLAKES account?

You can start by going to the top of any ARTFLAKES page and clicking on the “Join, It's FREE!” link or click here. Enter your email address in the box on the right and click “Register”. You will get an email with a registration link you have to click on to complete your registration. When you done that, you have to fill in your name, choose a password and an alias. Your alias is your public screen name, which is how you will be identified when you use any of the features of ARTFLAKES, such as posting comments or liking pictures. Once you have entered all the information, select the “Save Changes” button and you will be taken to your profile, where you can enter more information if you like. And don't worry, all personal information entered will be kept private on our servers.

How do I update my account information?

You can update your account information by logging in and going to “Dashboard.” Select the “Manage profile” button. Here you can update your name, picture/avatar and email address, and then click on the “Save Changes” button at the bottom of the page.

I forgot my password. What now?

Don't worry, if you forget your password you can have it sent to your registered email address. Simply click on the “Login” link at the top of any ARTFLAKES page and click on the “Forgot password?” link. Enter your email address and we will send you a link to reset your password to the registered email address on your account.

How do I change my password?

Changing your password from time to time is a good idea. To do so, simply choose “Manage profile” on the top right and enter a new password, and click the “Save Changes” button.

How do I sign into my account?

If you have already registered, click on the “Login” link at top right of any ARTFLAKES page. Type in your email address and password, then click on the “Login” button to access your account.

How do I edit my profile information?

Log in to your ARTFLAKES account, and choose “Manage profile” on the top right. You can then add a little bit about yourself, upload your artist icon (picture of yourself) or avatar, and also put a link to your website.

What information should I add to my profile?

You want it to have a few pieces of interesting information about yourself, and also appear professional. Remember, your profile is the first place that your customers will look at.

Is my personal information safe?

Yes! ARTFLAKES will not sell or distribute any of your personal information that is submitted on our site. This includes your email address, postal address and any other personal data. Please see our Privacy Policy for more information.

How do I close my ARTFLAKES account?

We are sad to see you wanna leave ARTFLAKES. To close your account, send a request to service@artflakes.com. For security reasons, please include your full name, alias, email address you use with your account, and password for verification. We'll let you know once your account has been closed.

PICTURE MANAGEMENT

How do I upload pictures?

First, login to your ARTFLAKES account. Go in your dashboard to “Upload pictures”, you'll see the button on the left side of your screen. Click on it and you'll be forwarded to the upload page.

Can I also import pictures directly from Instagram?

Yes, if you have an Instagram account, you can do that too. For this, choose the button “Import Instagram” in your dashboard. Here you can connect your ARTFLAKES account with your Instagram account and import up to 50 pictures in one go.

What type of file formats can I upload?

We accept JPEG/JPG, PNG and TIF formats for online upload.

Are there file size restrictions for uploading?

The maximum file size is 25MB. Our file limitation is 1200 x 1200 pixels (RGB).

What size can I make my prints?

When you upload an picture, our software automatically determines the maximum allowable print size for your picture. Maximum print size is primarily determined by the pixel dimensions and quality of the picture to be printed. The pictures you upload will not be printed at a resolution any less than 72 dpi (dots per inch). In general, you should provide the maximum quality (in pixel dimensions) to allow us to offer your picture in as many print sizes as possible.

Can I upload multiple pictures at a time?

Yes, you can upload more than one picture at a time. To do so, you can either drag multiple files in your upload field or click Add files and choose multiple files directly from your computer.

How many pictures can I upload?

There is no restriction to how many pictures you can upload. But experience has shown, that sales are higher with a well chosen portfolio rather than with a large number of works.

I have troubles uploading my files. What can I do?

If you are having trouble uploading pictures, please verify that your pictures are the proper file type, format, and size. If you are still having troubles, please email us at service@artflakes.com and we will try to help you!

Why can't I see my uploaded pictures in my shop?

You should see your pictures in your dashboard shortly after the upload process has completed resizing your pictures for thumbnails. Sometimes our system needs a little to list all uploaded pictures in your dashboard. Just give it a few moments and then reload the page. If you have repeated upload troubles, make a note of any error messages you see (capturing a screen shot is best) and contact us at service@artflakes.com. Also, if you are not seeing your pictures in the public search or “New Art” section, you may have your pictures not published yet. To publish your pictures, please give them a name, description and tags first. Once you published all your pictures, you should be able to see them in your shop and in the public search.

How do I add title, description, tags etc. to my pictures?

To add a title, description and tags, go in your dashboard to “Manage pictures”. Click on the picture you would like to give a title and description, you will then be forwarded to the “Artwork details” page. Here you can add a title, give the picture a description, change the markup etc. Under “Additional information” you can add tags. When you done all that, click “Save Changes.”

What do I need to know about picture tags?

Tags can help customers to find your art more easily. They are essential when selling your work online. They should be short, explanatory and evident, as this is how customers find your work. Use tags like “girl”, “travel”, “red” or “nature” if this is what describes your artwork best.

How do I add style, theme, genre etc. to my pictures?

Information like style and genre help classify your work and make it easier for customers to find your work. To add these information go to “Manage pictures” and click on an picture. Under “Additional information” you have the possibility to add and remove certain information. Add a style to your picture by clicking on “Select a style”. You will be given the option to add or remove styles from the selection. To add a genre click on “Select a genre“ and to add a theme (subject) click on “Select a theme“. The number of genres and themes you can apply to an pictures is restricted. You can also add color information by clicking the two main featured colors in your picture.

How do I edit an picture?

Simply click on the picture whose details you want to change and you will go to the "Artwork details" page for that picture.

Can I edit multiple pictures at once?

Currently it is not possible to edit multiple pictures in one go.

How do I delete an picture?

To delete an picture go to the “Artwork details” page and click the “Delete” button on the right. You will then have to confirm that you want to delete the picture. But remember, deleting pictures is final, so make sure you really want to delete the picture.

What is a set?

Sets are a great way to organize your works and make browsing through your shop easier. For instance if there are several pictures featuring the Antarctica in your works, make a set called “Antarctica” where you put in all matching pictures. You can create as many sets as you like and a picture can be assigned to multiple sets. Sets will make your ARTFLAKES shop look more organized.

How do I create a set?

To create a new set go to in your dashboard to “Manage sets” and click the “add new set” button. Give your set a title and if you want a short description. When you done that, you can add pictures to your set by clicking on “Manage Pictures”. Beneath you will see a row of all your uploaded pictures. To add a picture to a set you just have to click on it.

Can I reorder my pictures within my shop?

It's not possible to reorder your pictures in your shop, as we're sorting the pictrues everywhere on ARTFLAKES according to popularity, newness and other criteria in order to always offer the best pictures to each customer.

What is acceptable content?

Please do not upload inappropriate content, such as things that are obscene, violent, harmful, offensive, discriminatory, or illegal etc. We reserve the right to determine the appropriateness of anything posted on ARTFLAKES and remove without notice any items that fail to comply with these policies.

ARTFLAKES COMMUNITY

What is the dashboard?

If you have registered on ARTFLAKES you have a dashboard. This is the center of your account and only viewable to you. Here you can upload new pictures, edit your settings and see what is happening on ARTFLAKES this moment.

What does “Follow” and “Following” mean?

If you “follow” someone this means you are interested in the artworks and activities of another artist member. Click on “follow“ and you will see all activities of this member in your news feed. Of course other members can follow you as well, becoming your “followers”. To follow someone go the other artists profile and click on the “Follow” button on the right hand side corner of his or hers profile.

What does “Like” mean?

With a click on the ”Like”-button underneath an artwork you express that you like it and recommend it to others. You will from then on be updated on your dashboard about comments that were made regarding this artwork. Likes are a great way to keep track of the pictures that you like the best. You can use your likes for instance as a shopping or wish list, a place to go for inspiration! All your likes are summarized on your dashboard.

What is the “News Feed”?

The news feed is the place where all activities are shown by the artists you follow. You can see if someone uploaded a new picture, liked a picture or commented on a picture of someone else. The news feed allows you to be always up to date about the artists you like. You can find the news feed in your dashboard.

Can I write other artists messages?

Yes, you can. By clicking on the “Send Message” button on someones profile you can directly send him or her a private message. You can read and manage all your messages in your dashboard under the section “Messages.”

Can I connect my Facebook and Twitter with my ARTFLAKES account?

There’s no way past Facebook and Twitter nowadays, and of course we are aware of the power of the web 2.0 and social media when it comes to market your art! That's why we made it possible for you to connect your ARTFLAKES account also with Facebook and/or Twitter. By connecting ARTFLAKES with Facebook and/or Twitter your friends, fans and followers can see when you uploaded a new artwork, liked a picture or followed another artist.
To connect your accounts, login with your personal account on ARTFLAKES and go to your dashboard. In your dashboard you will find two buttons: “Facebook” and “Twitter”. If you want to connect your Facebook account with ARTFLAKES, click on “Facebook”. In the next step connect with Facebook and your updates will automatically be published to your timeline. Of course you can choose which updates you want to share. You decide! You want to connect your ARTFLAKES account with Twitter? No problem, just click in your dashboard on “Twitter”.

I see something that is objectionable. What do I do or who do I contact?

If you see a picture, comment or anything else that you find objecttionable, please let us know. Click on "Report Page Content" on the bottom of the page and tell us what's wrong.

When I have to set the adult flag?