The stitching method used by our patterns is called counted cross stitch. If you are not familiar with this method of stitching, you can learn about cross-stitching from one of many sites on the web, including a few of our favorites below:

• yarntree.com
• crossstitch.about.com

The patterns are not directly printed on the fabric. Buy a fabric with any stitch count you like. A light colored fabric will be best for a portrait so that the background color does not bleed through the light facial tones. The notes provided with the pattern list the size the finished picture will be in 14,18,28 or 32 count. If you like, you may specify the count you plan to use or the final size you hope the finished piece to be and we can prepare the pattern accordingly.

Your original photo should be a print, not a transparency, no larger than 8" X 10" as the finished pattern is always larger than the original. Also specify the approximate final size of your finished piece when filling out our order form. All original photos are returned with the finished pattern, but if you are sending rare or valuable photographs, please insure your shipment and provide insurance for the return shipping.

The key to a sucessful photo cross-stitch is directly related to the quality and contrast of the original photo. Choose a photo that has clearly defined objects without confusing background details. If you would like us to "crop" an image (capture only a portion of the image as shown at the right) we can do so at no extra charge. Simply send a black and white paper copy along with the photo with the cropping clearly marked.

If necessary, you may specify some editing of your original photo to enhance the clarity of your pattern at a small additional charge.

Photos of copyrighted material, such as printed photographs from magazines or brand name products, are not permitted under U.S. copyright restrictions.

If you have an image that you have already scanned or shot from your digital camera, you can send it to us as an email attachment after submitting our order form. If you send us your digital file, it is very important that it meet the following requirements:

• The final file size must not exceed 2MB (2024K) or it will be rejected by our mail system. To check the file size of your photo, open the folder where you have it stored, click on it once, and:
  • For Macintosh, press Apple-I or go to the File menu and select "Get Info."
  • For Windows 95, 98, or 2000, read the file size at the bottom of the window or right-click on the file and select "Properties."
• Be sure to crop out all unnecessary image area. Email attachments generally take a long time to send, and the more you trim your file down, the less time it is going to take.
• Your image should have 10 times the dpi (dots per inch, or pixels per inch) of stitch count of your pattern:
  
  14 count fabric X 10 = 140 DPI image
  
  This can be found wherever the resolution information is accessed in your graphics program. For Photoshop, it is found under the Image-->Size menu.
• The file must be saved as an RGB .jpg or .tif file, not an indexed color .gif or .bmp.
• Be sure to indicate the filename of the file you are going to send on our order form and submit the form before sending us the attached file.
• If you prefer to send the image on a PC formatted floppy disk with your payment instead an of an email attachment, it will be returned with the finished pattern. If you have a Macintosh, format the disk in DOS 1.4 MB before copying the image to disk.

For a small additional fee, we also offer two basic image editing features:

• Background Removal
  For an additional $10.00, we will remove the background image of your photo and replace it with a solid color (or no color at all.) This is particularly useful for images containing busy or confusing backgrounds.
• Compositing
  For an additional $15.00, we can take two images and combine them into one! Take your family portrait, shot in your living room, and put them on a mountain vista! Ever have trouble getting relatives together for a photo? Take two photos of your relatives and combine them into one image.

Please note: In some cases this may involve more work than covered by our offer and we will contact you in the event the special editing presents any problems.