Q. How should the signature board be displayed at our wedding or event?

A. The ideal display would be to have the board placed on an easel. If an easel is unavailable, place the board on a table and prop it against a large box (perhaps covered with a decorative tablecloth) or against a wall.  The boards will not bend because they are not flimsy - each one is backed with a thick sheet of foamcore, which makes it very sturdy.

Q. How will guests at our event know they are supposed to sign the board and express their wishes?

A. Have a friend or family member sign the board first, so the guests can follow their example.  Something else you can do is place a folded card next to the board saying something like "Please sign and express your best wishes for ___________ and ___________ ."  On our Accessories page, we offer a small framed set of instructions which you can purchase.  It's important to have several of the same type pens available at the table, as uniformity in signatures is very attractive.  You should have several, since sometimes ink will run dry or guests will inadvertently walk off with the pen.

Q. Can I order the signature board framed?

A. No.  The reason is, the board needs to be able to come apart so you can insert a photo, and more to the point - so the boards can be signed.  All our signature boards are executed in standard sizes, so that framing won't be a terribly expensive proposition; ready made frames can be purchased in most cases.

Q. Should people sign over the artwork?

A. That's up to you.  In cases where there is a lot of empty space on the board, you will probably want your guests to sign in that space. If there is a lot of painting on your board, you may want writing only on the outside mat in order to preserve the artwork.  If you want to restrict where people sign, it's best to let them know beforehand by placing a card with instructions next to the board.  Conversely, if you want them to feel free to sign over the painted portions, it's best to let them know that, too.  (See our Accessories page.)

Q. Will my signature board stand up to the ravages of time?  In other words, will it stay beautiful or will it fade?

A. Our signature boards are painted with the highest quality acrylic and water color paints.  The colors should maintain their integrity indefinitely.  The illustration boards and mats on which they are painted are 100% acid-free, which means the color should not fade over time.  However, to be extra safe, the boards should be framed under glass before they are hung on a wall or exposed to strong daylight for an extended period of time.

Q. What are the differences between a giclee print signature board, and a hand painted, hand crafted board? 

A. Our top of the line, premium product is, of course, our hand painted signature board.   These boards are constructed out of several layers.   We start with an 100% acid-free illustration board, over which is placed a mat.   The design for the board is painted onto the illustration board and overlaps onto the mat.   There is a cut-out for a personal photo.   Everything is backed by a solid, sturdy foamcore board.   On some of the boards, there is even more dimension. For instance, on the graduation party board, the mortar board is painted on a separate board.   On the Orchid Wedding board, the Asian letters are painted separately.   All these layers add quality and dimension to your signature board. You may request these features when ordering your board.   The giclee print boards are printed on one plane.    There is a space on the print where you may affix a photo, poem, or whatever you want to use to personalize your board.   We mail the print to you with a mat, which is not painted, but which adds dimension and beauty to your board.   The giclee print is laminated to a sturdy foamcore board.   This helps to reinforce the print, prevent warping, and to preserve the beauty of your board.   The giclee print is a striking, but somewhat less costly, alternative to the hand painted signature board.   Both the hand painted boards and the giclee print boards are mailed to you ready to be signed and framed.  The only thing you ned to do is add a photo, or whatever personalized item you would like to have, if any. 

Q. What size board will I need for my wedding or event?

 A. Of course, the open space for signatures on your board makes a difference in what size you will need.   And not all of your guests will sign.  But in general:

Small 16" x 20" 100 guests or fewer

Medium 24" x 28" 100 - 250 guests

Large 26" x 32" 250 or more guests

Of course, these are only our standard sizes.   Other sizes, including square boards, are available.