Custom Artwork Information
Stanley London offers high quality engraving with your custom artwork or corporate logo for most of our products as well as aluminum or brass plaques. All of our engraving is done in-house so our turnaround time from artwork submission to engraving and shipping your order is among the fastest in the industry. Our experienced engravers use diamond-tipped drag engraving machines that cut directly into the metal surface of our products to create memories that will last a lifetime. We specialize in ultra-fine-line crosshatching to represent multiple colors within an artwork file.
1. Pricing:
- There is a one-time $25 artwork fee to convert your custom artwork into an engravable file. We keep all artwork on file so if you would like to use the same artwork file again in the future, then no additional artwork conversion fees are incurred, even if the artwork is engraved on a different product.
- Engraving the artwork itself costs $20 per surface. Quantity discounts are applied automatically for orders with multiple pieces.
2. Requirements:
- Artwork must be a sharp two to five solid color image with no shading, gradients, or shadows. We cannot engrave pictures or gray scale drawings.
- The best format for a bitmap image is a .GIF file that measures at least 1100 pixels across. Vector artwork must have fonts embedded, and .PDF files are the preferred format as .PDF files are most compatible across different software versions. We also accept valid .AI, .CDR, and .EPS files.
3. Submission, Review, and Approval:
- Please send all artwork files to sales@stanleylondon.com with your Order Number and/or the Name associated with the order.
- The best format for a bitmap image is a .GIF file that measures at least 1100 pixels across. Vector artwork must have fonts embedded, and .PDF files are the preferred format as .PDF files are most compatible across different software versions. We also accept valid .AI, .CDR, and .EPS files.
4. Proofs for Custom Artwork:
- An engraving proof of the artwork and/or text will be provided via email for your review and approval. We will not proceed with your order until we receive written approval of the engraving proof.
The engraving cost depends on the type of engraving and how much text is entered. There are two types of engraving, direct product engraving and engraving on plaques. Engraving type and surface options available for each product are listed by the gray tabs in the Product Personalization window. Quantity discounts are applied automatically for orders with multiple pieces.
Please note: Custom engraved items cannot be returned; however, we will repair or replace them, if necessary.
Engraved Plaques:
Standard-sized single quantity plaques on a product are typically $10 for one line of engraving and $1 for each additional line of text. For an additional $1, the plaque can be black oxidized which turns the lettering black and greatly improves contrast and readability. Ordering a plaque without purchasing a product to mount it on is $1 more. Plaques over 6 inches wide or tall are $9.00 more. Plaques can be ordered directly from our website.
Engraved Products:
Most smaller products can be custom engraved in single quantities for a $10 set up fee (per engraved surface), and 40 cents per character for the first 30 characters, 20 cents per character for the 31st through 49th character, and 10 cents per character for engraving in excess of 49 characters. Products requiring disassembly to engrave are subject to an additional $3 fee.
Engraving Tips
- Please carefully check your grammar and spelling. We DO NOT check spelling. Whatever you enter in the engraving section is electronically routed to our engraving machines. We do not retype your engraving so we cannot make typographical errors.
- Unless otherwise specified, we center all engraving. Formatting requests can be placed in the Special Instructions Box at the bottom of each tab where you enter the engraving text for a particular surface.
- Except for initials and monograms, never use all capitals with Old English or script fonts because it is very difficult to read:
- If you have lengthy text, such as a poem or a long message, consider Times New Roman or Arial fonts. Script fonts are more difficult to read at a small font size.
- Black oxidizing brass plaques makes the engraved letters stand out against the gold brass plaque and makes the text easier to read. Only bright brass plaques can be black oxidized, not aluminum plaques or engraved products such as brass telescopes or compasses.
Initials vs. Monogram
There is often confusion on the difference between initials and a monogram. Initials abbreviate a full name in the standard order of first, middle, and last name. For example, Franklin Delano Roosevelt\'s initials would be FDR. A monogram is where the first letter of the last name is placed in the center and made larger than the other two letters.
When ordering initials or a monogram, simply type the three letters in the order they will be engraved (i.e. FDR for initials and FRD for a monogram), then in the special instructions section specify whether you want initials or a monogram. If you desire a monogram, you may wish to specify that the center letter is larger for clarity.
1. Will the text be engraved exactly the same as shown in the preview?
Our engraving team will adjust/resize the text for best fit and legibility.
2. Am I able to use more than one font per surface?
Yes. Although no more than one font can be selected from the drop-down menu or viewed in the product preview, multiple fonts can be requested in the Special Instructions Box below the boxes where the engraving text is entered. Please specify which fonts correspond with their appropriate line numbers.
3. What does black oxidizing mean?
An oxide solution is applied to the engraving text/artwork on bright brass plaques that turns the exposed raw brass black so the engraving is more easily read with the increased contrast.
