Archive for the ‘Photo Engraving’ Category

Copyright and trademark issues can get a bit complicated especially when you may want to try and capture or display a memory.  Be it a photograph, a piece of writing, a musical composition, an image, art work or other types of work, the copyright and trademark laws apply.  While there are some exceptions, in general copyright is created the moment something original is created and relates to anything published or unpublished and or used publically or privately.  As such, you don’t need to formally register the piece of work for it to be copyrighted because you as the creator or author already own the rights.  With trademarks you do need to formally register them as it may be a logo, picture or image that the owner has created and wants to protect other people from using it.

The main rights you have when you have copyright and trademark ownership are:

• The ability to show, broadcast and publish the work including on the internet.
• Able to reproduce and copy the work.
• Distribute, sell, lend or charge a fee for use of the work.
• Able to adapt, perform and communicate the work.

Importantly, the reason we need copyright and trademark law is to protect the rightful owner.  In some cases the owner may have invested vast sums of money to create the work and as the owner, that person must have the rights to control how it is used – whether it through making money through sales, licensing or any other means that the person deems necessary.  If the copyright or trademark owner doesn’t have this protection then it is quite unfair for other people to derive benefit when they don’t have the rights for the use of the work.  Hence, the need for copyright and trademark laws to be enforced.  In addition, if the copyright and trademark laws are breached then punishment, fines and other costs can be significant.

At Etched in Memories we are often asked to copy or reproduce items, images and photographs that are not owned by the person requesting our services.  These images may have been obtained from a magazine, internet or any other printed or digital publication and as such we will not reproduce it.

Should you be able to supply a written form of permission from the holder of copyright/trademark/licence of your desired image (and include contact details of that person) then it may be possible to use your images, pending contact with that person or organisation.

This is a link to our terms and conditions and the main part in relation to copyright is as follows:

13) Etched In Memories^® complies with all copyright and reproduction laws.  We reserve the right to refuse any order requesting us to ignore those laws.

· Logos, trademarks and other copyrighted material will only be engraved if they belong to you or you have permission from the company and/or owner of that material. Any request for reproduction should be accompanied by a written letter of permission, including contact details for the company/owner and a sample of the image being approved.

· Alternatively, where an image has been purchased in digital format, please show proof of purchase and any documentation that shows the purchase allows reproduction.

· Some examples of material covered by these laws include (but are not limited to) famous logos (eg Coca-Cola), celebrity images, watermarked images, images found on the internet and images taken by a professional photographer.

· Licenced material will not be engraved under any circumstances.

We do understand it is disappointing, especially when great ideas are presented to suit niche interests or hard to buy for people.  However, to reproduce such material (those carrying copyright, trademark or licence) without permission from the owner is illegal.

Mother’s Day is Sunday 13 May and while we should recognise and appreciate our mothers each and every day, Mother’s Day allows us to make a concerted effort to really make our mums feel special.

The days leading up to the 13 May are particularly busy at Etched In Memories and we always feel grateful that we are a part of creating a special memory or moment for many of the mums out there.  Our Mother’s Day Packages always prove to be a popular choice with many of the bears and personalised pendants being scattered in all directions throughout Australia and beyond.

Remember the quality of the pendant engraving is only as good as the quality of the photograph so here is a reminder about how to take a great photo for engraving.  The photograph you choose is a reminder of a particular moment – it could be as special as this summer night memory captured here, the birth of your child or a special holiday or outing.

And while the path of any relationship is never smooth, with plenty of ups and down and even moments of forgiveness, Mother’s Day allows you to focus on the good times and celebrate the special bond of mother and child.

An engraved pendant is a personal gift which continues to last well beyond Mother’s Day and for many years to come.  Although in reality there really is no gift that you could give your mum that could ever equal the gift of life she gave to you.

I love this quote and thought I would share it with you – “A mother understands what a child does not say.”  And for this reason alone, Mother’s Day, as commercialised as it has become, deserves to be celebrated.

We have a limited quantity of these gorgeous Beating Heart Photo Keepsake Keyrings available in store now.

Isn’t it pretty? The keyring is actually heart shaped and from it hangs an oval shaped silver plated pendant. This would be a wonderful gift for anyone, male or female. The heart shape is simple and understated but very practical.

We can make this gorgeous pendant yours for the special price of only $45. This price includes photo engraving on one side, GST, gift packaging and regular postage Australia wide. You also have the option of adding a text message or additional photo on the other side of the oval pendant for a small extra charge.

Due to the limited supply of the heart keyrings, make sure you do not delay in placing your order.

When you want to give someone a gift that they can use everyday, but which still shows your love, this would be it. Perfect for any occasion, whether it be an anniversary gift, Christmas gift, birthday gift or just to show your token of appreciation.

“Love is not written on paper, for paper can be erased. Nor is it etched on stone, for stone can be broken. But it is inscribed on a heart and there it shall remain forever.”

Very apt don’t you think?

Have you liked our Facebook page yet? We would love for you to be part of our online community. We work hard to make sure our fans are kept up to date with what is going on in store, ensuring you are informed of specials, order cut off dates and other important information.

If you have ordered one of our pieces in the past, we would appreciate if you could leave a review on our Facebook page. It helps other visitors to our site and page with the decision making process particularly when you showcase photographs of your actual purchases. Your personalised jewellery will give others inspiration in regard to their purchase choices.

Choosing exactly which photograph or shaped pendant to buy can be a difficult decision to make especially when it is a special gift for a friend or relative, so make sure you view our Facebook albums for some great gift ideas.

We would love to feature your review alongside some of the others we have received.

“My order arrived so quickly and looked even better then I imagined. Just beautiful! I’m so happy with your service and have recommended you to everyone I know. Gorgeous Gifts, can’t thank you enough! Just can’t wait til my friends and family open their pendants on Christmas day! Will be very special! Smiles all round!” – Allie, NSW

“It is absolutely beautiful!! Thank you so much for getting this done on such short notice. I have shown my colleagues and they are very impressed!!” – Marybel, NSW

Once you like our page, don’t forget to stop by and say hi from time to time. After all without our customers and fans – our page would be pretty lonely!

The arrival of a baby is something very special to everyone in the family, and, just like a wedding, the birth of a baby is an occasion that deserves to be remembered for a long time. That is why, when you are considering buying a gift for a new mother, or for the newborn, you should consider engraved gifts as one of the options.

One very sweet idea is to capture baby’s hands or feet in a photograph and then have that photograph etched onto one side of a pendant; on the other side you can have the newborn’s name and details engraved or simply leave it plain. Or, you can choose to just have one side engraved. This is a very special gift which when worn close to the heart, provides a constant reminder of the new baby.

A long, sturdy necklace, on which to hang the pendant, can be a very practical gift for a new mother. While babies are feeding, they like to gaze up at mum and will often tug on any jewelry she is wearing. An engraved pendant will not only give joy to mum, but will provide baby with some interesting textures to feel while nursing.

When taking your photographs ensure your background is simple and that the lighting is not so strong as to cast shadows. Ensure your photograph is clear and sharp. Lay baby on a simple solid coloured blanket and shoot the hands and the feet in turn. When shooting indoors, the environment is more manageable and you can use lighting and light reflectors to lessen the shadows if need be.

If you take more than one image, the engraver can merge these images, do try to match the images and make them of a similar shape, size and quality. You may wish to include both the hands and feet of the newborn in one engraving.

Baby presents, such as these, have the potential to tune into a particular phase of the newborns life and can hold a distinctive spot in their heart. The personalised pendant has the ability to become a cherished family heirloom that can be kept for generations. You might wish to start a keepsake box for your new baby and this pendant can become just one of the items in that box!

If you are thinking of getting a photo engraved onto a pendant for yourself, or as a gift, here are some tips on shooting your photograph(s) for the best result! Firstly, think about what you want from the engraving; is it to be an oval necklace pendant or a rectangular key ring? Try to match up your engraving idea with your shooting ideas and styles.

Make sure your backgrounds are simple and that the lighting is not so strong as to cast shadows. Most importantly ensure your photograph is clear and sharp.

If shooting indoors, you can use lighting and light reflectors to lessen the shadows. If shooting in natural light choose the “golden hours”, that is, when the sun is coming up or going down as this provides you with a soft golden light that is flattering to outdoor portraits.

If you are taking more than one image that you would like to have the engraver merge, try to match the images and make them of a similar shape, size and quality. If you take just the head and shoulders of one person, then make sure you take just the head and shoulders of the second person. The engraver will have the requisite skill to then6 make these photographs merge quite naturally on the pendant.

Will you use film or digital photography? These days digital photography allows the original file to be provided to the engraver. Whilst film photography is fine to shoot with, it is possible you will then need to scan your non-digital image into a digital format, a minimum of 300dpi is recommended.

If you follow these tips you should come up with some GREAT photography to be used by your chosen engraver. And finally, don’t forget to have fun with your photography!!!

Sometimes gift-giving is such a challenge for some people – like me!  I often take a long time thinking of the best gift and one that would be useful to the recipient.  It can be even harder to choose a gift for babies because you know that they will be showered with gifts from friends and family.

That’s why gift packs like ours are such a great idea.  They are convenient and eliminate the time you would usually spend searching for the perfect gift.

What parent wouldn’t love our etched silver or gold pendants which include the baby’s name and date of christening or birth on the back?  Not only is this unique but it can also become a keepsake or heirloom piece in the future.

Along with the name and date of birth or christening, the pendant may contain the image of the baby taken from the first photo.  Or, why not use an imprint of the baby’s hands and feet as the etching? 

Our gift packs include the personalised pendant which comes attached to a blue, pink or brown teddy bear.  It is a round (27 x 27 mm) pendant which allows plenty of room for a christening design with text and photo on front side of the pendant and name and date on the reverse. 

A personalised pendant will be something that the parents treasure forever and something unique that they can pass on to their child in adulthood.

The unconditional love of a pet is one of the purest forms of friendship and so many pets easily become precious family members.

When a pet passes away we grieve as deeply as we do when we lose a human member of our family.  The memories of a special pet’s love and loyalty are something that we cherish forever. 

We have lost special pets over the years so we understand exactly how you feel.  Now you can carry a special reminder of your beloved four-legged friend with you, as an engraved pendant or key ring that preserves their image.

We can engrave a quality image of your pet from a photograph that you provide, creating a worthy keepsake in their memory.  This is the perfect gift for anyone who has lost a beloved pet, or has been unable to keep their pet when they have moved into care facilities or accommodation where pets are not allowed.

Pendants and key rings can be engraved on both sides and more than one person or pet can be included in each image. The image is etched into the surface of the metal and no paints or dyes are used in the process.

If you want only certain parts of a photo used in the engraving, we can professionally crop out other parts of the picture and all photographs are returned to our customers with the completed engravings.

We will work with you to create a unique and quality memory piece of your pet that you can treasure for years to come.

A Photo Engraving is one of those wonderful gift ideas that will leave everyone else thinking “I wish I had thought of that!”

It’s a really lovely way of presenting a person’s image on a personalised keepsake that is classically stylish and original.

You can supply the image of your choice, even if there are other people in the original photograph and because the focus is on recreating images of people, any background images will be cropped out of the picture before it is engraved.

Each item is hand made to order so you can freely discuss your creative ideas about different metals, and because most flat metal surfaces can be etched  there are so many different gifts that you can have engraved.

Your photo will be etched into the surface of the metal, so although it’s not indestructible, with regular care and cleaning it is a gift that will last for many years to come.

Pendants and key rings are both popular choices as both sides can be engraved, and keep in mind that more than one person can be included in an image.

Supplying the photograph and making payment can all take place online (or by traditional mail if you prefer) and the price includes delivery of the finished engraving to anywhere in Australia.

These make perfect gifts for Grandparents, Godparents, Aunts and Uncles, for Birthdays, Mothers Day, Fathers Day, Naming Days, Christenings – just about anything!

The diary was old and stained.  The edges of every page had been darkened by the fingers turning each page over many years.  A period of my nana’s life was captured here within the pages filled with faded ink and copperplate writing. 

I found this diary years ago when I was too young to understand what it meant.  To me it was the story of love gone missing and, although sad, didn’t mean much to me.  It was only as I grew up that I began to understand that the person who lost her love was my nanna.

Inside the diary there was a photo of a man in uniform.  He was handsome in that old fashioned and military way.  On the back it had a name – Robert.  I realised that this was the same name as that of the lost lover in that sad story.   This was the man who had left his woman weeping at the dock as his ship sailed away.  This was the man who had gone not knowing that his woman was pregnant. This was the man who had gone to war and not returned.  This was the grandfather that I had never met.

Also inside the diary there was a letter sent from the Middle East, folded neatly and tucked into the binding. 

“I met you on Valentine’s Day and I married you on Valentine’s Day.  Now, on this day I am at war and far from your loving arms.  If anything should happen to me, never forget to celebrate Valentine’s Day.  I will still be with you even if only in spirit.”

My nanna has never forgotten her love.  It was short but blissful and was never to be repeated. 

A few years before she died we bought her an engraved pendant with the image of his face taken from that sad old photo.  It bought tears of joy to her eyes and she wore it always.  She left it to me when she died because she knew that I understood.  She knew that I lived the tale with her.  

That pendant bought her much joy in those last few years.  It was the one thing that she took with her wherever she went.  It was such a simple and inexpensive gift but it was worth the world to her.

If you have someone special in your life, or someone around you does, think about saving the image as an etched portrait pendant.  It will never fade away.

(guest’s story)