FAQs

1. What is MyFaceIcons.com?

2. What is the process?

3. Can I give this as a gift?

4. What do I get?

5. How long does it take?

6. What kind of photo do I send?

7. How is the artwork done?

8. How do I get my icon?

9. Do I get a proof to review first?

10. Will I love my icon?

11. Can I have additions or changes done to my completed icon?

12. What is a Personalization Item?

13. Why is the Personalization Item field only 75 characters long?

14. How can I get my icon onto my mobile phone?

15. How can I create an email signature with my icon?

16. What is Personal Use vs Commercial Use?

17. What is an icon/avatar?

18. Can I include more than one person or include a pet?

What is MyFaceIcons.com?

We create radically unique icons from your photo - fast and easy.   Our icons/avatars stand out from the crowd and are perfect for use on websites, cell-phones, instant messaging, or as email signatures.  If you really like yourself, our package also includes a hi-res picture that you can print out and frame! 

MyFaceIcons.com was spun-off from our sister website GiveAcaricature.com  to meet the high demand for simpler caricatures to be used as cool icons but at a lower price.  We simplified our offering and streamlined the process so we could provide the outstanding quality we are known for but at a reduced price.  For those looking for more options, we would highly recommend GiveAcaricature.com .

What is the process?

It's super easy:

1. Simply hit the Buy Now button at the top of the page and select the Icon Package.

2. Select your options and upload your photo (make it a good one).

3. Pay with any major credit/debit card (our favorite part) using our secure checkout

4. On or before the ready-date on your order, you will receive an email that your icon is ready.  You simply log into your account and download your digital files.  Note that you can login at any time to see if your icon is ready.

Can I give this as a gift?

Awesome idea!  Your friends and family will love it as much as you do and we bet that they have never received anything like it before.  By the way, we have three other radically unique gift websites at www.GiveAshare.com, www.GiveAcaricature.com and www.GiveAurl.com. 

What do I get?

We call it an Icon Package (pretty clever, huh?) which includes the following:

1. 8"x 8" high resolution (150 dpi) .pdf file - perfect for high resolution printing. 

2. 200 x 200 pixel transparent .gif file - perfect for web/email/mobile applications*

3. 48 x 48 pixel transparent .gif file - perfect for web/email/mobile applications requiring small icons*

*Based on extensive canvassing of web-based forums, instant messaging applications, mobile phone applications, email applications and websites to determine the optimum file-type and file-sizes to satisfy the various applications.

How long does it take?

You get an exact date that your icon will be completed at the time your order.  Icons are generally ready in about 6 business days but you can get a real-time estimate by clicking here.  This real time estimate and the date on your order consider things like holidays, capacity, order volume, and even Artist vacation days (yes, artists get breaks too!).  Remember that all dates assume that there are no issues with the photo that you upload,   You can upgrade your order to Rush for a small fee cutting the turnaround time to 3 business days (again get a  real-time estimate here). 

What kind of photo do I send?

Glad you asked - pay attention!  The photo you provide is crucial to a great icon: 

• Representative Look - If the photo does not capture the subject, neither will the icon.  The photo should show the expression that you want - smiling, yelling, dazed look can all change the facial structure.

• Large & Clear - A good rule of thumb is that the head should be larger than a fifty cent coin and you should be able to see the eyes.

• File-types - We accept just about any file type including .jpg, .gif, .psd, .pdf, .tif.

• For more info and examples of good & bad, click here.

How is the artwork done?

Your icon artwork is created by Eric Jones and his small team of caricature artists including Marvin Butts who have a knack for capturing the essence of the subject in a comical and artistic way.  The icons are hand drawn using a computer stylus/tablet and are then colored digitally.  Click here to check out our YouTube video of Eric Jones drawing an American Idol caricature for www.GiveAcaricature.com.

How do I get my Icon?

Your MyFaceIcon will be ready on or before the date noted on your order confirmation (assuming that we've received adequate photos from you within 24 hours of placing your order).  You can view and save your completed MyFaceIcons by logging into your account and clicking on Order Status.  You will also receive an email when your MyFaceIcon is ready, but due to spam settings on some email accounts, we recommend that you log in and check your order status if you have not received an email from us.  You can also help this process by adding Orders@MyFaceIcons.com to your trusted senders list. 

Do I get a Proof to review first?

In order to keep the price down we have a streamlined process and do not provide proofs.  See, "Will I Love My Icon?" below.  If you feel more comfortable with a proof, please consider our sister website www.GiveAcaricature.com .

Will I Love My Icon?

Although we can’t guarantee it, based on our history of delighting thousands of customers, you will!    The photo you provide is crucial to a great icon (see requirements).  Take a look at our examples and you will see that we take great pride in providing high quality artwork and satisfying our customers.  Remember, you are commissioning our artist to use his creativity and expertise to do the work.   As such, you should convince yourself of the artist's capabilities by reviewing the sample work.  All artwork is done by or done under the direction of one person.  If you want more options or a proof to review, please consider our full service offering at www.GiveAcaricature.com .  Note that if we made some sort of mistake on the icon or forgot something, we will obviously correct it at no charge, otherwise we have added priced additions/changes of varying degrees that you may purchase to suit your needs.

Can I have additions or changes done to my completed icon?

Remember you are commissioning our artist to use his creativity and expertise to create the artwork.  As such, you should convince yourself of the artist's capabilities by reviewing our sample work.  In order to keep prices low, you may separately purchase priced additions/changes of varying degrees to suit your needs.

What is a Personalization Item?

You are given the option to include Personalization Items with all but the Basic Package.  Sometimes this is called a prop but basically is something that makes you, YOU.  For example, a Personalization Item can be something that you are holding like a soda can, beer bottle, golf club, wine glass, coffee cup, cell phone, video game controller, pencil etc.  It can also be a logo or an item of clothing.  These items not only liven up the icon, but they show your persona.    See this link for more info and examples.

Why is the Personalization Item field only 75 characters long?

We did this on purpose!  MyFaceIcons is about simplicity.  If you cannot clearly and concisely describe your Personalization Item in 75 characters, you are probably looking for something too complex for MyFaceIcons and should consider www.GiveAcaricature.com.  Remember, we are keeping things simple and have streamlined the process so that we can provide a high quality product for the lowest price.

How can I get my Icon to my mobile phone?

Our icons look very cool on mobile-phones.  Various websites make it easy to upload your icon to any text-enabled phone from a PC but just make sure you understand what the fees (if any) are first.  Your service provider's (ie. Verizon, T-Mobile, AT&T, Cingular) website likely provides this capability and here are some others:  www.cellfish.com.

How can I create an email signature with my Icon?

Our icons look very cool as an email signature too!  To add an email signature to Windows Mail, Outlook Express, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft Entourage, or Mac OS X, see our instructions.

What is Personal Use vs Commercial Use?

Your icon is yours to keep and you can make all the copies you want for personal use.  Use on company web sites,  for business cards, as a business logo, in marketing collateral, in s/w applications or other like uses is considered Commercial Use which can be selected during checkout.   We retain full copyright of the artwork for all icons and we retain all rights to use the artwork that we generate on a royalty-free basis.

What is an Icon?  What is an Avatar?

That's two questions.  Icons and Avatars are ways that people represent themselves on the internet, mobile phones, and email.  They may represent different parts of an individuals persona, beliefs, or interests.  Nowadays both terms are pretty much used interchangeably.  For more icon/avatar history.

Can I include more than one person ar include a pet?

We do allow caricatures of two people or a person and their pet at a discounted price.  Select the 2 Subject Icon (clever name, huh).  Remember, a pet counts as a person.