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Yes our lab is located in Hatfield in Hertfordshire, just north of London. We've been proudly producing professional quality prints in the UK for over 20 years. Our full address is SIMLAB, Unit 8, The I.O Centre, Hearle Way, Hatfield Business Park, Hertfordshire, AL10 9EW.
Monday - Friday, 8.30am - 5.30pm - Lab opening hours and customer service.
Monday - Friday, 10am - 4pm - Collection times and showroom availability.
These hours may change without notice during peak times of the year.
Yes, we offer a collection option at the checkout for any of our local customers to pick up their orders with a small packaging fee. Our reception is open for collections Monday - Friday between 10am and 4pm.
No, we are an online business with a professional production lab thats not readily accessible to the general public. We have a reception thats available for collections and a showroom to look through our available products, but all orders must be placed online via our website. You are not able to bring in images on a USB to be printed or to send orders via email, all orders must be placed online via simlab.co.uk.
No, our usual operating hours are Monday - Friday, 8.30am - 5.30pm however this may change during our peak periods.
We only offer printing of digital files, so we are unable to develop film or print from negatives. We also do not offer any scanning facilities for digitalising existing photos. All orders are required to be an existing digital JPG file ordered online via our website.
Absolutely. As well as photographs, we often see prints that are paintings, drawings, graphics, signs, promotional material, banners and more. We do not offer document printing on standard copier paper but so long as your file is in a JPG format with the required spec, we can print it for you on either photographic or fine art paper.
As an integral part of our global economy and indeed our future, SIMLAB is dedicated to sustainable business practices as a key priority in our mandate. Responsible procurement, sustainability, recycling and carbon offsetting are all factors we consider when developing supplier and consumer relationships. All of our papers are FSC certified meaning they meet the Forest Stewardship councils strict requirements for responsible and sustainable printing. We also strive to use recycled & recyclable packaging materials for shipping our orders
It is not possible to change the details of your order once it has been placed. The only exception to this is the delivery address, which can only be changed if your order has not yet been sent. To change this, please contact SIMLAB via email at [email protected] or call 01707 273 747. Please note that due to our exceptionally quick turn arounds and high order volumes, it is not always possible to change the address before the order is dispatched. Please ensure when entering your details during ordering that you double check all your information throughly to avoid any mistakes and consequential delays.
We recommend Firefox or Google Chrome which are both available to download for free for both Mac & PC. Each browser, computer operating system and other factors can impact the default image options when uploading, so you MUST check the options that have been selected on the uploader on every order.
Unfortunately we are unable to add more files to an existing order as the files need to be uploaded through the website, therefore the files would need to be placed as a new, separate order. You can request that orders be paired together in the special instructions, however it is not guaranteed that we will be able to consolidate them for you due to the volume of orders we process in a day.
No, we do not accept any orders via email. All orders MUST be processed via the website in order to allocate an order number and take you through the secure payment gateway.
No, we cannot accept orders sent via the post either on a CD or USB. All orders MUST be processed via the website in order to allocate an order number and take you through the secure payment gateway.
Your confirmation email is the invoice for your order, so please always include your own email at the checkout, especially when ordering for clients. This will contain any necessary costs, VAT and company information for you to use for your tax or records. When sending an order directly to a client, always ensure to input your own email address so the invoice will be sent directly to you. We do not include any paper invoices in our parcels, so please ensure to keep a copy of your confirmation email for your records either in a saved or printed format ready for your yearly accounts.
We require files to be in a JPG format for ordering. Our website will not accept TIFs, PSDs, PNGs, PDF's or documents for printing whilst you are uploading your order, so please ensure your files are correctly saved in a JPG format at a quality of 8 or higher before ordering.
The ideal file format for your individual photo prints must be sized to the exact print size being ordered. For example, if you require a 7”x5” print the file should be sized exactly to 7”x5”. Failure to do so may result in unintentional cropping of the image. For optimum print results please make sure that your image has an embedded sRGB colour profile rather than a tagged colour profile.
Absolutely. So long as your image is sized correctly for print, your image will print perfectly in a JPG format. We recommend your image to be saved at the same size you would like it to be printed at 300DPI. For example, if you are ordering a 7x5" image, your image size should be 7 inches by 5 inches at a resolution of 300 pixels per inch for optimum quality. Similarly if you are printed a 40x30" image, your image size should be 40 inches by 30 inches at a resolution of 300 pixels per inch for optimum quality at this size instead.
The file size itself (i.e kilobytes or megabytes) is irrelevant to measuring the optimal file print size. We recommend your image to be saved at the same size you would like it to be printed at 300DPI. For example, if you are printed a 40x30" image, your image size should be 40 inches by 30 inches at a resolution of 300 pixels per inch for optimum quality at this size instead. If you do not know what size your file will print successfully at, take a look at the "Image Size" in photoshop and change your resolution to 300DPI pixels/inch to see your ideal print size. Please make sure that 'resample' is not ticked to get an accurate size.
We do not recommend adding a keyline to prints without a wider surrounding border or placing any text close to the edge of your order. If your text or key lines are in or close to the outer bleed area then there is a chance that this will be cropped from the print, as all printers require a surrounding bleed area of 3-5mm on every edge which is trimmed off in the final stage of production. We would recommend having any text or important subjects AT LEAST 5mm away from every edge of the file. Slightly thicker borders are always best on smaller prints as very thin borders optically draw the eye if they are ever so slightly uneven. If you require a small white border on standard sized photographic prints, we recommend using our "white border" option at the checkout as this will produce the most even results in a 5mm white surround.
We do not offer any Photoshop adjustments or colour correction services. As we offer a high quality photo printing service to professionals, we will print the file exactly as we have received them through the website. The colour and quality management of any image is your responsibility so please ensure that all files are in the correct colour profile (sRGB IEC61966-2.1). Any orders that are submitted with the incorrect specifications cannot be refunded or reprinted and will have to be amended and placed as a new order.
Images must be supplied in sRGB format to ensure the colours print as you are expecting. To change colour settings in Adobe Photoshop, go to Edit / Convert to Profile and select sRGB IEC61966-2.1 from the drop down. We advise converting your image to the correct profile, not assigning it. This will ensure that your images print as you expect them to look.
We do not offer any soft proofing profiles or ICC profiles for our papers or machines. The only colour requirement we stipulate is that images are converted to sRGB for accurate colour replication. We use a wide variety of papers, machines and printing methods for all of our products so we calibrate everything to the same baseline level to match sRGB to give consistent results across all of our mediums. As sRGB is a default/common colour profile, if you are working or editing in sRGB this will give you the most accurate view of the colours prior to print. To ensure your screen is calibrated correctly, you can order a free test print to compare to your monitor and confirm everything is as expected.
All of our paper options are the highest quality available on the market, printed with industry leading technology. Paper choice should be based on your desired texture and the size that you require your print. We offer paper sample packs for you to see and feel the different papers in person, however different printing methods have different strengths. If you are looking for prints with the sharpest results possible then we would recommend looking at our photographic and large photo print pages. If you are wanting punchy vivid colours with a range of textures then our fine art prints will offer more options to choose from.
Photographic printing is wet lab chemical process of developing Fuji Crystal Archive DPII film with ultra modern lasers. Fine art printing is an ink jet method of layering 12 colour pigment ink onto different papers. The biggest deciding factor on which to choose is often your required size. Photographic prints are printed on a roll so the length is variable, however the width is limited to a maximum of 12" wide for standard prints and 20" wide for large format photographic prints. Fine art prints are available up to a 40" width, making our largest size 60x40 inches, so there is far more scope for larger applications.
Quite simply, they are two different printing methods onto two different materials or mediums.
We offer a quick and efficient professional photo printing service and all our prints are processed digitally directly from the files we receive through our website. Standard size photo prints are created using Fuji Crystal Archive DPII film with a finish of lustre or gloss. We also offer fine art prints which are created using papers instead of film, including a range of Hahnemühle papers.
Yes we can accomodate a range of custom canvas wrap sizes. As we use premium pine stretcher bars, these are typically produced in 2" increments, meaning if we cannot get your exact desired size, we may be able to get something close or in a suitable ratio. Our individual measurements listed on our canvas page may be possible to combine, even if they are not listed together. To enquire whether your desired custom size is possible and to get a quote, please contact [email protected] with your required measurements.
Unfortunately we cannot trim down standard prints to custom sizes, however you are able to design a custom size and trim down prints once you've received your order. To order this you should find the next larger print size that is available. For example, if you require a 9”x9” image you should order a 10”x10” print. You will need to place the image on a canvas in Photoshop that is the same size as the print you are ordering. You should create a 10”x10” canvas and set your image size as 9”x9” to float in the middle of the 10x10" canvas.
Yes, all of our fine art prints are processed and trimmed by hand, therefore we can accomodate custom sizes. You will need to order the closest size up from your required print size so this can be trimmed down in production. We advise that you size your file exactly as your require it at 300DPI before adding additional "canvas" in photoshop to make your overall file size the print size you are ordering.
You must ensure your file is sized to the print size you are ordering. For example if your desired final print size is 9x9", you will need to set your canvas size in photoshop to 10x10" which is our next closest size. This will prevent your image from being resized or expanded to fit your chosen ration when uploading. Please then make a note in the order comments requesting your final desired print size so we can action this for you. For example "Please trim off white edge to give a final print size of 9x9 inches"
Yes. Our mounted and laminated prints are all processed by hand, so are available to be produced and trimmed to a custom size. We advise that you size your file exactly as your require it at 300DPI before adding additional "canvas" in photoshop to make your overall file size the print size you are ordering. For example if your desired final print size is 9x9", you will need to set your canvas size in photoshop to 10x10" which is our next closest size. This will prevent your image from being resized or expanded to fit your chosen ration when uploading. Please then make a note in the order comments requesting your final desired print size so we can action this for you. For example "Please trim off white edge to give a final print size of 9x9 inches"
Production time varies for each product, for example standard sized photo prints are produced the same working day if order before 1pm, but mounted prints can take up to 3 working days. The production time for each product can be found on our individual product pages. Please remember that orders containing different products will be produced based on the longest turn around time of any item in your order so that it will be shipped together one all items are complete. Orders must be placed before 1pm, Monday to Friday for any product to be considered the first working day. Please be advised we do not typically work at the weekends or bank holidays so these will not count toward your overall production time.
Whilst we endeavour to maintain our exceptional turnarounds throughout the year, our production time is not guaranteed and may be extended during peak times. SIMLAB is not responsible for any loss suffered due to delays beyond our reasonable control but we will always assist customers where possible to the best of our ability.
Our lab and our deliveries only operate from Monday to Friday, so any orders not printed dispatched by Friday afternoon will be resumed on the next working day i.e Monday. If you order over the weekend, production will not begin until Monday.
Any photo print smaller than 16” will be sent flat in our custom designed cardboard packaging to keep prints protected during transit. Our packaging is designed to be plastic free and even our DPD mailing bags are made from recycled material and are fully recyclable once finished with. All photo prints larger than and including 20” prints will be sent in purpose made print tubes dependant on the size and quantity of the prints ordered. Canvases, photo wraps and mounted prints are packaged in bespoke size corrugated cardboard boxes with protective corners and individual wrapping to ensure they arrive safely. These descriptions are only a guideline as all orders will be packaged at the discretion of our technicians depending on size and quantities to ensure safety in transit.
On the road to becoming plastic free, we revolutionised our packaging in 2022 to be all cardboard, paper and recycled materials. This includes custom designed print folders, envelopes and compostable bags. We make a conscious effort to choose packaging materials that are sustainable, recyclable and environmentally friendly to reduce our impact on the planet and safely deliver your photos on every order.
We pride ourselves on our quick and efficient turnaround times with same day dispatch on photo prints ordered before 1pm, Monday to Friday. All standard print orders are sent via courier so once dispatched, your parcel should be delivered the next working day i.e Monday to Friday. We do not offer any postal services for our orders, only tracked and timed deliveries via courier. Whilst DPD offer a next working day service, this is not guaranteed and can be subject to delays due to circumstances outside of reasonable control.
Our usual delivery service for prints to UK mainland via next working day courier start from £5.95+VAT. Larger products such as canvases and mounted prints start from £11.95+VAT. We have a range of different delivery options for different destinations, for a full list of prices and services please see our dedicated shipping page.
Typically all parcels will require a signature or a photo confirming delivery via our tracked service. You should receive the tracking information in advance to the contact details provided at the checkout. This should include alternative options if you are not going to be present at the time of delivery such as leave with a neighbour or in a safe place.
We work very closely with our local courier representatives who can help us find out more information about your parcel. If you are concerned, please get in touch so we can investigate this further for you and try to resolve any issues. Please bear in mind that whilst every step is taken by both us and our courier service to ensure next working day delivery, this service is not guaranteed. SIMLAB cannot be held liable for any consequential losses incurred where deliveries are delayed.
Due to the current climate we are unable to ship any orders outside of the UK & Ireland. We can however ship to an address in the UK so you can forward this on to your delivery country. Alternatively we offer a box and collection service, where we can provide the measurements of your parcel once packed and you can arrange your own international collection service.
No, our courier service is exclusively next working day and does not have a same day delivery option. We do offer the option to collect your order from our reception in Hatfield if required once your order is confirmed as complete.
Yes we do. SIMLAB offers a fully white label service as standard which can be delivered directly to your customer. Simply input your clients delivery address at the checkout and we’ll print, package and deliver the order direct to them without any paper invoices. All of our billing is electronic, so please ensure your enter your OWN email address at all stages of the checkout as this is where your confirmation email / invoice will be sent detailing the costs & VAT information for your records.
If after 3 working days your order doesn’t arrive (UK mainland) please get in touch. You should receive tracking information from our dedicated courier service but if you require help getting an update please get in touch. If the parcel has been confirmed lost with the couriers we will re-print and dispatch your order free of charge. We always endeavour to resolve any problems or queries as quickly as possible to ensure your ordering experience is smooth and hassle free.
In the unlikely event that your photo prints do get damaged then please notify us within 24 hours so we can investigate the issue and raise the damage with the couriers. Please notify us by emailing [email protected] quoting your SMMGNET ID which can be found in your confirmation email. Please also include a few of images of the damaged products and / or packaging and we will respond with a resolution. Please ensure your check your order thoroughly upon arrival to assess for any damage so this can be reported to us immediately. Damages reported after this time may not be considered for replacement.
If you do not receive a confirmation email this may indicate that your order hasn’t been uploaded correctly or successfully sent through to us. Please check your emails thoroughly as it may have mistakenly classified it as spam or sent to your junk folder. However, if you are unsure please give us a call or email [email protected] and we can confirm if your order is live and resend your confirmation for you. It is important to thoroughly check your confirmation email upon receipt for any errors before the order goes into production so if this is not received in the first 10 minutes of ordering, please get in touch.
If you are not 100% satisfied with your order, we would be happy to receive the order back and investigate this further for you. Should you wish to return the order to us, our return address is listed below:
SIMLAB Returns
Unit 8,
The I O Centre,
Hearleway,
Hatfield
AL10 9EW
If you have a concern or a query with your order that is not listed here, simply get in touch so we can advise you further. We recommend taking a few photos of the issue and emailing this through to us on [email protected] and we can happily provide you with more information or a solution if applicable. We pride ourselves on excellent service so you can always speak to us directly when you need to.
We strive to achieve 100% customer satisfaction so we carry out a thorough quality check routine on all our orders. If you do notice a fault with your product please let us know within 24 hours of receipt of your order so we can investigate and provide more information for you.
On the phone, via email or in our showroom in Hatfield. Our expert support team are ready to answer any questions or to offer friendly advice when you need it.
SIMLAB offers top quality professional photo prints produced here in the UK. We have a wide range of different photo supplies and photo products to suit every need of a professional photographer and we have an excellent team on hand to help. Please find our most frequently asked questions about our service, products and photo supplies listed below.
Yes our lab is located in Hatfield in Hertfordshire, just north of London. We've been proudly producing professional quality prints in the UK for over 20 years. Our full address is SIMLAB, Unit 8, The I.O Centre, Hearle Way, Hatfield Business Park, Hertfordshire, AL10 9EW.
Monday - Friday, 8.30am - 5.30pm - Lab opening hours and customer service.
Monday - Friday, 10am - 4pm - Collection times and showroom availability.
These hours may change without notice during peak times of the year.
Yes, we offer a collection option at the checkout for any of our local customers to pick up their orders with a small packaging fee. Our reception is open for collections Monday - Friday between 10am and 4pm.
No, we are an online business with a professional production lab thats not readily accessible to the general public. We have a reception thats available for collections and a showroom to look through our available products, but all orders must be placed online via our website. You are not able to bring in images on a USB to be printed or to send orders via email, all orders must be placed online via simlab.co.uk.
No, our usual operating hours are Monday - Friday, 8.30am - 5.30pm however this may change during our peak periods.
We only offer printing of digital files, so we are unable to develop film or print from negatives. We also do not offer any scanning facilities for digitalising existing photos. All orders are required to be an existing digital JPG file ordered online via our website.
Absolutely. As well as photographs, we often see prints that are paintings, drawings, graphics, signs, promotional material, banners and more. We do not offer document printing on standard copier paper but so long as your file is in a JPG format with the required spec, we can print it for you on either photographic or fine art paper.
As an integral part of our global economy and indeed our future, SIMLAB is dedicated to sustainable business practices as a key priority in our mandate. Responsible procurement, sustainability, recycling and carbon offsetting are all factors we consider when developing supplier and consumer relationships. All of our papers are FSC certified meaning they meet the Forest Stewardship councils strict requirements for responsible and sustainable printing. We also strive to use recycled & recyclable packaging materials for shipping our orders
It is not possible to change the details of your order once it has been placed. The only exception to this is the delivery address, which can only be changed if your order has not yet been sent. To change this, please contact SIMLAB via email at [email protected] or call 01707 273 747. Please note that due to our exceptionally quick turn arounds and high order volumes, it is not always possible to change the address before the order is dispatched. Please ensure when entering your details during ordering that you double check all your information throughly to avoid any mistakes and consequential delays.
We recommend Firefox or Google Chrome which are both available to download for free for both Mac & PC. Each browser, computer operating system and other factors can impact the default image options when uploading, so you MUST check the options that have been selected on the uploader on every order.
Unfortunately we are unable to add more files to an existing order as the files need to be uploaded through the website, therefore the files would need to be placed as a new, separate order. You can request that orders be paired together in the special instructions, however it is not guaranteed that we will be able to consolidate them for you due to the volume of orders we process in a day.
No, we do not accept any orders via email. All orders MUST be processed via the website in order to allocate an order number and take you through the secure payment gateway.
No, we cannot accept orders sent via the post either on a CD or USB. All orders MUST be processed via the website in order to allocate an order number and take you through the secure payment gateway.
Your confirmation email is the invoice for your order, so please always include your own email at the checkout, especially when ordering for clients. This will contain any necessary costs, VAT and company information for you to use for your tax or records. When sending an order directly to a client, always ensure to input your own email address so the invoice will be sent directly to you. We do not include any paper invoices in our parcels, so please ensure to keep a copy of your confirmation email for your records either in a saved or printed format ready for your yearly accounts.
We require files to be in a JPG format for ordering. Our website will not accept TIFs, PSDs, PNGs, PDF's or documents for printing whilst you are uploading your order, so please ensure your files are correctly saved in a JPG format at a quality of 8 or higher before ordering.
The ideal file format for your individual photo prints must be sized to the exact print size being ordered. For example, if you require a 7”x5” print the file should be sized exactly to 7”x5”. Failure to do so may result in unintentional cropping of the image. For optimum print results please make sure that your image has an embedded sRGB colour profile rather than a tagged colour profile.
Absolutely. So long as your image is sized correctly for print, your image will print perfectly in a JPG format. We recommend your image to be saved at the same size you would like it to be printed at 300DPI. For example, if you are ordering a 7x5" image, your image size should be 7 inches by 5 inches at a resolution of 300 pixels per inch for optimum quality. Similarly if you are printed a 40x30" image, your image size should be 40 inches by 30 inches at a resolution of 300 pixels per inch for optimum quality at this size instead.
The file size itself (i.e kilobytes or megabytes) is irrelevant to measuring the optimal file print size. We recommend your image to be saved at the same size you would like it to be printed at 300DPI. For example, if you are printed a 40x30" image, your image size should be 40 inches by 30 inches at a resolution of 300 pixels per inch for optimum quality at this size instead. If you do not know what size your file will print successfully at, take a look at the "Image Size" in photoshop and change your resolution to 300DPI pixels/inch to see your ideal print size. Please make sure that 'resample' is not ticked to get an accurate size.
We do not recommend adding a keyline to prints without a wider surrounding border or placing any text close to the edge of your order. If your text or key lines are in or close to the outer bleed area then there is a chance that this will be cropped from the print, as all printers require a surrounding bleed area of 3-5mm on every edge which is trimmed off in the final stage of production. We would recommend having any text or important subjects AT LEAST 5mm away from every edge of the file. Slightly thicker borders are always best on smaller prints as very thin borders optically draw the eye if they are ever so slightly uneven. If you require a small white border on standard sized photographic prints, we recommend using our "white border" option at the checkout as this will produce the most even results in a 5mm white surround.
We do not offer any Photoshop adjustments or colour correction services. As we offer a high quality photo printing service to professionals, we will print the file exactly as we have received them through the website. The colour and quality management of any image is your responsibility so please ensure that all files are in the correct colour profile (sRGB IEC61966-2.1). Any orders that are submitted with the incorrect specifications cannot be refunded or reprinted and will have to be amended and placed as a new order.
Images must be supplied in sRGB format to ensure the colours print as you are expecting. To change colour settings in Adobe Photoshop, go to Edit / Convert to Profile and select sRGB IEC61966-2.1 from the drop down. We advise converting your image to the correct profile, not assigning it. This will ensure that your images print as you expect them to look.
We do not offer any soft proofing profiles or ICC profiles for our papers or machines. The only colour requirement we stipulate is that images are converted to sRGB for accurate colour replication. We use a wide variety of papers, machines and printing methods for all of our products so we calibrate everything to the same baseline level to match sRGB to give consistent results across all of our mediums. As sRGB is a default/common colour profile, if you are working or editing in sRGB this will give you the most accurate view of the colours prior to print. To ensure your screen is calibrated correctly, you can order a free test print to compare to your monitor and confirm everything is as expected.
All of our paper options are the highest quality available on the market, printed with industry leading technology. Paper choice should be based on your desired texture and the size that you require your print. We offer paper sample packs for you to see and feel the different papers in person, however different printing methods have different strengths. If you are looking for prints with the sharpest results possible then we would recommend looking at our photographic and large photo print pages. If you are wanting punchy vivid colours with a range of textures then our fine art prints will offer more options to choose from.
Photographic printing is wet lab chemical process of developing Fuji Crystal Archive DPII film with ultra modern lasers. Fine art printing is an ink jet method of layering 12 colour pigment ink onto different papers. The biggest deciding factor on which to choose is often your required size. Photographic prints are printed on a roll so the length is variable, however the width is limited to a maximum of 12" wide for standard prints and 20" wide for large format photographic prints. Fine art prints are available up to a 40" width, making our largest size 60x40 inches, so there is far more scope for larger applications.
Quite simply, they are two different printing methods onto two different materials or mediums.
We offer a quick and efficient professional photo printing service and all our prints are processed digitally directly from the files we receive through our website. Standard size photo prints are created using Fuji Crystal Archive DPII film with a finish of lustre or gloss. We also offer fine art prints which are created using papers instead of film, including a range of Hahnemühle papers.
Yes we can accomodate a range of custom canvas wrap sizes. As we use premium pine stretcher bars, these are typically produced in 2" increments, meaning if we cannot get your exact desired size, we may be able to get something close or in a suitable ratio. Our individual measurements listed on our canvas page may be possible to combine, even if they are not listed together. To enquire whether your desired custom size is possible and to get a quote, please contact [email protected] with your required measurements.
Unfortunately we cannot trim down standard prints to custom sizes, however you are able to design a custom size and trim down prints once you've received your order. To order this you should find the next larger print size that is available. For example, if you require a 9”x9” image you should order a 10”x10” print. You will need to place the image on a canvas in Photoshop that is the same size as the print you are ordering. You should create a 10”x10” canvas and set your image size as 9”x9” to float in the middle of the 10x10" canvas.
Yes, all of our fine art prints are processed and trimmed by hand, therefore we can accomodate custom sizes. You will need to order the closest size up from your required print size so this can be trimmed down in production. We advise that you size your file exactly as your require it at 300DPI before adding additional "canvas" in photoshop to make your overall file size the print size you are ordering.
You must ensure your file is sized to the print size you are ordering. For example if your desired final print size is 9x9", you will need to set your canvas size in photoshop to 10x10" which is our next closest size. This will prevent your image from being resized or expanded to fit your chosen ration when uploading. Please then make a note in the order comments requesting your final desired print size so we can action this for you. For example "Please trim off white edge to give a final print size of 9x9 inches"
Yes. Our mounted and laminated prints are all processed by hand, so are available to be produced and trimmed to a custom size. We advise that you size your file exactly as your require it at 300DPI before adding additional "canvas" in photoshop to make your overall file size the print size you are ordering. For example if your desired final print size is 9x9", you will need to set your canvas size in photoshop to 10x10" which is our next closest size. This will prevent your image from being resized or expanded to fit your chosen ration when uploading. Please then make a note in the order comments requesting your final desired print size so we can action this for you. For example "Please trim off white edge to give a final print size of 9x9 inches"
Production time varies for each product, for example standard sized photo prints are produced the same working day if order before 1pm, but mounted prints can take up to 3 working days. The production time for each product can be found on our individual product pages. Please remember that orders containing different products will be produced based on the longest turn around time of any item in your order so that it will be shipped together one all items are complete. Orders must be placed before 1pm, Monday to Friday for any product to be considered the first working day. Please be advised we do not typically work at the weekends or bank holidays so these will not count toward your overall production time.
Whilst we endeavour to maintain our exceptional turnarounds throughout the year, our production time is not guaranteed and may be extended during peak times. SIMLAB is not responsible for any loss suffered due to delays beyond our reasonable control but we will always assist customers where possible to the best of our ability.
Our lab and our deliveries only operate from Monday to Friday, so any orders not printed dispatched by Friday afternoon will be resumed on the next working day i.e Monday. If you order over the weekend, production will not begin until Monday.
Any photo print smaller than 16” will be sent flat in our custom designed cardboard packaging to keep prints protected during transit. Our packaging is designed to be plastic free and even our DPD mailing bags are made from recycled material and are fully recyclable once finished with. All photo prints larger than and including 20” prints will be sent in purpose made print tubes dependant on the size and quantity of the prints ordered. Canvases, photo wraps and mounted prints are packaged in bespoke size corrugated cardboard boxes with protective corners and individual wrapping to ensure they arrive safely. These descriptions are only a guideline as all orders will be packaged at the discretion of our technicians depending on size and quantities to ensure safety in transit.
On the road to becoming plastic free, we revolutionised our packaging in 2022 to be all cardboard, paper and recycled materials. This includes custom designed print folders, envelopes and compostable bags. We make a conscious effort to choose packaging materials that are sustainable, recyclable and environmentally friendly to reduce our impact on the planet and safely deliver your photos on every order.
We pride ourselves on our quick and efficient turnaround times with same day dispatch on photo prints ordered before 1pm, Monday to Friday. All standard print orders are sent via courier so once dispatched, your parcel should be delivered the next working day i.e Monday to Friday. We do not offer any postal services for our orders, only tracked and timed deliveries via courier. Whilst DPD offer a next working day service, this is not guaranteed and can be subject to delays due to circumstances outside of reasonable control.
Our usual delivery service for prints to UK mainland via next working day courier start from £5.95+VAT. Larger products such as canvases and mounted prints start from £11.95+VAT. We have a range of different delivery options for different destinations, for a full list of prices and services please see our dedicated shipping page.
Typically all parcels will require a signature or a photo confirming delivery via our tracked service. You should receive the tracking information in advance to the contact details provided at the checkout. This should include alternative options if you are not going to be present at the time of delivery such as leave with a neighbour or in a safe place.
We work very closely with our local courier representatives who can help us find out more information about your parcel. If you are concerned, please get in touch so we can investigate this further for you and try to resolve any issues. Please bear in mind that whilst every step is taken by both us and our courier service to ensure next working day delivery, this service is not guaranteed. SIMLAB cannot be held liable for any consequential losses incurred where deliveries are delayed.
Due to the current climate we are unable to ship any orders outside of the UK & Ireland. We can however ship to an address in the UK so you can forward this on to your delivery country. Alternatively we offer a box and collection service, where we can provide the measurements of your parcel once packed and you can arrange your own international collection service.
No, our courier service is exclusively next working day and does not have a same day delivery option. We do offer the option to collect your order from our reception in Hatfield if required once your order is confirmed as complete.
Yes we do. SIMLAB offers a fully white label service as standard which can be delivered directly to your customer. Simply input your clients delivery address at the checkout and we’ll print, package and deliver the order direct to them without any paper invoices. All of our billing is electronic, so please ensure your enter your OWN email address at all stages of the checkout as this is where your confirmation email / invoice will be sent detailing the costs & VAT information for your records.
If after 3 working days your order doesn’t arrive (UK mainland) please get in touch. You should receive tracking information from our dedicated courier service but if you require help getting an update please get in touch. If the parcel has been confirmed lost with the couriers we will re-print and dispatch your order free of charge. We always endeavour to resolve any problems or queries as quickly as possible to ensure your ordering experience is smooth and hassle free.
In the unlikely event that your photo prints do get damaged then please notify us within 24 hours so we can investigate the issue and raise the damage with the couriers. Please notify us by emailing [email protected] quoting your SMMGNET ID which can be found in your confirmation email. Please also include a few of images of the damaged products and / or packaging and we will respond with a resolution. Please ensure your check your order thoroughly upon arrival to assess for any damage so this can be reported to us immediately. Damages reported after this time may not be considered for replacement.
If you do not receive a confirmation email this may indicate that your order hasn’t been uploaded correctly or successfully sent through to us. Please check your emails thoroughly as it may have mistakenly classified it as spam or sent to your junk folder. However, if you are unsure please give us a call or email [email protected] and we can confirm if your order is live and resend your confirmation for you. It is important to thoroughly check your confirmation email upon receipt for any errors before the order goes into production so if this is not received in the first 10 minutes of ordering, please get in touch.
If you are not 100% satisfied with your order, we would be happy to receive the order back and investigate this further for you. Should you wish to return the order to us, our return address is listed below:
SIMLAB Returns
Unit 8,
The I O Centre,
Hearleway,
Hatfield
AL10 9EW
If you have a concern or a query with your order that is not listed here, simply get in touch so we can advise you further. We recommend taking a few photos of the issue and emailing this through to us on [email protected] and we can happily provide you with more information or a solution if applicable. We pride ourselves on excellent service so you can always speak to us directly when you need to.
We strive to achieve 100% customer satisfaction so we carry out a thorough quality check routine on all our orders. If you do notice a fault with your product please let us know within 24 hours of receipt of your order so we can investigate and provide more information for you.