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Artifact Uprising Review

Monday, December 2nd

2024 Photo Card Company Reviews

Artifact Uprising Review 2 Star Rating

Artifact Uprising

2 Star Rating
  • Several hundred photo card designs
  • Design-your-own option available
  • Pricing typically starts from $1.35 to $1.95 per card
  • Made in the USA
  • Strong focus on recyclable and reclaimed materials when possible
  • In business since 2012

Created by a family team of photographers based in Denver, Artifact Uprising isn't your average photo card print shop. Across their entire store (which includes much more than greeting cards), they focus on recyclable and reclaimed materials, exemplifying the company's commitment to eco-friendly practices. You'll see that most when you look through the gift options here.

Limited design selection

As you might expect from a more niche print shop, there aren't thousands and thousands of photo card designs in the Artifact Uprising catalog. For example, in the Christmas category, there were only about 50 different options, and we didn't see anything on offer for graduation announcements. We also thought that the featured design on the main photo cards page (a photo of two boys wearing face masks) was a little off-putting (who wants to be reminded of that? Or who would make a greeting card with a photo where you can't even see the kids' faces?) Even the text design was strange, with a hyphen for no apparent reason ("TH-ANK YOU”).

The definition of "vanilla”

And, what you'll find tends to be on the minimalist side: beige, tan, white and cream are the "flavor” of the day here. You won't see any big, bold designs or patterns for your photo cards. These look more like something you'd find hanging in a quiet gallery somewhere. Not that that's a bad thing: you just need to know that's what to expect.

Some options are out of stock

As you get into the details of the photo card that interests you, it's easy to see all available options and upgrades. Pearlescent paper? Foil? A different orientation (landscape vs. portrait)? Take your pick. We did notice that half of the envelope color options were out of stock on the photo cards we preferred.

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Prepare to pay more here

Most photo cards here have a minimum order of 10 cards, typically priced at $2.40 each. It's only when you order 300 cards that you get the lowest possible price (around $1.30 per card). Printing the return address on the envelopes comes at an extra fee of $0.40 each (even though some rival print shops give you that for free).

Reputation isn't good

Artifact Uprising is kept from ranking higher among photo card printers for several reasons. First, the company only has a "D-” rating from the Better Business Bureau. We're relieved that it's only for failing to respond to six complaints there, but it also begs the question why the company never responded to such a low number of issues? We found that in other places we looked, customers had a hard time getting a response from Artifact Uprising reps during critical times like holidays, when gifts hadn't been shipped during the estimated timeframe and were then going to arrive late. And that's not all: professionals rated this company as just "meh” with respect to product quality, with images often coming out blurred and even not getting fixed on reprints offered by the company.

Doesn't deliver what it promises

Those kinds of issues are one thing if you're going with something budget-friendly for your photo cards. But when the whole focus or premise of a company is offering high-end final products (with a matching cost), it's even more unacceptable when orders come late or in less-than-pixel-perfect quality. This all adds up to Artifact Uprising's low ranking among photo card options in our evaluation.

What's the Best Place to Order Photo Cards?

Photo cards have been a timeless way to capture and share moments of significance in people's lives. While they were once primarily associated with graduation and wedding announcements, photo cards have evolved over the years to become a versatile and popular tool for personal expression, celebration, and communication. In this era of digital-everything, photo cards offer a somewhat nostalgic, tangible and heartfelt way to convey emotions and commemorate special occasions.

And in recent years, photo cards have seen a surge in popularity. In this visual age, where swift info consumption is key, photo cards shine. Visual stories are mightier than just words, and appeal to our quick-paced lives. These cards crystallize moments, capturing feelings for both the sender and the receiver.

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Photo Card Company FAQ

Photo cards take your images and turn them into mailable greetings. Some of the most popular types of photo cards are wedding announcements, graduations and holidays.
That depends on the photo card shop you choose. Many of them have a minimum number of cards to place an order, usually 10 or 25, but some let you buy a single card. Of course, you'll pay more per card for a one-off purchase than you will for an order of 100.
Not necessarily. Again, if you're ordering multiples of the same card, you can easily get them for less than $1 each. You'll also find single-card options for less than $2. And, as you'd expect, the more premium options you include - like foil, embossing, and so on - the more you'll pay per card.
Yes, most of the time. A standard white envelope is usually included, but you'll often find options for color-coordinated or pre-addressed ones too (for an extra fee).
How much time do you have? You can personalize most photo cards to your heart's content, playing with shapes, fonts, colors and image placement until you have the design you're excited to send out.
Definitely. Most photo card sites have thousands of options ranging from casual to elegant, classic to whimsical, and everything in between. Just upload the photo you want to include, enter the accompanying text, and you're ready to go - no artsy tweaking required.
That varies. You could get them as quickly as two or three days from when you placed your order. Most print shops estimate a one-week turnaround on photo cards.
Don't panic. Many photo card stores have generous satisfaction guarantees in place. You can usually get a reprint (with expedited delivery) at no cost. If the error was on your side, like misspelling a name or putting in the wrong date, you might have to pay a fee for the new order - but less than the price of the original purchase.
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Continued from above...

As proof, you can look no further than social media. Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and the rest have blossomed because of pictures. People sculpt their online selves, turning stories into visual timelines. Photo cards extend this digital tale into the tangible realm, offering a physical side to the online identity. They let people share treasured moments beyond the fleeting nature of digital posts.

Naturally, you may be looking at photo cards exactly for those two typical occasions: weddings and graduations. There's no shame in that game. People love receiving pictures of the happy couple or the accomplished graduate, especially if it's someone they don't get to see in real life as often as they'd like. But, there are plenty of other occasions where a photo card could lend just the right touch.

For example, custom holiday photo cards have become a beloved tradition, allowing families to share their joy and highlight memorable moments from the year. New parents often choose photo cards to introduce their newborns to family and friends, adding a personal touch to the announcement. The same goes for birthday invitations and thank-you cards (and those might be the perfect follow-up to those wedding invitations and graduation announcements).

Aspiring creatives can also make great use of photo cards. They're a terrific way to share art prints, inspirational quotes, or as a platform for showcasing photography.

If you're on board with the notion that photo cards are a great way to share your holiday or special occasion, do you know where to buy them? There are many online stores that cater to photo card production - but they vary widely in cost and quality.

When selecting a platform to create photo cards, here are some criteria that can help you get the best product and experience:

  • Price. Compare the pricing structure, including card options, sizes, and quantity discounts. Look for hidden fees like shipping costs. And, if you need a large quantity of cards for events like weddings or corporate functions, inquire about bulk ordering discounts.
  • Editing tools. You want a site that doesn't give you a headache when you're putting together your photo cards. The ability to customize layouts, add filters, text, and adjust colors can significantly impact your final product.
  • Integration with social media and cloud storage. If you have photos stored on social media or cloud platforms, consider whether the service allows easy access to these sources for card creation.
  • Reputation. Read reviews to see what customers say about the quality of the final product, including paper type, color accuracy, and image clarity. High-quality printing is essential for a professional look. Also, what do they say about the availability of customer support, including live chat, email, or phone? That can be crucial if you encounter issues or have questions during the design and ordering process.
  • Satisfaction guarantee. Look for a satisfaction guarantee or return policy that provides peace of mind in case you're not satisfied with the final product.

Photo cards continue to be a beloved means of commemorating life's milestones and expressing creativity, so the experts at Top Consumer Reviews have researched and ranked today's most popular platforms. We're confident that this information will help you get photo cards that exceed your expectations and deliver a meaningful way to share your cherished moments with others.

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