Information Guide
Horizon Backgrounds specializes in fine Muslin and Canvas backgrounds for the professional photographer. Like you, we take our work seriously. We treat our backgrounds like works of art. They are hand-painted using a special mixture of paint and fabric dye, so they are never too thin, never too stiff. Color, texture or hot spot changes can be made to any background at no extra cost - simply let us know when ordering. You can place your order online using our Secure Ordering System. Or call us toll-free at 1-800-369-6904. Feel free to call or e-mail us at any time with questions or comments. We look forward to serving you! Please read the following information carefully, as placement of your order denotes agreement to the following terms and conditions.
About Our Backgrounds
Muslin - Our muslins are hand-painted on quality muslin using a special mixture of paint and fabric dye so they are never too thick, never too thin. They come with finished edges and a 3" hanging loop at the top for use with standard muslin stands (e.g. two light stands and a crossbar). If other hanging options are required let us know when ordering. Grommeting is available at $2 per grommet. A hanging loop can be sewn onto the longer edge of your muslin instead of the shorter at a rate of $1 per foot.
Canvas - Our canvas backgrounds are constructed using the highest quality materials with great care and attention to detail. Creating a canvas background is much more labor-intensive than a muslin, which warrants the higher price. They are a favorite with portrait and location photographers who prefer an elegant, smooth surface and a more substantial feel all of the time. A canvas background is a solid investment to make for your business, as you will have it for years to come and it withstands wear better than thinner muslin backgrounds.
Canvases come with a sturdy wooden slat at the top which has a hole drilled in the center for hanging on a light stand. (2-3 evenly spaced holes are drilled in the slats of wider backgrounds.) This slat can be left off entirely if you will be mounting it to your roller system - specify when ordering.
The bottom of our canvases are mounted with a wooden dowel so that they can be easily rolled up for storage. 2 Velcro straps are attached to the top slat for securing the rolled canvas when not in use.
If any other hanging/mounting options are required please specify when ordering.
(For Information on the Care of your muslin or canvas background, scroll down to the last section.)
PLEASE NOTE: ALL background sizes, muslin and canvas, are approximate and may vary up to four inches in any direction due to material manufacturer and/or shrinkage during drying.
Placing Your Order
Online - You can place your order right here online, 24 hours a day.
By Phone - You can call our toll-free number: 1-800-369-6904
Payment - We require full payment before we process and ship your order. We accept Master Card, Visa, Discover, American Express and PayPal, as well as checks and money orders made payable to Horizon Backgrounds. SORRY, NO C.O.D.'s.
In some instances, upon request, we may consider Invoicing you for your order. Organizations such as Schools, Church Groups and Government Agencies who provide a purchase order can be billed at net 30 days at our discretion. Other established, repeat clients who have a proven record of pre-payment for at least one order with a Credit Card may also be billed at net 30 days at our discretion; however, this is with the understanding that your Credit Card information will be kept on file in the event that check payment is not received in a timely manner. Accounts that become past-due will be settled using the original Credit Card we have on file for your business or organization.
Shipping
We use UPS Ground whenever possible. For Overnight or 2nd day delivery we usually use Fed Ex. For shipment to Hawaii, Alaska, and APO addresses we use US Postal. Overseas shipments will incur additional shipping charges - we will use the cheapest method available.
Canvas backgrounds 9 feet or longer will be shipped via a trucking company which services your area. (UPS does not accept packages this size.)
Shipping Times
Most orders can be filled in 3 weeks or less. During busier periods (usually autumn and winter months, but can occur any time of year) your order may take longer, up to 6 weeks depending upon the size of your order. If you have a specific deadline to be met, please let us know when ordering. A "Comments" box is provided at Checkout when ordering online. We will do our best to meet your deadline, but cannot be held liable in the event a deadline is not met (see Limit of Liability below.)
Rush Shipping: When available, for an additonal charge you may add faster shipping such as Overnight or Second Day to speed up delivery of your order. If your order needs to be painted in 5 business days or less, a 30% Rush charge will apply, plus additional requested Rush shipping charges. Call to ask about Rush Service availability. Horizon reserves the right to refuse any Rush order.
Lost or Damaged Goods
Inspect your order immediately upon receipt. If the product is damaged, notify the carrier. Without carrier inspection/verification we cannot compensate your return.
Return Policy
We offer a 14-day money-back guarantee less shipping & handling and 15% Restocking fee on sales of our products in like-new condition including muslins up to 12' x 24' and canvas up to 6' x 12' in size except Custom orders, backgrounds adjusted in any way, Sale and Closeout items, which are final. Materials for backdrops larger than those previously listed are not kept in stock and must be custom-ordered, therefore are considered Custom items and are not returnable. All shipping costs including Return shipping costs are the responsibility of the customer. A restocking fee of 15% will be assessed. A refund check, credit or replacement background will be arranged as soon as the item is returned to us. Refunds to credit cards incur an additional 4% processing fee. If you cancel an order before shipment after your credit card has already been processed, you will be charged a 4% processing fee.
Typographical Errors
Horizon Backgrounds is not responsible for misunderstandings caused by typographical errors in pricing or information on our website or printed material. We will correct any errors as quickly as possible. Customers are encouraged to inquire about any pricing or information which seems erroneous before placing their order. Horizon Backgrounds reserves the right to correct pricing errors in orders placed via our website, by phone, fax or mail which contain incorrect pricing information due to typographical errors. We will notify the customer as quickly as possible of such human errors and will not process the order or charge their credit card until the correct pricing information has been provided to the customer. The customer then has the right to cancel the order based upon the corrected information.
Right of Refusal
Horizon Backgrounds reserves the right to refuse or cancel any order. You will be notified as soon as possible if your order cannot or will not be processed.
Custom Orders
Backdrops from instructions, photos or materials provided by the customer are considered Custom and are not returnable, no exceptions. The customer assumes the risk that the finished product will be reasonably close to the image(s) being referenced, bearing in mind that all of our work is hand-painted by a human, not a machine, and is subject to variances in style, feel, composition and perspective from the image being referenced. Upon request a photo will be provided for review before the custom item is shipped, and one re-work is included free of charge in any custom order. Horizon Backgrounds reserves the right to refuse any Custom order request.
Limit of Liability
Placing ANY product order with Horizon Backgrounds constitutes an AGREEMENT by you that any error, missed deadline or sub-standard product (including but not limited to wrinkles, flaws in the painting or material, damage of any kind caused in transit) by our company, subsidiaries or agents, even though due to the negligence or other fault of Horizon Backgrounds, subsidiaries or agents, shipping company error or negligence, theft, fire, flood, war, terrorism, act of God, or any other means will only entitle you to return your order in keeping with our company Return Policy (see above.) Except for such reimbursement, the acceptance of your order is without other warranty or liability, and recover for incidental or consequential damages is excluded. Further, Horizon Backgrounds will not be held liable in any way for damages or missed deadlines caused by shipping company error or negligence - such issues must be taken up with the shipping company directly.
Care of Your Backgrounds
