This guide helps you transform your creative vision into a stunning, handcrafted glass piece that reflects both your style and our century-old tradition of excellence. At Blenko, we merge timeless artistry with modern innovation to bring you a product that tells a story—whether it’s a commemorative keepsake, an award, or a unique gift.

To ensure the highest quality results in your custom suncatcher, it’s important to submit artwork in the proper format. The process we use to carve moulds for pressing glass is very different from printing on paper. A logo that looks great on a computer or printer may not translate well into glass without adjustments.

Artwork Guidelines

• Acceptable File Formats:
  Adobe Illustrator (.ai), EPS, or PDF vector artwork with all text converted to curves or outlines. High-resolution (300 DPI or higher) JPGs are acceptable, but vector files are highly preferred.
  We accept both PC and Mac file formats.

• Unacceptable File Types:
  Low-resolution images (e.g., JPGs or GIFs under 300 DPI), images copied from websites (usually 72–96 DPI), or files converted from low-res formats into TIFF or BMP. Simply changing a file’s extension or resolution does not improve its quality.
  Please do not embed artwork in Word docs, spreadsheets, or other file types—always provide the raw artwork file.

• Design Within the Safe Zone:
  On our 4” suncatchers, artwork should be contained within a 3” diameter circle. This allows for natural glass flow and ensures all important elements stay visible and cleanly formed.

Design Tips for Best Results

• Bold, silhouetted designs produce the clearest impressions

• Minimum text height: 1/4 inch

• Minimum line thickness: 1/16 inch

• Very fine details or thin lines may not fill properly in the glass and can disappear

• Suncatchers are made from hard-natured silica-based production glass, which requires mold channels wide enough for proper fill

• The outer rim may vary slightly due to natural glass flow during pressing

What We Can’t Do – Setting Expectations

We’re often asked if we can press photos, portraits, or pet illustrations into glass—but unfortunately, these types of designs don’t translate well to our medium. Glass is a beautiful but limiting canvas: subtle gradients, facial features, fur textures, and small image-based elements tend to lose definition or disappear altogether during the pressing process.

For this reason, we do not accept photographs, facial portraits, or artwork of pets, people, or complex illustrations. These designs often lead to disappointment as unfortunately they do not translate well to glass in this method.

Instead, we recommend simplified, symbolic graphics—think bold logos, icons, silhouettes, or stylized imagery. Our team is happy to help you adapt a complex idea into a clean, glass-friendly design that honors your original intent while preserving clarity and quality in the final piece.

How the Custom Suncatcher Ordering and Fulfillment Process Works

Creating your custom Blenko suncatcher is a collaborative process that blends your vision with our craftsmanship. Here’s what you can expect after placing your order:

1. Place Your Order
Choose your suncatcher type, select a color, upload your artwork, and let us know your desired in-hands date. If you don’t have artwork yet, no problem—you can request design support during checkout.

2. Artwork Review
Once your order is submitted, our team will review your artwork to ensure it’s compatible with glass pressing. If there are any issues or if adjustments are needed, we’ll reach out before moving forward.

3. Digital Proof Creation
If everything looks good, we’ll create a digital proof showing how your design will appear in the final product. This helps ensure accuracy before production begins.

4. Proof Approval via Email
You’ll receive an email with a link to our online proofing portal. There, you can approve the design as-is or request changes. The interface is simple and mobile-friendly.

5. Revisions (If Needed)
If something’s not quite right, we’ll make the requested adjustments and send you a revised proof. We won’t begin production until you’ve approved the final version.

6. Production & Fulfillment
Once your proof is approved, we begin the hand-pressing process. Your custom suncatchers will be ready for pickup or shipment within 2–4 weeks, depending on your production timeline and selected delivery method.