Frequently Asked Questions

Everything is printed to order and most orders are dispatched within 1–2 working days. Typical delivery times from the day you order: United Kingdom 2–4 working days; Ireland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, Spain and Italy 2–7 working days; United States 4–6 working days; Canada 5–10 working days. Busy periods such as December can take longer. Full details are on our Shipping Policy page.

Yes. Delivery is included in the price for every country we ship to: the United Kingdom, Ireland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, Spain, Italy, the United States and Canada. We don't currently ship outside these countries.

Orders are printed and shipped by our production partner Printful, from the facility closest to your delivery address, to keep delivery times short.

Yes. Delivery to Ireland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, Spain, Italy, the United States and Canada is included in the price. We don't currently ship anywhere else.

Once your order ships you'll receive an email with the tracking number and a link to the carrier. You can also check your order at any time on our Track Order page.

Yes. You have 30 days from delivery to return any unworn, unused item in its original condition for a full refund. You cover the return postage, and we refund the full price within five working days of the item reaching us. Start a return on our Returns page.

Let us know through our Returns page within 30 days of delivery, with a photo of the problem. We'll arrange a free replacement, and you don't need to send the item back.

If the t-shirt is unworn and in its original condition, you can return it within 30 days for a full refund (you cover the return postage) and order the right size. The size guide on each t-shirt page helps you get it right first time.

We refund within five working days of a returned item reaching us. The money goes back to your original payment method; your bank may take a few more days to show it.

T-shirts that have been worn and mugs that have been used can't be returned for hygiene reasons, unless they arrived damaged or faulty.

Yes. In your cart (or the slide-out cart after adding an item), tick "🎁 This is a gift". You can add a short message that prints on the packing slip, and prices are hidden from the recipient.

No. When you tick the gift box, the packing slip in the parcel shows your gift message and the items, but no prices and no payment information.

Yes. Once you tick the gift box, a message field appears; you have up to 280 characters. Your message prints on the packing slip inside the parcel, under the heading "A gift for you".

No, sorry. Our production partner Printful prints and ships items straight from their facilities, with no wrapping step. The gift message on the packing slip is the closest we get.

Yes. At checkout, enter the recipient's address as the delivery address. Your billing address is collected separately and doesn't appear on the packing slip.

The same 30-day returns policy applies. If it arrived damaged, send us a photo and we'll arrange a free replacement. If a t-shirt doesn't fit and hasn't been worn, it can be returned for a refund (return postage is paid by the sender).

Yes, as long as it hasn't gone into production. Production usually starts within a day of payment, so contact us as soon as you can and we'll cancel and refund it if we're still in time. After that, you can still return it within 30 days of delivery.

Our t-shirts are Bella+Canvas 3001: unisex retail fit and pre-shrunk, in sizes S to 4XL. They're sized by chest, not waist, and most people find true-to-size works well. Chest measurements: S 91–97 cm (36–38"), M 97–102 cm (38–40"), L 102–107 cm (40–42"), XL 107–112 cm (42–44"), 2XL 112–117 cm (44–46"), 3XL 117–122 cm (46–48"), 4XL 122–132 cm (48–52"). The size guide on each t-shirt page also gives body lengths.

They're square, in four sizes: 25×25 cm (10×10"), 30×30 cm (12×12"), 36×36 cm (14×14") and 41×41 cm (16×16"). For scale, 30×30 cm is about the size of a vinyl LP sleeve, and 41×41 cm is roughly as wide as the long side of a sheet of A3 paper.

Two sizes: 325ml (11oz), about 9.6cm tall, and 440ml (15oz), about 11.9cm tall.

Yes. Every design is set up for each product: on mugs it's printed on both sides, on t-shirts it sits across the chest, and on prints it fills the square. The product photos show how it will look.

Bella+Canvas 3001 unisex t-shirts in 100% combed, ring-spun cotton. They weigh 142 g/m², so they're light to mid-weight, soft and pre-shrunk. New designs come in black, navy and white.

Direct-to-garment (DTG): the ink goes into the fabric rather than sitting on top as a thick layer, so the print feels soft.

Yes to both. They're white glossy ceramic mugs, printed on both sides. Hand-washing will keep the print looking its best for longest, but they're fine in the dishwasher and microwave.

It shouldn't. The design is printed by sublimation: the ink is fused into the mug's glaze rather than sitting on top, so it stays bold through daily use and the dishwasher. We guarantee it: if the print fades, peels or cracks in normal use within 2 years of delivery, email us a photo with your order number and we'll send a free replacement. Chips and breaks from knocks aren't covered, and nor is the glossy surface softening to a satin finish after years in the dishwasher, which is normal wear rather than the print fading. Hand-washing keeps it glossy longest.

Thick, museum-quality matte paper (189 g/m²). The smooth, non-glossy finish keeps line drawings and lettering crisp and doesn't glare under indoor lighting. Prints come unframed.

It won't crack or peel: the design is printed into the cotton, not stuck on top as a plastic transfer, and we guarantee that for 12 months (send us a photo with your order number and we'll replace the tee free). Like any printed cotton, the colours soften gradually over many washes. Wash it inside out on cold and it stays bright for years.

Machine wash cold, inside out, on a gentle cycle. No bleach and no dry cleaning. Tumble dry on low or hang to dry, and if you iron it, use low heat and avoid the print.

Prints are for indoor display. Like any printed paper, they'll fade in years of direct sunlight, so hang them where they get good light but not strong sun all day.

Hand-washing with mild washing-up liquid keeps the print at its best, though they're dishwasher safe if you're in a hurry. Avoid abrasive scourers, which can dull the glossy finish.

Funny gifts: a simple ink drawing with a short line of text about something photographers, golfers or the newly retired know only too well. One ink colour, a clean frame and big, readable words, so each design looks as good on a mug as on a t-shirt or a wall. You'll also still find our earlier retro geometric designs in the shop while they last.

Photographers, golfers and people who have just retired (or are counting down the days) so far, with more hobbies and milestones to come. Most people buy them as gifts for someone who is exactly like that.

Paul Newson, who runs InkSmithery, personally chooses, refines and signs off every line of text and every drawing before it reaches the shop. AI tools help along the way; see how AI fits in.

Not at the moment; we don't take individual commissions. But if there's a hobby, job or milestone you'd love to see covered, get in touch. Your suggestion may inspire a new design.

No, you can check out as a guest. An account lets you save a wishlist and see past orders. Logging in is passwordless: we email you a link to click.

All major credit and debit cards (Visa, Mastercard, Amex), plus Apple Pay and Google Pay where your device supports them, all processed securely by Stripe. We never see or store your card details.

As little as possible. We collect your email, name and delivery address when you order; these go to Stripe (to take payment) and Printful (to make and ship your order). We never sell your data, and we never give your name or address to marketing services, list brokers or advertisers. Full details are in our Privacy Policy.

Only with your say-so. If you accept advertising cookies, we load the Google Ads and Pinterest tags, which set cookies to measure which of our adverts work and to show InkSmithery ads to people who have visited before. If you reject them, neither tag loads and no advertising cookie is set. A few essential cookies always run: the session cookie that keeps your basket, one that remembers your cookie choice, and one that remembers your currency if you pick one. Change your choice any time via "Cookie settings" at the bottom of every page. Full details are in our Privacy Policy.

Never your name or address. Our server tells Pinterest and Google when shop events such as a purchase happen (for example "a purchase happened, value £45", plus the click ID from the ad itself). If you accept advertising cookies, their tags also see which pages you visit here so we can measure and retarget our adverts, and when you order we send them a scrambled (hashed) copy of your email so they can tell us which ads worked. If you reject them, none of that happens. You can opt out of all ad measurement via our contact form.

Get in touch with your order reference. Under UK GDPR you have the right to request a copy of your personal data, correction of inaccurate data, or deletion (subject to the 6-year tax retention rule for completed orders).