Printer Settings

by Fran Valera

Sometimes it's tricky to find the right settings to print the 4x6" files you've created using our Little Windows Photo Croppers.  Our amazing customer Barbara sent us this guide to help you find what you need:

HP Photosmart Borderless Settings Guide

What if I don't have a color printer?

by Fran Valera

Well, you have a few options:

- Crop your photos online, then email your file to us for pro printing. It's just $2.50 per 4 x 6" printed sheet, and will be shipped out to you within 2 days after we receive your file/s.

- Have a friend with a good printer? Email your files to them to print, or go visit the and crop online at their house, printing once you're done.  You can use the Little Windows Photo Cropper wherever you have internet access, and the use of either Firefox or Internet Explorer as your browser.

- Take your files to a printing place, but make sure they either scale them to fit a "Borderless 4x6" sheet, or that they print your files at 34%, onto Little Windows Special Photo Paper. Each Medium Square cropped photo (for example) should measure 1 inch.

Posted in Printing

I see bubbles even after I scooped

by Fran Valera

Sometimes you'll scoop out all bubbles, then come back a while later and see a bunch more in one spot on your piece, usually on one edge or corner.  That means there was a larger air bubble trapped behind your paper, and as the resin starts to set up, that bubble makes its way up and around the edge of the paper in a stream of smaller bubbles, almost like a fountain. 

To prevent this from happening, carefully lift up your mold and check below your paper to see if there is a bubble hiding there (keep your mold level so the resin doesn't flow out).  If you see a bubble, you can either press the paper down against the bottom, forcing the bubble up all at once, or you can lift up the paper, allowing bubble-free resin to flow beneath it, then gently push the paper back down.  Allow bubbles to rise and pop.

Posted in Bubble Trouble

My Print Quality Is Poor

by Fran Valera

If your print quality isn't as good as you'd like, check that the images you're using are high-resolution (300dpi), then be sure you've selected the highest quality print setting your printer will allow. Also, be sure you've told the printer you're using high-quality glossy photo paper. If you're still not happy with the results you may want to try our pro-printing service, available in our shop. You just email your cropped LittleWindows.png file to us, and we will print them for you and mail them back within 48 hours. Depending on where you live, you should receive your printed photos within 1 week.  Faster shipping is available.

Posted in Printing

DRILLING RESIN: How Do I Make Holes In My Pieces?

by Fran Valera

Our Little Windows Starter Kit includes a Spring Drill which is the perfect tool for making small holes in your resin (or wood). The kit comes with 1 drill bit which is 1.2mm.  The Spring Drill is also available individually, and includes 3 drill bits (1mm, 1.2mm, 1.5mm).  

This drill is easy to use and will not cause hand fatigue.  It works by moving the handle up and down, which turns the drill bit.

SPRING DRILL DEMO:

 

If you have any trouble fitting the drill bits into the collets, watch this video:

 

The original Little Windows Kit comes with a mini-hand drill which works by pushing down on the end and twisting it through your resin. 

 

If you plan on making more than a few, you can also use a power drill like the Creative Power Drill, or a Dremel tool with a #60 or 61 drill bit.

 

Posted in Drilling

How do I shrink my pictures to fit?

by Fran Valera

The easiest way is to use our cropping software developed specifically for making Little Windows!  It is a web application, so you will access it here on our website. You will be working online without downloading any software to your computer, the only thing you'll save to your desktop is your finished, re-sized sheet of cropped images, which will be saved to your desktop so you can print it at home. The Medium 1" Square Cropper Shape is available for you to try for FREE. 

If you like how it works, we offer Croppers for all Small and Medium Mold shapes. Below are the dimensions for all croppers we offer.

You can also use Photoshop or another photo editing program if you prefer, and then use the Little Windows Photo Cropping Templates that come in the Starter Kit and Mold Sets (also available for $2 in our shop).

If you're not comfortable cropping online, or using Photoshop, click here for a How-To guide for resizing your pictures using Microsoft Word or GoogleDocs.  This will also work if you need to resize your images to fit our Large Sized Molds or Hearts Molds.  You'll then use the templates that come with your molds to trace around and cut out your shapes.

Size & Shape        Photo should print…              Cast piece will be about…

 

Small square           5/8”    (16mm)                                ¾”   (19mm)

Small circle              5/8”    (16mm)                                ¾”   (19mm)

Small oval               5/8 x 15/16”  (16 x 24mm)             3/4 x 1”  (19 x 25mm)

Small rectangle       9/16 x 7/8”  (15 x 23mm)              11/16 x 1”  (18 x 25mm)

 

Medium square        1”  (25mm)                                    1-1/8”  (29mm)

Medium circle           1”  (25mm)                                    1-1/8”  (29mm)

Medium oval             1” x 1-3/8” (25 x 35mm)             1-1/8 x 1-1/2” (29 x 38mm)

Medium rectangle     7/8 x 1-3/8” (21 x 35mm)           1” x 1-1/2” (25 x 38mm)

 

We do not offer online Cropping Software for our Large or Hearts molds, but here are the size targets to be used with the cropping templates which come in each mold set:

Large square        2”  (50mm)                                      + 1/8" - 1/4"

Large circle           2”  (50mm)                                      + 1/8" - 1/4"

Large oval             2” x 2-1/2” (45 x 63mm)                  + 1/8" - 1/4"

Large rectangle     1-3/4" x 2-1/2” (45 x 63mm)            + 1/8" - 1/4"

 

1" Heart                 1"W x 13/16”H   (25 x 21mm)           + 1/8" - 1/4"

1-1/2" Heart           1-1/2"W x 1-3/16”H  (35 x 30mm)    + 1/8" - 1/4"                        

2" Heart                  2"W x 1-5/8”H  (50 x 41mm)            + 1/8" - 1/4"      

2-1/2" Heart           2-1/2”W x 2"H   (60 x 50mm)            + 1/8" - 1/4"

Posted in Cropping Photos

Can I use the Photo Croppers right away?

by Fran Valera

When you purchase the Little Windows Photo Cropping Software, all Small and Medium Shapes will be added to your account as soon as your payment comes through, and will be available to use immediately. You may need to refresh your browser, or clear cache to connect with the latest updates at little-windows.com

Posted in Cropping Photos

My Cropped Pics Aren't The Right Size

by Fran Valera

If your pictures are not printing out at the right size, check your Print Page Setup, to be sure you've selected 4 x 6" Borderless printing. If your printer does not allow for this option, then find the "scale" variable, and set the document to print at 34%.

Posted in Cropping Photos

Paper Punches

by Fran Valera

We offer custom paper punches to fit some of our molds, which can also be used for Doming, or for any craft/scrapbooking project, with or without resin:

Our 1" Rounded Square Punch fits our Medium Square mold shape and saves lots of time.  It's the only one on the market with rounded corners, so you can use it for lots of other things as well, including Photo Cube gifts.

We also have heart-shaped punches in 1", 1-1/2", 2" and 2-1/2" sizes (side to side), that fit our Heart Shaped Molds.  Again, these are excellent for paper crafting as well.

We launched these punches recently, and will add more to fit our other mold shapes as we grow.  For any of our Circle Mold Shapes, you can find punches at your local craft store or online.

Small Circles Mold - 5/8" punch

Medium Circles Mold - 1" punch

Large Circles Mold - 2" punch

See the Mold Sizes FAQ for a complete list of sizing.

Posted in Cropping Photos

What's So Great About Little Windows Molds?

by Fran Valera

* Polished to a mirror finish so whatever colors and textures you put in will be reflected up and around the sides, creating a gorgeous "frame of light"

* Fine-tooled geometric shapes in 3 sizes + hearts

* Great depth for variety in casting

* Re-usable over and over

* No mold release needed

* Our Little Windows Cropping Software re-sizes and crops your pix to fit perfectly in each of the Small and Medium Shapes!

Try out our Medium 1" Square shape cropping software for free, and if you like it, the other Small and Medium shapes are available in our shop. When you purchase our Croppers, you'll have instant access to your new shapes.

Posted in Brilliant Molds

What are the mold sizes?

by Fran Valera

Here are the sizes for all of our Little Windows mirror-finish molds.  Our mold sets include cropping templates, we have Photo Cropping Software available in our shop, or you can use Photoshop, Microsoft Word, or GoogleDocs to re-size your pics.  These dimensions are approximate, your cut-out should fit at bottom of the mold, and our molds angle out a bit, so the finished cast piece dimension depends on how thick your castings are.

LITTLE WINDOWS MOLD DIMENSIONS (approx):

Size & Shape        Photo/Paper/Fabric should be…  Cast piece will be about…

 

SMALL MOLDS

Small square           5/8”    (16mm)                                ¾”   (19mm)

Small circle              5/8”    (16mm)                                ¾”   (19mm)

Small oval               5/8 x 15/16”  (16 x 24mm)             3/4 x 1”  (19 x 25mm)

Small rectangle       9/16 x 15/16”  (15 x 23mm)          11/16 x 1”  (18 x 25mm)

Small - castings can be as thin as 1/8" up to about 3/8"  (3mm-10mm)

 

MEDIUM MOLDS

Medium square        1”  (25mm)                                    1-1/8”  (29mm)

Medium circle           1”  (25mm)                                    1-1/8”  (29mm)

Medium oval             1” x 1-3/8” (25 x 35mm)             1-1/8 x 1-1/2” (29 x 38mm)

Medium rectangle     7/8 x 1-3/8” (21 x 35mm)           1” x 1-1/2” (25 x 38mm)

Medium - castings can be as thin as 1/8", up to about 3/8"  (3mm-10mm)

 

LARGE AND DOUBLE-SIDED MOLDS

Large square        2”  (50mm)                                           + 1/8" - 1/4"

Large circle           2”  (50mm)                                           + 1/8" - 1/4"

Large oval             2” x 2-1/2” (45 x 63mm)                     + 1/8" - 1/4"

Large rectangle     1-3/4" x 2-1/2” (45 x 63mm)               + 1/8" - 1/4"

These Large Molds can be cast from 1/8" up to 3/4" thick (3mm - 20mm).

 

Square Bangle - Opening 2-1/2" (64mm)

Circle Bangle - Opening 2-1/2" (64mm) wider on the diagonal

Oval Bangle - Opening is 2-1/2" x 3" (64 x 75mm)

Rectangle Bangle - Opening 2-3/8" x 3" (60 x 77mm)

Bangles can be cast from 1/8" to just under 3/4" (3mm - 18mm).

   

HEART MOLDS

1" Heart                 1"W x 13/16”H   (25 x 21mm)                + 1/8" - 1/4"

1-1/2" Heart           1-1/2"W x 1-3/16”H  (35 x 30mm)      + 1/8" - 1/4"                        

2" Heart                  2"W x 1-5/8”H  (50 x 41mm)                 + 1/8" - 1/4"      

2-1/2" Heart           2-1/2”W x 2"H   (60 x 50mm)              + 1/8" - 1/4"

Heart castings can be as thin as 1/8", up to about 1/2"  (14mm)

 

All cast pieces can be then domed higher, see "Doming Up" How-to Video

 

We offer online Cropping Software for all Small and Medium shapes, if you would like to resize your photos for any of our molds, click here for a guide on Resizing Photos Using Microsoft Word or GoogleDocs.

Posted in Brilliant Molds

My mold curves up, how do I flatten it?

by Fran Valera

Sometimes in shipping our molds can be bent or curved. Simply bend it back the opposite way and it should lie flat. Another way to make sure each cavity is level with your surface is to cut them apart to use individually. A third option would be to tape the ends down to your work surface, but I prefer one of the first two options.

Posted in Brilliant Molds

Can I use other molds?

by Fran Valera

Yes!  But your results will vary depending on what the mold is made of, and how well it's made.  The finish on the inside of the mold determines the finish on your cast piece. 

Silicone molds work well, but come in a variety of finishes - some rough, others seem smooth but will leave your surface looking cloudy/frosted, some are shiny.  You'll have to experiment to see what you get.  You can make your own molds using silicone putty too, which is lots of fun!

You can use any mold that was made for resin casting, but be sure to follow the manufacturer's suggestions for which mold release chemicals to use.  Avoid thin plastic molds (like those made for candy-making), as resin will stick to that type of plastic and you'll have difficulty getting your cured pieces out. 

Our molds are...
* Polished to a mirror finish so whatever colors and textures you put in will be reflected up and around the sides, creating a gorgeous "frame of light"
* Fine-tooled geometric shapes in 3 sizes, plus beautiful hearts in 4 sizes
* Great depth for variety in casting
* Re-usable over and over
* No mold release needed
Our Little Windows Cropping Software re-sizes and crops your pix to fit perfectly in each of the Small and Medium Shapes! Try out our Medium 1" Square shape cropper for free, and if you like it, the other shapes are available in our shop. When you purchase any of our Croppers, you'll have instant access to your new shapes.
Posted in Brilliant Molds

What's so special about Little Windows Resin?

by Fran Valera

Our proprietary epoxy resin formula is the best ever!  Developed for use with photos and other delicate items, it's the safest 2-part mix you'll find. I wanted something you could use at your kitchen table, so this is not a toxic product and doesn’t have the wicked smell you find with most resins.

Beyond its great performance with casting, doming, layering, coating and filling bezels and other forms, the basic advantages are:

* One single formula can Cast, Dome, Layer, Fill Bezels, and be a 1-coat Varnish!

* Blends easily, so you won’t get sticky spots

* Small mix quantity required (1 tbsp per batch), so no waste

* Not a toxic product

* No bad odor

* Very low bubbling

* Can put anything into it, even delicate items

* Works well with other mediums and favorite supplies

* 30+ minute working time, 12 hour cure

* Crystal clear and color stable

Posted in Brilliant Resin

How do I mix Brilliant Resin?

by Fran Valera

Little Windows Brilliant Resin is a pure formula without solvents or dangerous additives.  The 2:1 mix ratio is crucial, but you can double or triple your batch size as needed:

1.  Mix 2-parts of A  with 1-part of B (e.g.; 10ml + 5ml).
2.  Stir slowly for 2-1/2 minutes, until swirls disappear.  
3.  Let rest for 5 minutes*, then skim off any remaining bubbles on surface.
4.  Pour slowly into mold when casting, scoop onto items when doming, or drip into bezels. Allow to cure for at least 12 hours before handling.

*You can mix larger batches too, but after mixing you'll want to divide it into separate cups for the resting period, about 2oz. per cup or less.  Brilliant Resin was developed for use in jewelry making and other small crafts, and it generates quite a bit of energy so that even tiny applications set up properly within 12 hours.  

Posted in Brilliant Resin