FAQ


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Who is Somrod Creative?

Somrod Creative is composed of the husband-wife team of Mark Sahm (SOM) and Sharon Rodriguez (ROD). This website celebrates their shared love of art and design, and the resulting endeavors (which are all for sale, of course).

What is an Optograph?

It is an artwork made of die-cut paper shapes, created by Somrod Creative. The name itself is a portmanteau of optical illusion and topography, based on how the topographic layers of paper work together to form a composite image. The original concept came from a painting Mark Sahm made in 1996, where he divided a photograph into 5 color zones. Despite not liking the results in flat acrylic, the concept stuck with him. In 2009, Sahm recalled the painting and thought about trying it as a series of overlaying die-cut shapes. Evolving the concept to have a raised element like a 3D topographic map, the Optograph style was launched from there.

Does my Optograph come ready to hang?
 
Yes,
  • All shadowbox frames come with standard saw tooth hanging hardware.  
  • All clear acrylic display cases come with a french cleat hanging kit. 

How do I clean my clear acrylic display case?

 Please use only water or approved cleaners (Novus) to clean your acrylic display case.  
  • Use a clean anti-static cloth or soft rag.
  • DO NOT use any chemicals (especially Windex) to clean your display case.  Don't use any abrasive materials to wipe your display case.

We try our best to deliver the display case to you without any scratches. If a scratch does occur it can be removed with scratch remover (Novus).

Do you charge sales tax? 

Connecticut Residents must pay 6.35% Sales Tax. 

What forms of payment do you accept? Do I need a PayPal account to complete a purchase from this store?

A PayPal account is not required to purchase from this store. We accept Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, and PayPal payments.

How secure is this store?

This store uses PayPal for payments, and PayPal automatically encrypts your confidential information during the transaction.

What shipping options do you offer?

We ship UPS Ground and FedEx (for Optographs) and USPS (for Jewelry) to addresses in the Continental U.S. only. Shipping is automatically calculated prior to submitting your payment information. Add items to your cart and proceed to the Checkout page. We will choose the best method to ship your item and adjust the shipping cost where appropriate.

What is your return policy?

NO RETURNS ON CUSTOM ORDERS.
On in-stock items; only authorized returns will be accepted. Please email [email protected] for an authorization number for returns of in stock items. Returns must be initiated within 3 days of receipt. Refunds of the purchase price less the shipping costs will be issued when the item is received back to Somrod Creative.

Do you have a studio or store I can visit?

Unfortunately, we do not have a store location. But we would love to meet and speak with you in person at one of the art shows and exhibitions we participate in every year. Check our blog for details.