Questions

If yours isn't here, message me on Etsy. I answer quickly, and I don't mind small questions.

How long does it take?

Within 24 hours, and usually much sooner. Your map isn't an instant download: I make each one individually at full print resolution and look at it before sending it to you.

What Etsy sends you the moment you buy is a short PDF with the link to the design tool. Your actual map arrives by email afterwards.

What do I actually get?

• One print-ready PNG at 300 DPI, in the size you chose
• No watermark, no logo, nothing added
• Yours to print as many times as you like, for yourself

Is it really the sky from that night?

Yes. Star positions come from the ESA Hipparcos catalogue, the European Space Agency's survey of stellar positions, and the sky is computed for the exact date, time and place you enter. Move the date by a few hours and you'll see the whole sky rotate.

It's an astronomical snapshot that happens to be beautiful, not a decorative pattern with stars sprinkled on it.

Which size should I pick?

Nine sizes are available, in centimetres and in inches: 30×40 cm, 50×70 cm, A1, A2, A3, 11×14", 16×20", 18×24" and 24×36".

If you already own the frame, pick its size. If you don't, 30×40 cm and 50×70 cm are the easiest to find frames for, and 50×70 has real presence on a wall.

How do I print it?

Any print shop will take the file as it is. Online print services work too, and so does a home printer for the smaller sizes. Ask for matte paper if you're given the choice: star maps are mostly dark, and matte avoids reflections.

What if I don't like the result?

Tell me and I'll redo it. A different colour, another font, the heart shape instead of the circle, a date shifted by two hours: it costs you nothing and there's no limit. I'd rather redo a map three times than have you hang up something you only half like.

Can I change something after ordering?

Of course. Reply to your Etsy order with what you'd like changed. As long as I'm the one generating the file, nothing is set in stone.

Do you ship anything?

No. Everything is digital, so nothing gets shipped, nothing gets lost in the post, and it works the same wherever you live.

Can I use the tool without buying?

Yes, and you're welcome to. Designing is free and unlimited, the preview just carries a watermark. Plenty of people come to see the sky on their birthday and never buy anything, and that's fine.