Help and questions
Short answers first. If yours is not here, write to us and a person will reply.
All the questions we get asked
How much does it cost, and is VAT included?
One design is £5 and three designs are £10. Making a design and looking at it is free. VAT included for UK buyers. Elsewhere, local tax may be added at checkout. There are no extras, and no "sale" prices at any time.
What files do I get?
A print-ready PDF for each of A4, A3, A2, US Letter, 8×10, 11×14, 12×16 in and 50×70 cm. You also get PNGs at 300 dpi for A4 and A3, a square image and a phone wallpaper. It all arrives in one download.
Which size should I print?
A4 fits a desk or a standard frame, A3 suits a wall, and 50×70 cm suits a large frame. In the US, Letter and 8×10 are the common ones. Every size is included, so you can try one and print another.
Can I print it at home, or at a photo shop?
Yes to both. At home, open the PDF and print at "Actual size" or "100%", not "Fit to page". At a high-street photo shop or kiosk, check with the shop, then upload the PNG and choose the matching print size.
What paper should I use?
A matt or satin paper of 200 to 300 gsm gives the best result, and ordinary 80 gsm office paper works for a quick look. Dark designs use a lot of ink, so for home printing try one of the light "ink saver" styles.
How accurate is the sky?
Every star comes from the HYG catalogue, and the Moon and planets are calculated for the exact minute and place you choose. Time zones, including British Summer Time, are handled for you. It shows what the eye could see from a dark site, with no clouds or light pollution.
What if it was daytime, or I don’t know the time?
The map shows where the stars were at that time, even if the Sun was up and you could not see them. If you do not know the time, pick your best guess. The sky turns by about 15 degrees an hour, so the constellations stay the same but sit in different places.
Does it work in the southern hemisphere?
Yes. You can choose any town in the world, and the sky is drawn from that spot, so Sydney shows the Southern Cross and Edinburgh does not. North is at the top and east on the left, as when you lie on your back and look up.
My place isn’t listed. What do I do?
Use the nearest town. Within about 10 km the sky changes by less than the width of a star dot on the print, so nobody could tell the difference.
I made a typo. Can I fix it?
Yes, for free, for as long as HourDate runs. Change the words, the style or the size of the same night as often as you want, and download again. A different date, time or place counts as a new night, which needs its own design.
Can I get a refund?
Yes. You can cancel within 14 days, counted from the day after you buy, until you start the first download. Gumroad is the merchant of record, and HourDate handles refund requests. If a file is faulty or is not what we described, we will fix it or refund you, however long ago you bought it.
What can I do with the files?
Print them as often as you like for yourself, and give prints as gifts. You may not sell the files or the prints, or use the designs in stock libraries or print-on-demand shops.
What happens to the names and message I type?
Nothing, because they never leave your device. The design is made in your browser, so the names and message are not sent to us or stored anywhere else.
How do I pay, and is it safe?
You pay through Gumroad, which takes cards, PayPal and Apple Pay. Gumroad is the merchant of record and handles payment and sales tax. HourDate supplies the files. We never see your card details. Gumroad emails you a key straight away, and you paste it into the maker to unlock your files.
Can I use my key on another device?
Yes. The key works on any phone, tablet or computer: paste it into the maker and your files unlock. Keep the receipt email, because the key is in it. A one-design key covers one night and a three-design key covers three.
I was given a HourDate gift. What now?
Paste the key from your gift on the redeem page and we will keep it on this device. Then pick any design and add it to your basket.
Why is there never a sale?
Because the price is meant to be fair on the day you look at it. £5 is what a design costs in October and what it costs in March. If that ever changes, we will say so plainly on the pricing page.
How do I contact you?
Write to hello@hourdate.co.uk. A person reads every message and replies as soon as they can. Please include the email address you bought with if your question is about an order.
Still stuck? Write to us.
A person reads every message. If your question is about an order, include the email address you bought with, and what you were trying to do.
HourDate is run by a sole trader in the United Kingdom. Write to us at hello@hourdate.co.uk.