Q: Is my shopping experience Safe?

A: Shopping on our site is safe! When you provide us with any personal information including your name, address, e-mail and credit card number, it is processed over a secure connection on secure servers. We use Secure Socket Layers (SSL) to encrypt all information you provide before sending it to our servers. SSL is the industry standard and the best software available for secure ecommerce transactions.

Q: How do I pay for my purchase?

A: VISA, MASTERCARD, AMERICAN EXPRESS, DISCOVER, BANK AND CHECK.  Once you’ve completed the online form you will be sent an email to confirm your purchase. CD's are shipped out on the next business day by Air Post and there's never any shipping or handling charges with Armorial Gold. If you choose to download your purchase your user name and password will be emailed to you, once your order is confirmed.

Q: Are the art collections royalty-free?

A: Yes. There are no royalty fees, and your license to use Armorial Gold art, is good for life!

Q: Who are your competitors?

A: SWYRICH COLLECTION Offer 3300 vector images in Corel Draw or EPS, for $179.95. The Swyrich Corporation has been around a long time and offers many different heraldic products. A Canadian company with International reach.

FLEUR DE LIS DESIGNS This group offers several packages of heraldry clipart; for example you can buy just the Lions of Heraldry; they offer 100 lions from $39.00 and they throw in 5-6 different formats.

VECTOR IMAGES This Russian based site offers a myriad of vector images including some fine civic heraldry from around the world. EG: you can buy 1100 images in your choice of formats for $59.00.

NAME PRO Operated by a Mr. Hosford, from Australia, this site offers a collection of heraldry clipart, as well as name and coat of arms software. Their Clipart collection (about 3,000 images) sells for 150.00.The coat of arms software is well done. They have been pleasing us since 1986.

Armorial Gold offers the largest design collection and at the best price...and they Guarantee it!!

Q: How long have you been in business?

A: We were in development from 1999, opened a test site in 2000, and started (officially) on the Internet in 2001 and have over 3500 customers worldwide.

Q: How do I know I can read the files?

A: Before you make any purchase we encourage you to ask for a Sample. All Armorial Gold™ files are available to you in either WMF (Windows), or CDR (Corel Draw). Both are Vector type formats that do not lose their resolution when enlarged.

Click HERE to request a sample

If your software can import or insert graphic files in this format you can read Armorial Gold files.

If you are a MacŪ user, our clients tell us you can read .WMF by using Adobe Illustrator 10+, Adobe CS, or Corel Draw for Mac…

SPECIAL NOTE FOR MAC USERS
If you don't have Mac graphic software that can read the wmf file format we suggest you download Mac software called "GraphicConverter" It opens 175 file formats, including wmf, and converts to over 75 by single file or by "batch". Here is the link.

MAC OS X includes it with their platform bundle. It is an award winning shareware. Once you have loaded the software try an Armorial Gold Sample.
http://lemkesoft.com/en/graphdownload.htm

Q: What is the best software for Viewing and Editing Armorial Gold Art?

A: There are hundreds vector drawing and illustration software programs. The WMF is the most Internationally popular file format and opens in hundreds of desktop and draw and design programs. The Corel Draw (CDR) format opens in Corel Draw 8,9,10,11,12, X3, X4, and also opens in Illustrator 9,10,11,CS I, CS II, CS III and CS IV.

Here is a partial list that can read and edit the WMF format.

Serif Draw

Corel Draw

Smart Draw

Illustrator (PC)

Illustrator For Mac V 10 or greater

Freehand (PC)

Companion Software

MS Publisher

Print Shop

Paint Shop Pro (V 8 +)

Adobe Pagemaker

Quark Express (PC)

Many Open Source Programs, such as OpenOffice

For a more complete list go here: FILE FORMATS

FREE WMF SOFTWARE FOR PC (Windows OS up to Windows XP)

FREE SOFTWARE

Click on the link above and when you get to the Serif Draw Page, Click on "download drawplus se"

Here's a brief tutorial (Needs to be followed carefully) The People from Serif will send you an "unlock" code by email. Once you open the Serif Software and have a Blank page in front of you, use "Insert" then select "Picture Wizard", then Select "Other Pictures", then Select Windows Metafiles. It will then show all your folders and files. Find where you saved the Armorial Gold file(s). Click on one of the folders and this reveals the files. Select a file and click Open. Move your mouse on the blank page, and click once with your mouse. It's as simple as that.

When you are opening Armorial Gold files, make sure they have a wmf file extension.

You can do this until you have all the images you want. If you want to group images, go to "edit" and Choose "select all", then go to "arrange" and select "group"

To move an image around the page, make sure it is grouped. Click once on the image and while holding down you mouse key, drag the image where you want it.

To reduce or enlarge the image, make sure it is grouped. Click once on the image. Move your mouse cursor to any corner, and while holding down your mouse key, drag from the corner arrows.

To change the color of an image, ungroup it (arrange/ungroup). You then can click on any part of the images, then click on the color you want (color palette on your right)

To Center the Image on the Page. Group the image, click once on it, and go to “arrange” then align, choose Center (in both columns),

To save the file. You can select “file” then “save. This will save in the Serif Draw format and the file can only be opened in Serif. If you choose “file” then “export” you then can save in a number of file formats.

Note: this free software is for the WMF format.  Windows versions up to Windows XP

Q: Is Corel Draw the most popular design software for heraldry folks?

A: Yes. Heraldry folks seem to prefer Corel Draw. It’s a pretty easy software program to learn, and AG can email you a simple tutorial. The current version is X4 (Version 14). However, you don’t need the current version, Corel Draw Version 12 is more than adequate, and you can find a copy on the Internet at a very reasonable price.

Q: Can we download the files rather than waiting for shipping?

A: Yes. If you wish to download rather than wait for shipping, simply check off "Free Download" in the Shipping Options on the order form. We will contact you to give you a user name and password so that you can access the download website. It is strongly recommended that you have high speed cable or a high speed phone line. Single images are available by email, only.

Q: Are there special Upgrade pricing for AG clients?

A: Yes. If you are an existing customer and wish to upgrade to a more current version of the software you purchased, special prices are available to you. This includes customers from when we first started on the Internet in 2001 to current customers. Simply send us an email, with your name and the product you have.

info@heraldryclipart.com

Q: Does Armorial Gold undertake private vector art work?

A: Yes. We take school emblems, military badges and logos, hand drawn coats of arms, institutional logos and the like, re-draw them and provide the finished product in vector format. Armorial Gold’s vector drawings are recognized worldwide; they are actually hand drawn and not simply put through a software program. To get a quote, send a jpeg image to Armorial Gold. Vector formats available include, wmf, ai, cdr, pdf (for Mac), cmx and others.

Q: What do our customers think?

Hi Ryan; Letting you know that I made a few samples of the clan badges for my t-shirt shop and they are selling very well. Your art is so smooth, it makes it easy. I’ll probably get the Irish collection in a month or so. BTW thanks for helping me with changing some spellings on the banner....

Hello Mike/ I can’t believe how much art is included in the Gold collection. Last year I bought another collection (before I found yours). It has about 2500 images and I paid $99. The quality of your art is far superior, and 5 times the images...WOW!...like your newsletter, hope you’ll continue with providing helpful tips....

Good morning, Thank you for the bonus art. As always it is great. The level of support you provide customers would exceeds any expectation. In this months The Gauntlet, you indicate that there are 10 new additions to Das Wappen series and a Santa available by request via Email. I would like both if you please. Again thanks for your great products. I look forward each month to the bonus art. Dave

AG Team... What customer service! I can’t believe it. You guys are the best. Special thanks to Rick for helping me with my download....

Hi Ryan; Thanks for helping me create my family coat of arms....I’ve become quite popular with my friends, as everyone wants me to design a coat for them...

Rick; Thanks for helping me put my motto in the banner, and your advice on setting up my goat with chain and collar...

Mike; Just a note to thank you for your amazing customer service. I’ve been dealing with you for about 2 years now, and you guys are so quick and so helpful. Any chance of you coming up with a Russian collection?

Hi Mike; Thank you for translating the French blazon for me. Rietstap’s is a terrifc resource but my French is poor. I see you’ve got a French-English heraldry translator on the Member resources page, now. Very helpful...

AG Team. Got my Gold collection today and everyting is great...more art than I ever imagined. Thought I’d let you know.

Thanks Gretchen. For re-sending my password for the Member resources site. I need to download some tartans and a couple of textures...you’re a life-saver.

Hey Ryan; Thank you for creating the parted shield for me. Your customer service should get an award!

Folks; Thought I’d let you know how much I enjoy the monthly bonus art. It really is a treat. I frankly don’t know how you can do this for free. Keep it up.

Ryan; From the bottom of my heart, Thank You. I am still trying to learn, but at 70 yrs it is a bit difficult, and the help that I receive from you and Mike, has been truly phenomenal, and I really appreciate it. God Bless.

Would like to express my appreciation for the superior customer service, Ryan. This is the second year that I have been doing business with AG, and I will continue to do so. The artwork is superb and the Customer service is top-notch!!

Dear Mike, Received the CD-ROM and must say I am impressed with the product and the versatility of your clipart - I shall certainly be singing your praises to all my fellow heraldists.

Mike, I am so pleased with your service. Just thought I'd give you a pat on the back. You deserve it. Thanks again.

Q: What reference material does AG use when researching coats of arms and/or Family Shields?

A: Here’s a list of some of our principal sources:

1-Rietstap’s Armorial General; it was compiled in the late 19th century by Johan Baptiste Rietstap from the Netherlands, and contains some 130,000 blazons of European Families.

2-Burke’s General Armory; a registry of Armorial Bearings for England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales. Sir Bernard Burke, Ulster King of Arms

3-Dizionario Storico-blasonico delle famiglie nobilie notabili Italiane; probably the best resource for Italian coats of arms; it was authored by G. B. Di Crollalanza in 1886 and features about 1400 blazons.

4-The Encyclopaedia Heraldica, 1828, by William Berry, who was the registering clerk for 15 years, for the College of Arms.

5- A Complete Body of Heraldry, Edmondson, Joseph, 1780

6- Grosses Wappenbuch, Johann Siebmacher's (1605); nobility of Bavaria, Austria, Hungary, Croatia, Bukovina, the Baltic states, Alsace, and numerous other kingdoms and principalities on the continent…

7-Irish Families-Edward MacLysaght , former Chief Herald of Ireland.

8- Irish Arms-by Paul Murtaugh

9- La Methode du Blazon-C.F. Menestrier

10-Diccionario de Heraldica-J.A. Schnieper, one of our Spanish resources.

11-Armorial Lusitano-a Portuguese resource, by Zairol

12-Bolton’s American Armory-Charles Knowles Bolton, American Heraldry

13-L'Heraldique Napoleonienne-Philippe Lamarque

AG has hundreds of reference books in its Library…

Q: How does AG determine which coat of arms/family shield to feature?

A: First, one must accept that Heraldry is not an exact science. In the periods of early heraldry, blazons (descriptions) were recorded by hand and accordingly the written records were subject to interpretation. Heraldic writers often differed in their descriptions because of this but also, because arms granted by heraldic authorities were based on, in many cases, the “spoken” word of the registrant.

Many surnames do not have a coat of arms; some have 1, others have hundreds. AG attempts to determine the oldest on record. If this is not immediately known, usually the first in a blazon manuscript is chosen; this does not mean it’s the oldest, as suggested by some heralds.

AG does its best not to use name variants or anglicized versions of a surname; rather, it uses the exact spelling as originally registered. Genealogical experts suggest that each name can have 6-8 spelling variants, with many having 20 or more; some online databases use this assumption to bolster their number of arms featured, and display the same arms for all of them. This practice is not recommended as many of the spelling variants they assign the same arms to, actually had distinct coats of arms registered. Please keep in mind that coats of arms were granted to individuals not surnames.

Q: What is Your Refund Policy?

A: As with all Digital Art, there are no refunds. This prevents folks from copying the art to their hard-drive, then seeking a credit or refund. If any of the art is damaged, we will replace it, without charge.

Q: What happens if my computer crashes and I lose my AG art?

A: It is the responsibility of AG members the make the appropriate backs-ups. However, if your crash (or any other incident) happens within 6 months of purchase, we will provide you with a free replacement.

Q: Do you have a License agreement?

A: Yes, as is the case with all digital art. Here is the Link: License Agreement

ARMORIAL GOLD’S PRIVACY POLICY

Our Commitment Armorial Gold is committed to respecting your privacy and protecting your personal information. This Privacy Statement explains the current information management practices at our website. The handling of all personal information by Armorial Gold Heraldry Services is governed by the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA). We are committed to protecting your privacy whether you are browsing for information or conducting business with Armorial Gold electronically. When you visit our Web site, we will not collect your personal information unless you choose to use and receive online products and services that require it. For transactions involving credit cards, Armorial Gold systems use up-to-date security protocols to ensure the integrity and confidentiality of information and systems. Cookies The Armorial Gold website uses cookies. Cookies are generally used to make it more convenient for users to move around our website. If you choose, they may be used to make it easier and faster to browse our site. These types of cookies need to be stored on your computer's hard drive. Cookies used by Armorial Gold are encrypted to make the information in cookies unreadable to anyone except Armorial Gold. More information External Links Disclaimer: Our website may link to other sites created and maintained by other public and/or private sector organizations. We provide these links solely for your information and convenience. When you link to an outside website, you are leaving the Armorial Gold website and our information management policies no longer apply.

Thumbnail Viewers

WINDOWS

Windows XP Windows offers, through their Explorer file manager, a terrific thumbnail viewer. Go to your explorer file manager and click on any AG folder, to list all the images in that folder. Go to the top command bar, select “View”, then select “ Thumbnails”. You then see thumbnails of all the images in that folder. XP views many file formats, however you may have to have the graphic program loaded.

FREE IMAGE VIEWER -IRFANVIEW This is a great little software program that, at this writing, is free. It allows you to view images as thumbnails and makes it easier to find the images you need. Here is the site address where you can download Irfanview. When you open the software, use File/Thumbnails-this will show your directories. You can expand or reduce the display window by using your mouse to drag the outer edges. Irfanview also displays CDR files as well. http://www.irfanview.com/

ST Thumbnails Explorer is shareware (Try Before You Buy) application. You can download full-function trial version and try it 30 days absolutely free. Views WMF, CDR, AI and a myriad of other file formats. http://www.softfields.com

MAC WMF VIEWERS

Lemke Graphic Converter. Certainly the most popular of the cross platform viewers for the Mac....full screen images display and powerful converter features. This is shareware and there is a small fee. Here's their address: http://www.lemkesoft.de/

WMF viewer for Mac by Cristallight....This is shareware and currently sells for $9.95. Many new improvements of late, and now offers full screen thumbnail views. Here's their address: http://www.cristallight.com

VISTA WMF VIEWER

A new software program written by Armorial Gold for its members. Those who have  the Vista operating system, and found out Vista no longer supports WMF thumbnail view, can get a free download of this easy-to-use program. Contact the office for a link. Works with IE7, too!

We hope your questions have been answered, if not, please feel free to contact us.

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