Collectors' Questions

My name is Lyanne, and I'm the Founder and Chief Storyteller at Wooden Ink. I'm committed to making original, hand-pulled prints that I'm proud to put my name on — and that I hope you'll love living with.

You may have a few questions before bringing a Wooden Ink print home. I've tried to answer the most common ones here, from how the prints are made and what makes each one unique to shipping, framing, care and custom tree printing.

If you don't find what you're looking for, I'd be happy to help. You can always reach me at hello@woodenink.ca

About Wooden Ink

Every Wooden Ink print begins with a real, reclaimed tree. A cross-section of the tree is carefully prepared, inked by hand, and used as the printing surface itself. Paper is placed directly onto the wood and the impression is pulled by hand.

The result is an original print made directly from the tree's growth rings — not a digital reproduction or an image of a tree.

Every print is unique. Because each impression is inked and pulled individually by hand, subtle variations in ink, pressure and the surface of the wood become part of the finished print. Even two prints pulled from the same tree will never be exactly alike.

The slab is the original manuscript. The print is the interpretation.

Each Wooden Ink print is made individually by hand from the original tree slab. The slab is inked, paper is laid directly onto its surface, and pressure is applied by hand to transfer the impression.

There is no automated printing and no digital reproduction involved. Each print is an original artwork pulled directly from the wood — one impression at a time.

The process also means that small variations are inevitable. Ink coverage, pressure and the character of the wood can shift slightly from one print to the next. Those variations aren't flaws; they're part of what makes a hand-pulled print a hand-pulled print.

Every Wooden Ink print is pulled individually by hand from a real piece of wood — and neither wood nor hand-printing is perfectly uniform.

The amount of ink transferred, the pressure applied during burnishing, the texture of the wood and even tiny changes in the slab itself can affect each impression. Bark can loosen, small cracks can develop or expand, and the surface of the slab continues to change as the wood ages.

That means two prints pulled from the same tree may be very similar, but they will never be identical. Each captures a particular impression of that tree at a particular moment in its ongoing story.

No. Never.

Wooden Ink begins where a tree’s first life has already ended. The slabs I print from come from trees that have fallen or needed to be removed because they were dead, damaged or unsafe — or from wood that might otherwise have been discarded, burned or forgotten.

I don’t believe a living tree should ever be cut down simply to make a print of its rings. The whole point is the opposite: to take something that has already lived its life as a tree and find a way for its story to continue.

Some slabs come to me with wonderful provenance — from a family property, a cottage, a tree someone remembers climbing as a kid. Others are rescued from far less romantic places: firewood piles, Marketplace listings, arborists that I follow to job sites, sawmills and the occasional roadside discovery. Either way, I want to know as much as I can about where each tree came from and preserve that story alongside its prints.

The tree gets to be a tree first. Always.

It starts with the trees.

No tree is ever cut down for the purpose of making a Wooden Ink print. I work with reclaimed timber from trees that have already fallen, needed to be removed, or wood that might otherwise have been discarded, burned or forgotten.

I also try to make thoughtful choices throughout the rest of the process — from the papers and materials I use to how prints are packaged and shipped. I favour materials that are durable, recyclable or responsibly sourced where practical, while keeping the artwork properly protected.

At its heart, Wooden Ink is about finding value in what already exists: preserving the marks a tree spent decades — sometimes more than a century — creating, and giving that story another way to continue.

Long story short? Job loss, Lyme disease, tree-ring printing as therapy, and a lifelong inability to do anything halfway.

Bam. Wooden Ink.

The slightly longer version involves a career I thought would continue, an illness that changed rather a lot, and discovering — somewhat accidentally — that making prints from trees gave me something creative and meaningful to build when a lot of other things had become uncertain.

And then, because apparently simply enjoying a new hobby wasn't an option, it became Wooden Ink.

If you actually want the whole story, wander over to About Wooden Ink. It's all there.

Wooden Ink is a very small business, and that's intentional. Every print is pulled, inspected, signed and prepared and shipped by me.

My commitment is simple: to make work I'm proud to put my name on, to describe it honestly, and to treat the tree, the artwork and the person bringing it home with care.

If you ever have a question about a print, an order or one of the trees behind the work, ask me. You'll be talking directly to the person who made it.

About Your Wooden Ink Print

Every Wooden Ink print is individually signed by hand.

Prints are not edition-numbered. Unlike a traditional limited edition of reproductions, each Wooden Ink print is an individual original, pulled directly from the tree slab. Because the wood, ink and hand-printing process create subtle variations from one impression to the next, no two prints are exactly alike.

Prints on white or light-coloured paper are signed using a graphite pencil. On darker papers, I use an archival-quality metallic pen so the signature remains visible.

In other words, you aren't receiving one of 100 identical copies. You're receiving your print — one individual impression of that tree.

Most Wooden Ink prints are created on a full 18 × 24 inch (45.7 × 61 cm) sheet of paper, giving the tree rings plenty of room to breathe and leaving a natural border around the printed impression.

Because trees don't come in standard sizes or shapes, neither do all Wooden Ink prints. Some pieces — including larger or unusually shaped slabs — are printed on different paper sizes to suit the tree rather than forcing the tree to fit the paper.

The exact paper size and printed area are listed in the Field Notes on each product page, so you'll always know the dimensions of the artwork you're choosing.

Tree first. Even when it comes to size.

Wooden Ink prints are pulled on carefully selected, acid-free fine art paper, chosen for its quality, texture and ability to capture and showcase the fine detail and character of the original timber.

For some custom interpretations, other papers may be available. Different weights, colours and textures can change the character of an impression, so paper can become part of the interpretation too.

The specific paper used for each print is listed in its Field Notes on the product page, so you'll always know exactly what your print is made on.

Like the ink itself, the paper isn't simply something the image sits on — it's part of the finished artwork.

Wooden Ink prints are sold unframed, allowing you to choose a frame and presentation that suits both the artwork and your space.

Prints are shipped unframed and carefully rolled in a sturdy shipping tube to help ensure they arrive safely.

Every Wooden Ink print comes with two companion cards: a Tree Story Card, sharing the brief story and provenance of the individual tree behind your print, and a Species Card, exploring some characteristics and natural history of its species.

Together, they connect the finished artwork back to the tree that made it possible — because at Wooden Ink, the story doesn't end with the print.

No two Wooden Ink prints are exactly alike — and that's part of what makes them originals.

Every print is individually hand-pulled from the original timber slab. Small variations in ink coverage, pressure, colour or gradient, and the precise placement and orientation of the impression on the paper mean that your print may vary slightly from the photographs shown.

Colours shown on screen are intended to represent each interpretation as accurately as possible, but screens and devices display colour differently. The colour of the physical ink and paper may therefore vary slightly from what you see on your screen.

The tree itself also continues to change over time. Bark may loosen, cracks may develop or expand, and the surface of the slab gradually changes as wood naturally responds to its environment. Those subtle changes become part of the tree's ongoing story and may influence future impressions.

Your print will remain unmistakably true to the tree and interpretation you've chosen, but the impression you receive will be uniquely yours.

Choosing Your Print

Yes. Many Wooden Ink slabs can be hand-pulled in more than one ink interpretation.

Each product page shows the interpretations currently available for that tree, which may include Black Ink, Wooden Ink Colours (Storm Blue, Maple Leaf Red, Boreal Green and Fireside Ember), and selected custom options.

Because every tree responds differently to ink, not every interpretation will suit every slab. If you have something particular in mind, get in touch — I'm always happy to talk through what might work.

The tree is always the starting point. The colour is the interpretation.

Absolutely. If you have a particular colour in mind, get in touch with me at hello@woodenink.ca and tell me what you're thinking.

Custom colours can be mixed specifically for your print, although the final impression may vary slightly from a colour viewed on a screen. Ink also behaves differently depending on the tree and paper, so I'll work with you to find an interpretation that suits both your idea and the original timber.

Different interpretations of the same life.

In many cases, yes. Most Wooden Ink prints are pulled on acid-free fine art paper, but selected trees can also be printed on other fine art papers in different colours, weights and textures.

Because paper can dramatically change the character of an impression, not every paper will suit every tree or ink. If you're interested in something different from the standard paper shown for a print, get in touch with me at hello@woodenink.ca and we can explore what's possible.

The paper isn't simply something the image sits on — it's part of the finished artwork.

For some prints, yes.

Trees don't grow in neat rectangles, so some impressions can naturally work in more than one orientation. Where appropriate, you may be able to choose whether you'd like your print in portrait or landscape orientation (this ensures that I will sign your print in the right orientation).

If orientation is an option for a particular print, it will be noted on the product page. And if you're unsure which way you'd prefer to hang it, I'm happy to help. You can reach me at hello@woodenink.ca

Yes. If you've fallen in love with one of the trees in the Wooden Ink collection but don't see exactly the interpretation you're looking for, there may be other possibilities.

Depending on the tree, I may be able to create a new impression in a different ink colour or on another suitable paper.

Because every impression is pulled individually from the original slab, your commissioned print will still be a one-of-a-kind original — never a reproduction.

Tell me which tree caught your eye and what you have in mind, and we'll see what we can create. You can reach me at hello@woodenink.ca

Ordering and Shipping

Please allow up to one week for your print to be prepared for shipping.

Some Wooden Ink prints are already hand-pulled and available in the studio, while others are pulled from the original tree slab after your order is placed. If your chosen print is already available, it may ship sooner.

Either way, you're receiving an original hand-pulled print made directly from the tree — never a reproduction.

If timing is especially important — for a birthday, anniversary or other occasion — please get in touch before ordering and I'll let you know what's possible.

Every Wooden Ink print is shipped unframed on its full sheet of archival paper and carefully rolled for shipping.

Your print is protected with tissue and packed inside a sturdy mailing tube designed to keep the artwork safe while in transit. Your companion Tree Story Card and Species Card are included with your order.

When your print arrives, carefully remove it from the tube and allow it some time to relax and flatten naturally before framing. Avoid folding, creasing or attempting to flatten the paper by applying heat or moisture.

And when it’s finally hanging on your wall, I’d love to see where your tree landed. 🌲

Wooden Ink ships across Canada and internationally.

Prints are shipped unframed and carefully rolled in a sturdy mailing tube to help protect them in transit. Shipping options and costs will be calculated based on your destination at checkout.

For orders travelling outside Canada, additional customs duties, taxes, tariffs or other import fees may apply. Those charges aren't included in your Wooden Ink order or shipping cost and are the responsibility of the buyer. See the international-orders question below for more information.

Orders shipped outside Canada may be subject to customs duties, import taxes, tariffs, brokerage fees or other charges determined by the destination country.

Where Shopify calculates duties and import taxes at checkout, those charges will be clearly displayed and collected before you complete your purchase. In some destinations or circumstances, customs authorities or shipping carriers may assess additional fees that are not included in the product price or shipping charge.

Import rules and fees vary by country and can change. Nobody likes an unexpected bill attached to something they were excited to receive, so Wooden Ink aims to make known charges as clear as possible before you order.

As of August 22, 2026, the United States applies an additional 50% import duty to Canadian-made original prints in this product classification. This charge is imposed by the US government—not by Wooden Ink—and is calculated and collected at checkout so that it is paid before your order crosses the border.

The applicable duty will be clearly displayed before you complete your purchase. Wooden Ink ships US orders using Delivered Duty Paid service to help prevent unexpected duty charges upon delivery. Tariff rules can change, and checkout will reflect the rates in effect when your order is placed.

We will work quickly to ship your order as soon as possible. Once your order has shipped, you will receive an email with further information. Delivery times vary depending on your location.

Shipping times vary depending on your location and the shipping service selected at checkout.

Once your order has shipped, you'll receive a shipping confirmation with tracking information, where available, so you can follow your print on its journey to you.

Please remember that shipping time is in addition to preparation time. Please allow up to one week for your print to be prepared for shipping, although it may ship sooner if your chosen print is already available in the studio.

Delivery estimates provided by the carrier are estimates rather than guarantees. Weather, customs processing and other carrier delays can occasionally affect delivery times after your print has left the studio.

If you're ordering for a birthday, anniversary or other date-specific occasion, please get in touch before ordering if timing is tight. I'll always tell you what's realistically possible.

Shipping costs vary depending on your location and the shipping service available for your destination.

Your shipping cost will be calculated and displayed at checkout before you complete your purchase, so you'll always have a chance to review it before placing your order.

Because Wooden Ink prints are shipped unframed in protective mailing tubes, shipping is based on the packaged order rather than the dimensions of a framed artwork.

I take great care in packing every Wooden Ink print, but occasionally things can go wrong in transit.

If your print arrives damaged, please contact me at hello@woodenink.ca as soon as possible after delivery and include photographs of the damage, the shipping tube and the packaging it arrived in. Please keep all of the original packaging while we sort things out, as the shipping carrier may require it for a claim.

I'll work with you to make it right. Depending on the circumstances and the particular print, that may mean a replacement print, another suitable resolution, or a refund if a replacement isn't possible.

Because every Wooden Ink print is an original hand-pulled impression, a replacement will never be identical to the damaged print — but it will be pulled from the same tree in the same interpretation wherever possible.

If your package appears to be lost in transit, please get in touch and I'll work with the shipping carrier to determine what happened and what options are available.

If tracking shows your package as delivered but you can't locate it, please first check around your property, with other members of your household, and with neighbours or building staff who may have accepted it on your behalf. Carriers will also occasionally mark a package as delivered shortly before it actually arrives.

If it still hasn't turned up, contact me and we'll take the appropriate next steps with the carrier.

Please make sure the shipping address you provide at checkout is complete and accurate. Wooden Ink can't be responsible for packages that are lost or misdelivered because an incorrect address was supplied, but I'll always do what I reasonably can to help.

Caring for Your Wooden Ink Print

Your print has been carefully rolled for shipping, so it may naturally want to curl when you first remove it from the tube.

Unroll it gently and lay it face-up on a clean, dry, flat surface. Place clean, smooth weights on the corners or edges — taking care not to mark the paper — and allow the print to gradually relax and flatten naturally.

Don't use heat, moisture or an iron to flatten your print.

If you're taking your print directly to a professional framer, you can also leave it safely rolled in its protective packaging and let your framer handle the flattening.

Wooden Ink prints are sold unframed so you can choose a presentation that suits both the artwork and the space where it will live.

I recommend having your print professionally framed using archival-quality materials, particularly acid-free matting and backing. A mat can help keep the artwork from resting directly against the glazing while giving the tree impression some visual breathing room.

Because Wooden Ink prints are original works on paper, UV-protective glass or acrylic are also a worthwhile options to help protect the paper and ink from light exposure over time.

However you frame it, the goal is simple: protect the original while letting the tree be the thing you notice first.

Like any original artwork on paper, your Wooden Ink print will be happiest in a stable indoor environment, away from prolonged exposure to direct sunlight, excessive heat and high humidity.

Avoid hanging your print where it will regularly be exposed to moisture or significant temperature changes — for example, in a steamy bathroom or immediately beside a heat source.

Direct sunlight is the big one. Even acid-free fine art paper and artist inks can be affected by prolonged UV exposure over time. Choosing a location away from strong direct sun — and using UV-protective glazing when framing — will help preserve your print for years to come.

Beyond that? Find the wall where you love looking at it. Trees have spent enough time outside. This one gets to live with you now.

Once properly framed, your Wooden Ink print shouldn't require much ongoing care.

Keep it in a stable indoor environment, protect it from direct sunlight and excessive humidity, and avoid touching the printed surface or paper unnecessarily. If the frame needs cleaning, use appropriate products on the outside of the glazing only — never apply cleaners, water or other products directly to the artwork.

If your print ever needs to be removed from its frame, handle it with clean, dry hands and by the edges of the paper whenever possible. For more significant cleaning, reframing or conservation concerns, I recommend taking it to a professional framer rather than attempting to treat the artwork yourself.

With thoughtful framing and a little common sense, your tree should be able to keep telling its story for a very long time.

Returns, Changes & Cancellations

I want you to love the Wooden Ink original you bring into your home. If you've purchased an available, already-created print and decide it isn't right for you, please contact me within 7 days of delivery to discuss a return.

To be eligible for return, the print must be in its original condition, unframed and undamaged, and safely repackaged for return shipping — ideally using its original protective packaging. Return shipping costs are the responsibility of the buyer unless the item arrived damaged or there was an error with your order.

Because hand-pulled-to-order prints and custom interpretations are created specifically for you, different return conditions apply to those pieces. Please see the question below for details.

Once an eligible return has been received and inspected, a refund will be issued for the purchase price of the artwork. Original shipping charges are non-refundable, except where the return results from an error by Wooden Ink or an item arriving damaged.

If something isn't right, please get in touch. I'd much rather have a conversation than leave you wondering what to do.

If you need to change or cancel an order, get in touch as soon as possible and I'll do my best to help.

If your order is for an already-created print and it hasn't shipped yet, changes or cancellation should usually be straightforward.

For prints that are hand-pulled to order or custom interpretations, timing matters. Once I've begun preparing or creating your print — including mixing a custom colour or pulling an impression specifically for your order — I may not be able to cancel or make changes.

If you've made a mistake with your shipping address or other order details, please contact me as quickly as possible. Once a package has been handed over to the carrier, I can't guarantee that I'll be able to redirect it.

Bottom line: if something changes, tell me quickly. If I can fix it, I will.

Because hand-pulled-to-order prints and custom interpretations are created specifically in response to your order, they are generally considered final sale and aren't eligible for return or exchange simply because you've changed your mind.

For custom interpretations, I'll work with you before printing to make sure we're clear on the tree, ink colour, paper and other agreed details. Please keep in mind that colours viewed on a screen can differ from physical ink, and the nature of hand-pulled printing means the finished impression will have the subtle variations that make it an original.

Of course, final sale doesn't mean you're on your own if something has actually gone wrong. If your print arrives damaged, you receive the wrong item, or I've made an error in fulfilling your order, contact me within 7 days of delivery and I'll work with you to make it right.

The goal is to give custom work the flexibility it deserves while recognizing that once I've created something specifically for you, I may not reasonably be able to take it back and simply put it back into inventory.

If I’ve made a mistake with your order, I’ll make it right.

If you receive the wrong print, the wrong interpretation, or something is missing from your order, please contact me at hello@woodenink.ca within 7 days of delivery and let me know what happened. Photos are helpful where relevant.

Depending on the situation, I’ll arrange a replacement, send the missing item, or provide another appropriate resolution at no additional cost to you.

Every Wooden Ink order is prepared and packed by hand, and while I take a great deal of care with each one, I’m also human. If I get something wrong, you shouldn’t have to pay for my mistake.

Custom Tree Printing

Possibly — and I'd love to hear its story.

If you have a tree that has come down or needed to be removed, a suitable cross-section of its trunk may be able to become the printing slab for an original Wooden Ink print.

Custom tree printing is currently available for trees located in Muskoka and the Greater Toronto Area. If you have a tree you'd like me to consider, please get in touch before cutting or transporting the wood. In addition to making sure we choose a useful section for printing, there can be restrictions on moving raw wood between regions to help prevent the spread of invasive forest pests.

There are two ways a custom tree project can work. For a full-service custom project, I can prepare your wood for printing — which may include planing, sanding and other preparation — pull your original print, and return the slab to you along with it.

Or, if the slab is suitable for the Wooden Ink collection and you're happy for me to keep it, I may be able to prepare the wood and create your print as part of adding that tree to the collection. Its story can then continue through future Wooden Ink prints.

Not every piece of wood can be printed. Rot, deterioration, softness, cracking and other structural issues can make a slab unsuitable, so I'll need to inspect the wood before I can confirm that a successful print is possible.

If your tree matters to you, tell me about it, and let's try to get its story on paper. You can reach me at hello@woodenink.ca

The best Wooden Ink stories usually begin long before the ink.

A good printing slab needs to be structurally sound enough to survive the preparation and printing process while still holding the detail of the tree's growth rings.

Some cracking, weathering and irregularity can be absolutely beautiful — those characteristics are often part of what makes a tree interesting to print. But significant rot, softness, deterioration or structural instability can make it impossible to prepare a surface capable of producing a good impression.

Age alone isn't necessarily the problem. Condition is. A recently fallen tree may have excellent printing potential, while a much-loved stump that has been sitting outside and deteriorating for years may simply be too far gone. Very recently cut wood may also need several weeks — or even months — to dry sufficiently before it can be prepared and printed.

Photos can give me a useful first look, but I can't guarantee that a piece of wood is printable until I've had an opportunity to properly assess it.

And sometimes the answer will unfortunately be no. A tree can have a wonderful story and still not be able to put it on paper.

If you're considering a particular tree, send me photos I can help you identify the kind of cross-section that will give us the best chance of creating a successful print.

My favourite birch tree at the cottage had to come down a few years ago. Sadly, the wood was simply too deteriorated to print; some stories just can't be printed.

Start by telling me about your tree. Where did it grow? Why does it matter to you? When and why did it come down? The story is every bit as interesting to me as the wood itself.

From there, send me as much of the following information as you can:

Tree species, if you know it
Current location of the tree or slab
Approximately when the tree came down
Approximate diameter and thickness of the piece you have
A few clear photos of the wood, particularly the cut face or cross-section you hope to have printed

If the wood is in Muskoka or the GTA, we'll also talk through the most practical way to get it to me. Raw wood can sometimes be subject to movement restrictions intended to prevent the spread of invasive forest pests, which is why I limit the area that I serve with this service

Don't worry if you don't know everything. I'm not expecting you to be an arborist. Good photos and a little information about the tree are usually enough for us to start the conversation.

From there, I can get an initial sense of whether the wood looks promising for printing and we can figure out the next step together.

You can reach me at hello@woodenink.ca

That depends on the kind of custom project we’re creating.

If you’d like to keep your slab, absolutely. For a full-service custom project, I can prepare the wood, create your print, and arrange for the original slab to be returned to you along with your finished artwork, within the local Muskoka/GTA service area.

One important thing to know: preparing a slab for printing permanently changes the printing surface. As part of the Wooden Ink process, the cut face is torched to burn away the softer earlywood and better define the tree’s growth rings. The slab you receive back will therefore not look exactly as it did when you gave it to me — the prepared face will show the effects of the torching and printing process.

I’ll make sure you understand what will happen to your particular piece before any work begins, so you can decide whether you’re comfortable having the wood altered.

There’s another option, though. If your slab is a good fit for the Wooden Ink collection and you’re happy for me to keep it, we can discuss having the tree become part of the collection. In that case, I’ll prepare the slab and create your print, and the slab stays with Wooden Ink for future printing.

That means your tree’s story may continue beyond your own print — becoming part of the Wooden Ink collection and, potentially, finding its way onto the walls of other people who connect with it.

Either way, we’ll decide what happens to the slab before any work begins. There will never be any surprises about whether your wood is coming home with you.

Full-service custom tree printing is currently available for trees and wood located in Muskoka and the Greater Toronto Area.

Because raw wood can carry invasive insects and other forest pests, its movement may be restricted between certain areas. For that reason — and because slabs can be large, heavy and occasionally rather ridiculous to move around — please contact me before transporting a tree section specifically for Wooden Ink.

Start by telling me where you and the tree are located, along with anything you know about the species, when it came down, and the story behind it. From there, I can help determine whether the wood looks promising for printing and how best to proceed. You can reach me at hello@woodenink.ca

If you're outside Muskoka or the GTA, I unfortunately can't currently accept your tree for custom printing — but I hope to explore ways of expanding the service in the future.

Every tree — and every custom project — is different, so custom tree printing is quoted individually rather than offered at a fixed price.

The cost depends on things like the size and condition of the wood, how much preparation it requires, the size and type of print you'd like, and any local collection, transportation or return requirements within Muskoka or the GTA.

If you're happy for a suitable slab to remain with Wooden Ink and become part of the collection, the arrangement may be quite different. In some cases, your finished print may be priced similarly to other Wooden Ink originals of the same size, with the slab becoming part of the collection in exchange for the additional preparation involved.

If you'd like your slab prepared, printed and returned to you, I'll provide a custom quote that reflects the additional preparation, handling and logistics involved.

There is never any obligation just for asking. Tell me about your tree, send me some photos, and we'll figure out what's possible. If I think the wood is a good candidate for printing, I'll explain the options and costs before you decide whether you'd like to proceed.

Your tree already has a story. I'd love to help you share that. Get in touch at hello@woodenink.ca and let's talk!