General Digital Scrapbooking
Printing
CottageArts.net Products
Download Questions
Technical Issues
Order and License Information
General Digital Scrapbooking
Q:
What is digital scrapbooking?
A:
For a good overview, we recommend
reading Michelle's article,
Digital Scrapbooking: What is it all about anyway?
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Q:
What do you recommend for
those who want to begin digital scrapbooking?
A:
As stated above, we first recommend reading Michelle's article,
Digital Scrapbooking: What is it all about anyway?
Then, read some of our other
tutorials, sign up for our
free newsletter, and consider our
Scrapper's Guide Training Video CDs for
Adobe Photoshop and Photoshop Elements. For novices, we recommend our fully-layered PSD templates or Simply
ScrapOver templates, as they are less daunting than building a layout
from scratch. See our
samples page to try out our
different products to see which you like best.
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Q:
Why consider digital scrapbooking as a
supplement to my traditional scrapbooking?
A:
So, why would someone want to scrapbook
digitally when the world of traditional scrapbooking offers so much
fun, creativity, and more beautiful papers and embellishments than one
can use in a lifetime? This is similar to the question that many
photographers have been asking about digital photography for nearly
the past decade. We think the answer is to enjoy both. I, myself, have
been an avid rubber stamper and traditional scrapbooker, but because
of our extensive digital photo library, am tending to use software to
create my papers and layouts because of the convenience, efficiency,
and flexibility. Here are some things to consider about using digital
technology to build or supplement your scrapbooking passion.
Time - As scrapbookers, nothing is more exciting than having enough
time set aside to bring out all of our fun papers and embellishments,
spread them out in front of us and play, play, play. Unfortunately, we
don’t always have as much time to do that as we’d like. Another
problem can be what to do with an unfinished project when you need to
clear the table space for other projects like eating, paying the
bills, or building the kids’ latest Lego ship. With digital, even five
spare minutes affords you the chance to make another tweak to a
layout, and by simply saving your work, you’ve all the space you need!
You can also change the colors of a layout you love, add some new
embellishments, new photos, new title and you have a whole new
creation in a matter of minutes!
Cost - At first glance, it may seem that scrapbooking digitally
would cost more than traditional. Perhaps, for those without a
computer and printer in their home, this is true, but when you
consider the reusability of papers, embellishments, and layouts in the
digital world, the cost quickly decreases. For many of you who post
scans of your layouts to Internet sites, you already have most of
tools you need: computer, scanner, digital imaging software, and an
Internet connection. By using the newest generation of easy-to-learn
digital imaging software, such as Adobe Photoshop Elements, Jasc Paint Shop Pro 8, Microsoft PictureIt! Digital Image Pro, or Ulead’s
Photo Impact, you’ll be ready to go. The cost of these packages ranges
from $29.99 to $99.99 after rebates. By adding one or more of the
Simply Digital CDs from CottageArts.net, you’ll have a complete
digital scrapkit and will be ready for more fun than you can imagine.
Your kids will have to fight you for time on the computer. See the paragraph on enjoying
with your kids below to remedy that problem.
Sharing – No need to scan these layouts to share them via the
Internet. Once you’ve preserved your photos within a digital layout,
it’s as simple as saving to a low resolution .jpg file, attaching to
an e-mail or posting to the web, and all your connected friends and
family can share them instantly. We’ve uploaded our digital photos
just after the guests have left a birthday party at our house, added
our favorites into a digital layout, and e-mailed it to them to enjoy
that evening!
Enjoy creating WITH your kids – For most of us, our kids are
growing up using computers with confidence and enjoyment. Here is a
chance for you and them to share that excitement together. Let the
“chatting” be with them by your side, and share layout ideas together.
This is like putting a puzzle together with a twist. They can learn
about family history or re-live family fun. It may not be as exciting
as the newest computer game they bought, but it may add a new meaning
to “quality time”.
Less bulk – While traditional scrapbooking provides a three
dimensional art form, the incredible quality of digital technology now
allows a 3-D look that will amaze you. Best of all, when you print
your layouts out in your favorite scrapbook size, you can build a
scrapbook that doesn’t suffer from all that bulk.
Perfect color match- With digital, you’ll never have to say you
don’t have the right color card stock. With the software applications
we use in our tutorials, you’ll be able to instantly change your
background papers to be the perfect color.
I will always love the smell of paper, glue sticks, melted
embossing powder, and the feel of fibers, mesh, and fabric. There is
something very soothing about tearing a piece of paper or embossing a
title. But, sometimes I feel like creating my own digital embossed
papers or making a layout to frame for a friend. There is a place for
both in the wonderful world of scrapbooking. We are all creating art
to preserve our precious memories.
For those who aren’t convinced that digital might be something
worth giving a try, our papers, embellishments, and layout templates can be printed for
use with traditional scrapbooking. Please see our tutorial on printing
“Simply Digital” papers, as well as our other tutorials for more
information, and see Beth Ervin's posts in our galleries for ideas on
combining traditional with digital. Whatever your choice: Happy scrapping!
{Michelle Shefveland of CottageArts.net}
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Printing
Q: How do you print finished layouts, papers, embellishments, etc.?
A: See our informative article on printing here
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Q: How do you print 12x12 layouts if you don't have a wide
format printer?
A: See
our
article on printing here
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Q:
What size layouts can you make with your products?
A:
You can crop our papers to any size using your image editors
crop tool. You can print our 12x12 templates at any square size.
We love 8x8! Here are three tutorials on re-sizing our fully-layered PSD templates using Paint Shop Pro (other image editors would have
very similar steps).
Resizing 12" x 12" Layout Templates to 8"
x 8"
Resizing 12" x 12" Layout Templates to
8.5" x 11"
Resizing 8.5" x 11" Layout Templates to
12" x 12"
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Q:
Do you print all of your digital
layouts?
A:
No. We print our favorites, post all to our web gallery, and
save all to a separate hard disk to keep off-site as a backup.
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Q:
What dpi/resolution do you
recommend?
A: See our article on
printing resolution/printing here
back to FAQ list CottageArts.net Products
Q: What
types of graphics are
included on your CDs? [How do I know if your products will work with
my image editing software?]
A:
Our
product line,
Simply Digital™,
currently offers CDs of custom designed layout templates
(fully-layered PSD files, as well as flattened JPEGs), background
papers, and embellishments to help you create stunning digital
scrapbooking layouts, or to print for use in traditional
scrapbooks. Three of our CDs, Simply Moments, Simply
Celebrations and Simply Memories, consist of our Simply ScrapOver
templates and Page Paks, which are coordinated kits of papers and
embellishments in JPEG and PNG formats. Our CDs work in conjunction with many digital imaging
software packages, such as Adobe®
Photoshop® and Photoshop® Elements, Corel® Paint Shop™
Pro® 7 and higher, Corel PHOTO-PAINT, Ulead PhotoImpact 7 and higher,
and Microsoft® Digital Image Pro (PSD files are flattened in Digital
Image Pro, but DIP will open them).
Our
graphics are offered at 200-300 dpi images for exceptional print
quality. Our product
line is Windows/Mac compatible (OS IX and X).
See
our
product line overview
for computer hardware and software compatibility.
See our
samples page
to download samples of all of our different product offerings and
links to what CDs or downloads offer them.
See
our
tutorials link for more ideas and
information about digital photography, photo editing, and computer
scrapbooking.
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Q:
What types of products do you offer?
A:
At this time we offer Simply Digital™
graphics CDs and downloadable Page Paks, AlphaSets, Brushes, Overlays,
Simply Scrapover Templates, and Simply
ScrapOver Twist templates. We also offer Scrapper's Guide Video
Training CDs for Adobe Photoshop and Photoshop Elements.
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Q:
What are Downloadable Page Paks, AlphaSets, and Simply ScrapOver
Templates?
A:
Simply Digital Download Paks are trendy graphics available for
immediate download in ZIP files, once payment has been made. They
include JPEG papers and PNG embellishments suited for the more
experienced digital scrapper who wants to build their own layouts
using image editing software, or the paper artist who wants to use
them as printables. Create a page identical to the sample or use your
own creative genius to tear, layer, crop all the elements in the kit
(or combine kits or use with components from our CDs) for a unique
creation. AlphaSets are individual dimensional alphabets and numbers
in PNG format.
Simply ScrapOver Templates are all-in-one-layer templates are PERFECT
for those NEW to digital scrapbooking, or those who want to create
ultra-quick pages. They are provided in PNG format to maintain
transparency of the photo masks (openings in templates), in which you
simply drag photo(s) beneath. Add your own personal journaling, if
desired (unless otherwise stated, title art is included), and you are
ready to print or post on the Web. These templates are compatible with
most image editors, such as Adobe Photoshop/Elements, Jasc Paint Shop
Pro, Microsoft Picture It! Digital Image Pro, Ulead PhotoImpact, and
even Creating Keepsakes Deluxe Scrapbook Designer and Hewlett
Packard's Creative Scrapbook Assistant.
See our
samples page
to download samples of all of our different product offerings and
links to what downloads offer them.
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Q:
What are layout templates on your
CDs?
A:
Layout templates are 8.5x11 or 12x12
artistically designed scrapbook pages with everything included, except
your photos and journaling (even includes title art you can use or
make invisible with your image editor).
See our
samples page
to download samples of the three different types of templates we
offer.
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Q: What are your MEGA CDs?
A:
Our MEGA CDs are our newest graphic CDs, and they have more papers
and embellishments than our original template CDs. We were
able to figure out how to reduce the size of our rich fully-layered
templates to
allow us to fit more papers and embellishments on the CD. All of our fully-layered template CDs have about 10-13 templates on
them.
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Q: What
image editors work with your products?
A:
Our
CDs work in conjunction with many digital imaging software packages,
such as Adobe® Photoshop® and
Photoshop® Elements, Corel® Paint Shop™
Pro® 7 and higher, Corel PHOTO-PAINT, Ulead PhotoImpact 7 and higher,
and Microsoft® Digital Image Pro (.psd layers are flattened in Digital
Image Pro). Our product
line is Windows/Mac compatible (OS IX and X). Our design team
uses primarily Adobe Photoshop, Photoshop Elements, Paint Shop Pro,
and Microsoft Digital Image Pro. We have most tutorials for
Photoshop Elements and Paint Shop Pro and have the most knowledge
about these two image editors.
Our downloads work with the above image
editors, as well as Hewlett Packard's Computer Scrapbook Assistant
program.
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Q:
Your CDs have so much content. Do you offer a printable image catalog
of all of the graphics?
A:
At
the current time, we have a printable PDF image catalog accessible in
the help.html file on the following CDs:
Simply
Moments
Simply Recreation
Simply School Days
Simply
Celebrations
Simply Memories
Simply Kids
Simply Vintage
Simply Stated
Simply Sampler back to FAQ list
Download Questions
Q:
How do I purchase and download your products, and what if I have
problems downloading?
A:
See our tutorial on
downloading products here
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Q: I have many of your downloads and CDs. How do I organize them on my
computer so I can easily find them?
A:
See our article on
organizing digital products here
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Q:
I have a dial-up Internet connection. Can I still download your
products? [What is a download manager?]
A:
Yes, but we recommend you install a download manager, such as REGET (www.reget.com
- free trial available). Download managers help you re-connect
and pick up where you left off when the connection was interrupted.
Also,
on July 30, 2008 we added custom CD
burning to our product line. If you are on dial-up, consider this as
an option rather than trying to download our large files. Click
here for more information.
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Technical
Issues
Q:
Where can I receive technical support on using my image editor,
such as how to rotate photos, re-size, etc.?
A:
Contact your image editing software provider, check your image editor's help,
read our tutorials, search the Internet for forums/tutorials, and then contact us at
support@cottagearts.net
if you still have questions. For
Adobe Photoshop and Photoshop Elements users, consider our
Scrapper's
Guide Training CDs or Simply Done Templates and Video Training
Downloads.
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Q:
How do I add a drop shadow to my photos and page elements?
A:
See our tutorial on
adding drop shadows using Photoshop
Elements here. Our book, Scrapbooking the Digital
Way, gives the steps and visuals using Paint Shop Pro.
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Q:
How do you change the colors of
your products (i.e. papers, embellishments, etc.)?
A:
See our tutorials on changing colors using Photoshop Elements and
Paint Shop Pro below:
Changing colors with Adobe Photoshop
Elements
Advanced colorization techniques with
Paint Shop Pro
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Q:
What software do you recommend
for organizing your digital photos?
A:
Adobe
Photoshop Elements 3 and above have a built-in photo album product.
ACDSee.
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Order Information
Q: How
do I contact customer service with questions about ordering?
A:
You
may contact our customer service at
support@cottagearts.net. We
are known for our prompt and helpful service. See
customer comments
about our products and service here.
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Q:
What type of payments do you accept? (Is your ordering site
secure?) A:
We accept Visa, Mastercard,
Discover, Diners Club
International, and PayPal through our secure on-line ordering site.
Secure Ordering - We use Yahoo
Store services, and, along with Yahoo, take the issue of security
seriously.
Every time you send us your credit card number and your billing and
shipping information, we use the industry-standard Secure Sockets
Layer (SSL) technology to prevent the information from being
intercepted.
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Q: Are
your CD products available in retail stores in Australia, Canada,
England, South Africa and other countries?
A:
Sorry,
but we do not currently have a distributors outside of the United
States. We do have
downloadable products in the form of Page Paks, AlphaSets, and our unique Simply
ScrapOver templates, however, our CDs are not available in download
form at this time.
Please note that our international
shipping rates are very
reasonable for our CD products. During our frequent shipping sales, the
cost of International Air Mail is as low only $2.95(US) for up to 6 CDs and
only $6.95(US) for up 12 CDs.
International Air Mail has proven to be very efficient to Australia,
Canada, and the United Kingdom,
with delivery times often being only 5 - 10 days from the date of
order. We usually ship the next business day after an order is placed.
The prices on our store are in the US
Dollar currency. Be sure to check exchange rate between the US$
and your credit cards currency if you want to estimate our pricing in
your currency. Of course, exchange rates do fluctuate, and you
would be charged according to the exchange rate at the time we bill
your your order (after shipping). Your credit card company
handles the actual exchange rate conversion.
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Q: Do
you offer commercial/professional use licensing?
A:
Our products are licensed to one user for personal use, unless a
Limited Professional Use License is purchased for each product used
for this purpose. Find out more information
here.
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