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

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CottageArts.net Products

Q: What types of graphics are included with in products? [How do I know if your products will work with my image editing software?]

A: Our product line, Simply Digital™, currently offers digital downloads in the following formats: page paks (kits), photograph tools,  element paks, paper pas (backgrounds), templates, word art, brushes overlays, calendars, blog art, training, cd burning, , gift certificates, and professional use options. Our products will help you create stunning digital scrapbooking layouts, or print for use in traditional scrapbooks. Our digital graphics work in conjunction with many digital imaging software packages, such as Adobe® Photoshop® and  Photoshop® Elements, Corel® PaintShop Pro® 7 and higher, Panstoria's Artisan, and Serif's CraftArtist (as well as other image editors that support layers and blend modes). Our graphics are offered at 300 dpi 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 FREE digital download samples of all of our different product offerings and links to which downloadable products offer them.

See our tutorials link for more ideas and information about digital photography, photo editing, and computer scrapbooking. See our blog for additional inspiration and how-tos.

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Q: What types of products do you offer?

A:  At this time we offer Simply Digital™ downloadable Page Paks, Papers Paks, Element Paks, Photo Art Blends, Click.Masks, ScrapWords, AlphaSets, Brushes, Overlays, Simply Scrapover/Quick Page Templates, and layered .psd ScrapTemplates. Our products come in .JPG, .PNG, and .PSD formats.

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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 image editors work with your products?

A:  Our digital graphics 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.

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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, we have custom CD burning as an option in 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 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 ands scrapbooking kits?

A:  Adobe Bridge is included with Adobe Photoshop CS2 and above. Adobe Photoshop Elements 3 and above have a built-in photo album product. ACDSee Photo Manager gets great reviews as an image and digital scrapbooking resource organizing too..

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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: Do I need to register on your site to order?

A:  No, registration is optional. If you do not register you will not be able to look up your order history, however you may always contact customer service at support@cottagearts.net should you have questions regarding your past orders.

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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.

CottageArts.net is PCI DSS compliant, a payment card industry data security standard. You can feel safe ordering with CottageArts.net!

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Q: Are your 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, Element Paks, AlphaSets, Brush Sets, Template and Album Paks.

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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