Using Digital Designs

People often hear the world digital and are instantly intimidated. I promise, there is nothing too technical about it. It mostly refers to the process in which the designs are created. Using them is a simple as it would be to print off and photo or document.

What are digital designs?

A digital design is electronic artwork. It usually comes in jpg or png files. You are simply using your computer to access designs that you might normally purchase, although often the exact designs are not available physically.

Once you print the file, it is just as tangible as anything you would have bought physically. The design is yours to reuse as often as you'd like. This gives it an advantage over physical items, which you purchase, that can only be used once.

Do I have to create a digital card or scrapbook?

You defiantly do not. Of course you certainly can. You can print the design to use as you'd normally use anything else that you print. You can also upload to any digital project that you might be working on. Again, this is another advantage over physical items that would need to be scanned, often at lower quality, if you wish to incorporate them online.

How do I access my digital files?

How you access the files varies from site to site, depending on where you purchase them. When you purchase them from here, Whimsical Digi Art, it's easy. Once you have paid for you design(s), you will receive an email with a link. Simply click the link and it will take you to your files. You click on the files and download them to your computer. Once they have been downloaded, I highly recommend that you place them into a folder. My design files can only be downloaded up to five times, which means if you forget to save them the first time you can still go back four more times. After the fifth time, you'd need to repurchase the design.

What type of projects can I create using digital files?

The possibilities are endless. You can use them for anything that you'd normally use a physical design for, only it's not limited to one specific purpose of use. Images can be printed on photo paper, regular paper, transfer paper, sticker paper, glossy paper, even vinyl. Remember the same design can be used for multiple projects; it is not single use.

Here are some ideas:

  • Paper crafting: envelopes, ephemera for cards, layouts, gift tags, gift boxes, mixed media...
  • Home décor: printed and framed wall art, canvas art, transfer art, decoupage...
  • Sticker and decals
  • Tattoo sheets
  • Cloth items...clothing, bags, banners...
  • Vinyl Signs
  • Travel mugs

Once you know what your plan on making, you then print your design.

How do Iuse the digital files?

This is where the fun really begins. I should advise you though that many sites only allow you to purchase the design for personal use. This means that you can not sell anything that you made using the design unless you the purchase a commercial license. 

I allow crafters to use the design on items that they sell. I simply ask that the digital files not be shared with or sold to others.  Designs may also not be uploaded into another sales site and used as promotional or branding material, such as Vista Print, UPrinting, Sticker Giant..., nor can they be printed onto stamp bases or sold as individual designs. They must be applied to your project in some way. I also ask, as a curtesy, you mention Whimsical Digi Art on any social media posts that feature one of my designs. 

  1. After you have saved the file(s) to your computer, you access it like you would any other file. I'd make sure you have an organized filing and naming system. Once you start with digital designs you will end up with a lot of them, so you want to be able to easily access them.
  2. You can open your file in any photo program, depending on what you have. I have a PC, and my files automatically open in Photos, but I can also use Paint, Snipping Tools, or a trial of PhotoDirector for Acer. I believe on Apple there is a program called Preview. There are also a number of other programs available online. However, since you are simply choosing your printing size I wouldn't worry about those.  PNG files can also be used with the Cricut or Silhouette.
  3. You then print it in whatever size you'd like. Keep in mind  that the quality of some images will go down the bigger you create them. Most of my designs aren't meant to be printed bigger than 5x7". 

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