Digital Thursday: Getting Started with Digital Stamping

Recently we added Digital Stamps to our website, and we want to make sure you can fully enjoy them, whether you are new to digital or have been using digis for years!

To avoid confusion, digital stamps must be purchased in a separate order to any physical rubber stamps. The website will not allow you to order both in the same order.

What are Digital Stamps?

Digital stamps are a downloadable product, you will not receive anything in the mail. Once you purchase them, the files are available for instant download. Because of this, digital files are non-refundable. You can then print them and use them much as you would a rubber stamped image.

Our digital stamps are black and white line art. The coloured product image is for illustrative purposes only, you will not receive a printable coloured image.

Our digital stamps come in sets, which include sentiments and/or accessory images. When you download the files they will come in a compressed ZIP format. You will need to extract the files before you can use them.

Extracting your files

On a Windows PC: right click the file and select “extract all” from the menu.

On a Mac: double click the file

On an iPad: open the Files app then tap the ZIP file you want to extract.

In each case a new folder will be created containing the files from the ZIP file.

After extracting the folder you will have your set of image files to work with. Our files are supplied as PNG format, with a transparent background. This gives you the ability to layer the images with ease to build scenes.

Working with Digital Stamps

There are lots of ways to work with your digital stamps. You may already have software that will allow you to work with them. Here are some options, we will look at these in more detail over the following weeks.

• Microsoft Word
• Adobe Photoshop or Adobe Express
• ProCreate (iPad)
• Canva
• Pixlr

Printing Digital Stamps

Once you have your images prepared, you will of course want to print them! This is an area that can require some trial and error, depending on your printer set up and your preferred colouring medium(s). You may also find that if you use more than one colouring medium, your printer may not work well for one, but works perfectly for the other.

Key points to consider:

• The printer needs to be able to handle the paper you use. Many printers will struggle with more heavyweight paper/cardstock. If you have a printer you can test this out, if you are looking to buy a new printer double check this detail. Often printers that have a straight or rear feed will be able to handle heavier cardstock.
• Ink – like our stamping ink, there are different types and formulations of printer ink. When using alcohol markers, you will find that some inks always smear, some are good if heat set or left overnight, and some work with no issues straight out of the printer. If you have a printer already, you can test this out (and there are some tips below for troubleshooting), if you are looking for a printer it is worth doing a little research into the inks used.

If you are looking to get a new printer and know you want to use it for digital stamps, the Stamping Bella team have had great experience with the following:

• Canon Pixma inkjet printers. Elaine uses an older model Canon Pixma with their ink cartridges and can colour pretty much fresh out of the printer. It handles her preferred Make it Colour Blending Card easily (250gsm), and also Bockingford Hot Press watercolour paper, which she prefers for coloured pencil work.
• Epson inkjet printers: Debra uses an Epson printer with their Durabrite inks. Her printer has a rear feed and takes paper up to around 300gsm. Works with alcohol based markers (Copic) and also watercolour.
• Brother printers: Ginger uses two printers. For Copic marker work she uses a laser printer (Brother HL-L2350DW) which handles up to 250gsm paper well and as it is a laser printer the lines do not smear when colouring. However for coloured pencil work the toner tends to rub off as you colour, because it sits on top of the paper. So Ginger uses an inkjet printer (Brother DCP-J1050DW) when colouring with pencils, and this printer handles paper up to 240gsm.
• HP Printers: Michele uses an HP OfficeJet Pro 6978 which she finds works really well.

Troubleshooting

If you experience ink smearing with your digital stamps when printing on an ink jet printer, try the following:

• Leave the print outs overnight or heat set using a heat gun or hair dryer.
• Print on draft settings so the printer uses less ink.

Digital Stamps Terms & Conditions

You are welcome to use our digital files in your hand-crafted creations, including handmade items for sale. Please give credit to Stamping Bella where possible.

Digital stamps may be altered, resized, digitally coloured, to suit your needs.

You may NOT share our digital files with anyone, at any time. Your purchase of our digital stamps is for your sole use. They are only to be used in craft projects, they must NOT be shared or redistributed in any form. You may NOT use them in kits or in classes without obtaining consent. They may not be used in logos or promotional materials. They may NOT be used to create clear or rubber stamps. All rights remain with Stamping Bella USA.

Please respect the rights of us and our artists by adhering to these terms.

Please get in touch at [email protected] with any questions!