Why I love Digital Stamps
Hi friends, today I want to share with you why I love digital stamps. Digital Stamps or digi stamps, are increasing in popularity and at the same time, I have become a lot more adept at using these stamps. I continue loving my clear and my rubber stamps. Simply this is a different product that I really love.
One of the benefits of using digital stamps is that you don’t need anything special! As long as you have access to a computer and a printer you have the two most important pieces to work. Any inkjet printer will work fine; you don’t need expensive, fancy equipment. But, if you do own a laserjet printer, this will work too. Typically, I print my stamps using an inkjet printer HP Pro 8610 and White Smooth Card Stock.
Normally, after you purchase a digital stamp you will receive an email with the digital file. Most digital stamps will come in .PNG, .JPG, .PDF files. Some digital stamps might be provided in .ZIP files, so you will need to know how to unzip a file. Save the digital stamp file to your computer’s hard drive with an easily identifiable name or in the way that you organize your files on the computer. Open up the saved file using either a word processing program such as Microsoft Word, or a photo editing program such as Photoshop Elements, 3DPaint or a free website such as Ribbet or GIMP. You can either print the image(s) out directly, or manipulate the image(s) before you print them out. You can add digital image to cards, scrapbooks, home decor and more!
ADVANTAGES OF DIGITAL STAMPS:
- Cost effective or simply price: on average digital stamps are less expensive than traditional stamps.
- Storage: digital stamps are stored right on a computer and do not take up physical space.
- Time: digital stamps are available for immediate download because the file is sent directly to your email upon purchasing.
- Versatility: with some slight editing, you can alter the size/color of your stamps to better fit your needs.
- Electronic Cutting Machines or No Die Cuts: whether you have a Cricut or Scan & Cut, or any other electronic cutting machine, digital stamps don’t need dies because most can be scanned through an e-cutting machine.
- Life: rubber can be dry up, or photopolymer can be stain but digital stamps do not lose their quality over time.
TECHNIQUES:
A few years ago, you only could print and color digital stamps. But right now it is the most simple process that you can use. Because with the crafty evolution, you can easily:
- Foil your images just using a laser print.
- Heat Emboss your images just using a embossing pen like versamarker, Wow Embossing Pen or Wow Embossing Freestyle Tool
- Watercolor your images, using watercolor paper with your printer
- Masking your images using the png files with any free photo program
- No coloring line, changing the color of your images before to print.
You can print on any type of paper that will go through your printer, but you will want to use specific paper designed for your coloring medium. If you are going to color your image with watercolor, you will want to be sure to run a sheet of watercolor paper like Strathmore through your printer to print the image on. If you would like to color your image with alcohol ink markers Spectrum Noir, Copic or any other or colored pencils like ColourBlend, Prismacolor, or FaberCastell you will want to use a good cardstock like White Smooth Card Stock, Neenah Solar White or Strathmore Bristol smooth.
Many stamp companies are now offering digital alternatives to traditional/regular stamps. My favorite as you may know is Joy Clair Designs but I highly recommend you check out 88andclear (previously RG Avenue), Jessica Lynn, Varadasharma and many more!
I hope this post has helped to answer some of the questions you might have about why I love digital stamps. I’m still learning, but I’m happy to try and help if you have any additional questions.
See you soon with more inspiration!
