A FREE digital image just for you!

Everybody likes free stuff....so here is a free digital image you can download and create with any time!

We've also included some basic starter directions if you are new to digital images!

Flower Basket by Laurie Wilson

Link to download your free basket digi!

Here are some basic instructions if you are new to digital images.  There are many programs to use for printing images, but Microsoft Word seems to be one of the simplest applications to use.

1. You have to download the image to a folder on your computer where you know they will be when you need them.  Most of the time images download as "zipped" up folders and you have to unzip the file to expose the actual picture file(s).

• Unzipping a compressed zip folder. Right click on the zipped file, and select "extract all",  then you follow the prompts your computer gives you, one of which is selecting a folder on your computer to save it in.

2. Once the images are on your computer, you have to place them, or open them in some sort of photo editing program or printing program in order to flip them, resize them, and print them.

3. Below are instructions for two versions of Word and Picture It (a photo editing program).

MS WORD 2000:

• Open a new document
• Go up to the pull down menu "insert", pick "picture", pick "from file"
• It may default to coming in "behind" text, which is what mine did, and this will not allow you to move it around or resize it, so you need to modify it to be "above" the text.  You do this by right clicking on the picture you just inserted, click "format picture", click the "layout" tab, and then click on "in front of text", then "ok". Now you can move it around as desired.
• If you want to set it as a specific size for a die you are using, select the "size" tab in the "format picture" window, and simply type in one of the fields at the top the size you need it.  Make sure the "lock aspect ratio" is checked so that you resize it proportionally.
• Click OK
• You can right click and select "bring to front" or "move to back" with PNG files to overlap images
• Add more images or copy and paste the image you just inserted to fill the page, keep in mind to leave room for die cutting image or trimming around it
• Save your Word doc for quick future printing

MS WORD 2007:

• Open a new document
• Click on the tab marked "Insert"
• Select "Picture"
• Browse your computer folders and find the digital image file that you saved to your computer and click on it
• Click "insert"
• Now that the image is in your document, to resize it, simply put your mouse cursor over one of the corners of the image and left click on it and hold the click down as you move (click and drag) to resize the image to desired size
• Or you can right click on the image and select "Size" and find the sizing tab and you can set an actual dimension size in there
• Click OK
• You can right click and select "bring to front" or "move to back" with PNG files to overlap images
• Add more images or copy and paste the image you just inserted to fill the page, keep in mind to leave room for die cutting image or trimming around it
• Save your Word doc for quick future printing

Photo Editing programs:

• You can use your photo editing program and treat them like photos.

Picture It (photo editing program)

• Go to File/print
• Select the printer you would like to print your image to
• Select choose print multiple pictures on special paper
• Select a layout (wallet size, 3x5, whatever size you are wanting.....even an 8x10)
• Choose the option to "scale to fit"
• Drag and drop your picture into the photo option sections that you chose....if you have multiple digital images open you can drag a different one to each spot
• print!

4. Now you need to select your cardstock, paper, or watercolor paper to print your image on. 

• If you are using Copic markers (alcohol based ink pen noted for its blending abilities), you can use the Neenah white cardstock.  Most printers it will feed through the manual feed if not the tray also.
• If you are wanting to watercolor your images you can run watercolor paper through your printer.  We are now carrying lightweight 100% silk watercolor paper at CDS (lightweight for digital printing).....the colors flow beautifully on this paper! 
• HINT: You can change the page setup parameters in your Word document to be 7.5x11 so that I have an accurate view of the full sheet and how it will print.

5. You are ready to print!  A laser printer with toner works best if you watercolor images.  The ink in an inkjet tends to smear with water or other markers. Insert your paper or cardstock and print your sheet(s) of images.

TIP: The more you "handle" your image, from cutting out parts of the image for popping up, that the laser toner wears off slightly. You can QUICKLY heat set the printed sheet with your heat tool, and that generally helps to reduce the smearing while coloring and some of the wearing off from handling.  But keep in mind that it might not work for everyone or in all cases.

6. Color your image as desired.

7. Once your image is colored and ready for adding to your project, it is highly recommended to seal your image so that minor handling will not make the printed image wear or chip off.

Sealing your image will prevent you from making ANY more coloring changes, so make sure you are completely done with coloring.  It is recommended that if you like to enhance your image with white gel pen or glitter accents, do that before you spray seal.

A good sealer to use is a matte finish clear acrylic sealer.  It comes in a spray paint can and can be found at most hobby stores.

HOW TO SPRAY SEAL:

• Do NOT soak or saturate your image!
• You do NOT want the coating to appear shiny.
• Use 3-6 QUICK half second long sprays while holding the can about 6" to 8" away from your image panel.
• Your image panel should appear to have a light mist on it while it is still wet.
• Allow 5-15 minutes to dry completely before finishing your paper craft project.
• Once dry, your image panel should not appear glossy or shiny from the sealer.  If you do, you have sprayed (coated) too much.
• You might benefit from practicing the spraying on scrap papers first before moving to your final colored image.
• You may apply a second coat if you feel you need extra smear proofing protection.

We hope you enjoy your digital image and have fun!

Lori and Laurie

Comments

[Shelly Schmidt]

Thanks for the digital image- love it! I am hoping that means you are considering adding them to yout store eventually.......!