I agree with the "how do they participate in other areas" comment as well....I "talk" on two boards (here and another), and will MOSTLY post my layouts on the boards here and there. I do sometimes post my layouts on a few other sites where I KNOW my friends visit, but I'm not consistent, but I know they don't come here or the other site.

So, I see it as - "let me look at the layout and if I like what I see, be sure post the credits so I can see if it's available for me to buy too."

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*holly*

writing, i'm surpised that you are still having issues with the chat. I know that you attend my Wenesday on a regular basis and everyone in the chat is extremely helpful and always generious of their time.

I am not sure what specifically you are having issues with. Maybe if you could give us a some idea of what your difficulties have been we can work through it. I haven't heard from any others having difficulties with the chat events.

Please let us know what issues you are having so that we can get your problems resolved and you can enjoy the site along with everyone else.

The best place to get technical help is customer.service@scrapbook-bytes.com and also posting your questions in the forums for others to see who may have eexperienced the same issues and will have some advice.

also one more thing... re: writing... the chats and the schedules for chats have had nothing to do with our charge for memberships... the only thing that changed when it went to membership status was access to downloads.

__________________

~ SBB Owner/Founder ~
Visit my blog!

I can see both sides to this issue. As a former paper scrapper, we were taught for a long time to ONLY use acid free, lignin free, blah-blah-blah. The last couple of years, it seems like we're being encouraged to throw in everything INCLUDING the kitchen sink! But "keeping up with the current mag issue" requires deep pockets and access to the latest and greatest that industry thows at us.

Enter digiscrapping. Thanks to wonderfully talented pioneers, many of the popular elements have digital twins. For newbies like me who've had to be frugal scrappers, this is heaven! Finally, I can load up my LO with all the "cool stuff" I've not been able to afford when paper scrapping. I am grateful for all those designers who have created elements as freebies, AND those who do have kits/CDs for sale.

I've been so busy just trying to LEARN the basics my program (PSP) that if it wasn't for the freebies, I wouldn't have had anything to experiment with. As my skills have grown, I've started experimenting with creating my own elements. But sometimes I just want to SCRAP, and not have to create everything from scratch. The wonderful designers have made it possible for me to pull together LOs quickly, while learning some of the more advanced functions of PSP.

There will probably always be three kids of scrappers, those that never use premade "kits", those that **only** use them, and people like me who use a mixture of both. My biggest frustration lies in the lack of tutorials to help newbies make elements for themselves. This problem isn't SBB's. There is still a significant gap between people INTERESTED in digiscrapping, and books/magazines/websites specifically target towards this new sensation.

Personally, I'd love to see tutorials on some basic ways to create different patterned papers. There are tons of PSP sites for textures and patterns, but they are more for web users. I'd like tutes that teach how to ink the edges, make stripes and plaids, diamonds, etc. Heck, I'd even write them up myself, or hold a class if I knew how to do make them!

How can I make that "shabby painted" look that ShabbyPrincess is so good at making? Inked edges? How about a tut for creating a set of various grungy overlays that can be used for both personal and commercial uses? That would rock! I know I would be first in line if Nicey taught a class on how to make a montage similar to hers!

I think some designers might feel that if they give their "secrets" away, that they would lose profits. I see tons of requests for help to create LOs that look like a certain designer's style, but I rarely ever see answers on how to achieve that look.

But just because a person knows HOW to do something, doesn't mean they always want to do it themselves. For example: mowing the lawn. Most people KNOW how to do it, yet they pay for other people to do it for them. I feel like the same thing would happen with digiscrapping. Just because I **know** how to create a kit just like "Designer X" doesn't mean I always have the time or inclination to put the energy into creating one. Just having the knowledge doesn't necessarily mean I have the creativity to create a pleasing collection of elements.

Finally, I really hope that digiscrapping doesn't end up in the hands of the scrapbook industry. I love the creativity that is generated on a personal level here at SBB. I don't see "product bashing" like I've see on paper scrapping message boards. There isn't a feeling of "one up-manship" to see who has the newest products, or the most expensive, or most outrageous! And while I love the convenience of a pre-made kit, I would love to see more comprehensive tutorials for indivdual creativity.

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Jen in N. TX
My Blog

Well said Jen.

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~ Amy, in Colorado
DIP10 user

Good points....I think there are two things to consider when making elements - you first need to know the technical ins and outs of the software. Take Photoshop CS for example. I went to school for graphic design back in the early 1990s. When I finally used Photoshop it was at version 3.0 (maybe earlier). To this day, I STILL don't know all there is to know. It's almost impossible, but if you learn what a certain tool does, you can probably get a similar effect. Secondly, I do believe you need to possess a creative hand and mind. The designs that so many designers come up with come from that vision of creativity. Many mock the look of plaid or gingham - and now even shabby. So, I say - learn the basics of what a certain tool/technical side of the software does and play on it.

And in regards to the comment about the industry - hmmm, I understand your frustration with the negativity and bashing - I owned a website that was primarly paper scrapping and I think we did a pretty good job of keeping the bashing out of it - however, it was always the positive thing there...I've seen other sites that do get very nasty with everyone. I am very turned off by that! Always have been. I have to believe though, that if Chatterbox or any of the other popular paper brands created a CD of digital elements for use and sold it, then I'd buy it! I don't know if anyone remembers, but I was attacked by a manufacturer for having a digital design that was "similar" in feel to theirs (it was grungy and sanded looking - what isn't these days). ANY HOO - not that it all matters, but, sometimes I want the "look" of what the paper manufacturers have created and frankly, I don't want to worry about someone bothering me and treating me the way I was treated. I'd be more apt to buy some of those things then. I think the digital scrapbooking side will grow just like the paper side. It will take some time. I remember that "veggie" site from five years ago when first started paper scrapping - LOL looking back at my layouts - we've come a LONG way baby! :-)

This is a very good topic to talk about - the types I like hearing opinions and feelings on! THANK YOU to everyone!

__________________
*holly*

GREAT RESPONSES - NICE TO HEAR AND WONDERFUL TO SHARE

__________________

~ SBB Owner/Founder ~
Visit my blog!

Holly,

Actually, I do remember a little bit about what you went through. I was really new here, so I didn't really understand at the time what was happening. But your experience is one reason I'm glad that digiscrapping isn't a part of the "industry" so far. I wonder if there would be more situations like your's if companies tried to make a profit from the digital community.

Would I buy a digital version of Chattterbox, SEI or Art Warehouse? Maybe. I certainly bought those items while I still paper scrapped. I don't "hate" the industry, or hold them responsible for the competitive feel that I've seen on certain boards. I think it's really cool that digital designers are showing up in SB mags and as product designers. It's just that I personally feel that there seems to be more acceptance of personal creativity and ingenuity here now.

I just hope that if the "Industry" becomes more involved in the digital world, that there will still be a strong push to teach digiscrappers that THEY don't have to be dependent on the "next big trend," but to explore their own personal creativity by trying their hand at creating elements themselves.

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Jen in N. TX
My Blog