I have recently downloaded some freebies and was excited to use them last night, but when I put them on my work space for my page they were teeny. I checked the image size and it was 3.33 X 3.33 for a paper (it was 300 dpi), I was disappointed, but really wanted to use it so I decided to wait until I could ask on here if changing the size to 12 X 12 will make a difference in the quality. I went on to do something with elements of another freebie kit and the ribbon was almost too small to see I checked on the size and it was 72 dpi with a 3 X 3 size for ribbon, all the files for that kit were 3 x 3 and either 300 or 72 dpi. I had to erase that entire kit (since if figured changing 72 dpi to 300 would make it look like less quality). I went through most of my stash last night and found several kits with this problem.
This experience made me very leary to try freebies and makes me want to stick with the few designers that I know (I do buy kits, I just happened to be using freebies last night). I have also realized that I really don't need thousands of eyelets, brads, photo prongs, etc. when I just use my favorite ones and recolor them anyway. I am going to be much more picky about what I choose from now on and probably just get paper packs or something with really interesting elements (which seems hard to come by).
So my question is, can I change the earlier mentioned 300 dpi papers to 12 x 12 without ruining the quality? Also, is it my program (photoshop 7) that is making the dpi smaller somehow.
This was a really long e-mail for a short question. Sorry

You were frustrated by the situation, so I can understand the long post. Honestly I think you're going to notice a degradation in quality if you upsize the papers to 12"x12" at 300 dpi. As far as I know there is not magic trick, just resize them as normal.

Most of the freebies I've downloaded are correctly sized and a great addition to my stash. You can't go wrong if your favorite designer is giving something away free either.

If any of these were freebies from the downloads here, please let us know.

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Stacy
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avatar photo by Marja Flick-Buijs downloaded at sxc.hu

You may want to contact the designer that you downloaded the elements and papers from. She may not know that the dpi is set to 72. It may have been an honest mistake maybe she could send you the right size.

I agree, you will lose to much quality if you size up to a 300dpi from a 72. You would not be happy with the results.

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~the artist previously known as 'pharmangie' ~

Just so you know that you're not alone...I've experienced this too. I've tried to contact the designers as much as possible since it usually is an "oops I screwed up" and the ones that I didn't know the contact info for I addressed it to Amy and Kristie here since they may have the designers e-mail addy themselves. It is frustrating, and since most of the time things work fine, I'm not jaded. I just figure its one of the cons of getting a TON of free stuff: occasionally they don't work out. I wouldn't upsize the files either, as much as I'd like to!

So now when I'm downloading stuff from someone I don't know I usually just download a background paper zip and test that one out by unzipping it and making sure the size of the files are 3600x3600 (the ones that don't work out usually are 900x900 or 1000x1000).

Thank you everyone for your wonderful work!

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Reelyn,

I know I am guilty of making my papers too small. I'm so embarrassed. I just started making my own papers and kits recently, and also have just switched over from PSP to PS& December last year. I didn't realize that actual pixels were MUCH different from print size.

Trust me I've learned, and am currently working to recreate the papers from my kits to fit a proper 3600x3600 300dpi size. I know my elements are a good size, I just need to fix my papers.

I'll email you and let you know when my papers are fixed. (don't know if I'm one of the designers whose papers you were trying to use)

I understand your frustration, but for new designers I'm sure it's an honest and common mistake. That's why they're freebies. LOL!

Again, I'm so embarrassed, and sorry for your frustration.

Oh, I understand about being new and everything. I hope I didn't hurt anyone's feelings with the post, that was certainly not my intention. I was just sad I didn't get to use stuff, but that is what can be expected with free stuff. I usually don't even have a problem with them. I know I did one kit and it didn't turn out all that great (at least not how I was thinking in my head) so I decided I would just buy rather than make
Again, I hope I didn't hurt anyone's feelings