Frequently Asked Questions
So what is 300dpi…besides the name of our website? What is a JPG File? What is a PNG File? What is a PSD File? What is a Brush or ABR file? What is a PDF File? What is a Photoshop Action? What is RSS Feed? Digital Soft Wear Digital Scrapbooking Tutorials Understanding Resolution Printing Professional Printing Services Photo Book Printing and Digital Scrapbooking Software Wacom Tablets How do I download product? How do I unzip product? Once I download my product, where does it go? How to Send Gift Certificates Buying with Gift Certificates Redeeming Gift Certificates Do Gift Certificates Expire? How to load a Photoshop Brush When problems Occur What Payment Methods are Accepted? Sign Up for our Newsletter
So what is 300dpi… besides the name of our web site?
DPI is a measure of how an image is printed to a medium such as paper. Many software programs call DPI a measure of "resolution" or “Dots Per Inch”. 300 dpi is considered a high resolution for prints and is clear to the eye. The larger the dpi, the larger the file. For example, images on the web are around 72 dpi. Another technical term is PPI or Pixels Per Inch.
What is a JPG File?
A JPG file is a single layer file that is flattened and you may not change any layers. Photos are usually JPG file format. A JPG file is usually smaller in size and does not take up as much space on your hard drive. The higher the resolution and size, the larger the file will be.
What is a PNG File?
A PNG file is a file that is for layering onto a background or photo that has a transparent background. A PNG file may be resized larger or smaller and may be moved around on your page and placed onto any layer. These PNG files are usually used in scrapbooking for elements like ribbons, borders, buttons, alphabets and embellishments in general.
What is a PSD File?
A PSD file is a file that is still layered and may be manipulated or changed. They are created in Photoshop and Photoshop Elements but may be read by other software.
What is a Brush or ABR file?
An ABR file is commonly known as a brush file. They must be loaded into the Photoshop or Photoshop Elements Brush library in order to be used like a brush. If your software does not support brushes, there are generally PNG versions available. Think of a brush like a stamp, or in some cases you may turn a simple line into a continuous pattern that looks like a particular brush. Brushes may also be re-colored.
What is a PDF File?
A PDF file is an Adobe Acrobat Reader file. These files are for instructions or wording and even longer word files such as e-books. A free download is available on the Adobe Web Site. Photoshop Actions and Styles are a process that can be loaded into Adobe Photoshop and are used to do many things at the click of a button. Once you load a series of processes and record your action, the next time you use it you can save a lot of time.
What is a Photoshop Action?
Photoshop Actions and Styles are a process that can be loaded into Adobe Photoshop and are used to do many things at the click of a button. Once you load a series of processes and record your action, the next time you use it you can save a lot of time.
There are actions for adding drop shadows, filters, automatic sizing and more. There are also photo actions that can automatically sharpen, soften, brighten, or convert your favorite photos to black and white, sepia, etc. Once you load an action, it's ready to use with the click of a button.
What is an RSS Feed?
An RSS Feed is built into all Blogs and Web Sites. This allows you to distribute posts or changes to several people at once. When a new post, image, video, or podcast is added the RSS Feed automatically notifies the subscriber.
Check your Blog service for instructions on how to get your URL for your RSS Feed. It is a great way to let your readers know what is happening.
Digital Software
To begin Digital Scrapbooking you need digital software for photo editing that provide capability for layering your backgrounds, elements and photo’s. By far, the most widely used programs for creating digital layouts are Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Photoshop Elements.
Our favorite software that is most popular in its user-friendly format and cost is Adobe Photoshop Elements, which is offered through 300dpi.com through the Adobe Photoshop banner.
If you plan to get creative you may purchase the Adobe Photoshop Creative Suite 4 (CS4) which is an awesome canvas for so many needs that will allow you to grow and gives you a great deal more as far as tools and editing ability. (Click on the Adobe Photoshop Banner on 300dpi.com).
Note: Some of the most common digital scrapbooking features that you will only find in the full-version of PS are typing text on a path, using layer masks, recording custom actions, and curves adjustment layers.
Other common photo-editing programs include Corel Paint Shop Pro, Microsoft Digital Image Suite, ACDSee Systems Photo Editor, and LumaPix FotoFusion Scrapbook Essentials.
Digital Scrapbooking Tutorials
Digital Scrapbooking Tutorials from 300dpi.com are in video form and easy and FREE to learn. You will find our tutorials under the Services Tab at 300dpi.com
Our Digital Scrapbooking Tutorials are 4-9 minutes long and you can start and stop them as you go. They can also be found on Youtube.com search 300dpi.com. Sign up for our newsletter for the latest updates and newly released tutorials.
Understanding resolution
Resolution is the clarity of the detail in a given image. It is measured by dpi (dots per inch) or ppi (Pixels per inch). The more dots per inch, the higher the resolution and quality of an image or print.
Our high quality digital scrapbooking files are created at 300 dpi, which is the best resolution for high quality images and prints for scrapbooking.
The higher the resolution is, the larger the file size will be. It is standard for images viewed on the web or via e-mail to be saved at 72 dpi. For printing, however, images should be saved at 300 dpi or they will appear pixilated.
If you place a photo on a layout and it appears much smaller than expected, it is likely that the original photo has a resolution less than 300 dpi. In order to avoid this, make sure your camera is set to capture images at the highest possible resolution. As a general rule, you should not enlarge your images more than 150% to maintain the best image quality.
Printing
Digital Scrapbooker’s have a variety of ways to print their layouts. Check out our personal favorite “Epson Stylus R1900” printer on 300dpi.com. Click on the Epson Banner and it will take you directly to buy your very own printer. This printer is a borderless printer that prints in 13” X 19” which will accommodate a 12” X 12” page layout plus room for a couple of smaller layouts or photos on the side. This is a great printer over all for projects, gift ideas and just great quality photo printing at your fingertips.
Regular inkjet printers will also work but they won’t be able to give you the look of a professionally printed photo like the photo printers can.
Professional Printing Services
For convenient professional printing for your layouts or for your photos, there are many options available. There are online services that you may send your jpg file format layouts or photos to that will print and have them ready in a short amount of time. Costco for example prints in large format in just an hour! Some Wal-Mart’s, Kinko’s, and Sam’s Club stores are just a few that are starting to provide these services for scrapbook consumers. Ask them about paper qualities that they provide.
Photo Book Printing and Digital Scrapbooking software
Our software and photo bookmaker will be available in early 2010 at 300dpi of course. We want to be your one stop destination for any of your scrapbooking needs. We are excited about our upcoming software that will allow you to create “Quick pages” that you can just drag and drop your photos into, or create a “Digital Scrapbook” using backgrounds, elements, alphabets and more to design your own pages. One thing that we thought was missing in the photo book arena was great background designs, and we want to you have it all! These easy books may be ordered in an assortment of sizes and shipped right to your door. These are also great gifts that can be shipped to family or friends anywhere. Have fun!
Wacom Tablets
We creative people just love the pen tool on the Wacom tablet that allows you to draw right on your computer screen for your layouts or even over a photo! Click on our Wacom banners on our site 300dpi.com to order.
How do I download product?
After you hit the button "Place Order", you will be taken to a page that says "Your order has been received". From that page there is a link in the paragraph that says "My Downloadable Products". Click on that link and you will be taken to your downloadable products. Click on the product name and your downloading will begin. You will also get an email with a link to your downloadable products. Or you can get to your products by login to the 300dpi website. Once you login in you will be taken to your dashboard. On your lefthand side 2nd from the bottom is a link that says, "My Downloadable Products". Most of the downloadable files are zip files with the product zipped up in the file. Zipped files are compressed. See “How do I unzip Product?”
How do I unzip product?
Files must be downloaded in zip files so that they are faster to download. In order to unzip a file, open your unzip program and choose the file you want to unzip. If you need a program to unzip your products, go to the 7Zip website to download the software for unzipping files at www.7zip.com. They have a list of zip programs to download. Choose which one is best for you.
Once I download my product, where does it go?
Files should go into your Download folder (or the folder you chose to download to) and then you can move them where you would like.
How to Send Gift Certificates
To send a Gift Card simply select gift card from the One Stop Shopping menu. Simply select the amount you would like to send and then select whether you would like to send the gift card to yourself or to someone else. If sending to someone else, fill out the name, recipient's email, and a short message, which will appear in the email. Then add the product to the cart and complete the checkout process.
Buying with Gift Certificates
If you have funds available in your Gift Card account, you can use those funds to purchase items in our store. During checkout enter your gift card code in the Coupon box. Available funds will be applied to your order. Please note, you will still have to select another payment method if there is not enough in your Gift Card Account to cover the cost of your purchase. If you have more funds in your Gift Card account than the total cost of your purchase the balance will be left in your Account for the future.
Redeeming Gift Certificates
If you receive a Gift Card by email it will contain details of who sent you the Gift Card and possibly a short message from them. The email will also contain the Gift Card Redemption Code. It is probably a good idea to print out this email for future reference. You can now redeem the Gift Card by following these steps:
1. By clicking on the link contained within the email for this express purpose. This will take you to our store to begin shopping. You will then be requested to create an account, before you will be able to use the Gift Certificate.
2. During the checkout process, there will be a box to enter a Coupon Code/Gift Card redemption code. Enter the Code from your gift card. The code will be validated and the amount added to your Gift Card Account. You can then use the amount to purchase any items from our store.
Do Gift Certificates Expire?
Our Gift Cards never expire.
How to load a Photoshop Brush
Open up you brushes palette by selecting Windows>Brushes in your top menu or press the F5 key on your keyboard. Click on the small arrow in the top right corner and a drop down menu will appear. Select “Load Brushes” in the drop down menu. Browse to where you placed/saved your brush. Hit the “Load” button. It should add your new brushes at the bottom of your brush list. You may have to scroll down to find them.
When problems occur
For any inquiries regarding the Gift Card System, please contact the store by email at inquiries300dpi@diecutsinc.com. Please make sure you list questions clearly so that we may respond. Thank you.
What Payment Methods are Accepted?
We accept American Express, Visa, MasterCard, and Discover.
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