The importance of credits

[AmyPunky]

Hi there!!

I'd like to start a little reflexion about the importance of credits in digital scrapbooking. I know that everything goes fast now, the trends, the galleries, the products... but it doesn't mean that we have to forget some important rules of this fabulous hobby. :001_smile:

And one of the major rules of this hobby is to give proper credits when you post your layouts. I've seen a few layouts in galleries with no credits, or scraplifts with credits that didn't mention the inspiration of the layout.

I know it's flattering to be the first person who had a brilliant idea but it's also a wonderful reward and an honour to see you credited correctly when you're that first person and when people gets the inspiration from you.

Plus, I'm sure there are also a lof of new scrappers who have just been starting this hobby and don't know much about crediting.

So, here are some tips to give proper credits when you are posting your layouts!

1. Make a list of all the products you've used on your layout, even the tinyest button. LOL!

Bonus tip: You can use Word, TextEdit (for Mac)... to list all your stuff.

Other bonus tip: Don't write your credits when you've closed your file and when you're ready to post it in the galleries, you'll probably forget the major part of the stuff you used. LOL! It's better to write the credits when you're working on your layout OR just after finishing it.

2. Write the whole name of the designer, the name of the kit and the name of the store where the designer sells. You can add links to products BUT only if the gallery guidelines allow it.

3. If you used a product and don't remember the name of the designer, tell it in your credits. Maybe another scrapper will recognize it and help you to complete your credits.

4. If you're doing a scraplift of a layout, please credit the name of the artist you are scraplifting! You should also mention the name of her layout and provide a link to the original layout if the site guidelines permit it.

5. A nice thing to do is to write a PM or email the scrapper you have lifted with a link to your own layout. It's always very gratifying to be scraplifted and the person will appreciate your gesture.

6. Freebies need to be credited too! When you use a freebie on your page, please credit the designer of the freebie. Designing freebies asks a lot of work, so the least you can do is to give proper credits. :)

7. Don't forget to credit the fonts, alphas and actions used on your layout.

That's it!! :) Feel free to add your own tips if you think of other ones!!

Thanks for reading me!!

[Gabi Butcher]

Great thread Em!!!

I have a tip too...

If you use the File Info (from PS) to write your credits when you upload to Flickr (I always upload there first) ALL your credits will appear on the photo description... then is just copy and paste - VERY EASY!

[AmyPunky]

Great tip, Gabi!! :001_smile:

[Gabi]

I'm absolutely with you on the credit thing, Emi! Every scrapper should spend few minutes writing all the credits properly and post them with the layouts in the galleries.
Not just because of the scraplifts but also as a thank you to designers for their gorgeous work!

[dancingscrapper]

Great thread, Emi!

A tip that I learned from our own Robyn England when I first started posting was to name each layer (in Photoshop) as you add them and that was very helpful to me not only for credit purposes but also it helps to know which layer is which while you are working :)

On another note for designers - I am a person who when I buy a kit, I unzip it and file all the kit's contents with all my other kits for instance by: papers, frames, ribbons, overlays, flowers, etc. So sometimes I find that if the designer doesn't put any indication in the file name of their name or the kit name, it can be really hard for us scrappers (the ones that work the way I do, anyway) to credit them. For instance, some designers name their files like so: "Paper1", "Flower1", "Frame1" etc. That's extremely generic and makes it tough to know who designed what. Just thought I'd mention that in case any designers read this :rolleye11:

[Kim]

Great thread, Emi!

A tip that I learned from our own Robyn England when I first started posting was to name each layer (in Photoshop) as you add them and that was very helpful to me not only for credit purposes but also it helps to know which layer is which while you are working :)

On another note for designers - I am a person who when I buy a kit, I unzip it and file all the kit's contents with all my other kits for instance by: papers, frames, ribbons, overlays, flowers, etc. So sometimes I find that if the designer doesn't put any indication in the file name of their name or the kit name, it can be really hard for us scrappers (the ones that work the way I do, anyway) to credit them. For instance, some designers name their files like so: "Paper1", "Flower1", "Frame1" etc. That's extremely generic and makes it tough to know who designed what. Just thought I'd mention that in case any designers read this :rolleye11:

I used to do it this way too Erika, until I started forgetting where i got what. Now, I organize by store, by designer and finally by kit. And it is frustrating when you get a kit of say 12 papers, split into 2 zip files of 6 and you get 2 of paper1.png, paper2.png :blushing: because i copy everything for each kit into one folder so i can see the whole thing in CS2 browse. If you have 2 papers with the same name, you have to rename the second batch! lol!! It's just so much easier when you place into CS2 because it plops the name of the designer/kit/paper # into each layer. Ok, speech done. :lmao:

[Gabi]

A tip that I learned from our own Robyn England when I first started posting was to name each layer (in Photoshop) as you add them and that was very helpful to me not only for credit purposes but also it helps to know which layer is which while you are working :)


I do the same. When I insert a new item/element into my layouts, I rename that layer - for example - HGD - Love grows here- frame. It is very helpful for writing credits.

I sort my scrapbook stuff according designer. And have always one file for each designer with previews. So when I look for something from certain designer, I just go through that previews file and pick the stuff what I wanna use.

[cherpea]

Thats how I have been doing it too! PS is great with layers and I rename them all at the time I add them to the page.

:please:Designers one huge request please, PLEASE don't abbreviate your kit name in each individual pieces file name! IT makes life really really easy if you don't have to be going back and forth trying to figure out the full kit name.... :please:

Oh and from personal experience of late, there are times when I have been published in what is a basically paper scrapping mag that they haven't had room for any or all of the credits. Please don't beat up on me about it, I do supply them as requested by the magazine, though they do have final editorial rights so it gets taken right out of my hands.

[Gabi]

For me personally is a huge help when a kit has a full size preview (not just a thumbnail) and of course it helps a lot if all the elements have a name, not just a number. :) Then it's the whole credit thing way too much easier ;)

[dancingscrapper]

Yeah, I may eventually have to start working that way too, Kim. Since I joined CT here at SA, I have all my SA stuff in one folder but all the gazillion other kits I had already bought are organized the old way :confused1: One of these days I will take the time to re-rganize them by designer or something. I have a folder that has all the kit previews so usually if I at least have a file that has the designers name in it but not the kit name, I have to look through the previews to see which kit it came from; bummer, ha? But it is only fair to the designers because they work hard on their kits and they are each a work of art that deserve special recognition :001_smile:

I used to do it this way too Erika, until I started forgetting where i got what. Now, I organize by store, by designer and finally by kit. And it is frustrating when you get a kit of say 12 papers, split into 2 zip files of 6 and you get 2 of paper1.png, paper2.png :blushing: because i copy everything for each kit into one folder so i can see the whole thing in CS2 browse. If you have 2 papers with the same name, you have to rename the second batch! lol!! It's just so much easier when you place into CS2 because it plops the name of the designer/kit/paper # into each layer. Ok, speech done. :lmao:

[CathyRose]

I keep all my kits organized by designer then put tags on the files to group them as ribbons, button, etc using ACDSee . I don't know how I lived without that tool. I can always find the designer to credit that way. The only problem is when designers move from store to store. I may have bought something one place and they no longer sell there so unless I know where the designer selling that kit now, I will just put the designer's full name and kit name. I think it is very important to credit them for their hard work!

[AmyPunky]

because i copy everything for each kit into one folder so i can see the whole thing in CS2 browse.

Great tip! How do you do this? I have CS2 and don't use it like this... :blushing:

[dst212 (Daniela)]

Yup, designers moving from store to store are always difficult to track, so I don't. Unless I'm on the CT, I don't mention stores on my credits. It's always: element: kit by designer. I figure this is enough credit and if I'm offline, I definitely don't have a way to track down where that person is selling this week.

I use File Info on Photoshop and track as I go. At the end of the work I check each layer for something I might have missed.

[Susan Toon]

It's not only important for the designers to do this....but those viewing the layouts in the gallery. When I see a layout I love I always go to the credits to see where to buy the stuff. This is how I find out what's out there and where. SO IMPORTANT. Great thread.

[Gabi]

It's not only important for the designers to do this....but those viewing the layouts in the gallery. When I see a layout I love I always go to the credits to see where to buy the stuff. This is how I find out what's out there and where. SO IMPORTANT. Great thread.

I absolutely agree with you, Susan. That's how I buy all my stuff as well. :)

[Gabi Butcher]

I absolutely agree with you, Susan. That's how I buy all my stuff as well. :)

Me too Gabi!

[twentytinytoes]

Thats how I do my shopping too! Great pages make me want to buy what they used :love01:

[AmyPunky]

Thats how I do my shopping too! Great pages make me want to buy what they used :love01:

Good point, girls!!

Most of the time, I buy stuff because I've seen a fab kit or a great paper on a gorgeous layout! So, I'm glad that the credits tell me where I can find it! :love01:

[bexy]

hmmmmm...lots of great organizing tips here!! thanks girls!:001_smile: