What is digital paper? Uses, sizes and how to print it
Digital paper is a printable pattern or background file that you print yourself for scrapbooking, card making and crafts. Here's what it's used for, the standard sizes and how to get a good print at home or at a print shop.
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What digital paper is
Digital paper is a printable image file, usually a pattern or texture, that you print yourself instead of buying printed sheets. It comes as an instant download, typically as JPG or PNG files, and you can print it again whenever you run out.
Many seamless patterns double as digital paper. A seamless file has one extra advantage: it repeats with no visible join, so you can also tile it across a sheet larger than the file. The same name is used for e-ink writing tablets, but this guide is about printable pattern files.
What digital paper is used for
Digital paper does the same jobs as a pad of patterned craft paper, except that you choose the scale and the paper. Typical uses include:
- Scrapbook page backgrounds, photo mats and journalling cards
- Card fronts, inserts and envelope liners
- Gift tags, small gift wrap and box covers
- Decoupage, collage and covering notebooks
- Journal and planner pages that you print and bind
Digital paper for scrapbooking and card making
For a 12 x 12 in scrapbook layout, print the full tile as the page background and layer smaller pieces from a coordinating print on top. Coordinating sets make this easier: Boho Bird Set pairs a busy design with a lighter one, much like a patterned paper and its matching blender. Behind photos, use the quieter print or plain cardstock so the photos stand out. A baby album, for example, might pair a print from Kids & Nursery with plain cardstock.
For cards, one sheet goes a long way. Cut an A4 sheet in half and fold each A5 half into an A6 card (105 x 148 mm), or do the same with a US Letter sheet for two 4.25 x 5.5 in cards. Scale the pattern down for small fronts: a Christmas pattern at a 3 in repeat suits an A6 card, while the same file at full size suits gift wrap.
Digital paper sizes
The most common size is 12 x 12 in (30.5 x 30.5 cm), the standard scrapbook page, at 300 DPI, which is 3600 x 3600 px. Most Wild Little Designs patterns are exactly that, as PNG files, and a few bundles come as JPG files in ZIP folders.
Home printers take smaller sheets. Here's how the common sizes compare at 300 DPI:
- 12 x 12 in: 3600 x 3600 px
- A4 (210 x 297 mm): 2480 x 3508 px
- US Letter (8.5 x 11 in): 2550 x 3300 px
- A3 (297 x 420 mm): only 11.7 in wide, so it can't hold a full 12 in square
Both A4 and Letter fit inside a 3600 x 3600 px tile, so you can crop either straight from the file at full 300 DPI quality, with no resizing. A full 12 x 12 in sheet needs a printer that takes A3+ paper (13 x 19 in, or 329 x 483 mm), or a print shop.
How to fit digital paper to A4 or US Letter
There are three ways to fit a 12 x 12 in file onto a smaller page. Pick the one that suits the project:
- Crop: cut an A4 or Letter-sized area from the tile. Nothing is resized, so the motifs print at their original size and full sharpness.
- Scale down: fit the whole tile onto the page, for example as an 8 x 8 in square. You see the complete design with smaller motifs, and it prints sharper, not softer.
- Tile: because the file is seamless, repeat it at a smaller size to fill the page. The motifs shrink and the joins stay invisible.
If your printer leaves a white margin, trim it off or try borderless printing. Borderless printing usually works only with certain paper sizes and types, so check your printer's settings and manual.
Printing at home or at a print shop
A home inkjet printer handles cards, tags and layered pieces up to A4 or Letter. Print at the highest quality setting, set the paper type to match your paper, and turn off any scale-to-fit option if you've already sized the file.
For full 12 x 12 in sheets, larger runs or heavy cardstock, a print shop is often easier. Send the file at full size, say the finished size and paper you want, and ask for one test print first.
Most print shops print with CMYK inks, while PNG files store colour as RGB, because the PNG format doesn't support CMYK. The shop converts the colours for you, so expect small shifts and judge them from the test print rather than your screen.
Choosing paper stock
The paper changes the result as much as the file does. Keep these points in mind:
- Lightweight paper suits layering, envelope liners and wrapping small gifts.
- Cardstock suits card bases, tags and anything that needs to stand up. Check the heaviest paper your printer accepts before you buy.
- Matt paper has no glare, while glossy photo paper gives richer colour. Set the matching paper type when you print.
- For scrapbooks, the Library of Congress recommends acid-free, lignin-free paper, because acidic materials discolour and turn brittle as they age.
Whatever you choose, print a test piece first. Colours look different on screen and on paper, and one small print on your chosen stock can save a pack of wasted sheets.
What the licence allows
Wild Little Designs patterns come with a small business licence. You can use them for personal projects without limit, have them printed by a print shop for your own products, and sell physical products made with them, such as cards, stickers, stationery and gift wrap, up to 500 units per pattern.
You can't resell, share or give away the files, whether as they are or changed. That rules out selling printable PDFs, digital scrapbook kits or templates made from them, and sending the files to a friend. For more than 500 units, message the shop on Etsy about an extended licence.
Questions
Can I print digital paper at home?
Yes. A home inkjet or laser printer can print digital paper up to its largest sheet size, usually A4 or US Letter. Crop or scale the 12 x 12 in file to fit, set the paper type in the print settings and print a test piece first. For full 12 x 12 in sheets, you need a printer that takes A3+ paper, or a print shop.
What size is digital paper?
Most digital paper is 12 x 12 in, the standard scrapbook page size, at 300 DPI, which is 3600 x 3600 px. Some shops also sell US Letter or A4 sheets. A 12 x 12 in file at 300 DPI is big enough to crop a full A4 or Letter page without resizing, so one file covers all three sizes.
Is digital paper the same as scrapbook paper?
It does the same job, but you print it yourself. Shop-bought scrapbook paper comes printed on a fixed stock, while digital paper is a file you can print on any paper your printer takes, at the scale you want, as often as your projects need. If you sell what you make, the licence sets the limits.
Can I sell cards made with digital paper?
With Wild Little Designs patterns, yes. The small business licence covers physical products such as cards, stickers and stationery, up to 500 units per pattern. You can't sell or share the digital files themselves, including as printable downloads or templates. For bigger runs, message the shop on Etsy about an extended licence.
