Pros and Cons of Digital Stamps

Advantages of Digital or Digi Stamps

Here are some of the key advantages of digital stamps:
•Low cost – digital stamps are often lower in cost than traditional rubber or clear stamps. This is because no physical stamp is purchased, just the right to use the image.
•Freebies – many digital stamp companies and artists offer free samples or digital stamps to demonstrate their work and to let you try working with digital stamps or digi images.
•Wide range – as the artists or stamp companies do not need to worry about minimum order levels in order to break even on stamp production, many smaller and independent designers and artists are able to offer their work as digital stamps. This means that there is a wide and growing range of images available, many of which are exclusive to the digital format.
•Easy to store – digital images are stored on a computer, or can be archived onto a cd, making them easy to store. A good computer filing system will help to make it easy to find digital stamps quickly and easily.
•Quick delivery – digital stamps are instantly available for download. This means that stamps can be purchased and received almost instantly. There is no waiting for stamps to be delivered.
•No delivery charges – as digital stamps are downloaded, there is no cost for delivery. This can make a significant saving.
•International market place – digital stamps can be purchased from anywhere in the world without fears about high delivery charges or having to wait a long time for delivery. As many digital stamp companies and artists accept payment via PayPal, it is simple to make payment in a variety of currencies.
•No fears of damage – as long as the digital stamp files are safely stored on a computer, there is no fear of the stamp getting damaged or lost. The image will never deteriorate.
•Images can be manipulated – digital stamp images can be manipulated on a computer prior to being printed. This means that they can be resized, flipped (mirrored) and manipulated in a variety of other ways.
•Environmentally friendly – digital stamps use limited physical resources. There are no wasted packaging materials and little energy is consumed in the delivery of the stamps.


Disadvantages of Digital or Digi Stamps

Here are some of the key disadvantages of digital stamps:
•No stamp - no physical stamp is owned, simply the right to use the image.
•Limited use – the use of digital stamps is limited to items that can be created by using printed paper or cardstock.
•Limited techniques – some techniques are difficult or impossible with digital stamps. Items that are created using the three dimensional nature of a stamp, for instance, are difficult or impossible to replicate with digital stamps.
•Technology – digital stamps are more 'high tech' than traditional stamps. A computer and printer are necessary, so is a basic knowledge of using digital images.
•License – while some digital stamping companies and artists have an angel policy, others use licensing terms that may be unfamiliar to stampers. Commercial licenses, for instance, may be necessary for stampers wanting to sell work created with a digital stamp.
•Quality of printer ink – the quality of printer ink may effect the finished item. Some printer inks run or smear when they are wet.
•Waste paper – digital stamps can waste paper and computer ink. If people print out sample copies or print a single image on a page then this may prove inefficient over time.