Microsoft Paint is not the most flexible graphics program available, but it is a program that comes with the PC's operating system. It has its advantages; it is free and you don't have to download it from the internet.

I’m using Windows 7, if you are using another operating system your screen may look a little different, but it will still be similar.

Finding the Paint Program on your computer
To find “Paint” click on the “Start Menu Icon”, the list you will see will be different on your computer. Choose “All Programs”, it will be at the bottom of the list.

Click on “Accessories” Scroll down to “Paint” and click on it to open the “Paint” program.

Select “Accessories” and scroll down to “Paint”. When you click on “Paint” the program will open. The tool bar will look similar to this . .

Click on the Arrow at the top left and a drop down menu will appear.

Choose "Open"

Navigate to the location of the file you wish to work with. If you just see a list of files you may be in "List View Mode" rather than "Icon View Mode" that I am using; if that is the case just look through the list for the name of the file you want to use. Choose the file and click on the "Open" button.

Once your Digital Stamp image opens it is a good idea to save it with a new name before you make any changes; that will help you guard against ruining your original copy of your Digital Stamp.

Click the "Arrow" for a drop down menu. Click "Save as"

A dialog box similar to the one below will open. Choose a place to save your new file where you will be able to find it later.

Notice that I have added 2 to the original name of the Digital Stamp. Click “Save”

Now you can play with the Image Editing Tools without worrying about ruining your original Digital Stamp. If at anytime you don't like the reslts you can always go back to the original Digital Stamp file and start over.

Resizing your Digital Stamp

The files that I sell at my Etsy Shop Spectacular Printableare very large files so that you can print them on tee shirts or canvas tote bags as well as on cute little cards. If you need to resize the Digital Stamp to fit a smaller project here is how to do it.

Click on "Resize" and a "Resize and Skew" dialog box will open.

Choose the little radial button labeled Pixels.

Put in the size that will best fit your project. Do NOT uncheck the “Maintain aspect ratio box! That will distort your Digital Stamp Image.

Paint has rulers, but unfortunately they only display sizes in pixels. Below is a chart that I have made up to help in converting *300 dpi images into sizes that correspond to paper sizes.

Inches	Centimeters	Pixels
8 ½”x11”	21.59x27.94 cm.	2550 x 3300 pixels
5”x7”	12.7 x 17.75 cm.	1500 x 2100 pixels
4”x6”	10.16 x1 5.24 cm.	1200 x 1800 pixels

Click the "OK" button.

If you would like to type something on the image before printing follow these instructions, if not scroll on down to the printing instructions.
Adding Type to your Digital Stamp

After opening your Digital Stamp choose the “A”, it will open your type tool.

Your purchased or downloaded freebie will not have a watermark on it like the one that I'm using has for security reasons.

When you click on the “A” for the type tool and then click somewhere in your picture you will see a type box and a flashing insertion bar. Begin typing your message in the type box.

Note the * be sure that "Transparent" is chosen so that there is not a white background in the text box covering a portion of your Digital Stamp.

1. Once your text tool window is open

2. Choose a font from the drop down menu

3. Click on your image and a text box by will appear you may change the size and shape of the text box by placing your curser over the little squares in the middle of the text box lines, click and drag. When you click the curser over the corner squares and a four sided arrow comes up you can drag the whole box in any direction you like.

4. Type your message.

5. Hi-light your typed message and choose the size font you would like to use, it will adjust the size of the type as you watch.

Printing Your File

The screen shot that I’m showing you are from my printer; yours may look a little different, search for similar choices in your printer’s dialog boxes.

First we must tell the printer how we want to setup the page for printing.