Why is digi scrapping often referred to as the "dark side"?

[Scrapper007]

I was just talking on another MB about how I've been selling my paper supplies. I am completely hooked on digi scrapping..I LOVE it.

Why is it though that digi scrapping seems to be frowned upon? I'm apparently on the "dark side" now. Isn't scrapping all about getting the memories down? Whether we choose to 'decorate' the pages with paper or we do it on the computer, aren't we all basically achieving the same thing? :)

[junebug]

i agree. who cares how you do it? i think paper scrappers think we are cheating.......lol

[ColleenSwerb]

It's been that way for a long time. Some paper scrappers think digi scrapbooking is cheating, or too easy, or blah blah blah.

But there are also a lot of paper scrappers out there who respect what "we" do. I love to see some of the big name scrapbooking artists embracing digital and even hybrid (like Ali Edwards and Cathy Z).

The main point is that we're all memory keeping in whatever way we're comfortable doing it. That's the important part.

[rochelle789]

I honestly think that the ones who disrepect it are really the ones who can't do it. :p

[MommaTrish]

I honestly think that the ones who disrepect it are really the ones who can't do it. :p

lol

[*Celeste*]

heck because i scrap 8.5x11 i'm on the dark side of paper! lol
i agree most likely the folks saying it haven't tried it.

[scrapperjade]

I used to be a paper scrapper, but I was fortunate that the forums I hung out in were pretty open minded. I *hate* it when traditional scrappers beak digi scrapping, and I have a few comments in various galleries saying "Oh, I loved this. Then I realized it was digi!". Ummm, okay then.

I honestly think that some people are just narrow minded and aren't willing to accept that just because something is different doesn't mean it isn't good.

Like Celeste said, there are lots of things that some consider the "dark side"... scrapping a different size, some insist that Creative Memories is the ONLY proper way to scrap, and of course, "cheating" by taking the "easy" way of digi scrapping. Ha!!! If they only knew how "easy" it wasn't. When I hear comments about stuff like that I want to force them to sit down at my computer, show them how to open files and tell them to duplicate one of my layouts. THEN after that, they are free to judge.

ETA - not that I think my layouts are amazing or anything... just that it took me a LONG time to get where I am now.

[Scrapper007]

heck because i scrap 8.5x11 i'm on the dark side of paper! lol
i agree most likely the folks saying it haven't tried it.

I must be a "double rebel" then..I have been paper scrapping for 10 years and have ONLY scrapped in the 8.5x11 size *and* now I am a digi scrapper. I am an 8.5x11 size digi scrapper!! :thumbup:

[mkcdaisy]

yeah i have never understood that. I am bi-scrapual lol.

[g8rbeckie]

One thing is that popular paper scrap styles are VERY different than popular digi design styles. Truthfully, I'm not even inspired to look at my paper scrap magazines (will those subscriptions just RUN OUT already, LOL???) anymore.

You can really tell when they showcase digi layouts...Heck, most paper scrappers probably think there is ONE digi scrap store on the web for crying out loud.

having said all that - when someone does come across layouts from different "genres", I don't understand why they'd knock it just because its a different format.

[newfiemountiewife]

yeah i have never understood that. I am bi-scrapual lol.

Hahahahahaha!!!!!

I don't know why they hate us so much! All of my friends IRL are paper scrappers, and they look at me like I have 10 heads or something when I tell them I do digital. One of the other cop's wives saw my pages on Scrapbook.com and thought they were really nice, and decided she might want to do her wedding book in digital. I might convert them.....bwaaaa haaaa haaaa

[newfiemountiewife]

heck because i scrap 8.5x11 i'm on the dark side of paper! lol


You are such a rebel! :D

[taracotta7]

yeah i have never understood that. I am bi-scrapual lol.

*snort* me too! So funny. You gave me a good laugh. I am glad I have a name for it now! BAHAHAHHAAAA

[Emmy]

I think that the phrase "the dark side" is an euphemism that is used for falling into anything fun and addictive. I've heard it used in the context of people getting hooked on rubber stamping or spinning their own yarn or getting addicted to a new homeschool curriculum that "everyone" is trying. I don't think it has the negative connotations necessarily.

[scrappurple]

I didn't even realize there was a dark side ...:huh:

[scrapperjade]

I think that the phrase "the dark side" is an euphemism that is used for falling into anything fun and addictive. I've heard it used in the context of people getting hooked on rubber stamping or spinning their own yarn or getting addicted to a new homeschool curriculum that "everyone" is trying. I don't think it has the negative connotations necessarily.

Very true Emmy! I guess it all depends on how the poster says it you know? Like I know scrappers who *hate* digi scrapping refer to it as the dark side. Then I know they are putting a negative view on it. I have on the other hand refered to things as "the dark side" in a fun way, like you've mentioned above.

[Sharon Kay]

I always tell people welcome to the DIGI side! :w00t:

I have had people tell me they like to FEEL their layouts ... whatever ... I used to do paper scrapping ... and dh thought I save him enough $$ when I went digi that he bought me a laptop!

I'm still trying to sell all these stupid supplies years later.

Nice thing is ... we don't have to worry about the AFLF issue if we print using archival inks and papers ... the paper industry has strayed from all safe materials to all kinds of things in their layouts ... you really have to research what you use in your books to make sure they are safe ... but then some ladies don't care... to each their own.

I can travel a lot lighter than all my paper scrapping friends ... when we've gone to hotels for the weekend ... I had one friend that actually bought a flatbed to haul all her stuff in!! ;)

[MamaBee]

*snort* Dark side...

I used to be one of those that said, "digi, is not for me..." but don't knock it until you tried it... and become hopelessly addicted. LOL!

Now, I have two days to get a paper pre-made scrapbook done for a friend's wedding... yeah, dreading it... thus the two days left!!! :huh: The ironic thing is that if I had photos to scrap traditional, I don't think I could do it. LOL! Doing it premade, is a lot less intimidating for me.

[letumom]

*snort* me too! So funny. You gave me a good laugh. I am glad I have a name for it now! BAHAHAHHAAAA

Yep, that's me too! Mandy and I learned that term on another MB, where thankfully, us bi-scraptual gals are accepted and loved for what we create in any medium (paper, hybrid or digital).

[CA Dreamer]

OMGosh, I remember hauling all my stuff to crops! Just packing up and putting away used to wipe me out! And, Crop 'til you Drops--all nighters. At one point, there were like 40 of us all crammed in together with all of our wheeled carts scrapping once a month--yikes!

I actually still do some paper scrapping and yes, use CM albums(only because I have a stockpile of them, lol!). What I have been doing with my paper scrapping is printing out some digi paper. I have some printed at Costco--full 12x12 and use it for cards or for bragbook pages.

I was looking at some of my Creative Keepsakes books and saw our very own MaryInAZ handiwork. I thought that was neat.

[Joy2Scrapbook]

I discovered digi this year thanks to some of you brave people who will post a digi layout on other sites. I LOVE IT!! Having said that, I still do paper scrapping too (please don't hate me). Since I made the leap to digi, several of my friends have admitted they do both paper and digi too! Who would have guessed. I haven't ever thought of the digi side as the "dark side". It is sad that some of you have been subjected to unkind comments. Not everyone out there is like that. My paper scrapbook friends laughed first at my announcement (because I am such a computer geek and stayed away from digi so long) and then congratulated me for making the jump.

[scrap2day]

Let's see. I create a digi page and then with one click I can have a copy for each kid's book, mine, grandma's...I used to try to make multiple copies of a page by hand for each book. [Pretty much the only photos I have from my childhood were a small brag book that my grandma made me. When I started scrapbooking I wanted everyone who was in the photo to have a copy if they wanted]. Dark side? :blink: What would I do without digi? I would still be making the 4th copy of the birthday party from seven years ago. Too bad for the kids born after that. :p

[Lyd]

. . . they look at me like I have 10 heads or something when I tell them I do digital.

I've had this too - multiple times. LAME!

But, I also have a good IRL friend who was an AMAZING paper scrapper - published many times and quite involved in the industry. But, lately, she has started doing digi, and she even admitted that she used to think that digi was "cheating" or "taking the easy way out." And, now she talks about how wrong she was. It's just takes a different kind of skill than paper scrapping takes. I love seeing her digi pages because she has figured out how to transfer her paper style into digi sooo well. It's very different from my style, but I love to see that she has been able to do pages that are very "her" even though she has switched mediums.

[Sweets2005]

Wow, I didn't know some paper scrappers had such negative feelings towards digital. I just switched to digital but when I did paper, I never thought digital wasn't as good- I guess I just thought I wouldn't be able to do it! I am SO glad I switched tho! For like a *million* reasons! :thumbup:

[Gabbina]

Here in Italy things are different... People (99,9% of italians...) don't know ANYTHING about scrapbooking, paper or digi. So I've always been an outsider, and they've always lookd at me as if I was some kinda freak just because I was spending money on stickers. I started digi, and I need to say they get it a little more, not sure why. Maybe because it's done with the computer, so it looks "actual", but still, they don't "really" get it.
I haven't quit paper, though. I just like to have a real paper album for my trips with recepies, tickets and memorabilia from when I travel, and I go digi for anything else.

[fruitysuet]

LOL at the term bi-scrapual - that's me too!

I still do lots of paper scrapping and enjoy it immensely. I love the very hands on approach to scrapbooking and all the touchy feely stuff that I add on to my pages. What I don't like is the clearing away - yuk!

I have dabbled in digi scrapping in the past and just come back to it in the last few months, this time I have worked harder to understand the software more and try new techniques and effects. What I love about digi is that it is much more freeing in trying new styles and techniques as there isn't the fear of 'ruining' that piece of paper like there is in paper scrapping. Also you can keep trying different placements and sizes. AND (big plus this) the tidying away is so much easier lol!

I'm with the poster who thinks the term 'dark side' is used in a more tongue in cheek way and have definitely seen it used with people moving into other crafty obsessions such as quilting, knitting and (especially) stamping.

[sprauncey1]

One thing is that popular paper scrap styles are VERY different than popular digi design styles. Truthfully, I'm not even inspired to look at my paper scrap magazines (will those subscriptions just RUN OUT already, LOL???) anymore.

You can really tell when they showcase digi layouts...Heck, most paper scrappers probably think there is ONE digi scrap store on the web for crying out loud.

having said all that - when someone does come across layouts from different "genres", I don't understand why they'd knock it just because its a different format.

Yep and that one store has the magazine's artists/designer/employee working for it! I get so annoyed with that. I know a few people here have gotten published in the print magazines before, but it is so few and far between for the talent here. Oh and they always seem to pick ones that don't use "products" much. I mean they will put a two inch reference to all the physical products used on a paper page, but for the digital it is always. Adobe Photoshop and one word overlay from the certain store! They all probably think that digital is boring!!!!

[MommaTrish]

OK... I will admit...

to me, even though I digi scrap, it's kinda easier to do it digi style than paper style, because even with all my years of art classes... I still can't cut a straight line with scissors. lol I've had to make 2 paper scrapbooks and let's just say they are :thumbdown:. Not something you want to show off. lol However I already had a pretty basic knowledge of Photoshop and working in layers before I started digi scrapping. I've even gotten my grandmother kind of into it, though she's still more hybrid. She's the only person I know IRL who actually scraps (paper or digi) and she just thought it was more fascinating than evil. Everyone I know IRL are more impressed by the fact I can do all this on a computer where you can't actually TOUCH the stuff on the pages to manipulate them.

[Scrapper007]

I've never understood the need to touch my scrap supplies. Guess that's why I don't miss them! Or maybe I'm just not a "touchy/feely" person lol

[ScrapShabby]

I just started digi scrapping about four months ago. I avoided "the dark side" for a long time because I KNEW I'd love it, and then what would I do with all my paper supplies? And just as I suspected.... it happened! Now when I go in and look at my paper supplies and layouts, it seems frustrating. Digi is so much more creative. If I try to paper scrap, I just get frustrated that I can't accomplish the same kinds of looks.