E-patterns, or Printed Patterns?? That is the question!!!

I have had a lot of pattern designers ask me if the e-pattern market is profitable....I have one answer to this question.....YES....absolutely!!! There are a few things to look at when you are considering converting your printed patterns into email patterns! Here are some pros and cons to consider.......1st, if you have a large lot of patterns to convert, then it will take quite a while to convert! You are going to have to scan your pattern pieces! Then you will have to get all of the pattern pieces, instructions, materials list, etc., together and convert them into PDF files. You can get someone to do this for you, to save time, but that will also cost you extra. A good investment I would say :)......What is a PDF file? you ask? PDF is a file used to view documents in Adobe Acrobat Reader! This is what your customers will have to have in order to view and print their patterns! If they don't already have Adobe on their computer, then it is real easy to get! They can go to http://www.adobe.com and download the free version of Adobe Reader! Most newer computers already have adobe preinstalled, but if not, it is easy to get! And if is FREE! Now if you want to do your own pattern converting, then you will need to have the FULL version of Adobe Acrobat! This program is costly! About $299.99! Yeah, very high priced! But there is always a way around that! You can either pay someone to convert your pattern files for you as I said above, OR, you can get another program that will do all the coverting just like adobe, and only a fraction of the cost!!!! You can get this awesome program that I have used for a long time to convert.....go to http://www.eprintdriver.com/ and for about $49.95 you can get a printer driver program that will convert your JPG's, DOC, GIF and MORE files into PDF files. You can read all about it on their website. You are also going to need a nifty pattern cover for your e-patterns!! I've found 2 awesome sources for you to choose from! I've used both of these ladies to design, and they are ABOVE and beyond perfection!!! They won't stop till YOU are satisfied!!! Go to http://www.ewenmeprintables.com/store/WsDefault.asp?Cat=E-PatternDesign and ask for Deena! Tell her that I sent you her way :).....She is awesome!!! Also, another super sweet awesome lady is Brenda, of http://www.hattiesworkshop.com. Brenda is also a perfectionist who won't stop till you are satisfied! They both have great prices for converting your files, and for creating a pattern cover that you will love!!
If you are like me and print all of your paper patterns off yourself, then you will save a TON on ink supplies!!! That is another good thing! Your customers can have INSTANT gratification! Meaning they get their pattern in record e-mail time, and dont have to wait on their post office to get it to them! There is a con to all of this......there are some rude people out there who like to buy an e-pattern, then pass it out by email to all of their friends and family.....Yeah, sad to know there are so many thieves in the world! But trust me, there are a LOT MORE honest folks out there who won't steal your work!!! They realize it is hard work, and that you spend HOURS and HOURS working hard to make their email pattern!! Always be SURE to use the © symbol on your patterns!!! Your name, address, website, etc., is also a must!! Copyright your designs!!!! And DON’T STAND for it when someone steals your work!!!! :o)

There are a lot of things to consider, but let me tell you, e-patterns are DEFINITELY the way to go :o)....Have fun!!!