Why buy printables? 

If you've been crafting long, you may have used or considered printables. Perhaps you have used them and loved them. Perhaps you have used them and hated them. Perhaps you haven't used them yet because they seem intimidating. After all, if you buy physical papers (not digital) they are pre-printed for you, no hassle. You don't have to maintain a color printer or find a print shop. You don't bear the expense of printing. Despite these facts, printables or digital files can have great advantages for crafters, especially if you don't think of them as simply a digital version of a physical item, like an ebook vs. a print book. 

Printables can be used more than once

When you buy a pack of papers from your local craft store, you may have one or more compies of each design, but, once you have used a paper, you have used a paper. If you want that particular design again, you need to buy another pack of papers (or another paper, if your store sells them by the piece). With a printable paper pack, you have a greater supply, depending on the license. In general, though, you can print out multiple copies of the paper pack to use multiple times. You can also print out only what you intend to use. You don't have to print out the whole pack for just one paper. And you can print out several copies of some papers that you expect to use more. 

Printables offer flexibility

When you buy a pack of already printed paper, it will probably be printed on both sides, on heavy paper. The design will only be offered in one size. But what if you only want the design on one side? What if you want to try using the design for sublimation or transfer? What if you want the design in a different size? Printables offer you options. You can print on anything your printer will take or anything available at your local print shop (including calendars, mugs, t-shirts. Not sure if most digital paper would make great t-shirts, but I won't judge). Consider using other papers than plain computer paper, such as watercolor paper or handmade paper.  Depending on the printable, you may also be able to print on used paper for an interesting effect. If you have the necessary equipment, you can print designs for sublimation or on thicker or thinner paper. Depending on the file format, you can play with the size of the finished file. For instance, I recently printed out one of my own papers at one fourth the size by adjusting my settings to four copies a page. 

Some printables can be used digitally

Printables are digital files. Depending on the format and the license, you may be able to create derivative works, definitely for your own use, and sometimes for commercial use. For instance, some Etsy sellers offer templates that allow you to use digital paper to create ephemera or pages for your junk journal. Depending on the license and format, you may also be able to use printables for graphics on your blog or website, for instance. 

Printables can save money

While printing can be costly, printables can save you money in certain ways under certain circumstances. As we already said, printables may be used more than once. You also don't need to pay to have them shipped. And some printables are available for free online! Be sure to check this site for new free samples from my shop.