Digital ATCs

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A Little Bit of Background....

I have been learning to use Procreate on my iPad since December 2023. As an ATC artist, I find that digital cards do not get a lot of respect. Some people seem to think that anything that you create using a computer is "AI."

Since I no longer offer my ATCs via Facebook, I don't worry much about this lack of respect for all things digital.

I will make ATCs my way.

I no longer worry about "Likes" and requests for trades via algorithm-controlled social media.

(Leaving Facebook was definitely the right choice for me!)

A Few Words from Another Digital Artist...

I recently discovered a digital artist who, like me, is a member of ATCsForAll.com.

Here's what "Makitso" has to say about digital art:

I draw on an iPadPro using the Procreate app because doing so doesn't waste nonrenewable resources like pencils, paint, and paper, plus avoids the plastics disposal problem posed by markers. I do many preliminaries before arriving at a finished piece; which would represent a lot of paper, ink, paint, and pencils used up. Working on a tablet avoids the problem.

My portfolio is at https://makitsos.myportfolio.com/

Digital or AI or Digital Print of HD?

Describing an image as "digital" quickly gets confusing. Since no one person is the "boss" of the ATC community, the terms that traders use to describe their ATCs are often unclear. Here is the way that LuAnn Pepperwood (that's me!) describes the various "types" of ATCs that she makes:

Prints of Handmade Cards. If you use a digital camera to take a photograph of an ATC you made completely by hand it is a digital image, but it is only one of manhy types of digital images.
Almost all of the images in my Gallery are digital photographs of ATCs I made the old-fashioned way. A digital image can be printed and applied to card stock and made into an ATC and traded. In trading groups, some people do not want this type of card, because they don't consider a print to be original.
Images created Digitally. An image drawn using Procreate (or any other computer application) is a digital image.
In order to save postage, I sometimes just trade digital images. Few people are open to this, but this type of trading is growing slowly.
Prints of Digital Images. A digital image made with Procreate can be printed and applied to ATC-sized card stock.
Many of the cards I offer on my Available ATCs page can be printed and traded. Since some people do NOT like this type of ATC, I use a dark background on the page to indicate that a card was created as a digital image. It is important to be clear about this type of trade!
AI. An image that you create using AI is a digital image. That digital image can be printed and applied to card stock and made into an ATC and traded.
For a very short while I printed AI cards for trading with children who attended one of my classes. Each of these was clearly marked and I told them that "this card was made by a computer with a little help from me. They didn't care. They just like getting CARDS (and since this was a pool swap, I didn't want to trade cards that took me a half hour for cards that often took... two minutes....)

While some ATC traders on Facebook are very critical of the digital format, others are more open-minded. Keep in mind that if you clearly describe HOW your ATC was made and, if it was made digitally, how many other cards you plan to make, it will be acceptable to most of the traders. The topic comes up "on the boards" frequently.

Here is a post and some selected comments.

Werner Saxer

November 13, 2024 · on "Emily's" FB ATC Artist Trading Cards board

Everything is allowed with ATCs, provided the format is correct. That's really crucial for my new series, which is sure to cause controversy. Because these cards are fully digital, i.e. images created with AI, printed on glossy photo paper and provided with a black eyelet. They look like photo prints. AI images are originals because the programs always produce different images, even with the same input. Therefore, these ATCs are originals, signed by me and provided with the obligatory eyelet. And they will only be available as individual copies. So here is the series “Black Symbolism”. UFT

Very cool 😎

I love these!!

Interesting. I know nothing of this art.

I’ve seen others trade AI, most just inform that’s what it is, printed.

Hey, I have no problem with any artistic style or method. However, for me personally, I only trade for handmade. I have too much digital in my life!

It’s fascinating what can be done. Thank you for sharing a new way, Werner Saxer

These are absolutely beautiful and it takes time and vision to be able to do these!

Are you assuming that because you create them digitally they are AI? These look very interesting and digitally created.

For those who haven’t tried using AI to create original digital art, I encourage you to give it a go. You’ll quickly see that guiding the AI to produce precisely the image you have in mind is no easy task. It requires skill, patience, and a deep understanding of how to communicate creative ideas in a way that the generator can interpret.

It’s amazing how resistant we are to new ideas. Who defines what art is? I have two AI pieces in my collection and I enjoy them as much as the sticker collage that some one wanted to trade. I guess I want to appreciate the work everyone puts into their art with no judgement.

Can someone just explain in easy steps how it's done. Do you describe what you want and see what it comes up with.

Surely as long as it states it's AI or inspired by someone else that's ok. It's not forced on you. 🤔

Werner SaxerI decided to have a look at the program just for — & giggles, and quickly realized getting it to create what you want it to is no joke! They are stunning if this is the type of art you are seeking. I feel like art is fluid and always changing, while never changing. Now with technology we enter other zones. Remember when we only had rotary phones (well I do!)? Now we have cell phones, digital calling, etc. Or when we only had a pen and paper, and snail mail? Now we have the internet and email. As someone who is now considered a Sr Citizen, I am more aware than ever that times change and we adapt as we can. There is something for everyone.

First day of art school the question is asked…. What Is art?

I think these pieces are incredible. I wish my brain could develop these!!

It brings me happiness n inspires me! To me that is art!

Werner Saxer I have watched you come into the ATC Movement with your digital art. Good for you for learning all this AI and digital art method. You are a trail blazer in bringing AI and digital to the ATC world. i like you said "anything goes with creating ATCs." I like that you first had hand made elements in along with using AI. Now you produce cards wholly digital. I agree with your caption they are original. And it's smart to print them off one by one from your original work. That's the way to go. Print them off -rather than sending a digital image. It is your own work -with all the hours you spend in figuring out your AI and digital creations. Yes., as ATCs are supposed to be original your method paves the way. Thanks for posting these ATCs with your caption/explanation. Keep going. I do want to trade these cards you've posted,. Are you printing one card at a time to be printed just once, or can I get a card which has been chosen by others? Meaning will you print another card for me too?

Thanks for sharing! I didn’t know if AI I created was allowed! Yay!

I am so glad you posted these -- your work is beautiful! I am an AI artist too, and spend many hours iterating and editing my designs. I wasn't sure if they would be accepted here, so seeing your work makes me happy.

I love it. So different

These are simply stunning! I'm in love with most. I'm sorry to ask, but what's the eyelet about. This is the first I've heard about it. Will PM about trade.

More Comments about Digital ATCs

These were gleaned from a set of comments that was shown when I did a search for "digital."

October 17, 2024 · Which is better, digital cards or ones that are drawn / painted on?

To me it depends on the results more than anything. If someone is better at digital than handmade I will likely appreciate their digital work better.
Emily Houtz my digital stuff is just cleaner. I tried some testers using regular ink and it either bled through the paper or it smeared. Maybe I need to try different paper
My vote goes to handmade
I very much prefer making/receiving handmade work for aesthetic and ethical reasons.
Digital creations are allowed here, though, and plenty of folks will trade for them.
I like it when people are open about their creation methods.
I would say most people prefer hand created rather than digital. Some people use digital beginnings and then add to them.
I love a variety of mediums. As a former software engineer as well as lifelong artist, i appreciate all of the technology available to create from. I have never been great at Photoshop, so i do appreciate those that have those types of skills!
I don't care which. It depends on the motive 🙂
I like to combine digitals, paints, scraps all together. All depends on my mood. There is not wrong way. Important is to enjoy your way. Glad you joined US. People in this group are amazing and always happy to help and trade.
I prefer handmade…but I did send out a digital and I felt terrible that I didn’t do anything but add a sticker 😬 I make handmade now😊
Handmade/Hand 🎨 Painted
Will not trade for digital prints!

Hybrid Cards

I originally wrote this article and titled it "Hybrid Cards." I probably should have said "Hybrid ATCs...." but hey, on this site a card is an ATC and and ATC is a card.

And I goofed. I went off on a tangent about the definitions of digital cards and didn't leave room for the part about my hybrids. So if your are interested in my own special type of ATC that mixes digital and handmade....please keep reading here.