I’m always talking about using a wide variety of inexpensive, legally purchased amazing clip art. Watercolor, vintage, all kinds of styles, textures and more. Take a look at non-photo images in my site. That’s ALL clip art.
Now the big question is: how do you know if you can use clip art in your graphics or art app, program, software?
First, find out what kind of files your app uses. Google “what file formats are compatible with [name of app].”
What do you find? Jpg? Png? Tiff? PSD? Then see what is listed in each clip art package. If the app uses jpg and the images are jpgs, great! They match up! You can use the clip art.
Next Tip: JPG and PNG can be used in most popular graphics apps.
(DO NOT download anything you find online or take photo or scan from a book, mag, or grab from a vid. THAT IS NOT LEGAL. You want to be paid and credited for your work, right? Observe the laws of the world. Do not violate copyrights. YOU can be sued! Also bad karma!)
IF you want to become a Power User, read on.
You see some cool clip art, but says it’s for Adobe Photoshop. Or Procreate. Or this or that. You use Canva. Elements. Affinity. Lightroom. You think if the artist didn’t specifically say the app you use, you walk away, empty-handed. The artist or site loses a sale.
Guess what: you probably can use most of the clip art!
First Tip: every digital file has a specific format. A phone photo ends with “JPG.” A scanned image ends with either “JPG” or “TIFF.” Depending upon your camera, it creates “JPG” or also “RAW.” Music is “MP3.” Movies are either “MP4” or “MOV.” Many text files end with “TXT,” DOC,” “PDF.”
You are using IMAGE files. They usually end with JPG, PNG, TIFF, PSD. Some end with AI or EPS.
First, find out what kind of files your app uses. Google “what file formats are compatible with [name of app].”
What do you find? Jpg? Png? Tiff? PSD? Then see what is listed in each clip art package. If the app uses jpg and the images are jpgs, great! They match up. You can use the clip art.
Next Tip: JPG and PNG files can be used in almost every app using images: Canva, Elements, Photoshop, Affinity, Topaz, JixPix, Lightroom and …. You can use any JPG or PNG image or clip art! But you will NOT see all those apps or programs listed listed as “compatible” software. Why? See below.*
Usually Photoshop brushes (ABR), actions (ATN), styles (ASL), patterns (PAT) need to be installed into Photoshop. Sometimes Elements or other programs or apps.
Procreate users can now use Photoshop brushes. How do I know? I just Googled it.
That is how it’s been done for 30 years. Each program or app is designed to use certain file formats. Each app lists compatible file formats. Each artist lists the file formats. Then you see what fits!
I taught Adobe Illustrator at UCLA long ago. I no longer use it. So ANY “Vector” graphics ONLY in ai or eps is not ideal for me. Yes, you can open in Photoshop, but you cannot edit it or make a lot of changes. If a big bundle has some items I really like, and includes a few Vector files, maybe I’ll get it. If ALL Vector, no-go for me.
I share so YOU know if you use Canva or something similar, you probably do not want Vector files. Go for png or jpg!
The same with uploading. We can’t post psd, tiff, ai, eps files online. Only jpg or png, for the most part. PDFs, but they really are not graphics files.
Every software has its rules. Google it! It’s how I use and teach lots of software and images for decades. Have fun!
*Next, it is NOT the responsibility of the artist to state every app you can use. Why? Because there are too many apps, programs aka software!
Have you heard of or use Photoshop, Elements, Affinity, Canva, JixPix, Topaz, ArtRage, OnOne, and … that’s all I know. People use animation, video, 3D, motion graphics, desktop publishing, word processing, web design, ecommerce and more … I could add WordPress, SquareSpace, Wix, Shopify, and on and on … and I know I’d leave off something someone uses.
TMI? I’m frustrated seeing people asking this question all the time. Google it! I love the Google! That is how you learn! That is how you manifest your dreams!
I don’t understand people who expect artists or design studio to list every app that is compatible with their digital art packages. Any idea how many apps are out there? It’s growing all the time.
FINALLY: There is NO app known as “Adobe.” There’s Photoshop, Lightroom, Illustrator and other Adobe products. STOP asking if something works with Adobe. What works in Illustrator might not work well in Photoshop.
You can find info more easily when you LEARN and USE the names of the programs or apps, not the company.
When YOU know how to find info, you’ll find a whole world waiting to explore! Have fun. Be creative!
