I want to share something with you ladies that I found out today. I purchased the new Drawn Thread design called Free and Brave. I always make a working copy because sometimes I mark my paper and I don't want to do that to the original. Mostly because I sometimes sell my patterns and I don't want to sell a pattern that's all marked up. It's just my way. Well this is what I found when I made my working copy today......
This makes me very angry with this designer. I realize that they must protect themselves from dishonest copiers but I'm sure designers are going to hurt themselves more by doing this. I will no longer purchase any of The Drawn Thread's designs and I love her designs. But if I can't make a working copy, why should I bother.
The paper the pattern is printed on looks normal but it's a grey in color and when you make a copy the above shows up. I'm just wondering what ya'll think of this and if you think I'm being harsh by not purchasing anymore of her designs.
Blessings, Barbara
11 comments:
Oh wow! Whatever next. I had no idea. This is something new. Yes, I imagine it makes you feel a bit like a criminal, and you were doing nothing wrong!!!
I had heard that she was doing this, but I actually had not seen it until your post. I realize that she is hoping to hinder those who violate copyright; however it makes everyone feel like a criminal if they are making a working copy to mark on or to enlarge followed by destroying the working copy.
Robin in Virginia
Whoa. Since most of my charts are older I haven't encountered this. I NEED a working copy. Most are printed on such a small scale that I can't see the symbols well enough. And I agree, I sell some of mine too and don't want to deface it, even if I didn't sell. I use colored pencils and highlighters! I've been scolded for my giveaways of charts, which is to some the same as making a copy. If this will catch on, the designers better start printing much larger charts, not folded, and include a basic copy with no other info for working.
I need a working copy too - I've spilled too many things on patterns to use the original. I also need them enlarged. It's too bad she has to resort to this!
I always make an enlarged copy so I can see it better! I don't like this idea at all.
Sadly I think that Cynthia has had so many problems with people selling copies that she has felt there is no alternative. She does this to pay her bills and it is the people who steal from her that are to blame really. I too have difficulty reading small charts these days so I have a magnifier over my stitching and another over the chart which works fine for me. I think that as the watermarking which shows up on the copy is not opaque you could probably see enough to use it as a working copy. Cynthia just wants it to be perfectly clear to someone if they are buying an illegal copy rather than an original which you are, of course, entitled to pass on once you are done with it.
It is just sad that this has become a necessary precaution for someone who produces such lovely designs. I will still be buying from her, indeed I am currently working on her lovely Sampler of Stitches.
Best wishes and hope you can magnify your chart to use.
Alison
Godalming, UK
I agree, the people who are copying/posting the charts are to blame.
This is her "Bread and Butter", so to speak.
People ruin it for others.
Marilyn
I don't think you are being harsh. I am sure you have considered the facts of why she does it and if bottom line you can't find a work around, then certainly you wouldn't be expected to purchase something you can't use. I think designers are damned either way. Either protect your copyrights to the extent that your product is basically useless or don't protect so that your product has no value. Its awful.
Try sending a message to her to see what is her answer to this situation. Maybe she can help you.
I totally agree with you. I understand why she is doing this but if I can't make a working copy I am not buy from that designer. I would try to return it.
I also understand the designers have to do what they feel they need to... But if I can't enlarge and make the copies I need I won't buy... And that will effect their earnings too. Their faithful followers/buyers are their bread and butter... So if they continue this... It is not the bad chart people that will hurt it is the designer that loses sales that will see the effects. Working copies are needed for those of us that need it for our eyes. Oh well there are tons of other designers out there.
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