How long does my account take to be activated and let me download?
After your Membership fee has been paid in Paypal, you will be redirected to our site. If you follow this process correctly, your Membership should be automatically activated in our database. You will then have access to all our designs and may begin downloading images immediately.
On rare occasions -for example, if your Internet connection is lost during this process or you close the window after making your payment- your Membership won't be activated automatically in our database. In these situations, Memberships are manually activated. Manual activation usually takes place in less than an hour, although in some instances, it may take up to 24 hours.

Should I send you an e-mail if I have just paid for my Membership through Paypal and my Membership was not automatically activated?
No, you don't need to notify us. We receive immediate Membership payment information directly from Paypal and, upon receipt, will work promptly to activate your membership.

I can't log in. What should I do?
If you made your Membership payment and the payment was correctly processed through the Instant Notification Process, you should be able to log in. Please be aware that you can log in to our site on any of our Web pages that include a login field. Your login name is the email address that you used to register.

Could you give me some tips to make sure I am logging in correctly?
Of course. Some of our Members are not experienced in Internet/Web access, so here are some basic guidelines:

- You can log in on any of our Web pages where the blank spaces (called "fields") for Login and Password appear. You can also log in on this page:
http://www.mangelsdesigns.com/login.php
- Enter your e-mail in the Login field. Your complete e-mail should be entered, for example: yourname@domainname.com.
- Enter your password in the Password field.
- Click on the button "Login"
- Don't use uppercase letters.
- Enter the information carefully to ensure you don't make errors.
- Only use the Link "Forgot your password?" if you have forgotten your password.

What should I do if I forgot my password?
If you forgot your password, just click on the link “Forgot your password?” This link is on each Web page. In the form that appears after you click on the link, enter your e-mail address (the one you registered with), and an e-mail will immediately be sent to you with your login information.

I can’t enter my information in the login field. What should I do?
Our Web site has been designed for full interoperability with Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.0 and later, which is the browser used by 95% of our visitors and users. It is possible that some of our tools may fail with other browsers, such as Netscape, Mozilla, Opera, WebTV, etc. To solve this problem, we have designed a universal form with which you will be able to log in using any of the well-known browsing programs. If you are a user of a different version of Internet Explorer or a different browser program and you cannot log in, please use the form that you will find at this link: http://www.mangelsdesigns.com/login.php

Do I have to log in every time I want to download an image?
No, you only have to log in once at the beginning of each session, and you can download all the images that you want in any of the categories. For security reason and to respect the user's privacy, our site doesn't create cookies. For this reason, every time you start a new session (that is, every time you close your browser and reopen it), you will need to enter your login name and password again.

REGISTRATION DATA

How do I register?
Registration to MangelsDesigns is very simple. Just click on the link “Subscribe Now,” enter the requested data, and make your payment using the method indicated (Paypal).

I began the registration process several days ago and now I am ready to pay for Membership, but when I register again, I get a message saying the e-mail already exists. What should I do?
If you registered in the past, your information is already in our database and you don't have to provide it a second time. Log in using the e-mail address and password you used to register, click on the payment processing site button and follow the instructions.

What do you do with my registration data?
The data you provide during the registration process is kept strictly confidential. We don't sell or share your personal data or profit from it in any way. We only use your e-mail address to notify you of site updates, addition of new designs or categories and new sponsors. For further information, please read our Privacy Policy.

What anti-spam policy does this site have implemented?
MangelsDesigns is committed to Permission-Based email marketing practices and as a result has established a no-tolerance Anti-Spam Policy based in the USA regulations. Members have agreed during their registration process our Anti-Spam Policy which may be read here.

I registered my data in the past, but now I want to remove it. How do I do that?
Simply click on the link http://www.mangelsdesigns.com/remove.php and enter your e-mail address. Your data will be automatically removed from our database and the e-mail list.

DOWNLOAD PROBLEMS

I want to understand potential problems that could occur during downloads.
Most problems encountered during downloads are caused by a poor or interrupted Internet connection, software firewall, antivirus software, or the download manager. These issues are more likely to occur with large file downloads, but may also show up when downloading small files as well. It is also not uncommon to successfully download several files, and then encounter a problem with just one file.

Download errors are somewhat common. Frequently these errors do not show themselves until you try to extract the data from your .ZIP file and you are alerted by a corrupted file, password request, or invalid archive error message. Again, these problems are fairly common and do NOT mean that the download file itself is bad; with VERY few exceptions, the file you are attempting to download is perfectly fine. The most likely cause is an incomplete or faulty download by your computer.

Keep in mind that even when it appears that your download completed successfully, it may not have done so.

The .PNG images you will download will be in a compressed .ZIP file. You need to have a program like WinZip, WinRar, ZipGenius, etc. to decompress, not only our images files, but all compressed image files on the Web that are of high resolution and, consequently, are large files. WinZip is a free program that can be downloaded from the Web. A Google or Yahoo search will provide the link.

Please note that we constantly monitor the integrity of our files and repair those that are damaged or have become corrupted. However, if you still have problems downloading image files, please carefully read the following instructions. We are confident that you will find the solution to any problem you might be having since this is a summary of all the problems our members have faced throughout our years of operation:

1) If you are running a personal firewall or antivirus software on your machine (i.e., Norton), please disable it just long enough to download the file. Please try this first as it is often the cause of the download problem you are having. FIRST, however, delete the old downloaded .ZIP file from your computer and also from your recycle bin as the new file will automatically revert back to it if the old file is still present.

2) It's always a good idea to make sure that you have a steady and strong Internet connection. Due to more frequent reliability issues with dial-up service than with other types, customers who use a dial-up service will probably encounter more download issues. Wireless connections also can perform unreliably, and interruptions in the wireless connection can result in an incomplete download. These types of circumstances are beyond our control.

3) If the problem resides in .ZIP files format downloading, please note that for security reasons, the .ZIP files are protected by a PHP script embedded in HTML, and you may be using a download manager. We recommend that you disable your download manager program (i.e. GoZilla, GetRight, etc.) and try to download the files again. If everything works well, then you have to adjust your download manager settings. However, take in account that some download managers don't access protected files, so in case of doubt, contact your download program’s technical support department.

4) If you try to download files and obtain an error message, such as “This is not a valid file” or “URL not found,” take into account that for security reasons, our image files change their names automatically in a random way. In this case, you likely have a temporary Internet file or a cookie that is associated with the previous name. We suggest you go to Internet Tools / Internet Options and delete Temporary Internet Files and clear History files and try again. If this does not correct the problem, you may need to delete Cookies as well.

5) If a problem occurs as you’re decompressing .ZIP files, the problem lies with the program you’re using for this purpose. Check the program’s settings. If the program says that items are already downloaded and they aren’t, the problem either lies in your PC or is a .ZIP file decompression program fault, an antivirus software and/or firewall blocking issue, a download configuration involuntary change, or a recent reconfiguration in your ISP (Internet Service Provider).

6) Try temporarily disabling your firewall protection as a test. If images aren’t showing up and you have a firewall installed in your PC, temporarily disable it and/or check its configuration.

Other tips that may help:

- If you recently installed a decompression (unzip) program, make sure it was installed correctly.

- If you are using an external storage disk, make sure that it’s appropriately formatted and has enough space to hold the files you’re downloading.

- Check the configuration of your decompression program. In case the program didn’t install correctly, try uninstalling and reinstalling it.

- Make sure your storage device is working properly.

- Try to identify the time the problem started and what actions you took up to that point. For example, did this problem start occurring immediately after you changed your PC configuration or installed a new storage device? If so, you might focus on this to correct the problem.

VERY IMPORTANT: For programming requirements, some of the .PNG image file names include the word "JPG." This is not its actual file format, so don’t be concerned. Just save the file as you always have and open it in your graphics editing program. The graphics program will confirm that the image is in .PNG file format.

AOL USERS

I’m an AOL user and I have a problem downloading images. What should I do?
In some cases, AOL users will have a problem downloading images in .JPG format because AOL converts them to an .ART format. America Online uses compression software on the graphics in its network to speed delivery of Web pages and HTML documents to its members. It accomplishes this by compressing images and multimedia applications that travel across the network.. AOL uses the proprietary Johnson-Grace image format, .ART, and all .BMP, .GIF or .JPG images are automatically converted into the .ART format by AOL default.

As an AOL member, you must deselect the "Use Compressed Graphics" option under their Web Preferences to avoid this. After you have selected not to use AOL’s compressed graphics option, you must still clear out your cache to see a difference. In your WWW Preferences, you must set history to "0" pages and then clear the history.

Once you’ve done this, you must delete the files in your Temporary Internet Files folder. AOL offers the following instructions on how to accomplish this: "Holding down the "Control" key on your keyboard and simultaneously mouse-clicking on the Browser Reload icon while the browser window is active will also clear your proxy cache and display the latest data from the Website."

In addition, we recommend that after the image you want to download appears in your window, instead of using the secondary (right) button on your mouse to save it, use your browser’s toolbar. Use the “File/Save as…” command and select the location on your hard drive in which you want to place your file. It will be saved as a HTM file, and a folder named “mangels_files” will also be created and will contain the image in .JPG format. If these instructions are not enough, there are many sites on the Internet that can give you additional information about AOL image downloads. A Google or Yahoo search should provide several links.

Other Special Notes For AOL Users

These notes have been compiled from our experience with AOL members using our online features. They are offered to make your experience easier and less frustrating.

PROBLEM.- Some AOL users may not see recent changes made to items or pages due to AOL's use of cache in the member’s browser, regional cache servers on AOL's network, or both.

SOLUTION.- There may not be much you can do as long as you are accessing data on the AOL network. You might try clearing your cache, but this will be more effective if you use an alternate browser (Internet Explorer or Netscape) than with the provided AOL browser.
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PROBLEM.- AOL users might find that images (particularly thumbnail images) on the site become blurry over time because the AOL browser caches Web pages very frequently and the content is compressed rather than replaced while browsing. You can try clearing your cache to resolve the issue locally. If it is a regional cache issue, there is not much you can do until AOL next updates the regional cache server that is causing you problems.

SOLUTION.- As previously mentioned, there may not be much you can do besides clearing your cache as long as you are accessing data on the AOL network. If you use an Explorer or Netscape browser while online, the issue should not appear because they cache Web pages less frequently.

CLARIFICATION.- Even though you may see blurred images, other AOL users may not see blurred images if they are not accessing the pages as frequently as you are. Their less-frequent use does not create a heavily cached image issue.
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If you are using a recent version of AOL, the following notes probably no longer apply. We continue to maintain them for members who may still be using an earlier version with the noted problems.

PROBLEM.- When using the AOL browser, I experience difficulties uploading data, whether it be registration, homepage templates, new items, or modifications.

CLARIFICATION.- AOL’s browser is actually a bundled version of Microsoft's Internet Explorer that is somehow limited or restricted; possibly it is an earlier version. This will no longer be an issue as AOL upgrades the version of Explorer that it uses or integrates Netscape Navigator browsers and provides upgrades.

SOLUTION.- After you go online with AOL, minimize the screen (click on the "dash" in the upper-right corner of your screen. Do not click on the double box and certainly not on the X, which will take you off-line). Then click on Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0 (or greater) or Netscape Navigator 3.0 (or greater) from your desktop or from Start/ Programs/…. After launching one of these other browsers, you are still accessing the Internet via AOL, but you are now using an unrestricted browser. If you don't have either of these browsers, you may read the reviews and download a free version.

CLARIFICATION.- Please don’t confuse AOL with Internet Explorer and Netscape. You are not applying for, buying, or downloading a new Internet access service. Explorer and Netscape are browsers, and their only function is to navigate the Internet, view pages, perform actions on pages and (if you wish) handle e-mail. They do not, and will not, give you dial-up access to the Internet. They do not compete with AOL’s service.

NOTE.- if you use a version of Explorer or Netscape prior to the generations indicated above (at least 3.0 for Netscape or 4.0 for Explorer), you will not be able to upload graphic files interactively on any site on the Internet.

If you are an AOL user, we recommend Netscape Navigator over Internet Explorer because Explorer prompts the user to "reload form data" when backing up to a page displaying form results. This will repeat the action and may become confusing, if not frustrating. Netscape Navigator does not have behave this way.

IMAGES FILE FORMAT

In what format are the images offered?
All our images are in .PNG with a transparent background.

What is .PNG format and with which graphics editing program can I use it?
The .PNG format (pronounced "PING") is the most advanced image format. It uses lossless compression, which means that no image data is lost when saving or viewing the image. .PNG is a universal format recognized by all the graphic editing programs (Adobe Photoshop®, Corel Photo Paint®, Paint Shop Pro®, Unload Photo Impact®, MGI Photo Suite®, Microsoft Photo Editor®, Macromedia FreeHand®, etc.). Since .PNG is a newer format, however, graphics programs prior to 1995 cannot recognize this format. It is important to note that recent versions of popular programs such as Microsoft Word® and Microsoft Power Point® can insert images in PNG format, and they also import the transparent background.

What is a transparent background?
All our images in .PNG format have a transparent background, which means that the image can be placed against any background, and there will not be a white background surrounding the actual image. The transparent background is recognized by all the graphics editing programs; however some programs, such as Corel Photo Paint®, show the transparent background as a masked area

How can I save an image and maintain the transparent background?
This procedure varies, depending on the graphics editing program you are using. However, we can give you the following suggestions:

- If you are creating an image from scratch, keep your background transparent. If there is more than one layer, merge them as All Visible and not Flatten. This will keep the background transparent.

- When you have the image you want, you should look for the .PNG optimization tool… something like this: File > Export > PNG Optimizer, or you may have PNG Optimizer on your toolbar. When the optimizer opens, click on the transparency tab, and choose either Single Color (which will leave the edges a little rough) or Alpha Channel, which will leave a nicer image. Be certain to set the export for Alpha Channel Transparency. These both have transparent backgrounds, although they may show as white.

- This works for Paint Shop Pro 7 through 9 and many other graphics editing programs. Review the instructions or a tutorial on this topic for your specific program.

Transparent .PNG files afford the luxury of using the designs in a multitude of ways in a wide range of applications in all the graphics editing programs. For this reason, it is the file format used by almost all digital scrappers and, consequently, for all the images on our site.

How can I be sure that the images on this site work with my graphics editing program?
You can download free samples at the link http://www.mangelsdesigns.com/frames/freeframes.htm and test them in your graphics editing program.

What is the difference between the images in .PNG format with transparent background and the "Tubes"?
The images in .PNG format have the same characteristics and versatility of the format "Tubes" in Paint Shop Pro®, with the advantages of those mentioned above. In addition, PNG is a universal format recognized by all graphics editing programs and creates high quality images with a 48-bit depth of color.

Why aren’t the images in this site considered clipart?
All images in .PNG on our site can have up to a 48-bit depth of color, which allows images to contain literally trillions of colors, far more than the human eye can see. Clipart only has a bit depth of 8 bits, which results in a very limited color scale.

How do I download the .PNG images?
The PNG images you will download will be in a compressed .ZIP file. You need to have a program like WinZip, WinRar, ZipGenius, etc. to decompress, not only our images files, but all compressed image files on the Web that are of high resolution and consequently are large files. WinZip is a free program that can be downloaded from the Web. A Google or Yahoo search will provide the link.

How can I learn more about .PNG format?
You can learn more about .PNG format in the official site: http://www.libpng.org/pub/png/pngintro.html

How else can I use the images?
These images can be opened in all programs, so, in addition to using them with your favorite graphics editing program for your pictures, scrapbooking layouts, designs, WebPages, etc., you can also use them as backgrounds for PowerPoint® presentations, backgrounds for e-mails (Outlook Express® stationery), and your Word® documents. Your imagination is the limit.

Why do the actual downloaded images sometimes seem to be different from the thumbnails shown in the site?
When the downloaded images are opened in a graphics editing program, they are often adapted to the size of the window. If this happens, you may not be viewing the image at actual size. All the thumbnails on the site are an exact replica of the design of the real images. To see the downloaded designs on your computer as they were intended to be, use the zoom tool of your program and adjust it to actual size of 100%.

I want to know how to combine frames and pictures.
Our frames and layouts (pre-made pages) are in two image formats, .JPG and .PNG. The .PNG format has transparent backgrounds that allow you to easily insert photos behind them. To accomplish this, you need to use one of the graphics editing programs.

The procedure is very simple: To combine a frame with a photo, you have to treat both images (frame and picture) as "layers" or "objects" to transport and align them properly.

Even with such basic programs as Microsoft Word® or Microsoft Power Point®, you can use .PNG images with transparent backgrounds to place a picture "behind" the frame.

After working with transparent backgrounds a few times, you will find it very easy. You can also refer to the tutorials included with your graphics editing program. On the Internet, you will also find good tutorials for the most common graphics editing programs (Paint Shop Pro®, Photoshop®, Unlead Photoimpact,® etc.). These can be located using a search engine such as Google or Yahoo.

There are also good software programs for novices in digital scrapbooking. Try the free trial of our sponsor ScrapbookMAX®. (click here) They have extensive tutorial and technical support.

PRINTING

How do I create layouts and print at sizes such as 8x8", A4, or 8.5x11"(letter size) using 12x12" background papers? Also, what can you tell me about wide format and other types of printers?
To print 8x8" or other square layo uts using 12x12" background papers, you can either (1) resize the backgrounds to the desired dimensions with your graphics editing program or (2) use the 12x12" backgrounds and adjust the finished print size under File>Print Preview.

To create A4, 8.5x11", or other rectangular layouts using 12x12" backgrounds, you need to resize the image and make some additional adjustments. If you want to maintain the size and shape of the design in a background paper, remove the spare ends of the image using your graphics editing program. Please use your creativity to avoid distorting or damaging the original design. If you're interested in the rectangular sizes, our Web site also has hundred of designs in smaller sizes, such as the layout templates and the Victorian photo album pages, which are at A4 size.

We size backgrounds at 12x12" for a number of reasons. One of the most important is that it's easy to reduce the size of the image and still retain design details and a high print quality.

You may have noticed that nearly all digital scrapbooking Web sites offer 12x12" scrap backgrounds. Traditional paper scrappers have generally worked with the 12x12" layout, which has now become a standard size in the scrapbooking industry. Layouts of this size offer a lot of workspace and are a familiar format for scrappers. Many photos can be used, and they are clear and visible after printing. In addition, storage and display of 12x12" layouts is easy because albums of this size are readily available.

Digital scrappers are more challenged when working at this size, however, if they want to print their pages. There are several wide format photo printers currently available on the market, such as those manufactured by Epson, Canon, and HP. While researching printer styles, we found the following information and hope it will be helpful to you:

1) For those who prefer to stick with the less expensive printers, many of the newer photo printers will print borderless at the 8.5x11" size. This allows you to print all the way to the edges and use your layout in albums without any trimming or matting necessary. Many digital scrappers create their layouts at the 12x12” size and reduce the dimensions to 8x8” to print them. These printouts can then be mounted on coordinating cardstock and placed in either an 8.5x11” album or an 8x8” album. These sizes are becoming increasingly more popular, with many choices available at a reasonable cost.

2) For those who prefer the full 12x12” size, the wide format printer is the choice for home printing. Using 13x19” paper will allow you to print a full 12x12” layout with room left over to print a couple of layouts resized to 6x6” for gift giving or for any other projects that are 6” or less on one side.

3) You can successfully use the same sized document (12x12") to print edge-to-edge 8.5x11" backgrounds. In fact, we had better results because most of the background .JPG graphic files are sized at 12x12" (3600 pixels by 3600 pixels). As long as you make sure to move your printer's paper holder so it is snug against the edge of your 8.5x11" paper, your printer won't print over the edge. (Note: While we have had successful results using these directions, you may have to experiment to get your particular printer to work correctly.)

4) Digital scrapbooking layouts can be printed in any size. The most popular sizes are 8.5x11", 8x8", and 12x12". To print layouts larger than letter size, you need to use either a wide format printer or take the file to a printing service, such as Kinkos, Walmart, or a commercial printer.

USE OF IMAGES

May I use the images for commercial uses?
Commercial Use is allowed strictly under the conditions specified for the Commercial Use Membersip. If you wish to use our designs in a monetary profit business, you must purchase the Commercial Use Membership. Please carefully read and understand the requirements here. The Personal Membership (standard subscription process) is strictly for personal use of our designs and does not convey the right to use any of our designs for any commercial purpose.

Can I modify the images?
Yes, they can be modified either partially or totally without any restriction.

If I pay a Membership fee for the images, do the images that I download become my property?
A MangelsDesigns® paid Membership gives you the right to download all the designs to be used in your personal layouts only. All designs will continue to be MangelsDesigns® copyrighted property. In no way will they belong to any member because a Membership fee has been paid and the images downloaded.

May I share my login and password with other people?
Absolutely NOT. The Membership fee is required to cover the lifetime cost of your own bandwidth consumption to download images. Consequently, our registered users are forbidden from sharing their login address and password with other people to allow them to download images.

How can you detect that the login and password are being shared?
To detect this prohibited practice, our Web site maintains and controls the computer’s IP of its registered members.

What would it happen if I share my login and password?
Any suspicious activity that might indicate that your login and password have been shared with others to allow image downloading will be investigated and could result in permanent Membership suspension.

What if I need change the computer I used to register or if I want to use more than one computer to access the site?
For this purpose, please, follows the instructions here

May I use your images in e-mails and forums?
Yes, you may use our Golden Names and images in forums and e-mails, but you may not link them directly from our server. This is an illegal use of our bandwidth that jeopardizes our ability to continue offering our excellent services, and it infringes on other members’ rights. If you wish to use our Golden Names and images in forums and emails, you must download them to your hard drive and upload them to a server that provides this service. The use of our server to download our images directly into forums and e-mails can result in the suspension of your Membership.

Does this mean that I can freely share your images in forums, blogs, etc.?
Absolutely NOT. This only means that you can use the images for your personal identification in forums, blogs or emails, for example, as avatars, signatures, blinkies, etc. However, share images in forums, blogs, etc. or links to the images or to your PRIVATE AREA is a violation of the subscription terms that will result in the immediate suspension of your Membership.

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