Buying a downloadable pattern
 

I have never bought a pattern that you have to download and I'm not sure how the process works. Does it come as an attachment that you save to the computer, open and print? Can I then send the file to a photocopy place to get it printed? How does the seller control how many people one could send a pattern to? It would seem to me that a PDF would make it a lot easier for a pattern to be shared as opposed to making actual copies which is not allowed. Are there restrictions with a PDF?

In reality, I suppose you are correct in that there is no control over how often the downloaded pattern is opened. Then again, if it's very sophisticated software - like today's word processing programs for example, x times opened and you are done.

I would download to my computer for safety's sake. You could then save to a thumb drive, etc. to take to a copy place. Beyond that would be up to you.

Just my opinion.

I have downloaded patterns. It is something that you save on your computer and can open as a pdf. Now if this is a pattern from Craftsy that pattern stays in your account and you have to access/print it from there. As far as restrictions ..... some designers do limit how many times the pattern can be open but I have not had that on any of the patterns I have downloaded.

The last pattern that I downloaded included a line at the bottom that stated that this pattern was for (my name) exclusive use. First time I ever ran across this. This is always how I have treated patterns, but the first time I've come across this particular statement included right on the printout. It downloaded in a PDF.

Agree ... you can go back to your patterns on Craftsy at any time.
However, that is Not the only way to access them!!

I have always been able to download my Craftsy patterns to my own system.
Then I print them when I want to, immediately, or a long time after.
I just let the Craftsy "save" be my backup system, in case I lose it or forget how I have it labelled.

I download to my computer and print out a copy to work with and one to save in a binder. I always make a copy of any pattern to use while I make it.

As far as the pattern being shared with non-purchasers, the author just has faith that most quilters/crafters are honest. The (hopefully) few sales lost to cheaters is more than offset by the author not having to print, package and distribute a paper pattern, along with having to share profits with the publisher and/or distributor!

I've purchased many Craftsy patterns and have always left them in my Craftsy account. Good idea about adding them to my computer.

Most patterns I purchase online are PDF's that have a limit on how many times they may be downloaded. I save them as PDF's to my iBooks app for my iPad and I also print them out, laminate them and put them in a binder that is arranged alphabetically. There is nothing that anyone can do to prevent someone from copying and giving the pattern away, however I believe that more people than not have the moral capacity to not do so.

Some people had a lot of problems with Craftsy recently in accessing their files.
So another good reason to download ... and not risk losing them at some point.