I'm getting ready for my big December cleaning. I have a lot of templates on my computer that I've been waiting for a magical day to post, and I guess that day is upon us.
A lot of the templates are for papers, and I was wondering what your preferences are. Obviously if the paper is just one layer in one color, I can make a basic overlay and I think everyone is happy with that. But when it comes to a paper that has more than one color, I have both uploaded the .PSD file that has as many layers as necessary, but then when I discovered this easier recoloring method I started flattening all the layers together, giving each a different color, so people can still recolor them separately. Also many of the papers I make also have a pattern file (which can be either a layers .PSD file, or flattened and made into a .PAT file for Photoshop).
Phew! I'm nothing if not an organizational maniac, so the whole thing kind of overwhelms me. I want to have a standard and stick to it when I'm uploading paper templates. So I'd like to know what you prefer. If it seems to be an even split, we may have to think of something kind of new system, although simplicity is always best.
Options (see links for examples)
I like PSD or Flattened png
I tend not to use the Pattern or PAT files as much because it's a bit more to do than the others
The thing i use most is PSD or one layer overlays (png)
And last but not least YEY!!!!
I'm so looking forward to this 
Ditto to Jessica! PSD or flattened png
I prefer the layered PSD files, it gives you a little more flexibility to tweak the pattern (you can choose not to use one of the layers, or give it a twist by rotating or flipping just one layer).
Thanks for the input ladies!
I don't really care, I like them all, but I will point out that .pat files are easily scale-able and really really easy to use with clipping masks.
Y'all probably already know this, but if you are in a shape layer, you can double click it, bring up the box that has layer styles and drop shadow and gradient and all that -- click on pattern, choose the pattern you want, scale it to your heart's desire and it fills the shape, and if you don't like that pattern, you just click on another one. Much easier than trying out paper. I may be the last person on the planet to discover that, but I've used it a lot as I've worked on my Dec. blog train kit. Maybe you could add a .pat as a separate point download?
Also wanted to add that just yesterday I watched the tutorial on the recoloring method. Genious! How did I not know that? PS is a powerful program.
Yes, the main benefit of the pattern files is that you can resize them easily.
I think we have come up with a solution that we will probably implement in the next couple of days. Let me know what you think:
1. We are going to remove the "overlay" category from templates.
2. "Pattern Overlays" will be moved to the paper category, which you will then be able to filter by file type (.PNG for single layer, .PSD file for multiple layer.
3. "Texture Overlays" will become their own category.
4. Patterns will remain as they are, but hopefully will be referenced by the paper templates that use them (like an asset shows which template it uses.)
This is somewhat confusing, but I think we've come up with a solution which will eventually be less confusing.
that sounds really good
Great! I've been battling the pattern/texture overlay difference a couple of times, so I love that textures will get their own category.
the psd files make it easier to work with.
I personally like the layered psd's the best myself... for the same reason Melouise mentions here:
I generally prefer layered psd files... but now that I've watched that video I might be inclined to try out that method to see how I like it.
I generally use psd files, png for my overlays
I like best the "PSD file for papers with more than one layer."
I'm having a hard time figuring how to use patterns in PSP, so I don't really like patterns right now. And I think the recoloring process is a bit more complicated in PSP than it is in Photoshop, so a flattened file would make things more difficult (having layers is very helpful).
Thanks for the input everyone. I'm hoping to get all the paper templates sorted out this month...