How to Digital Scrapbook

For the person who wants creative control over their scrapbook layout design a good graphics editing software program is essential. These are the main players in the digital scrapbooking software world, and all of them will allow you complete creative control over your scrapbook layout creations. All these products offer a Free Trial period so you can try before you buy.

Photoshop CS

Adobe Photoshop CS is the acknowledged benchmark in graphics editing software and is favored by many digital scrapbookers. It is a powerful software suite, abounding in features and functions. And therein lies its downfall for the digital scrapbooking beginner. When learning this new medium being confronted with all the complexity of Photoshop CS can be very daunting and difficult to learn. It also takes up a significant chunk of your computer's resources (eg. memory and hard drive space)  Many people who start with Photoshop give up in dismay as it can all become too hard. And Photoshop is at the high end of the market price-wise which doesn't make it a good entry level recommendation.

The Gimp

At the other end of the price scale is The Gimp. This is an open source graphics editing program, which means it is in the public domain and is free to download and use. It offers much of the functionality of Adobe Photoshop. However it is a complex program and can be difficult to learn. Tutorials for The Gimp are not as readily available as for the other main players in the digital scrapbooking software arena.

Paint Shop Pro

Corel's Paint Shop Pro offers much (though not all) of the functionality of Photoshop at a significantly lower price. However, like Photoshop and The Gimp, it is a very complex program to use and can be daunting to learn. It is also a resource hungry piece of software on your computer.

Photoshop Elements

Adobe Photoshop Elements is a 'cut down' version of Photoshop CS and to my mind is the perfect software solution for digital scrapbookers. It is a fraction of the price of Photoshop and uses a fraction of the computer resources that Photoshop, Paint Shop Pro and The Gimp use. But it is packed with all the functionality that you will need to create fantastic digital scrapbook layouts. So when it comes to choosing your digital scrapbooking software, I have to say that Photoshop Elements has my vote.

Digital Scrapbooking Elements

Unlike with paper scrapbooking supplies that need to be constantly replenished as you use them on your scrapbook layouts, Digital scrapbooking elements can be used over and over again.

When you first start digital scrapbooking you probably won't want to create your own element until you become a lot more familiar with your software. Most digital scrapbookers use digital scrapbooking kits that have been designed especially for your to use on your computer. You can either buy CDs with digital scrapbook kits or your can download them from the multitude of digital scrapbooking stores that abound on the Internet.

Even better.. how about getting your digital scrapbooking elements for free?

Many scrapbook designers offer Freebies to showcase their talents and to tempt prospective customers to check out their store. And many design and give away their creations out of the goodness of their hearts.

So once you have your graphics editing loaded on your computer you can actually create digital scrapbook layouts for years and years without needing to purchase another thing.

And one of the great attractions of digital scrapbooking is that you can modify your elements to coordinate them with each layout you make. You might change the color or size of the element or you might blend two or more elements together to create a look that's unique to your layout. So you can use your elements over and over again and they'll look different on each layout.

Just be aware of the Copyright laws when you do modify elements. Each digital scrapbook kit that you download will usually come with a Terms or Use document which outlines what you may or may not do with the elements. And this applies to freebies as well as to those that you purchase.

How to create a Digital Scrapbook Layout?

1. Click on File in the top menu bar and select Open. You can now browse through your Windows Folders until you find the Digital Scrapbook elements that you want to use for your layout.

2. Click on the Open button and each file will open into your workspace. You will be able to see them all in the Photo Bucket at the bottom of your Workspace.

3. Now create a new file by clicking on File>New>Blank File in the top menu bar. A dialog box will open allowing you to change the dimensions of your file. Click on the down arrows next to the width and height and change them to inches. Type in 12 inches for each. Make sure the resolution says 300 pixels per inch and the Color Mode says RGB Color.

4. Now with the Move tool selected (found at the top left of the vertical tool bar on the left of the screen), you can click on each element and, holding the mouse button down, you can drag it onto your layout.

5. The power of Photoshop Elements as a digital scrapbooking tool is in its layers. Each of the elements that you have dragged into your layout file is sitting on its own layer and you can see them in the Layers Palette on the right hand side. You can drag these layers up and down the stack to change their position relative to the other layers and this will enable you to position elements on top of other elements as you design your layout file sitting in the Photo Bucket under the main workspace.

6. You can resize your elements by clicking on an element or its layer and positioning your mouse cursor over the bounding box around it. You will see little square ‘handles’. Click on these with your mouse and drag them inwards or outwards to change the size of your element.

7. Hover your mouse over the ‘handles’ and they will change to little curved arrows. You can then hold your mouse button down on the arrows and tilt your element if you choose.

8. Click on the Type tool (shown as a T in the vertical tool bar) to create text boxes for your journaling or your title. You can modify the font and its size in the options at the top of the screen.

9. Then you can add a shadow to your elements to give them a three dimensional look by clicking on them and selecting a shadow from the Drop Shadows Menu in the Styles and Effects palette and your layout is complete.

10. Finally, save your digital scrapbook layout as a PSD file to keep all the layers separate, in case you want to go back and make any changes. And then choose the ‘save for the web’ option from the File menu and save it as a JPEG so you can email it to your family and friends.

Digital Scrapbooking gives you the Freedom to be Creative!

Many people start scrapbooking to preserve their family memories in words and pictures, which can be enjoyed by all in years to come.

Digital Scrapbooking is a wonderful way to achieve that. And it also unlocks your creativity as well.

Unlike with paper scrapbooking, you can’t ruin your digital scrapbooking supplies by an accidental slip of the scissors or by gluing something in the wrong place.

Creating your scrapbook layouts in Photoshop Elements means that any step that you make that you’re not happy with you can back out of by using the Control+Z keyboard command (Command+Z if you’re on a Mac). So there’s no need to be afraid to try anything.

Control+Z is your ‘get out of jail free’ card. And it totally liberates your creativity.

Try it and see. But be warned...digital scrapbooking is addictive.