Digital Scrapbooking Has Benefits
admin | March 10, 2010
Now that digital scrapbooking has hit the mainstream, the market for cut and paste scrapbooking could suffer.
If you have made both types of scrapbooks, you already know what the differences are and I don’t plan on discussing these differences here. However, my aim is to speak to you about digital scrapbooking and how you can use digital scrapbooking as an alternative.
The goal when creating a scrapbook is not simply placing several photos on a page. However, the point is to be very creative by decorating the page and including your own personal touch. multiple of decorations used in traditional scrapbooks. Though the embellishments are digital, the use of things like stickers and characters is still part of the scrapbook page. However, instead of creating the mess of cut paper, glue spillage and some of the hand drawn lines that can not be erased, digital scrapbooks are easy to edit or hit the undo button}.
What sets the two apart is the method of achieving this principle. As mentioned, traditional scrapbooking uses material such as papers, pens, letter cut outs, adhesives, and other embellishments. Digital scrapbooking on the other hand uses computer graphics that replaces these traditional materials. You may say it is harder to work on the page design on the computer than on the actual page (traditional scrapbook). But, to be honest, it is almost the same.
Take the following for example:
The traditional scrapbook will work on a background or layout (sometimes called a template), pictures, texts, and embellishments. The process goes like this: you place the pictures on the background, place some embellishments of your type, and write some texts.
The digital scrapbook will work on software with all the available digital embellishments and texts. You have scanned pictures or digital images from your camera to be placed on a chosen background. Put some texts and add more design. Then, with some more editing on the colors and borders, you have created a scrapbook page. Another great thing about digital scrapbooks is that you can use the same template for more than one page. By simply changing the colors and moving some things around on the page, you have a new template without the cost.
Oftentimes, it is much easier to create a digital scrapbook than a traditional one. This is because software that lets you create digital scrapbook with ready to use templates for texts and backgrounds, not to mention the editing tools you need. These features make it easier to create one unique page. Downloadable templates are readily available over the internet to widen up your choices on text, embellishments, and background. This is unlike traditional scrapbook that every thing is yours to make; from the background to the cutting of the decoration.
To further illustrate how does a digital page is created, here are the steps to follow:
· Create a new image from a blank canvas
· Define the size of the page you will use.
· Enter the settings you want to adapt.
· Add the photo
You can use the colors in the pictures to help you determine what colors you will use on the page scheme of the layout, therefore, you may want to see first what picture you want to use scheme of the layout, therefore, you may want to see first what picture You can use the colors in the pictures to help you determine what colors you will use on the page scheme of the layout, therefore, you may want to see first what picture you are interested in using in the page before determining the mat of the canvas.
To add a photo, you must first save one on a file. If you are creating your scrapbook with old photos, you can use a scanner to bring the images over to your hard drive. However, if you are using recent photos, you can simply insert your memory card from your digital camera and download the digital photos to your hard drive. This is usually a simple task though some camera makers have still not caught up with technology and may be more difficult. I recommend trying to purchase a digital camera with a removable memory card because of the ease of use.
· Create the background
Now that you have a determined canvas and photo, it is time for you to select your background. Here, the choices are endless. You can download images from the internet or use your photos to be the background itself. You can edit the texture of the background to match the scrapbook theme you want to achieve.
· Create the photo mat
Photo mats let the background and the photo meet on a certain point.
· Add the text and embellishments
Ready made texts and embellishments are one good feature of digital scrapbooking software. This helps you to put important touches fast and easy.
· Apply some finishing touches
Final editing is as important as placing everything in order. Make use of built in features such as shadows, emboss, effects, and others. This would help your page look more attractive as it highlights whatever you want to be highlighted.
If you are the type of person that likes to scrapbook with others, digital scrapbooking is not as much of a group activity. I have never heard of a digital scrapbooking weekend or digital scrapbook retreat. However, there are scrapbook crops, scrapbook retreats and scrapbook weekends scheduled around the country all of the time. If you enjoy this type of event, you may want to visit a site that lists scrapbook weekends to locate an event in your area.
