Digital Scrapbooking for You?
Is Digital Scrapbooking for you?
Digital artwork has made its way into the mainstream; so has the digital scrapbook. For sure, we have a certain understanding about digital art, but what about digital scrapbooking? Is it the same as digital art?
The two are similar and different in many ways, but we are not here to discuss deeply their differences and similarities. We are here to focus on digital scrapbooking as an alternative to the traditional scrapbook making.
Traditional scrapbooks are make by hand with several materials such as papers, pens, adhesives, and other embellishments you can think of. The main principle is; to create a beautifully decorated page that will give better meaning to your pictures. Digital scrapbooking works on the same principle. You create unique pages with decorations to enhance the meaning of the massage you want to address.
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 replace 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, and write some texts.
The digital scrapbook will work on software with all the available digital embellishments and texts. You have scanned pictures 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.
(Speaking of software. There are several software that would let you create digital scrapbooks. These are Microsoft® Digital Image Pro, Photoshop® Elements or Adobe® Photoshop®, Ulead PhotoImpact®, or Jasc Paint Shop Pro® and Cherish Bound to name a few.)
Often, it is much easier to create a digital scrapbook than a traditional one. This is because software that lets you create digital scrapbooks 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 backgrounds. 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 a digital page is created, here are some 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
Photos determine the color scheme of the layout, therefore, you may want to see first what picture you will use before determining the mat of the canvas.
To add a photo, you must first save one in a file. You can either scan pictures or take them from your digital cameras.
· Create the background
Now that you have determined a 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 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 add important touches fast and easily.
· 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 will help your page look more attractive as it highlights the key points of your page.
