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Getting Started with Digital Scrapbooking

New to Digital Scrapbooking? If you have heard about this thing they call digi, but you aren’t sure where to start, then read on!!  Digital Scrapbooking is a very fast growing version...
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After you register please see this thread you are given access several areas in our download manager, which can be located here.  You will be requested, daily, to affirm that you understand our...
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Getting Started with Digital Scrapbooking PDF Print
Written by Tbog   
Thursday, 24 January 2008
New to Digital Scrapbooking?
 
If you have heard about this thing they call digi, but you aren’t sure where to start, then read on!!  Digital Scrapbooking is a very fast growing version of a favorite memory preserving past time.  There are a few basic things you will need in order to get started:

1. A scrapbooking or photo editing program.
2. Lots of your favorite digital photos
3. Digital Scrapbooking kits
4. A little patience and the desire to preserve those memories!!

Choosing a program

There are many different kinds of software available that can be used to scrap with.  Some people choose to buy software that is manufactured specifically for digital scrapbooking.  Often, this software has built in papers, elements etc, but may offer limited editing capabilities.

Many people choose to invest in a photo editing program, such as Photoshop Elements, Paint Shop Pro  or Photo Impact. While sometimes a little more expensive, these programs offer many more options when creating your layouts.  They allow for a wider variety of file types to be used, and they don’t restrict you to being able to use only the pieces built in to the program.  

Whichever program you choose, do not hesitate to ask about it in our forums.  With many different members here, there is sure to be someone who uses the program of your choice.  

Your Photos

Many people are using digital cameras as their camera of choice nowadays.  Digital provides you with the ability to  preview and/or delete your pictures right after you take them.  No more waiting for your favorite pictures to be developed.....just upload to your computer and they are ready to be used in minutes.  Film pictures can be used in digital scrapbooking as well, if they are scanned on a scanner and saved in your computer.

Digital Scrapbooking Kits

We want to give you a little something to get you started.   With this mini kit, you have all you need to make your very first layout!!  This file is in .zip format, so you should be able to extract the contents in Windows by right clicking the file name, and going to Extract All.  If you do not have Windows, there are many unzip programs available for free that can be found with a quick Google search.

Once you have this kit unzipped, you will need to find a picture or two that you would like to scrap.  After finding the pictures, you will need to open a paper.  If you are using one of the editing programs listed above, then it most likely works in layers.

Imagine that you are working on a paper layout, with all the supplies sitting on the table in front of you.  As you build your layout, the pieces get layered on top of each other, with the paper being the 1st layer, since it is on the bottom.  Well digital is the exact same way!!  To start a layout, you will need to start with your first layer, your paper.  Everything else in your layout will build on top of that.  

Generally, in Photoshop, you will just drag your pieces onto your paper, then use the various resizing tools or layers palette to arrange them where you would like.  In Paint Shop Pro, you will have to copy each piece and paste it onto the layout as a new layer.  When you view your layers palette, the order in which the layers are listed is the order that they are on your paper.  If it helps, you may want to rename each layer by clicking on the name in the layers palette and typing in the name---ie; paper, ribbon, etc.  Whatever program you use, there are many tutorials listed here at Gotta Pixel to help you learn the way.  Please do not hesitate to ask questions in the forums if you don’t understand how your program works.  Thank you for choosing Gotta Pixel, and we can’t wait to see you in the gallery!!
 
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