Digital Scrapbooking

[MamaBug]

Don't know if this is the right place??? But has anyone that scrapbooks done so using a digital method? I have so little time these days and it's been years since I sat down and made a page. I buy paper and things constantly but never get around to using them I thought perhaps since I spend a little time on the computer I might be able to get it done that way but am wondering how they look once printed out?

If anyone has done this or knows of someone who has did it look nice? How was the cost?

[dysenchanted]

I digi-scrap. I really enjoy it... I can work on things at my leisure, during naptime, etc. and not pull out scissors, glue, paper, stickers, etc and make a huge mess in our tiny place. ESPECIALLY with a little person underfoot. Also, you can re-use the digital "papers" and elements over and over again! Yeah!

I'm also one of those people who can't draw or cut a straight line to save my life... even with a ruler, or a craft cutter... so, for me especially, digi-scrapping is a very forgiving media.

I get my layouts printed on Costco.com (1 hour photo) and the 12x12 size (I think matte finish looks better than glossy) is about $3.00 each. Not too shabby...

There are also templates out there for Photoshop, and other software that allow you to make layouts very quickly. This is good if you're new to the media. I like templates.

Do a google search for "digital scrapbooking freebies" - and you should be able to find some stuff to try out and get you started!

Some good digital scrapbooking sites I enjoy:

http://www.scrapgirls.com/

http://www.theshabbyshoppe.com

http://peppermintcreative.com/index.php?main_page=home

[MamaBug]

Thanks so much!!!! I tried one site and it was very hard to naviagate. I want the tempaltes to start with just to get my little ones first year done in time for her birthday. I am not thinking I will never do the paper kind again but I don't have the space, time or energy at this point.

Thanks so much, the first chance I get I am going to do this.

Do you somehow save the pages to your computer? I guess I don't understand how you get it printed out?

[lorelei]

Oh, neato! I didn't realize you could print 12x12 at Costco!
TFS!!!

[Glover_Girls]

I do digital scrapping with scrapping software that really makes it easy and fun. I can also do cards with the software which is very handy for those zillion kids' birthday parties we go to! I also have tons of paper and embellishments stored in a very storage cool cart but I hardly have time to haul all the stuff out! I have done a mix of pages in a book of digital and regular scrapping with all the goodies. Of course the only downside for me is that I don't have a printer that does 12x12 but I've been doing small 8x8 books for friends. There's probably a Cosco around here but I'm not a big box store shopper so I'll probably do smaller quicker books with the computer and do the larger books with the all the trimmings.

I have a really nice HP photo printer and the quality is very good. I'm sure a digital printer would be better but for purposes of getting scrapping done and memories into books, it's just fine for me.

[dysenchanted]

Originally Posted by MamaBug

Thanks so much!!!! I tried one site and it was very hard to naviagate. I want the tempaltes to start with just to get my little ones first year done in time for her birthday. I am not thinking I will never do the paper kind again but I don't have the space, time or energy at this point.

Thanks so much, the first chance I get I am going to do this.

Do you somehow save the pages to your computer? I guess I don't understand how you get it printed out?

Sure! It's a lot of fun!!
Yes, you do save the files to your computer. I use PhotoShop to edit photos, and make my digi-scrapped layouts. The files that most of the elements, papers, and elements come in are .jpg & .png formats.

The actual file in Photoshop is a .psd file (photoshop document) and you also save them as .jpg files once you flatten the layers. I always keep a .psd with the non-flattened files, so I can change them quickly should I make a mistake.

You want your images to be 300 DPI (dots per inch) for maximum printing quality. Also, if it's something you get very into.... you will need an external hard drive to store all of your files. We have one we use for my scrapping stuff, and also as a back-up drive for our pictures.

You then upload the .jpg files to Costco.com photo site, and they print them like any other photos. You do need to make sure that "auto correct" is turned off, and not to have anything too close to the edges to avoid getting them cropped out, just to be safe.

You do not have to print 12x12, of course, you can do 8x8, or even 6x6, and I prefer the smaller sizes for albums to give away.... but if you decide to print smaller than 12x12, you will most likely need to re-size all of the elements/papers, etc... to compensate for the smaller size. 12x12 is the standard size.


Good luck!

Here's some examples of my scrapped layouts:
http://flickr.com/photos/tjsmomma/22...7602395534349/
http://flickr.com/photos/tjsmomma/15...7602395534349/
http://flickr.com/photos/tjsmomma/22...7602395534349/
http://flickr.com/photos/tjsmomma/22...7602395534349/

[eloise24]

Another digi scrapper here! Not much else to add to the posts above, but I would recommend you check out DIGISHOPTALK as a resource to link you to other places. There are gallerys there, to get inspiration for your own work, places to ask questions and links to TONS of stores.

PM me if you want to see how layouts look in albums or another questions about how it "really" works!

Here is a link to some of my older layouts

Good luck, it's addicting!

[guestmama9911]

I feel REALLY stupid so I'm going to ask some stupid questions.

Do you just use photoshop or is there separate software you buy?

How do you add a picture to a template?

How do you make the pages 8 x 8 if you don't want to spend $3.00 at Costco and want to print from your own computer?

[rach03]

Alisaterry, I use Photoshop Elements...it's a scaled down version of full PS but I really don't think it limits you at all. I use it for editing digital photography as well as some digi-scrapping things.

To make it 8x8, you'd just set your document (canvas) size to 8x8 in PSE and then you can print it that size at home! Super easy

Pictures usually just slide into templates...PS and PSE use layers, so a photo would be layered behind a template.

[CyndyRR327]

I actually did a book online and it was very easy and turned out great! I had put it off for years because it seems impossible to drag all that stuff out with 2 little ones around. Then I really wanted to get at least SOMETHING in a book for Evan cause he didn't even have a first yr book. I definately think the ones you do in real like are cuter, but at least I have something for him.

I did a book of about 30 pages I think and it cost about $50. I did it at snapfish I think.

[speck]

I used shutterfly to make 8"x8", 30 page (I think) scrapbooks for Christmas. I bought a plan that made them $20 apiece. They shipped in I think about a week and a half, and were beautiful! They were a hit! I will definitely be making more using shutterfly!

I had been told that Fuji makes the best paper, and that (along with the price) helped me decide to go with shutterfly. There are lots of other companies that offer digital scrapbooking, though.

Have fun!

[MorganRiley]

i have been traditional and digi scrapping for years

I like to do both....depending on the album/occasion

I have only made 8x8 pages into actual albums

all my 12x12 albums are traditional scrapping...

I use photoshop CS3
but photoshop elements would work fine for a beginner
(and is cost affordable)

You might want to take a class on how to use photoshop...

you can find classes at local colleges

or high a local teen computer whiz to teach you one on one

the way you bring a photo onto the template is that everything is done in layers....just like traditional scrapping

so your background layer is your new canvas...you set the size and dpi to 300

then you bring on the paper

then you can add your photos

then frames or embelishments like ribbon etc.

then I usually do the text part last

each item is a separate layer and can be manipulated on its own

make sure when you bring your photo onto the canvas that it too is set to 300 dpi for best printing quality
(it usually comes off your camera at 72dpi)

good luck and have fun with it!

here's a couple recent digi scrapping pages I have done:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...p/DylanWEB.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...ard2007WEB.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...lLeavesWEB.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...ollageWEB2.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...shop/VdayW.jpg

I use the software and digi files to make cards alot too!

[guestmama9911]

I've actually been loving the Hallmark scrapbook software. Just insert pictures, change the text and voila! 8-1/2 x 11 pages. I did my son's entire first year on Sunday. The only disadvantage is that my own personal taste doesn't really come through - everything is quite cutesie. But, it's easy and it's done and cost me $30 for the software.

[jessjgh1]

I just started digital scrapping and have loved Digital Scrapbook Place here:

http://www.digitalscrapbookplace.com/gallery/

Lots of freebies, and even free tutorials and the option of courses. The forum is the same type as Mothering, so that was a little weird, so different yet so alike, weird.

It is addicting. But really at that site there was a lot of really nice free stuff so when I first looked at it last summer, I did an announcement for Rebecca-- in WORD. (I didnt' have a file yet). It wasn't layered, but it worked enough. I've been afraid to get started because of the time I can see spending. I asked Dh for Elements for the holidays and got it in January (I knew i was getting it, but it took a month to ship, lol). It has been fun!

Good luck!

Jessica

[MamaBug]

Ok I am back and wow all your pages are just great! Ok so I am still reading but do I have to load software to my computer to do this? And if I create them on my computer I can get them printed elsewhere right? My printed uses way too much ink and it would cost me more print them myself. I tried to use the site How Fast They Grow but it was super hard and I got pissed and stopped trying. So now I am back as I really need to get started doing this. My poor middle son only has 2 pages in his first scrapbook and he is 8 for goodness sake!

[lifeguard]

I never have (i just love the hands on of traditional scrapbooking so much) but have friends who have done them.

I've seen very nice finished products using the creative memories & the apple websites. Both enable you to create full books & they come all bound & everything. Kind of neat. Not cheap though.

[MommyMichele]

I love digital scrapbooking and I wrote this for another thread months ago:
My Essay On Digi-Scrappin'

[Pumpkin_Pie]

Oh no! I adore scrapbooking, but have not had time to do any since DS was born. I could totally get addicted to digi-scrapping while NAK'ing.

I also just found a mac program that is a free trial for 15 days. I am scared at how much time this may take up!

[MommyMichele]

Yep! Nursing at keyboard while scrapping is one of the advantages!

[Polliwog]

I digiscrap using ACDSee software. I usually have mine printed online through scrapbook pictures.com. I usually go in through the Two Peas in a Bucket website and they are often running specials.