___________________________________________________________________________
I’ve been digital scrapbooking for about a year and a half now. I don’t consider myself an expert by any means. At best I’m an intermediate. Using the ski slope analogy, I can probably get down the greens without falling, but I’m likely to fall on a blue square and I certainly don’t think I have any business being anywhere near a black diamond.
The first time I opened up PhotoShop I was completely befuddled. I didn’t know how to even start. I had a disk full of digital papers and elements and photos I wanted to scrap and I had no idea how to get them together. I consider myself pretty technology savvy, but PhotoShop is a very powerful tool and IMHO does not have a very intuitive user experience out the gate.
I went into work the next day and got someone to show me how layers worked and then I was on my way.
My first layout was a complete scraplift. I took this design created by Heather Preckel and made my own version. The photo was supposed to be b&w, but I couldn’t figure out how to do that so I settled for sepia toned (which sort of matched the brown in the word art anyway).
Scraplifting: Scraplifting is a term used among scrapbookers, to describe the concept of copying the designs and ideas of another’s layout and using them as your own. It’s an excellent way for a beginner to ‘get going’. Click here for more on the art & etiquette of scraplifting.
PhotoShop Elements
At the recommendation of Renee Pearson, author of ‘ Digital Designs for Scrapbooking’, a terrific book for beginners that became my bible, I switched to Photoshop Elements, which is far easier for the digital scrapbooker just starting out. The only thing I’ve ever wanted to do, that Elements can’t do, compared to Photoshop, is curved text.
Layers
The very first thing you need to understand when working with any of the photoshop programs is the notion of layers. Click
here for a good tutorial.
Layered Templates: I love using layered templates. It’s a quick and easy way to create a page fast, especially helpful if you are creating a 20+ page book. With layered templates a designer has taken the time to create a good layout and you can make it your own by ‘clipping’ your own papers and photos to the predesigned layers.
Here are two good tutorials on working with layered templates with step by step instructions and screenshots .
Ali Edwards
Taylor Made Designs (includes a free template to download)
Quick Pages: Quick pages are an even faster way to digitally scrapbook. Someone has done all the creative design work for you and all that is left is adding your own photos and journaling. The
cover of my
Photography Workshop book was done from a quick page from Paislee Press & the Queen of Quirk.
SAVE for Shutterfly photo books
When you are happy with your page, the last thing you will need to do is convert the .PST (PhotoShop) file into a JPEG for upload to Shutterfly.
File > save as > JPEG
I typically save at the highest resolution possible (12) which will look good even in our largest size book or scrapbook page, the 12×12.
Upload the JPEG to Shutterfly. Place it in your book just as you would a full bleed photo. Don’t forget to turn off vividpix for each image! Click
here for tutorials.
But if you aren’t ready to jump into all of this, our Creating Keepsakes books are a really quick and easy way to get that digital scrapbook aesthetic, without the learning curve of PhotoShop.
Additional Resources for Beginners:
‘
Digital Designs for Scrapbookers’, Renee Pearson
Digital Scrapbooking Magazine
‘Digital Scrapbooking 1-5’, Simple Scrapbooks
Online Stores (great places for inspiration and digital assets)
Designer Digitals
Digital Design Essentials
Heather Ann Designs
Jen Wilson
Oscraps
Scrapgirls
Shabby Miss Jenn Designs
August 17th, 2008 at 7:34 pm
Tracy, I can’t believe you’ve only been doing digital scrapbooking for a little over a year. It looks like you’ve been doing this for years. Your work is so beautiful and classy, simple and elegant. I enjoy viewing your projects. Your article was really great for people like me who find PSE even complex. I could never figure out the layering. It seemed I had to jump through hoops just to do basic editing. I do want to try this program again (I took it off my computer because it made me so mad!!). Everyone who uses it, loves it. I’ll for sure be going back to your article for referance once I have a little more time and patience to work with it and the different elements. In the meantime there are a few new CK books I’ve been meaning to try as well.
Thanks again Tracy, for sharing such a helpful article.
Joanna T
Shutterfly Gallery Guru
August 18th, 2008 at 5:51 am
Tracy, this is EXACTLY what I’ve been needing to start doing this myself.
Thank you so much for this article and tutorial. It is going to be very helpful to so many people!
VickieP1
Shutterfly Gallery Guru
August 18th, 2008 at 9:07 am
You have answered quite a few of my questions about “how” to start out scrapbooking! I am going to be looking back at this page offen for help. I started to mess around with Fotofusion and got a very slow start at understanding the whole concept.
Do you know how it compairs to Photo Shop Elements?
Your article added a …my I say….another layer of understanding….that I will be able to do it. Thanks for some clairity on starting into the digi scrap world. (Now I just have to find the extra time….ahahhaha)
Ann Abbott
Shutterfly Gallery Guru
August 18th, 2008 at 9:40 am
Very cool! I found this through google and love the scraplift! Love your article too!
August 20th, 2008 at 4:57 pm
Thanks sooooooooo much for this article. I just got PSE and was like huh??? I too think I am somewhat intelligent with a computer but after looking through everything I questioned myself. LOL!!! But your article has enlightened me. Thanks so much.
TammyM5
Shutterfly Gallery Guru
August 21st, 2008 at 2:23 pm
I love your books Tracey. Not only are you an arrtistic digi-scrapper but a terrific photographer as well. I use Photoshop CS3 and am teaching a friend who is going digital. She has elements and she can do everything I can do. We haven’t tried curved text yet but there are some templates out there with curved text. I think we’ll try one of those. BTW I am just finishing up my second class with Jessica Sprague and would really like to recommend her system. Her classes contain videos, lessons, assignments, a terrific gallery divided up by class, freebies in the way of kits that you wouldn’t believe, and a daily e-mail in your in-box as she checks in with you everyday. As you finish an assignment you upload it and go to the message board for lots of pats on the back or help if something is not working right. The best thing….you have access to all of that forever. Just go to the website and it’s there for you. I would advise anyone who is interested in digital scrapping that they go to her web site gallery and look under her beginning class and see what her students are doing.
BarbaraK57
Shutterfly Gallery Guru
August 24th, 2008 at 8:07 am
This is great! There are so many useful and helpful links to get someone off the ground and on their way to the world of digi! You have so many amazing and inspiring books in the gallery, I am sure your article will be equally inspiring to take that leap into the digital world! Thanks for sharing.
Cheryl_Whitesel
Shutterfly Gallery Guru
September 12th, 2008 at 1:25 pm
What a great article Tracy. I can tell you put a lot of time in finding referrence links. Thanks for providing such great examples and your own personal experiences. Your books are amazing. And it eems you’ve started a wonderful, much needed discussion.
AmyS2310
Shutterfly Gallery Guru
October 9th, 2008 at 6:33 pm
HI, I was wondering if you knew how many years do yoou have to go to college to become a professional scrap booker
October 10th, 2008 at 8:31 am
Krystal: That is a great question and the wonderful answer is zero! Although to be honest it really helps if you have a background in graphic design. If I could do my college years over again, I would have taken more design classes and gotten more formal education in the various software programs such as Illustrator and Photoshop. Digital scrapbooking is really a form of graphic design, so the more experience you have with design principles and software programs, the better prepared you’ll be.
rsheedy
shutterfly gallery guru
October 10th, 2008 at 9:03 am
Great article and links Tracy. It’ll be nice to have all those toutorials in one place in the future.
Note to Krystal - Rachael S already said it… zero! :o) I took a few photoshop classes in college and worked in package design for a little while. So when I found digital scrapbooking, it came easy to me! A graphic degree would be awesome though, but for now, check out all those sites that Tracy recommended! :o)
Shutterfly Gallery Guru
October 10th, 2008 at 9:12 am
Krystal… Digital scrapbooking is more of a hobby than a profession… although there are many people that have been turning their love for it into a profession! Like Rachael said, a graphic design background helps. I went to school for graphic design and learned all of the programs and design principles. Although I use these skills to make ads, folders, brochures, stationery, billboards and business cards etc… they serve me perfectly for digiscrapping!!! A ton of designers are self taught. If you are interested in learning the design programs without getting a degree in graphic design, most community colleges offer classes in Photoshop, InDesign and Illustrator. There are even classes that are offered online through many schools, so you can take them in the comfort of your home! Hope this helps and good luck!
niki
shutterfly gallery guru
October 31st, 2008 at 12:42 pm
Thank you. I enjoyed & understood the explanations, advice, & comments. I’m a very newby to digital scrapbooking. I didn’t know how to start. Now I have a jump off spot and hope to be starting very soon with uploading digital scrapbook photo pages. Thank you all for sharing information.
Lynn N.