Scrapbooker spin off thread: do you digital scrapbook?

[Lynno1975]

I've been toying with the idea, but I'm not sure if I want to. On one hand I like the cut and paste crafty part, but on the other, I could do SOOOO much more with digital.

Anyone have software, and do you have any recommendations? I need a new computer and printer first, but I'd like to get a good idea of what I would want and I have plenty of time to study.

Also, if you do have it, do you burn the whole thing to a CD/DVD or do you print it out? If you print it out, how much printer ink do you go through?

[615bride]

Oh gosh, hopefully Leigh will weigh in as she seems to be our resident expert. I've been digi scrapping for a few years I guess but my main scrapbook is still paper. I digiscrap all of our cards (I send out four a year) and my mom's album. I love it.

I use Photoshop Elements as my software. It doesn't do as much as Photoshop but I have never been unable to do something because I "only" have Elements and it's a lot cheaper.

Look around at:

www.shabbyprincess.com
www.designerdigitals.com
www.twopeasinabucket.com (they have a digital section)

[jjsooner73]

I know nothing about digi scrapbooking.

I just chimed in to say Hi Lynne! You still doing events with TNT?

[fci5767]

I've tried both Photoshop Elements and ACDSee and I definitely prefer ACDSee. I think I'll order it as soon as I can. It's more user-friendly, in my opinion.

I get my pages printed online. I've used www.scrapbookpictures.com and I've gotten discounts if I log in through the Two Peas in a Bucket website.

[RunnerKim]

I haven't done any in awhile but I do. I use Photoshop and print 12x18s at CostCo. I've been slowing transitioning from paper to digital but like to do paper for cards and little gift albums and other crafts. Digital just makes a lot more sense for me since I can customize a page for each child without it taking a long time. Or print duplicates etc.

I took a class from Leigh when she was in town at a convention at it really helped get me some basic digital scrapbook skills.

Kim

[leightx]

*Waving hand wildly in the air! Oooh - oooh! Pick me! Pick me!!* ;)

Yep - I have gone completely digital, with the exception of busting out the paper, ink and stamps for cards every once in a while. And I've been known to foof up my printed digital layouts with a little ribbon, buttons or painted chipboard, so I do keep some of that stuff on hand (I have about 4 of those clear plastic shoebox sized boxes full of stuff).

I just love digital. LOVE. The best part - it only takes up a laptop's amount of room. Well, ok, there is also the external drive, and the wide-formant R1800, but it's still considerably less space than the entire room full of scrapbook supplies that I used to have. And if I get interrupted when I'm halfway done with my layout, I hit Save, and close the computer. Done! Since I tend to be rather scatterbrained and a bit disorganized, this has been an absolute lifesaver.

I can digitally scrap sooo much faster, mainly because I don't have the whole matching issue that I had when paper scrapping. If the colors of my papers and elements don't match, I just adjust it in Photoshop so it does! I never have to run down to the scrapbook store to find matching cardstock. And fonts are a whole lot cheaper (free!) than alphabet stamps.

I wouldn't say I've saved any money by going digital - I collect digital kits in the same way I used to collect cardstock and patterned paper. But if you wanted to be frugal, digital is definitely the way to go. Since it's easy to change the color of anything, you can turn one kit into dozens of layouts, and no one would know it was the same thing.

Another bonus - I know these layouts will last far longer than any of my paper ones. I print them out on archival paper, with archival inks, and they have been tested to last over 200 years before you see any noticable fading or discoloration (if framed and hanging on a wall). In an album, they'll last much longer. My early paper layouts (over 12 years old) haven't faded, but pictures and papers have fallen off - and that was with supposedly the best adhesives and papers. And I can use digital elements that look exactly like rusty metal letters, or painted chipboard, and not worry about them harming my photos. Oh - and if mom wants a copy, I simply print her another 12x12, and an 8x8 (or whatever) for each of the kids while I'm at it. I've even printed the same layout with different pictures on a number of occasions.

When I started, back before digital kits were available, I really thought I'd miss the hands-on aspect. I don't really miss that at all, mainly because I don't miss the huge mess I create whenever I get all my paper and embellishments out. I have to do the random paper layout for catalogs and promotional materials, and every time I do I remember why it is I've stopped doing it for myself. And I get the same creative outlet from doing it on the computer. I know from teaching digital scrapbooking that some people work with computers all day, and don't want anything to do with them when they get home - that doesn't describe me though, and I'll happily scrapbook for hours at night.

For me, the ONLY downside is that I sometimes miss the personal connection of going to crops. I did enjoy that, and I've done it with the laptop, but it's not quite the same. And I don't think I'd go to a scrapbook store crop with my computer - I don't think they'd appreciate someone taking up space who clearly had no interest in buying anything...

I use Photoshop Elements for scrapbooking - and very occasionally Photoshop. I still prefer Elements b/c that's what I learned with, and I'm more proficient in that program, and I can do 99.9% of what I want to do with it. There are other programs that are probably just as good - many people use Digital Image Pro and Paint Shop Pro. There are so many pre-designed layout templates out there that a page can take as little as 5 minutes, or you can mix and match papers and elements from the thousands of digital kits available, and spend hours (or days!) if that's more your speed.

[katygirl]

I don't. But I am good friends with a woman who does AMAZING work. I work with her and frequently get to look at her projects. They are beautiful. She (Julie Kelley) just won a contest to be on Scrapbook Dimensions Dream Team and is beyone excited! I don't scrap digitally or otherwise but I still appreciate looking at other people's projects!

[SooCookie]

This is a very timely thread, since I was going to post the same thing! I received PSE as a Christmas gift since my smart DH knew I was toying around with the idea of digital scrapbooking.

Leigh, where is a good place to start. Do you have any books or websites to recommend for a complete newbie? Other than the sites 615bride mentioned, of course! :)

Thanks for asking this question, Lynno1975.

Michelle

[615bride]

Michelle - Here's another one that's kind of "messy" IMO but has GREAT info!

http://jenjen.typepad.com/

[leightx]

The sites that 615bride posted are also my faves, especially Designer Digitals. I love Shabby Princess b/c that site has all FREE kits that are absolutely beautiful - and besides that, she is just the sweetest, most generous person. :) She also has a shop: www.theshabbyshoppe.com . I'm a huge fan of her piece-a-cake albums and calendars. I'd highly recommend downloading some of her free kits to play around with.

Here are a few more sites that I buy from waaaay too much:

www.littledreamerdesigns.com - I think I have an addiction to Michelle Coleman's papers.
www.digitaldesignessentials.com
www.scrapartist.com (I used to stalk Michelle Coleman here until she got her own site - I love Two Sisters, and Nancie Rowe Janitz)

There are more, but I'll stop before I embarrass myself. :o

As far as computers - just make sure you have plenty of RAM (2 GB would be great) and a ton of hard drive space, and an external hard drive for backup. I have and love my Epson R1800, but they've since come out with one that would be excellent and is less money - the 1400. If you aren't interested in printing 12x12 layouts, then any good quality letter-sized photo printer is good, or you can have them printed at the photo lab. Costco does print 12x12 (on 12x18 paper - so you can squeeze in 2 6x6s on the same sheet) - I think it's only about $3 or so.

I wish I could recommend a book, but I really don't know of any. I occasionally teach a free beginning scrapbook course on Sony that walks you through the entire process of creating a layout with a digital kit in Photoshop Elements, but I don't think it's running right now (there is a digital scrapbooking course, but it doesn't cover digital kits, which is what 99% of the digital scrapbooking community uses). If I could figure out how to do some sort of webcast thing, I'd teach you myself!! I used to have scads of our digital scrapbooking books on hand, but I got rid of them once I quit teaching (and they are outdated anyway - there have since been 2 updates to PS Elements). I think Epson might still be teaching at events like Scrapbook Expo and CKU, but I don't know anything about the classes anymore.

[Terri_A]

I've been trying to digiscrap for about a year now. I'm getting better, but there is a learning curve. I use Photoshop Elements, since it's what I already had.

Hey Leigh...if I teach you how to webcast....:D It's easier than you think! Check out www.webex.com

And I still want to come to Austin for a one-on-one class!;)

[leightx]

Dang - I checked it out and it's $40 a month! Eeek! I do think that's a good solution, but I wonder if there's a less expensive option. I don't need teleconferencing, or even a webcam - I would just want something where people could see my screen, and hear me talk, and they could type questions or whatever. Does that exist?

[SusanMac]

I'm very intrigued in digital scrapping for one of the reasons mentioned above. I hate constantly going to the scrapbook store to get paper, etc, then come home & still not have quite the right size/color, etc.

Here's a concern (which may sound weird).....I spend all day every day on the PC for work. In my spare time & on weekends, it kind of bugs me to be on the PC (like I spend way too much time on this BB :-)

Does anyone else get PC-burnout?? Maybe I'm overanalyzing, but that part doesn't appeal to me.

[Terri_A]

Dang - I checked it out and it's $40 a month! Eeek! I do think that's a good solution, but I wonder if there's a less expensive option. I don't need teleconferencing, or even a webcam - I would just want something where people could see my screen, and hear me talk, and they could type questions or whatever. Does that exist?

Leigh, When I've participated in a webcast, the voice part was by teleconference, but I'll see if I can find something that broadcasts the presenter's voice over the web. On the flip side, 40 bucks a month if you charge 1. for the class and have at least 4 people- it's paid for!!! Heck, you could do private lessons and charge the client (me!) the whole thing!

[leightx]

I'm very intrigued in digital scrapping for one of the reasons mentioned above. I hate constantly going to the scrapbook store to get paper, etc, then come home & still not have quite the right size/color, etc.

Here's a concern (which may sound weird).....I spend all day every day on the PC for work. In my spare time & on weekends, it kind of bugs me to be on the PC (like I spend way too much time on this BB :-)

Does anyone else get PC-burnout?? Maybe I'm overanalyzing, but that part doesn't appeal to me.

Susan - I used to teach digital scrapbooking classes at conventions, and this was something I heard occasionally. I'm on my PC a lot (writing), but I'm not in an office so I can take breaks whenever I want. I think that makes a difference, since I definitely don't mind playing around on the PC during my work breaks.

Terri - I was hoping to give free lessons (or maybe one free basic lesson at least), but I might have to change my thinking here a bit...

[SooCookie]

Thanks for all the info!
So I poked around and downloaded some of the free kits and was just wondering how do you organize all of this stuff? There is the paper, fonts, embellishments... how do you know what you have?

[fci5767]

Thanks for all the info!
So I poked around and downloaded some of the free kits and was just wondering how do you organize all of this stuff? There is the paper, fonts, embellishments... how do you know what you have?

I know that a lot of people use ASDSee photo manager software but I've never used it.

[jan1367]

I am also from Indianapolis and love digital scrapbooking!!! I have been digiscrapping for about 18 months and use Photoshop Elements and Photoshop and ACDSee Photo Manager to organize all of my kits. I have so many favorite sites and am ashamed to admit there are probably 25 to 30 of them. Some layouts I print and some I don't, it depends on the project that I am working on. I teach some digital scrapbooking classes locally to try and introduce this awesome hobby to the local community.

Janel

[helene]

I have ACD Photo Manager and Editor 10. Can I use these to start my digital scrapbooking?

[leightx]

Thanks for all the info!
So I poked around and downloaded some of the free kits and was just wondering how do you organize all of this stuff? There is the paper, fonts, embellishments... how do you know what you have?

I typically organize my kits in Photoshop Elements Organizer (it comes with Photoshop Elements, but it a separate part of the program). You can tag (label) the papers, embellishments, etc, so they are easy to find. For example - you can tag all your baby or sports kits, all your buttons, and all your paisley papers from all the different kits, then just click on that tag (baby, sports, buttons, or paisley) to find all the kits or embellishments that match. Very cool!

I must confess that I used to spend a ton of time organizing my stuff, and now I just keep everything organized by designer and website on my hard drive. I tend to remember what is in which kit (to some extent), and when I'm looking for something in particular, I can usually remember where it was, or at least the designer. The nice thing about digital scrapbooking is that most of the kits are color-coordinated, so you typically don't have to spend hours looking for a matching button in a different kit!