1. What is Digital Scrapbooking?
2. 10 Reasons to Digital Scrapbooking
3. Digital Scrapbooking Terms
4. Digital Scrapbooking Styles
What is Digital Scrapbooking?
Taken fom : Wikipedia
Digital scrapbooking is the term for the creation of a new 2D artwork by re-combining various graphic elements. It is a form of scrapbooking that is done using a personal computer, digital or scanned photos and computer graphics software. It is a relatively new form of the traditional print scrapbooking.
Digital scrapbooking kits are available to purchase and download at many websites that specialize in the craft. Kits contain graphics and word-art and are usually themed and color-coordinated. They usually consist of a mix of background images and "cut out" images containing alpha channels. Once a kit has been download to the computer, it can then be used over and over again to make new scrapbook pages (scrapbook layouts) within the software program that one chooses to use, often in combination with the users's own family photographs, scanned keepsakes and other elements scanned on a flatbed scanner. Scanning is usually done at 300dpi, to make the resulting images suitable for print.The traditional scrapbooking market appears to have declined in the USA since 2010, probably due to the recession, and digital scrapbooking (being potentially a much cheaper form of scrapbooking) may have increased accordingly.
The main software programs that are typically used are Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Photoshop Elements, Paintshop Pro and Gimp. Some people animate the images created with their scrapbook kits with software such as CrazyTalk Animator. Others write stories to their images and create digital storybooks, which they publish as print books via various popular print-on-demand services.
10 Reasons to Digital Scrapbooking
Written by Lian Lim
What are you going to do with all those photographs sitting in your computer? Here are 10 reasons why you should start digital scrapbooking. Traditional scrapbooking is good too but you should seriously consider the advantages of digital scrapbooking.
1. You don't have to worry about making mistakes. If you don't like your design, you can easily do modifications. Come to worse, just start from scratch again. No harm done to your photographs.
2. You don't need storage space for scrapbooking paper, embellishments, tools etc.... All you need is a computer and a place to sit down to work on your computer. Maybe you'll need a printer and scanner too. That depends on what you want to do. If you plan to make a photobook, you can have a professional service print that for you. You'll need a scanner if you want to scan in old photographs and other memorable stuff.
3. No mess. Don't have to do any clean up after you're done scrapbooking.
4. You can easily make several copies of your scrapbook. Just print out as many copies as you want. With a traditional scrapbook, you are limited to just one copy. That makes it very precious and you will be hesistant to let any Tom, Dick or Harry touch it for fear they might ruin it.
5. When you digital scrapbook, you can share your work in many different ways. You can either print it as separate pages, make a photobook, burn it into a CD/DVD, create a calendar, put it on a greeting card, post it online on your blog, Facebook, Flickr, or email it to a friend or loved one. With a traditional scrapbook, you don't have those options.
6. Cool graphic effects. With the right software, you can manipulate your photos easily. You can change it to black and white or sepia. You can give it a dreamy look. You can crop it or make it into any shape you want. You can also enhance your photos: adjust the exposure, erase skin blemishes, get rid of red eye etc.... You can do all these to your photographs without having to step foot in a photo lab.
7. If you still want that 3D effect or the "pop-out" feel to your scrapbook, you can combine traditional with digital scrapbooking. Design and print out your page and then later add embellishments or memorabilia to it. This is also known as hybrid scrapbooking. You get the best of both worlds.
8. It costs less to do scrapbook digitally. You don't have to spend lots of money buying scrapbook tools and gadgets. Plus, you can only use the physical paraphernalias once. Whatever you purchase online for digital scrapbooking, you can use it over and over again. If you want to keep the costs down further, you can scout around for free digital kits, embellishments and background papers. Some sites allow you to create digital scrapbooks online for free. However, if you want to be a serious scrapper, it is best to invest in a good scrapbooking software.
9. You can finish your scrapbooking projects faster using the computer. A lot of the work is just clicking here and clicking there; Especially if you use pre-made templates or ones that you just plop your photographs in. Plus, you don't have to worry about anyone (especially young kids) messing things up when you're not looking.
10. I bet that most of your photos are digital these days. In this day and age, I think not many people use cameras with film. So instead of photographs piling up in shoe boxes, photographs are now piling up on our harddisks. Since they are already in digital format, why not scrap it digitally too.
These are 10 reasons why you should start scrapbooking the digital way. If you like to scrapbook the traditional way, that's great too. This is not a call for you to abandon one over the other. Knowing how to do it both ways will just make your scrapbooking experience richer.
I love to do digital scrapbooking. My scrapbooks are usually about my kids and their milestones. I try to have a scrap for every month of the year. I never really tried the traditional way because I'm not a crafty person. The idea of cutting, gluing, buying scrapbook stuff seemed expensive and too much work for me. My advise to those seriously thinking of doing digital scrapbook, get a powerful but user-friendly software for scrapbooking. It can make your digital scrapbooking efforts enjoyable. Choose wisely before investing your money in one.
Other source : 10 Reasons to Love Digital Scrapbooking
Digital ScrapbookingTerms
Taken from Digital Scrapbooking Elements and Squidoo
TOU: FTU for PU only!". If you've ever downloaded any scrapbooking graphics online, no doubt you've seen some of these terms. But what the heck do they mean?This is a confusing subject, but it's important - especially if you plan on doing any scrapbook design of your own.
Alphabets vs Fonts
Alphabets are standalone letters, similar to a sticker, while fonts are installed on your computer and are available within software programs to apply to typed text.
Brag Book/Quick Album
Designed album pages that only need a photo and a little journaling.
Brushes/Actions/Tools
This usually refers to Photoshop CS and Photoshop Element software add-ons. Some sites also offer these for other software packages.
CD Services
For a small fee you can have digital purchases burned onto a CD and mailed to you.
Collaborative Scrapping
Sometimes referred to as a “round-robin,” a group of individuals work on a single project. Each scrapper takes a turn to contribute a page of an album or other portion of the project and then passes the project onto the next person to do the same. Some sites also use this term to describe kits that combine work from two or more product designers.
Commercial Use (CU)
Terms of use for commercial entities using the site’s products to produce items for resale.
It means that you're going to use the download to create something and profit from it. So if I use someone else's brushes and make some papers and sell them, obviously those brushes have to allow commercial use. Easy, right?
But it's a bit more complicated than that. Profiting doesn't necessarily mean profiting financially. If, for instance, I use those same brushes and make some papers and give them away as a freebie, I still need to have permission (or a license) to use the brushes commercially. Because even though I'm not making money from it, by offering that freebie on my own site, I'm taking the credit and profiting from someone else's work - by getting traffic or building my reputation, etc.
Also, if I use someone else's graphics for my Etsy website header, that could also be classed as CU - because even though I'm not selling the graphic, I'm still profiting by using it on my commercial website.
Some designers will allow you to use their non-commercial graphics on something like a website header as long as you give them credit. But again, it's important to check with the designer to find out what they'll allow - if it's a commercial website you may have to buy a commercial use license to use their work.
Commercial Use for Commercial Use (CU4CU)
If I have a Photoshop style that's for commercial use, and you download it and make some buttons and you offer them to others to use commercially, that's what CU4CU means. Sometimes when designers sell with a commercial use license they won't allow you to make anything for other people to use commercially. I've also seen the term CU4PU, which means that the first person gets a commercial license, but anything they end up creating with it can only be sold (or given away) as personal use items.
This is a group of people with similar interests, together in one spot. In the digital scrapbooking world, this refers to the ways the users interact with each other and the site. User galleries, forums, chats, blogs and newsletters are the most common examples.
Crops
A nickname for a scrapbooking get-together. These can happen in the virtual or real world.
Download Explanation
All products are downloaded to your computer in a compressed file which you’ll need to uncompress before being able to use.
eBooks/ebooklets/e-Zine
Electronic, downloadable books, booklets and magazines.
File formats:
- JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group—image compression format)
- PDF (Portable Document Format—Adobe Acrobat file)
- PNG (Portable Network Graphic—improves on and replaces .gif file format)
An online discussion group hosted by individual sites. Most sites have multiple topics being discussed in different forum groups. A forum is similar to a message board.
Freebie/Free Download
These can range from an individual element to an entire kit. Some sites require an establishing a member account before allowing you to download freebies while others are happy with just your email address.
Gallery
Area of site where users can post their own designs using the site’s products. Sometimes the gallery is part of the user forums.
Hybrid
Digital project elements that are printed out and assembled. It can also refer to embellishing a digital scrapbook page with physical elements such as adding real buttons, ribbons or brads to create additional depth.
Industry standards
Elements should be 300 ppi. Paper/backgrounds should be .jpg format and embellishments are .png images for background transparency.
Nicknames
Scrappers, digi-scrapper, scrapbooker.
Piracy
Illegal, unauthorized copying and/or usage of elements, kits or products for personal or professional use. Simply altering an element does not remove the potential for copyright infringement.
Personal Use (PU)
This means that you're going to be using the files to do things for yourself. So if you're going to scrapbook a page of your wedding day, or your grandkids in their cute Halloween outfits, or that camping trip where it rained the whole bloody time, that's ok. If want to use the graphics to create a calendar or a cover for your recipe book, or if you're going to print it out and frame it and hang it on your wall, or make a desktop wallpaper for your computer, that's all ok.
In some cases, PU also allows things like making a card to give to someone for their birthday, or doing a scrapbook for your grandma. However, granny's scrapbook could also fall under the S4O category (see below) so if you're in any doubt whether whatever you want to do is allowed, contact the designer and ask about your specific situation.
Pay to Use / Free to Use (PTU/FTU)
These two have been popping up more frequently lately. They're pretty self explanatory, the designs are either free or you have to pay to use them. Normally they would also specify whether they're for commercial use or personal use as well.
Quick Pages
Designed pages that just need a photo and a little journaling.
Resolution:
- DPI—(Dots Per Inch) the number of dots per square inch. DPI is used in printing and web graphics. The higher the resolution number, the sharper the images will look. If you plan to print a project, you want 300 dpi resolution-quality elements. This size of resolution translates into fairly large file sizes so projects can become quite bloated if you’re not careful.
- This term also refers to web graphics resolution. Large files slow down internet access so screen graphics are typically saved at 72 dpi resolution. This lowers the impact on page loading speed without any noticeable loss of display quality.
- PPI—(Pixels Per Inch) the number of pixels per square inch. PPI refers to screen displays like computer monitors.
Creating scrapbook pages for someone else for pay, i.e. you scrapbook their memories for them and they pay you. This requires that you use the commercially-licensed products or specially-designated scrap-for-hire products.
For both of these you can use the graphics to create a layout for someone else and give them either a flattened JPEG or PNG file digitally, or have it printed and give them the finished printed pages or book. You're not allowed to give them the individual graphics that you used to create the finished layout.
From what I understand, the only difference between these two is that S4O is when you're making something for someone as a gift or for non-profit, and S4H is when someone is paying you to do it.
In most cases this falls under the Commercial Use umbrella - if an item is CU or you buy a commercial use license for it, it's usually ok to use it for S4O or S4H as well. PU items can't be used for S4H, but sometimes it's ok to use it for S4O - check with the designer to be sure.
Software
Any computer program that accepts images. These can range from Microsoft Word and PowerPoint to Photoshop Elements, Photoshop CS and Paint Shop Pro.
Templates
Layout patterns. Some sites also provide templates for creating backgrounds and other digital elements.
TOU
(Terms of Use) Legalese document that accompanies all digital products. This spells out what you are legally allowed to do with the product you purchased.
Popular Digital Scrapbooking Styles
Taken from : About.com
If you’re just starting out in digital scrapbooking, you may be looking to layout galleries and style guides to help you determine what layouts you like best. If you’re an experienced scrapper, you may be wondering how to classify your scrap style.
This guide will take a look at styles such as classic, clean, hodgepodge, shabby chic, fantasy, and art journal. It will help you decipher the key elements of these popular styles, understand why you may be drawn to one style over another, and help you choose which style best fits your personality.
1. Classic
Balance and structure are key points of classic style layouts.
Jennifer MarioneIf you like structure and balance in your style, classic style layouts may be very pleasing. Classic pages follow design principles of line and form. Multiple photos are often laid out in a grid-fashion and angles are rarely used. “Willy-nilly” design is not something you’ll find in classic pages. Single or double-matting techniques are often used to lead the eye to focal points of the page. Classic style scrappers may use a moderate amount of embellishments as long as they support the balance and harmony of the overall page design. Classic style pages are a great choice if you like scrapping a series of photos to tell your story.
2. Clean
White space and sparse embellishments are the hallmarks of the clean layout style.
Tricia Groenhoff3.Hodgepodge
Mixed patterns and layering are cornerstones of hodgepodge style layouts.
Kate EarleyIf you’ve ever described yourself as “eclectic,” the hodgepodge layout style just might steal your heart. “Hodgepodgers” are masters at layering photos, papers and embellishments on top of one another, giving their layouts tons of texture and interest. They like to mix patterns and pile on the embellishments. Photos are sometimes arranged at various angles and clustered together, surrounded by the layers of papers and embellishments that are the cornerstone of this style. If you love hodgepodge but are afraid that the liveliness will detract from your theme, consider using a monochromatic color scheme or calm, soft colors to dial back the energy a bit.
4.Shabby Chic
Soft colors and a worn feel are typical in shabby chic style layouts.
Jennifer MarioneIf you love scouring antique shops for interesting finds and are drawn to feminine floral, damask and toile patterned fabrics, shabby chic style layouts may really appeal to your senses. An overall “gently worn” feel and soft colors are a hallmark of the shabby chic style. Embellishment choices can lean toward bits of textiles, ribbons, stitching and found items that lend to the slightly shabby look of the layout. The “bones” of shabby chic layouts vary widely, as they are not so much defined by the placement of the page elements, but more so by the style of the supplies used.
5.Fantasy
Using artistic imagery to tell the story is commonplace in fantasy style layouts.
Joann KinnardFantasy style layouts leave you with the feeling that you are looking at a page straight from a storybook, and they showcase the versatility that is possible in digital scrapbooking. The scrapper often extracts their subject from the background of the photo and superimposes them into fantasy-like scenes. Fantasy layouts tend to have less of a memory-keeping feel, instead focusing more heavily on artistic imagery and can be a striking choice for whimsical or ethereal photos of children. This is a fun style choice for scrappers who like to push the boundaries and challenge themselves creatively.
6. Art Journal
Focusing on a mixed-media look is popular in art journal style layouts.
Joann KinnardAre you a consummate diary or journal keeper? You might want to consider fusing your expressive writing with digital scrapbooking to create art journal pages. Art journal layouts are created as visual diary/journal pages rather than traditional scrapbooking pages. They often have the mixed-media look of traditional art journals. Because the pages don’t focus on memory-keeping in the traditional sense, photos (if used at all) are often chosen for their symbolism to the subject of the page rather than their relation to the scrapper. Journaling can be a crucial part of the overall page. Art journal style pages are a fun option for scrapping about yourself, plus they give you an opportunity to get creative in a different way.
For other types of style, you can chek :
1. Finding a Scrapbooking Style
2. Discovering Your Scrapbooking Style
