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Part 1
How to start digital scrapbooking!
You really need only 3 things to start scrapbooking digitally. As opposed to paper scrapbooking, there's no glue required, no embellishments, no papers and more importantly, no mess!
So let's go,
1: You need a computer of course!
Or a Mac. However it is still possible to scrap if you only have a tablet. You will need to adapt your style a little and get different software, but yes it's still possible. FYI, I use a laptop running Windows 10, so this information will be based around that. However I'm pretty sure most of it will be adaptable to other hardware and I'm happy to try and help if something seems confusing.
2: You will need some software capable of working with layers!
I use Paint Shop Pro. It's affordable, fairly easy to learn. And as you get into it and want to learn more, you can add to its capabilities with a wealth of scripts, brushes and tubes. You can download a free 30 day trial here:
http://www.paintshoppro.com/en/products/paintshop-pro/ultimate/
Other software includes Photoshop. This is used by many scrapers so lots of the tutorials you will find will be for P.S. However it's an extremely expensive program. Personally, if I were just going to use it to scrap and edit photos, I wouldn't consider it a cost effective choice. But it is popular. Photoshop uses brushes but not tubes and instead of scripts, it has actions. Find out more here:
https://www.adobe.com/uk/products/photoshop.html?promoid=KLXLS
A less expensive alternative to Photoshop is Photoshop Elements. I have this and it’s very similar to PSP and Photoshop, of course there must be some differences between Elements and Photoshop but I don’t know what they are. Pricewise it’s less than PSP but I really don’t like using it as much as PSP. Again you can get a free trial so you could perhaps get a couple of different ones to see how you feel about them.
You really need only 3 things to start scrapbooking digitally. As opposed to paper scrapbooking, there's no glue required, no embellishments, no papers and more importantly, no mess!
So let's go,
1: You need a computer of course!
Or a Mac. However it is still possible to scrap if you only have a tablet. You will need to adapt your style a little and get different software, but yes it's still possible. FYI, I use a laptop running Windows 10, so this information will be based around that. However I'm pretty sure most of it will be adaptable to other hardware and I'm happy to try and help if something seems confusing.
2: You will need some software capable of working with layers!
I use Paint Shop Pro. It's affordable, fairly easy to learn. And as you get into it and want to learn more, you can add to its capabilities with a wealth of scripts, brushes and tubes. You can download a free 30 day trial here:
http://www.paintshoppro.com/en/products/paintshop-pro/ultimate/
Other software includes Photoshop. This is used by many scrapers so lots of the tutorials you will find will be for P.S. However it's an extremely expensive program. Personally, if I were just going to use it to scrap and edit photos, I wouldn't consider it a cost effective choice. But it is popular. Photoshop uses brushes but not tubes and instead of scripts, it has actions. Find out more here:
https://www.adobe.com/uk/products/photoshop.html?promoid=KLXLS
A less expensive alternative to Photoshop is Photoshop Elements. I have this and it’s very similar to PSP and Photoshop, of course there must be some differences between Elements and Photoshop but I don’t know what they are. Pricewise it’s less than PSP but I really don’t like using it as much as PSP. Again you can get a free trial so you could perhaps get a couple of different ones to see how you feel about them.
There are
other programs available too. If you're looking for free software GIMP is used
by many scrapper.
https://www.gimp.org
Another popular one is Serif. It's not free but it is quite affordable.
https://affinity.serif.com/en-gb/photo/
https://www.gimp.org
Another popular one is Serif. It's not free but it is quite affordable.
https://affinity.serif.com/en-gb/photo/
3: The 3rd and last thing you'll need is a digital scrapbook kit.
You can buy
full kits, or separate papers and elements, alphas, templates. The list is
endless. Be warned. This is an addictive hobby and you will soon find your hard
drive is groaning under the strain. The best advice I can give is: start as you
mean to go on. Invest in an external hard drive or even some memory sticks.
Organise your kits properly from the outset so you know where to find what you
need. There will be more info on organisation later.
Ok, so are
you ready to make a start?
You’ll need
some kits then, take a look at Part 2
Part 2
Functions in Different Software
SCRIPTS are a
small program that can be run within PSP to carry out certain functions to save
time. This can be anything from resizing your work, to actually creating an
element. If you decide to go with PSP, you can learn more about scripts at a
later date.
ACTIONS carry out
the same function in Photoshop as scripts do in PSP.
BRUSHES are
basically just painting tools. You can use the software built in selection of
brushes or you can create your own or buy them ready made. There’s also an
abundance of free ones available. Each program uses them in a different way.
That is to say the files are different. So you couldn’t just use a PSP brush in
Photoshop. However there are ways to convert them for use in other programs. As
there are ways to convert .png files (images with a transparent background)
into brushes.
TUBES are
exclusive to PSP. Basically they are small images which have been turned into
tubes so you can simply stamp them onto your project. Or you could create a
montage with them.
STYLES are
exclusive to Photoshop and other Adobe software. They allow you to apply
effects to your work. So you could draw a plain square and using a style you
could turn it into a plastic square. You can get all sorts of different ones
for a multitude of effects. But you can do these same things in PSP using
effects.
Part 3
Where to find digital scrap kits
I dabble in
digital scrapbook designing and I have my own store, so to start you off I have
included a $10 coupon for my store. With this you can purchase any Personal Use
product up to and including $10. If you need help using the coupon just let me
know. As digital scrapbooking generated in America, most of the stores are
there and all use US Dollars. All of them accept payment via Paypal.
My store is
here:
Use coupon
code BHD-LDS-jkdwoi09037 at checkout
to get your chosen goods for free or for $10 off your whole order. You can copy
and paste the code from here. You can only use the code once but it doesn’t
expire until 31st December 2018. If you try to use it and it doesn't work, please don't hesitate to contact me.
I also have
a small selection of freebies on my (somewhat neglected) Blog here: http://www.bhdesigns.biz/
Scroll down
and click on the Downloads link in the right hand column. You can download the
ones you like, or all of them, just by clicking on the images.
Note:
Dropbox is going to be making some changes soon so if you find the links aren’t
working, just let me know and I’ll fix as soon as I can.
Most
designers have some freebies available so if you find one you really like, be
sure to visit their blog or sign up for their newsletter.
Here are the
links to a few of my favourite stores for scrapbooking supplies:
In addition
to stores, there are a number of dedicated freebie sites out there. It’s so
addictive that when I started I found I was downloading all sorts of things and
I still have most of them. Mostly unused! So my advice here is to be selective.
Try and find a style you like (more on this on page 4) and just get the
freebies you’re pretty sure you will use.
Here is one
site that does a huge collab once a quarter. Called Blog Trains, you visit each
designers Blog or Facebook page to download the various parts which can be
added all into one big co-ordinating kit. For some you will be expected to
‘Like’ their pages in order to get the download. Others may expect you to sign
up for their newsletter. It’s common practice to leave a Thank you in the
comments section or on their timeline.
Most of the
stores have their own community, a gallery where you can upload your work for
others to comment on. A forum to chat in, and most will have tutorials or games
that you can participate in. In fact I believe eScape and Scrap, where my store
is, is the only one that doesn’t have a forum or gallery. Although they do have
a page at Flicker https://www.flickr.com/groups/2976994@N21/pool/with/32369492802//?rb=1
where their Creative Team displays work using the stores products.
You can view
the stores galleries to get inspiration on how to use a kit and it is perfectly
acceptable to scraplift a page you like, as long as you don’t take credit for
it being an original work of your own. So for instance if you decide to post
your own work in the gallery and you have used a page to scraplift (or copy).
You would give the original artists name and a link to their page in your
description. It’s common practice to also give credit to the kit designer. Some
think this is free advertising and in a way I suppose it is. But I can’t tell
you how many times I have loved a page so much, I’ve actually gone to find the
kit so I can buy it myself. So it is also a good idea to have that information.
Ok, so you
have your software and your kits now. Let’s scrap a page, see part 4
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