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CLASS: Digital Scrapbooking Basics

(6 posts)

  1. kehlers

    Digi Designer
    Joined: Jun '07
    Posts: 1,275

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    kehlers

    Our first class for the Summer Splash Online Crop is Digital Scrapbooking Basics. We're posting it a tiny bit early to give you a chance to jump in! We'll create the sample layout (below) using Photoshop Elements (which I usually call "PSE" or "Elements"). If you find Elements confusing, even a little, you are not alone! I have a degree in computer programming, and I worked in Information Technology for 8 years. A big part of my job was teaching myself new software and then training others how to use it. In spite of that, when I first opened Photoshop Elements, I started to feel dizzy and I had to close it and go lay down.

    Now, though - I love Photoshop, and I know you will, too. There are several types of software that you can use for your digital scrapbooking, but I do all my tutorials in PSE because it's becoming a standard, so a lot of people already have it. Plus, many other sites also offer digital scrapbooking tutorial and classes using Elements, so you will be able to pick up tips that way, too. In this class, I'll be using Elements version 6, so don't be alarmed if the screens look different - most things will still work the same.

    I broke this class into 6 lessons, shown below. You can follow the tutorials from start to finish, or skip around. If you like, you can print each tutorial before you begin, so you don't have to flip back and forth between the tutorial and Photoshop. If you already feel comfortable with Elements, go ahead and skim the tutorials anyway - you will still pick up a few tips and shortcuts.
    Digital Scrapbooking Basics, #1: Create a Digital Scrapbook File
    Digital Scrapbooking Basics, #2: Adding photo(s) and digital scrapbook elements
    Digital Scrapbooking Basics, #3: Erasing and Resizing
    Digital Scrapbooking Basics, #4: Working with Drop Shadows
    Digital Scrapbooking Basics, #5: Adding Text and Journaling
    Digital Scrapbooking Basics, #6: Print and Publish

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    POINTS: 1 point for each lesson you complete (6 total)
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    BONUS: 1 point if this is your FIRST all-digital layout
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    POSTING YOUR ENTRIES:
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    You can upload your layouts here:
    http://dixiepieces.com/v/Closed/SummerSplash/digiclass/

    Posted 5 months ago #

  2. kehlers

    Digi Designer
    Joined: Jun '07
    Posts: 1,275

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    kehlers

    You can post your questions here, or email me. Have Fun!

    Posted 5 months ago #

  3. Sherry

    Owner
    Joined: Oct '07
    Posts: 2,695

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    Sherry

    I did it! Woohoo! It's kinda fun! http://dixiepieces.com/v/Closed/SummerSplash/digiclass/GoodEatsDigi.jpg.html

    Questions:

    I would like to change the color of my flower to match my letter color; how do I do that?
    And is there a way to load the letters as a group or place them in a group so they could be moved?
    And how do you tell that the sizes are right? I reduced the letters 50%, but how do I know what that will really look like on an 8x8 or 12x12 page?

    Good class!

    Posted 5 months ago #

  4. okidoki

    Charter Chick
    Joined: Sep '07
    Posts: 1,407

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    okidoki

    Ohhhhh....I so want to try this! But I'm too scatterbrained---I am so forgetful about how to do computer stuff that it would take me FOREVER to learn how to use photoshop and stuff. It's that ADD thing. I am going to give it a try when I have a LOT of time though!

    Posted 5 months ago #

  5. Kyivscrapper

    Charter Chick
    Joined: Oct '07
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    I am so excited to do this! But I'm going to have to do it after the crop when I have more time with out the kiddos running around. Maybe tonight????

    Posted 5 months ago #

  6. kehlers

    Digi Designer
    Joined: Jun '07
    Posts: 1,275

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    kehlers

    After I did the class, I figured people may not have time during the crop, but no fears - if you want to take it, it will still be there tomorrow, next week, etc.

    As for questions, I'm going to have to get back to you in more detail later, but you can get started with this:
    Changing Colors: You can activate the eyedropper tool by typing "I", and then click on the color you want to use. Then, you can follow this tutorial: http://dixiepieces.com/forum/topic/1488?replies=12

    Working with Alphas: I haven't found a good way to load them 'as a group'. It is a little easier if you open all the files, then you can display your Project Bin (see lesson 1 for location) and drag each letter file from your project bin to your LO file.

    Once they are in your LO and in the position you like, you can Shift + click each letter layer (in the layers palette) to select all of them. Then, click on the little 'chain link' icon in the layers palette to group all the letters. Now, they will move (and resize!) together.

    Sizes: It's a little hard to make sure your font size will be readable/look right - most digi scrappers (including myself) end up making things too large. For an 8 x 8, I click "zoom in" (or out) until the little percentage (in the lower left of your window) is about 66% - that's the size of your 8 x 8. 12 x 12 is 'full size', you you can zoom to 100%. All that being said, the best way to tell is to print a draft - perhaps using black and white on regular paper, so you don't waste a lot of ink.

    Posted 5 months ago #

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