The basics of digital scrapbooking
Step 1: Get your photos on your computer. Download them from a digital camera or scan prints.
Step 2: Choose your software. Inexpensive template-based programs such as Creating Keepsakes Scrapbook Designer Deluxe or Hewlett-Packard Creative Scrapbook Assistant often are easier to use but don't offer the flexibility and options found in more expensive photo editing programs such as Adobe Photoshop or Jasc Paint Shop Pro.
Step 3: Create your scrapbook pages. Create a document at a resolution of 300 dpi if you plan to print your pages. Popular sizes include 8 by 10 inches, 8.5 by 11 inches and 12 by 12 inches. Think about how you will print your pages when deciding on a size. Standard inkjet printers can't accommodate the largest size; prices vary widely when it comes to having pages professionally printed.
Add your photos, create or add a background, add a title, journaling and embellishments. Web sites abound with tutorials to walk beginners through the basics, and many sites also have galleries where others post their work for feedback and inspiration.
Step 4: Save your pages. Save a version in the format native to your software program so you can make changes later if necessary. Save a ``flattened'' copy at high resolution (300 dpi) for printing and another at low resolution (72 dpi) for sharing online or e-mailing.
Step 5: Share your pages. E-mail them to friends and family members, print them on your home printer, have them professionally printed on photo paper or bound into a book, or burn them to a CD.
Source: Adapted from ``Digital Scrapping 101'' at www.digitalscrapbookplace.com.
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