| Creating Keepsakes (www.creatingkeepsakes.com) is one of the most popular scrapbooking magazines, and the Creating Keepsakes Scrapbook Designer Deluxe is one of the most popular scrapbooking software programs. We'll use this program as an example to learn about how digital scrapbooking programs work. note | Scrapbooking paper is heavier than normal paper to hold up better in physical scrapbooks. |
You build your scrapbook from individual scrapbook pages. Each page can feature its own design, and host one or more photos. All you have to do is pick a background template, personalize as you like, and then insert your photos. You can then print the completed page on a color printer, on either normal or special scrapbooking paper. Creating a Scrapbook from a Template All of this is easy to do with the Creating Keepsakes programespecially when you use one of the predesigned templates. Just follow these general steps: 1. | From the program's startup page, select Customize a Ready-Made Scrapbook Page. | 2. | When the Project Gallery appears, as shown in Figure 38.1, pull down the Select Type of Project list and select 8 1/2 x 11 Scrapbooks. Figure 38.1. Selecting a project type and template with Creating Keepsakes Scrapbook Designer Deluxe.
| 3. | You can choose to see all available templates, or select a specific type of template from the Choose Product Category list. | 4. | After you find a template you like, double-click it to open the editing page (shown in Figure 38.2). Figure 38.2. Adding your own photos to a predesigned template.
| 5. | To insert your own photos, just double-click one of the photos in the template, and then select the photo you want. (Repeat this step for all photos on the page.) |
tip | You can resize the photo within the template by dragging one of the photo's corner points. |
Creating a Custom Scrapbook The Creating Keepsakes software also lets you design your own scrapbook pages from scratch. Here's how to do it: 1. | From the program's startup page, select Create a Blank Scrapbook Page. | 2. | When the Select a Page Size dialog box appears, select a page size and click Finish; you're now facing a completely blank scrapbook page. | 3. | Add a texture to the page by selecting Backgrounds and choosing one of the following: Page Color & Texture (for a simple background), Decorative Papers (for a paper-like background), or Watermarks (for an all-text background). You can now choose the precise background you want. caution | You might need to stretch the background to fill the entire page. |
| 4. | Add a photo to the page by selecting Photo Tools, Import Photos. Select the photo you want, and then size and position it on the page. (Repeat this step to add additional photos.) | 5. | Add an effect to the photo by clicking the photo on the page and then selecting Photo Tools, Special Effects and Edges. You can choose to apply soft edges, special "artsy" edges, outline edges, or various transparent effects. | 6. | Add a drop shadow to the photo by clicking the photo on the page and then selecting Drawing Tools, Shadow. Select the type of shadow you want and then click OK. | 7. | Add a glow around the photo by clicking the photo on the page and then selecting Drawing Tools, Radiant Glow. Select the type and color of the glow you want, and then click OK. | 8. | Add text to the page by selecting Text Tools and choosing one of the following: Custom Titles, Journal in a Shape, Text Box, Decorative Letters, or Decorative Numbers. Enter the text you want, and then position it where you want it on the page. | 9. | Add additional graphics and art elements to the page by selecting Art Elements and then choosing the type of element you want. You can add clip art, frames, and other effects, and position them anywhere on the page. |
As you can see in Figure 38.3, you can create some really cool-looking scrapbook pages using this method. And when you're done creating the page, you can save and print it, as described next. Figure 38.3. A custom-designed scrapbook page in Creating Keepsakes Scrapbook Designer Deluxe.
Saving, Printing, and Distributing a Scrapbook Page After you've finished a page, you can save it by selecting Save & Print, Save. You can also print the page by selecting Save & Print, Print. If you want to send the page to others via email, you should save it in Adobe PDF format. (PDF files look and print the same on any computer; it's the best format for distributing completed graphics projects.) Just select Save & Print, Save as PDF. |