I decided to try a technique where you create a template (like the first picture here), and then use it over and over again to create different pages. The template was very easy to use. I look in scrapbooking magazines to find layouts I like and then recreate them in Photoshop or I even recreate templates from pages I created. The above template is an idea I got from Memory Maker's magazine, "Scrapbook Idea Gallery 5," January 2005, pp. 81. So I used this template to create two totally different pages. The first page is from 2005, and the 2nd page is from this past January. It was an easy technique, but I still think I can create a page faster without the templates. I found that when filling in the templates with my own pictures, Photoshop CS3 is a lot better, because when I paste in the picture, CS3 creates a new layer with a layer mask, which allows more flexibility in editing, like adding shadows, bevels, etc... The one thing I didn't like about this technique was that even though you can position the photo within the boxes, you cannot move the boxes around on the page. I like a little more freedom than that.
I decided to try a technique where you create a template (like the first picture here), and then use it over and over again to create different pages. The template was very easy to use. I look in scrapbooking magazines to find layouts I like and then recreate them in Photoshop or I even recreate templates from pages I created. The above template is an idea I got from Memory Maker's magazine, "Scrapbook Idea Gallery 5," January 2005, pp. 81. So I used this template to create two totally different pages. The first page is from 2005, and the 2nd page is from this past January. It was an easy technique, but I still think I can create a page faster without the templates. I found that when filling in the templates with my own pictures, Photoshop CS3 is a lot better, because when I paste in the picture, CS3 creates a new layer with a layer mask, which allows more flexibility in editing, like adding shadows, bevels, etc... The one thing I didn't like about this technique was that even though you can position the photo within the boxes, you cannot move the boxes around on the page. I like a little more freedom than that.
2 comments:
I decided, after trying this template technique that I don't really like it. It only makes sense if you finish a layout (add all the embellishments, papers, etc) and then just replacing the photos. It's almost impossible to manipulate the photos on one of these templates, and I ran into problems when I tried to add shadows, etc... So, I'm going to go back to my old way of doing things; I can make at least 4 pages in the time that it took me to make two. SO A WORD OF ADVICE: It is much easier to digital scrapbook if you have a sketch of how you want your layout and then place your pictures accordingly, instead of creating a template first. If you like how the LO looks in the end, you can then turn it into a template for future use, if you want.
Okay Dana, we finally bought a mac, and now I really need to figure out how you do all this great stuff! I love it.
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