How do I get started?

[Pixie Girl]

I'd like to try Digital Scrapbooking, I've got Serif Pageplus 8. Is there anything I need to know? Are there any rules? Any Templates for 8x8 or 12x12?

Plse help, am complete newbie at it!

[Jules1960]

I don't know a thing about your software but you will need one which is capable of handling layers.

Next decide if you will be printing at home and which size you want to do.
8 x 8 and 12 x 12 are probably the most common sizes. Personally I find 12 x 12 looks too "in your face" when done digitally, but each to their own.

Next download some of the free stuff that is available out there. Try starting at the Shabby Princess site.

I create at 200 dpi as I find the quality is fine for me, others prefer 300 dpi - as the pages end up as large files your computer can start to struggle once you have a few layers.

So if you were making a page at 8 x 8 you would open a new blank document 8" x 8" @ 200/300dpi.

Now go to your downloaded kit (you will need to unzip all the files to the one place - Mine is My Documents>My Pictures>Scrapkits>Designer(e.g. Shabby Princess). As I resize all of mine for my own personal needs I send the zipped file to a folder in My Documents>Files to Burn>Kits. This means I always have the kit saved to disc in its original form.

Open up a background of your choice and copy and paste it into your new document. - Layer 1.

I use PSP 9 and I have a script which resizes all my papers etc. to the size I use constantly as this saves having to use the deform tool all the time. You would need to resize your papers to 8 x 8 and whatever dpi. you choose.

Now you start to add your photo, mats, embellies, journalling each on a new layer. This makes it easy to change things around.

Say you have your background as Layer 1 and your photo as Layer 2 and you now decide you want to have a photo mat/piece of paper under your photo.
What you need to do is create a new layer and move it in your layers palette to between layer 1 and layer 2, then copy and paste your photo mat. So you would now have layers 1, 3 and 2 from the bottom up. The number on the layers doesn't matter it is the order of placement that is important. You can drag the layers up and down the order in programmes which support layers.

Add drop shadows to your photos, elements for a realistic look and overlap items so that your page doesn't look as if it has photos/embellies in the middle of nowhere.

Some of my pages have 30+ layers others much less, depends what you put on it really.

Hope this gives you a starting point, if you need any more help, holler!

Jules

[Pixie Girl]

Great Thanks! Looks like I'll be busy figuring this all out! But don't worry, I'll shout as soon as I get stuck... (Just give it a couple of seconds, then you should hear me - LOL!).