Digital Scrapbooking FAQ
What is digital scrapbooking or computer scrapbooking?
Digital scrapbooking is a very popular way to preserve memories using your computer. The digital scrapbookers use an image-editing program to manipulate the photos, the embellishments, or elements, and the background papers. The most widely used programs include Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Elements, Corel Paint Shop Pro and Microsoft Digital Image Pro. We recommend Scrapbook Max for children or beginners. Read Why Digital for more information.
What is the difference between a Digital Kit and a Printable Kit?
Both digital and printables came with a number of images. You only purchase them once and can use them forever! Both can be printed from the computer. Digital Kits require photo or scrapbook software to manipulate the images. Printable kits are only opened on the computer (with the Acrobat Reader) and printed then cut and pasted by hand. See more details below.
What is the difference between Digital, Scrapbook Max and Printable?
1. Digital Kits. Any software that can open and read a photo can read our kits. Digital Kits consists of PNG and JPG images that can be opened in any scrapbook or photo imaging program such as "The Print Shop" or Creating Keepsakes Scrapbook Designer (both by Broderbund), HP Creative Scrapbook Assistant Microsoft Digital Image Pro, Photo Mix, Scrapbook Factory Deluxe, Corel's Paint Shop Pro and Adobe's Photoshop Elements or Photoshop. You can share finished pages online, in emails, on CD, or print from your computer (on regular paper, white cardstock, vellum, adhesive paper, photo paper, etc)
2. Scrapbook Max Digital Kits. We recommend Scrapbook Max software program for beginners or children. The program is under $40.00, easy enough for a child and the files are super easy to install (you don't have to know how to unzip a file or where to save a file it is all automatic--one click and the files go into your Scrapbook Max). You can share finished pages online, in emails, on CD, or print from your computer (on regular paper, white cardstock, vellum, adhesive paper, photo paper, etc) Click here for a free video and free trail version.
3. Printable Kits. (coming soon) These kits are similar to what you buy in a scrapbook store except you can print them from the computer and you have the neat option of using the kits over and over. To use the printables you need the free Acrobat Reader. These pages are somewhat limited compared to digital kits because you can not resize the images. You can print printables on regular paper, white cardstock, vellum, adhesive paper, photo paper, etc. Then cut and paste just like reguoar scrapbooking. You'll find a ton of ideas on this site to help you.
What do you need to start digital scrapbooking?
For printables you need the free Acraobt Reader and a printer.
For digital kits you need:
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Computer with at least 256 KB RAM; Mac or Windows operating system.
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Digital Imaging Software that supports layers, such as Scrapbook Max, or Adobe Photoshop/ Photoshop Elements or Jasc Paint Shop Pro.
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Photos or clip art available on your computer by scanning or importing.
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Optional: Color printer and photo paper, if you want to print your layouts (you can save them on CD or your computer or share through email.
Which software do you recommend?
- For Beginners - Scrapbook Max ($39.95).
- It's the easiest to use
- Comes with dozens of templates and embellishments.
- Web site offers hundreds's of kits and embellishments
- Includes photo retouching options like red eye correction, cropping, scratch removal and sharpening.
- It's not a memory hog (most programs found at places like Walmart or Staples will crash your computer because of the memory appetite).
- Has almost every function the big guys have without the learning curve. It won't be immediately outgrown by the user.
- Its easy to share your creations with Scrapbook Max. with a few simple clicks you can turn your digital scrapbook into a Video CD (VCD) for viewing on your television - complete with background music and fancy transitions. You can even create slideshows, photo CD's, screensavers, image files, email attachments and Acrobat PDFs.
- A free trail download is available from ScrapbookMax.com
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For Intermediates -Adobe's Photoshop Elements (about $90) is a super program and fun. Its got quite a learning curve but if you like art or design you'll love playing with all the brushes, actions, filters, etc not available in the program above. It does not come with templates or embellishments. You can download the trial version from the Adobe web site.
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For Professionals - Photoshop CS2 (about $500). This is industry standard for publishing companies, magazines, etc and the one used by scrapbook designers. Photoshop Elements above does almost everything you can imagine. You don't need Photoshop unless you go into business as a digital artist. You can download the trial version from the Adobe web site.
Where do I purchase academic kits or clipart?
The only place to purchase digital scrapbook kits specifically for academic or Bible use is at ScrapbooktoLearn.com . We are adding kits daily. We also offer clip art on CDs. We have over 100 in the works. There are hundreds of sites and places that sell beautiful kits to use for family events and if you are creative you can adapt a kit for academic use--such as using a floral kit for a botanical study. Here is an example below from Designerdigitals.com by Katie Pertiet that would create a beautiful Creation Notebook.
I bought a kit now how do I get started?
Digital scrapbooking is not hard at all. Even a child can learn to design the simple layouts. It really is easy!
The kits make it easy but sometimes it is hard to get started. I recommend you scraplift your first layout.
Scraplifting is taking inspiration from another person's layout to use in your own pages.
The fastest pages are usually scraplifts of other pages. They’re quick, they’re easy, and you already know you’ll like them (and why re-invent the wheel) Scraplifting is morally accepted. You can scraplift layouts, techniques, journaling ideas, etc.
If you’re going to be posting the layout online or give proper credit to the original artist. It is NOT acceptable to submit a scraplifted page to a magazine (all submitted work needs to be original).
You can view thousands of ideas from our gallery and the links below. I have a folder on my computer where I store inspiration pages. Right click on a layout or sketch you like and click save image. Save to a "Layout Inspiration" folder. Next time you are ready to scrap look through your images.
Links:
Links to Scrapbook Sketch Sites
Using Sketches for Creating Layouts
Digital Scrapbook Galleries
Digital Scrapbook Links
How much do kits cost?
There are enough Freebies on the Internet to keep you busy for months! Check out our Digital Scrapbooking Freebies links. If you are a Scrapbook Max user visit Scrapbook Max forum for tons of free templates and kits.
You will find digital kits from free to $25.00. Most average size kits cost about $6 while mega kits run $9 to $12. It depends on where you shop. Here are links to popular Digital Scrapbook Stores.
How are my purchases from the store delivered?
The scrapbook kits sold in our store are digital files, unless otherwise noted. If you purchased a digital kit, a download link will be available in your account here once the payment is received and cleared. You can use these images on the computer or print them out for traditional cut and paste scrapbooking.
How do I download a kit that I have purchased?
Log in to Homeschool-books.com with your username and password. Click on the My Ebook Area. There you can open your PDF document with the Download Keys. Click on the link to download the files. We keep our files under 25 MB for people with slower connections. If you have a dial-up connection to the Internet, you may want to consider using a download manager, such as GetRight, to resume downloading if an error occurs. Click here to read more about downloading.
Can the digital scrapbook kits sold in your store be used for paper scrapbooking?
Yes, if you have a computer, Internet connection and a printer, you can use our kits for paper scrapbooking. The background papers in our kits are sized at 8 " by 11". The digital files can also be resized, so you can print embellishments exactly the size you need them to be. And, finally, you can use our digital scrapbook kits over and over again for your personal scrapbooking needs. Please don't print our digital files and use them for any professional, commercial or money-making endeavor.
Will the files in the kit will look as good in print as they do on the computer?
All of the images in the kits are 300 pixels per inch, so that you can print them without fear of pixelation. Our backgrounds are at least 200 PPI sized at 8.5x11 inches. When creating a layout that you plan to print, make sure the file is set to 200 to 300 pixels per inch.
Can I use your scrapbooking kits for commercial use?
No. All the images are copyrighted and for personal use only.
Can I share your kits with my friends?
No, our terms of use specifically prohibit the sharing or redistributing of our kits. Please don’t share even the free kits that we offer. If you have a friend that likes our digital scrapbooking kits, please direct them to this Web site. Sharing files or links is considered pirating and against the law.
Can I submit my layouts using your kits or elements to a scrapbooking magazine?
Certainly, please do submit your layouts to scrapbooking magazines and books. Just make sure to give the kit designer credit. And if you get published, send us an e-mail. We’d love to share in your good news.
Is my login information for the store the same as in the forums and gallery?
No. You must register separately in the store, forum, and gallery.
How do I share my pages?
How much printer ink do you use?
How much ink--It depends. Do you want to print out the pages? You can keep them on CD or DVD or post on a web site or email digitally.
There are lots of places on the Internet where you can get ink 50-75% off! I have HPPhotosmart 3210 All In One color printer. I replaced my old color printer because the ink was so expensive. The ink is about 1/3 for this machine. I can print about 50 heavy colored scrap pages before needing to replace ink. I watch for sales and stock up on ink. I share my scrapbooks online but also like printing out on photo paper.
Most importantly do not purchase a printer until you know how much the ink cartridges run. Here is a good article about buying color printers. Printing out digital scrappages is still MUCH LESS expensive than buying supplies at a scrapbook store.
How do you organize your digital kits?
Click here to see one way.
More FAQs
What is Scrapbooking to Learn?
What is a Scrap Folder?
What is a Timeline Book?
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