| Approaching digital scrapbooking for the first time, your | | | | assemble digital scrapbook pages from pre-made |
| immediate challenge is most likely to be - what | | | | graphics, photos, and journaling. They also help |
| software should I use? This article aims to help you | | | | organize your digital photos, page themes and |
| understand the different types of digital scrapbooking | | | | journaling. |
| software available, some of the "must have" functions, | | | | Here are some examples: |
| and how to match up the many options to best fit | | | | - MemoryMixer from Lasting Impressions ($50 PC & |
| your own personal working style. | | | | Mac) |
| So, how should you decide which digital scrapbooking | | | | - My Memories Suite from Polaroid ($40 PC & Mac) |
| software to use? From a bird's eye view, there are 3 | | | | - Scrapbook Factory Deluxe from Nova ($40 PC only) |
| types: | | | | - Digital Scrapbook Artist Deluxe from Serif ($50 PC |
| - Scrapbook Layout Programs | | | | only) |
| - Photo editing packages | | | | However, do look closely at the product descriptions. |
| - Online photo album creation services | | | | Some layout programs are still missing functions that |
| For folks coming new to scrapbooking, or simply | | | | most digital scrapbookers need. For example, some |
| seeking a quick way to share simpler designs with | | | | don't support transparent PNG files, are not capable of |
| friends and family an online photo albums can be a | | | | at least 200ppi for quality printing, or they do not have |
| quick and easy way to start. | | | | the ability to place shadows. If these are important to |
| However, if you prefer an outlet for your creative skills, | | | | you, check carefully. |
| or if you're an experienced paper scrapper, you'll | | | | 2. Photo Editing Programs |
| probably want to have greater control over all aspects | | | | These are more powerful programs for editing photos |
| of your design, and be looking for the highest artistic | | | | and they work well for creating digital elements, but |
| functionality from your digital scrapbooking software. | | | | you'll probably find they take longer to learn. Some |
| Then you should consider either Scrapbook Layout | | | | popular examples: |
| software, or full function Photo Editing software. | | | | - Adobe Photoshop Elements ($75) PC & Mac, or |
| Let's recap the basics...For digital scrapbooking, you | | | | Adobe Photoshop CS4 ($250) |
| "must have" methods to: | | | | - Corel Paint Shop Pro ($100 PC only) |
| - upload photo images to your computer | | | | - Ulead Photoimpact ($100 PC only) |
| - manipulate your photos | | | | - Apple Arpeture 3 (Mac only) ($200) |
| - create pages which may include graphics, photos, | | | | If you feel a photo editing program is the right way to |
| journaling text, audio commentary, video clips | | | | go, we'd recommend Photoshop Elements since its |
| - save pages easily, safely and securely | | | | very widely used, available on PC and Mac, and and |
| - share your pages using the media of your choice | | | | has more tutorial support available than any other |
| 1. Digital Scrapbook Layout Programs | | | | digital scrapbooking software. |
| Layout programs allow you to easily and quickly | | | | |