| If you are planning a layout or entire album using | | | | sometimes be far too clear when printed, or |
| extremely colorful pictures, consider using a largely | | | | sometimes completely invisible. Sadly the screen and |
| monochromatic background. Don't worry that the | | | | the printer don't always show the same thing. One |
| pages will be too plain, you can create a sophisticated | | | | way to be confident of a subtle effect is to use this |
| look quickly, easily and cheaply using dark colored card, | | | | technique and then digitize the result using your |
| a stamp (acrylic backed is best) and some clear | | | | scanner. Don't forget to select a high resolution for the |
| embossing ink, such as 'Clear Ranger' from Tim Holtz. | | | | scan. Your software will almost certainly have filters |
| Traditional photograph albums often use this sort of | | | | that can alter the color tint of the background giving |
| dark background to great effect as it allows the | | | | you a large number of choices. |
| photographs to shine without any competition. | | | | Group photographs filled with the same colors |
| Stamping with clear ink creates a change in texture on | | | | together, this makes it easier to choose a background |
| the page, a little like the watermark on expensive | | | | - brown would be a good choice for photographs |
| stationery. It's a subtle effect which looks somehow | | | | which mostly include warm colors, whereas |
| sophisticated, but if you're looking for something that's | | | | photographs where the predominant colors are cold |
| not quite so subtle, add clear embossing powder. | | | | will usually look better on black or dark gray. Your |
| Stamp with the clear ink and immediately sprinkle | | | | memory album, like all books, will display two pages at |
| embossing powder on the wet ink. Tap the paper or | | | | a time (, with the exception of the first and large page) |
| card gently to remove the excess powder and use a | | | | Use the same or very similar backgrounds for both the |
| heated embossing tool. The powder will melt creating a | | | | left and right hand scrapbook pages and design the |
| transparent, raised version of the stamp. | | | | two page spread as a whole to get a really pleasing |
| This embossing technique is equally effective on light | | | | professional look. |
| pages, and on white, where with the addition of a | | | | Remember that your scrapbook is all about the |
| touch of glitter with a glitter pen, it can make a great | | | | pictures and the memories they preserve. |
| background for Christmas pictures. | | | | Monochromatic, embossed pages are a great way to |
| In the digital world, the delicacy of a watermark can be | | | | provide your most precious pictures with a simple, |
| quite difficult to achieve. If you've tried it you'll know | | | | effective and sophisticated background. |
| that what looks like a subtle effect on the screen can | | | | |