Are you a paper scrapbooker who has decided to make the move from traditional scrapbooking to digital? Or are you completely new to the concept of digital scrapbooking? Either way, there are a few things you should know before you get started.
The first thing you need to do is research your options for digital scrapbooking software. You'll want to select the best program possible - and not all digital scrapbooking software programs have the same features. Keep the following points in mind when selecting your software.
1. Your digital scrapbooking software should be easy to use, but it should also have many creative features that help make your pages shine.
2. It should be a good value. Beware of products that are too cheap - in fact, "free" isn't necessarily a good thing either. As a rule, you should be able to find an excellent product for less than $50 on sale. Anything less than $40 is likely a warning sign that the product is being "cleared out".
3. It should include high-quality scrapbooking content. Lots of "clipart" isn't the same thing. Quality is much more important than quantity when it comes to digital scrapbooking.
4. Its pre-made templates should be fully-editable, and it should be expandable with other digital scrapbooking content so you never get bored.
5. A good digital scrapbooking software program should offer a free, full-featured downloadable trial so that you can take it for a "test drive" and try everything out before you buy. Plus, you should be able to purchase and download the full product immediately, so you can start scrapbooking even if it's 2 in the morning!
Once you find your creative yet easy-to-use digital scrapbooking program, it's time to start learning and creating those pages! If you chose your software wisely, it should be fast and easy to learn just by loading it and trying out the features. To get the most out of your purchase, and learn to use it properly, just follow these steps:
1. If you're the kind of person who like to know everything, start by reading the User's Guide. Look on the Help menu from within your software for a link to an electronic "PDF" version. It should have great information that covers all the features.
2. Check out the program's website. You should find free and easy to follow tutorials. A combination of video tutorials and lessons will help you learn to use the software very quickly.
3. Visit the online discussion groups for your digital scrapbooking software. The best digital scrapbooking software products have active forums with users from around the world. You'll be able to get answers about your software, plus you'll learn about great tips and tricks.
Informed with the basics, you can begin experimenting! Start by selecting a pre-made template, then add in your photos to personalize the page. Hopefully you picked a digital scrapbooking program that features fully-editable template pages (plus the option to create a page from "scratch")! Use your mouse to edit your layout - simply point and click to add embellishments, delete paper scraps, move objects, and even resize and rotate photos. Don't worry about making a mistake! Simply choose "undo" if you make a change that you don't like. That's big advantage over paper and scissors and glue!
After you get the hang of it, you can start to use the more advance features included in your software. This is where you can really get creative. Perhaps you have some great ideas from your paper scrapbooking experiences? With your digital scrapbooking software, you'll be able to create scrapbook pages that are as creative as you are!
But what if you're the kind of person who admires other people's scrapbook projects, but don't know where to begin in creating your own digital scrapbooking pages? Once again, here is where a great online digital scrapbooking community comes in handy! Look for one that has a free members layout gallery, where you can not only post your own pages when you're ready, but you can view other people's work, too. Taking a look at the way other scrapbookers lay out their pages is a terrific way to inspire your own creativity (in fact, "scraplifting" - basing the layout of your page on someone else' page - is a time-honoured practice among scrapbookers! - just make sure you give credit where credit is due!).
Another way to hone your digital scrapbooking skills is to participate in the fun challenges offered in some online communities. These challenges often center around a technique or scrapbooking program feature, and are a great way to learn. Plus, look for challenges that offer freebies; it's a fun way to develop your skills and get free stuff for your projects!
Don't be intimidated by digital scrapbooking! It's much easier to get started with than people think. Just find a program that offers a free trial download, online tutorials, a helpful community forum, and fully-customizable templates to help you get started. You'll be making amazing digital scrapbooks in no time!
The first thing you need to do is research your options for digital scrapbooking software. You'll want to select the best program possible - and not all digital scrapbooking software programs have the same features. Keep the following points in mind when selecting your software.
1. Your digital scrapbooking software should be easy to use, but it should also have many creative features that help make your pages shine.
2. It should be a good value. Beware of products that are too cheap - in fact, "free" isn't necessarily a good thing either. As a rule, you should be able to find an excellent product for less than $50 on sale. Anything less than $40 is likely a warning sign that the product is being "cleared out".
3. It should include high-quality scrapbooking content. Lots of "clipart" isn't the same thing. Quality is much more important than quantity when it comes to digital scrapbooking.
4. Its pre-made templates should be fully-editable, and it should be expandable with other digital scrapbooking content so you never get bored.
5. A good digital scrapbooking software program should offer a free, full-featured downloadable trial so that you can take it for a "test drive" and try everything out before you buy. Plus, you should be able to purchase and download the full product immediately, so you can start scrapbooking even if it's 2 in the morning!
Once you find your creative yet easy-to-use digital scrapbooking program, it's time to start learning and creating those pages! If you chose your software wisely, it should be fast and easy to learn just by loading it and trying out the features. To get the most out of your purchase, and learn to use it properly, just follow these steps:
1. If you're the kind of person who like to know everything, start by reading the User's Guide. Look on the Help menu from within your software for a link to an electronic "PDF" version. It should have great information that covers all the features.
2. Check out the program's website. You should find free and easy to follow tutorials. A combination of video tutorials and lessons will help you learn to use the software very quickly.
3. Visit the online discussion groups for your digital scrapbooking software. The best digital scrapbooking software products have active forums with users from around the world. You'll be able to get answers about your software, plus you'll learn about great tips and tricks.
Informed with the basics, you can begin experimenting! Start by selecting a pre-made template, then add in your photos to personalize the page. Hopefully you picked a digital scrapbooking program that features fully-editable template pages (plus the option to create a page from "scratch")! Use your mouse to edit your layout - simply point and click to add embellishments, delete paper scraps, move objects, and even resize and rotate photos. Don't worry about making a mistake! Simply choose "undo" if you make a change that you don't like. That's big advantage over paper and scissors and glue!
After you get the hang of it, you can start to use the more advance features included in your software. This is where you can really get creative. Perhaps you have some great ideas from your paper scrapbooking experiences? With your digital scrapbooking software, you'll be able to create scrapbook pages that are as creative as you are!
But what if you're the kind of person who admires other people's scrapbook projects, but don't know where to begin in creating your own digital scrapbooking pages? Once again, here is where a great online digital scrapbooking community comes in handy! Look for one that has a free members layout gallery, where you can not only post your own pages when you're ready, but you can view other people's work, too. Taking a look at the way other scrapbookers lay out their pages is a terrific way to inspire your own creativity (in fact, "scraplifting" - basing the layout of your page on someone else' page - is a time-honoured practice among scrapbookers! - just make sure you give credit where credit is due!).
Another way to hone your digital scrapbooking skills is to participate in the fun challenges offered in some online communities. These challenges often center around a technique or scrapbooking program feature, and are a great way to learn. Plus, look for challenges that offer freebies; it's a fun way to develop your skills and get free stuff for your projects!
Don't be intimidated by digital scrapbooking! It's much easier to get started with than people think. Just find a program that offers a free trial download, online tutorials, a helpful community forum, and fully-customizable templates to help you get started. You'll be making amazing digital scrapbooks in no time!
About the Author:
Looking to find the best deal on digital scrapbooking software? Then visit www.scrapbookmax.com to find the best advice on digital scrapbooking programs.
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