What is digital scrapbooking? (and more)

What is digital scrapbooking?
Simply put, digital scrapbooking is “scrapbooking done on a computer.”  Digital scrapbooking is a newer form of memory keeping in which digital images (a combination of photos, papers, and embellishments) are arranged using photo editing software to create a piece of digital artwork.  That artwork can then be printed, saved, and/or uploaded and shared in online galleries.

Why would I want to scrapbook digitally?
Some of my favorite reasons:
1. Ctrl (or Cmd) + Z aka “Undo”
2. It’s relatively inexpensive
3. The stores are open 24/7
4. You’ll find a steady stream of new products, daily
5. You’ll never run out of your favorite supplies, because you can use them over and over again
6. No mess!
7. An incredible community of digital scrapbookers to support and inspire you!

How do I get started in digital scrapbooking?
First, you’ll need software. There are lots of options, but here are a few of the most popular choices*:
Gimp (free)
Adobe Photoshop Elements 9.0 (approx. $75 on Amazon.com)
Adobe Photoshop CS5 (approx. $625 on Amazon.com)
* I use and recommend Adobe products, but you may not need/want to invest in a heavy duty software program. Feel free to try Gimp for free or any other photo editing software that will support .PNG files and layers!

The next thing you’ll need are your digital photos. If you only have printed photos, then have them scanned and converted into a digital format (JPEG).

Then, you’ll want to download some digital scrapbooking supplies. You can find affordable kits and even freebies ALL over the web, but here are a few of my favorite places:
www.oscraps.com
www.shabbyprincess.com
www.twopeasinabucket.com
www.mscraps.com

Finally, you can put it all together and start creating! If you need a little jump start, check out some of these great tutorials to help you along (most are geared toward Adobe Photoshop & Photoshop Elements):
The Shabby Shoppe: Tutorials
Two Peas in a Bucket
Digital Scrapbook Place University
Misty Cato Designs: Tutorials

Have fun experimenting!

If you have a question, don’t hesitate to send me an email: danielle @ danielleyoungdesigns.com