Thursday 14 May 2009

Tutorials that got me started

Hi ya ok so when I originally started looking into Digi Scrapping, I thought hmm I can't really follow "text" tutorials maybe look on youtube.com for some and this is one of the first tutorials that got me hooked



as you can see its the main one I watched where I had difficulty with the "+ simplyfie layer" and of "grouping" layers ..... Enjoy X

File Formats

PSD:
These are layered files. Although other photo-editing software programs can read these files, they are specifically created in Adobe Photoshop and Photoshop Elements. These files contain multiple layers that can be manipulated or removed from a layout. Layered Templates are this file type, as are the layouts you create yourself.

JPG:
These are solid image files. Papers and photos are the most common JPG files you will use.

PNG:
These are overlay files. The background of these images is transparent, allowing them to be layered on top of one another. The majority of digital scrapbooking elements and embellishments are PNG files (ribbons, frames, buttons, staples, etc.)

ABR:
These are brush files. They must be loaded into Adobe Photoshop or Photoshop Elements. If your software does not support brushes, there are generally PNG versions of the images provided in the download folder.

PDF:
These are Adobe Acrobat Reader files. They are often used when the designer provides instructions on how to use a downloaded file. They are also used for eBooks. You must have Adobe Acrobat Reader to view these files, and it is available as a free download on the Adobe website.

Read Me:
These are text files provided by the designer, often to provide the terms of use (TOU) and copyright information for their designs.

Getting Statrted

Like paper scrapbooking, digital scrapbooking utilizes using a combination of papers, alphas, stamps, ribbons, and a variety of other embellishments. Unlike paper scrapbooking, however, digital gives you the freedom to resize, recolor, and reuse any product in your supply stash. Best of all, there's no mess to put away when you're finished!

Kits
Digital Scrapbooking Kits are a collection of papers and embellishments all centered on a particular theme and color scheme. Kits are the best way to get started with a page since everything coordinates and is designed to work together to give your page a cohesive look.

Paper Packs
Digital Scrapbooking Paper Packs are exactly that, packs of papers in digital format. You use these JPEG versions of 12x12" papers to create backgrounds, photo mattes, die-cuts, etc., just as you would use a traditional piece of paper. Of course, you're able to use these papers over and over again, no longer worrying about making the "wrong cut" and wasting your supply.

Alphabets
Digital Scrapbooking Alphabets come in a variety of formats. Some come with each letter/symbol as an individual PNG file, others come as a single PNG file with the entire set on one document, and still others are brush sets, or ABR files.

Overlays
Digital Scrapbooking Overlays are comparable to traditional transparencies. They are also PNG files, so part of the image is transparent, allowing elements beneath it on a layout to show through.

Stamps and Brushes
Photoshop Brushes are perhaps the most versatile product in the world of digital scrapbooking. They are ABR files that must be loaded into your photo-editing program. Once loaded, they can be used as a rubber stamp, an eraser, a paint brush, a laser cutter, a distressing tool, and more. They can be re-sized, re-colored, rotated, duplicated to create patterns, the possibilities are truly endless. Downloads also include PNG versions of the brushes that can be used if your software does not support brushes.

Quick Pages
Digital Scrapbooking Quick Pages are scrapbook pages that are already designed and ready for you to simply drop in your photos. These files are flattened PNG files, which mean the elements on the page can't be manipulated or changed in any way. You can, however, add additional embellishments and journaling to them.

Actions
Photoshop Actions And Styles are files that can be loaded into Adobe Photoshop (not PSE) and used to perform a variety of multi-step tasks. There are actions for adding drop shadows, inked edges, sanded edges, and more. There are also photo actions that can automatically sharpen, soften, brighten, or convert your favorite photos to black and white, sepia, etc. Once you load an action, it's ready to use with the click of a button, giving you more time to spend on other aspects of your layout.

Layered Templates
Digital Scrapbooking Layered Templates are similar to a paper layout "sketch," only better. These products are PSD files that include all the layers of a pre-designed layout. Unlike Quick Pages, these layers can be manipulated to suit your needs. You can remove, resize, or reposition any aspect of the layout. You use your own choice of papers and embellishments to compliment your photos and simply "clip" them to the placeholders in the file. Instructions for using these templates in PS and PSE are included in the download.

eBooks
Digital Scrapbooking eBooks are original design and idea books created in PDF format. They are packed with wonderful tips on creating layouts, using products, and getting the most out of your digital scrapbooking experience. They are completely hot-linked to the DesignerDigitals store, allowing you to locate inspirational layouts and must-have products quickly and easily. The eBooks are PDF files, and therefore require Adobe Acrobat Reader for viewing (available as a free download).

Tutorials
Digital Scrapbooking Tutorials are scrapbooking tutorials packaged with everything you need to create the layout being taught. They include a full-color PDF with screen shots to walk you through every step of creating your layout. All papers and embellishments required to complete the project are included and can be used over and over again in any future layouts you create.

Fonts
Digital Scrapbooking Fonts are used to add journaling and titles to your layouts. There are custom fonts available on the web or on digital scrapbooking sites .

Wednesday 7 January 2009

example of mistake found

Hi ya
I posted last time about a mistake I had made that was with the "elements" I was using and I dragged it via the "bin" and not from the window page and it caused a (Graying area where it should be transparent)
50%
as you can see I also hadn't "simplified the layer " and it didn't then allow me to CTRL + G (Group) ok so thats the small box in the (Layers pallet) on the selected layer making sur the image you wish to GROUP is above the main one click on the square box that has a + sign and it will show a little drop down select (simplyfie layer) then CTRL + G :0)

Saturday 3 January 2009

Happy New Year 2009 !!

Hi ya
sorry I haven't blogged in a while have had alot of computer problems involving Trojans ect eek but now all is sorted and I am back hehe !
I hope people had a lovely Xmas and a brill new years eve !!
January 2009 start of a brand new year almost like opening a new book, writing down Goals like a contents page lol.
I bet most people are already getting ready to join up to the gym, I am lready a member but I now have a gym buddy that will take me 3 days a week yay me lol.

ok so I have been keeping some of my digi scraps and solving the errors that I make along the way would love to instantly know how to do things but thats the beauty of "learning"

ok here is a scrap I decided to do for my friend as it was her sons 2nd birthday

I was making the mistake of pulling the element and alphas from the "Bin" and it wouldn't show up as a image that was from a transparent background it had grey around it so I had to what I thought to resolve the issue was to use a paint bucket or to paint it the background color with a brush !! NO WAY time consuming and the look is horrid !!

ok so how did I solve this ?? I looked on some digiscrap forums and asked around and some kind people aske where I was pulling my elements and alphas from, I told them from the bin, they said to leave it in the "original" window it comes from and drag and drop to my main image am using I will have to re do this as I haven't done a after pic yet sorry !!

so thats 2 lessons so far and that was on my second scrap I guess when there is a will there is a way huh, the main problem I have is figuring where to place elements to make them look good and weather the other person will like it, but my "template collection" is getting bigger I do love a selection, I have now found Misty Cato blog and she does brilliant turorials some things I know already but you have to start from beginning as things I may not know could be in it !

I would love to learn how to make my own kit one day my aim is to do that.

ok I shall post again soon till that Scrappy*Doo