If you’ve never digital scrapped and have always wanted to, I’ve created an easy tutorial for beginners. By beginners, I’m referring to anyone who has some knowledge of using a graphics editor but doesn’t know where to begin with digital scrapping.
This tutorial will be the very basics. The most simple digital layout you can create. Once you get the hang of things, the more advance editing will come easier. Keep in mind that digital scrapping is always a work in progress. If you are ambitious enough, you will keep going and keep getting better.
Here are the steps:
1. To begin, you will need a graphics editing program such GIMP (a free download), Adobe Photoshop Elements (around $100), Adobe Photoshop (very pricey but worth it), Corel Paint Shop Pro ($100), or any other graphics editor that can layer images. I use Adobe Photoshop CS4.
2. Next, find a digital photo. I recommend a high pixel photo and maybe of a person or one of yourself. Open that photo in your editing program.
3. Determine what digital kit you’d like to use. Most digital kits are available for purchase and prices usually start from $1.00 up (you will need a paypal account), but you can find freebies at almost any digital scrapbook forum. Here are a few places you can get some freebies:
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Oscraps Freebies
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Daily Freebies at Digiscrapaddicts.com
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Digishoptalk.com Scrap Resources
For this tutorial, I'll be using the
Fashionista Collection Kit by Che Yang Designs.
4. Pick a paper of your choice and open it in your editing program. Papers are 12x12.
5. Pick these elements: a frame, a word art (or a ribbon), and a flower. Paste these elements on top of the paper. Note: If you are unsure where to lay your elements and photos, use the rule of thirds.
6. Take the photo you picked from step 2 and paste it underneath the frame layer.
7. Resize the photo to fit the frame. In Photoshop CS4, select the Move Tool or hit “V”. Hold down the shift key to retain the shape of the photo as it resizes and size down so that it fits the frame. If the photo hangs out of the frame, you can resize the frame or trim the image.
8. I'm going to trim the photo in this tutorial. To trim, use the Rectangular Marquee Tool or hit “M” and select the area you want to trim then hit delete.
This is how your layout will look:
You're almost done!
9. You want to add some shadows to give the layout some depth. Click on fx in the layers box. You’ll get a drop-down menu of blending options. Click on Drop Shadow.
10. Adjust the shadow to your liking.
11. To give the other elements the same shadow without having to do each of them individually, right click on the layer with the shadow. You’ll get a drop-down menu. Select Copy Layer Style.
12. Select all the layers you want the shadows on (to select multiple layers, hold down the shift key and select the layers with your mouse).
13. Right click any of the selected layers and choose Paste Layer Style from the drop-down menu.
14. All the layers you selected now have shadows and your layout should look more realistic. That's it!
In order to post your layout on the Internet, you will need to merge the layers, resize to 600x600, and save your layout as a JPG. When you share your layout, don’t forget to credit the designer of the papers and elements you used. It is courtesy and also it allows others to locate the products if they should want to use it.
Here's my final layout:
I hope you’ll use this tutorial to help you get started in digital scrapping!
