Digital Scrapbooking Community News

Digital Scraproom Organizing Software

2006-09-29T18:33:00.000-06:00

I may be a bit behind the times here, but I just discovered Digital Scraproom today... it's a software created by a digital scrapper for organizing all your digi stuff.

I have a system that I'm pretty happy with just using a tree of folders in Windows, but boy, this software has some really neat features! I have not tried the software, but here are some of the handy things that jumped out at me...

1. See Your Supplies in Multiple Categories -- The writeup on website says that in Windows, you have to copy your files to two different places in order to have them in different categories... not true actually, you can have the files in one place, and just create a shortcut and put the shortcut in another place. But it looks like using this software will make putting your stuff into multiple categories much easier.

2. Easy to Use Keyword Search Feature -- When I think about going back and assigning keywords to allllll the kits I have now, I feel faint. But, I don't think it would be too hard to assign keywords to a kit (note: "kit", not each file, that would be too much work) as you download them.

3. Keeping Track of Supplies You Use on Layouts -- Now THIS is cool! The program will keep track of all the supplies you used on your layout, and spit out a .txt file with the list. It has only file names on it, of course, so if you copied and pasted it right into the webpage you're posting your layout on, instead of saying Kit Name by Designer, it would say kitname_bluepaper_designer.jpg or something like that. Which, if the designer has named their file correctly, can be just as good, I think. Now if it could just remember the fonts I used, THAT would be great. I always have to go back and open up my PSD files to figure that out.

The one thing I can't really tell by looking at the screen shots is if you can see a folder image on each folder. The screen shot is not shown in thumbnail view, it's shown in icon view, so all you see are little yellow folders.

As many of you know (but some don't know)... if the designer has included a preview of the kit in their folder, you can name that preview "folder.jpg" and then when you view the list of folders in Windows thumbnail view, you can actually see the preview right there on the folder, without having to go inside the folder to see what's in there. (I have started including the preview "folder.jpg" in my kits, already named that way, so that once it's unzipped, it's good to go, no need to rename.)

Anyway, this software looks really cool... check it out:

http://www.digitalscraproom.com/

How to create the grunge effect with Photoshop

2006-09-16T17:42:00.000-06:00

Veerle's blog offers a helpful tutorial on creating a grunge look in an image in Photoshop, like the one pictured above with the grungy corner.

As someone equally amazed by the capabilities of Photoshop - and those who know how to use them - can I just say, "so THAT'S how you'd do that." Good stuff for adding some interestingness to your blog header image or any photo. — Gina Trapani

Read the article here

Collaboration with StoryRock Enables Schools to Create Interactive Yearbook Content to Supplement Printed Yearbooks

2006-09-01T17:23:00.000-06:00

Lifetouch Publishing Announces Agreement With Leading Multimedia Electronic Publisher

By: PR Newswire
Aug. 31, 2006 05:17 PM
Digg This!

MINNEAPOLIS, Aug. 31 /PRNewswire/ -- Lifetouch Publishing Inc., a leading provider of printed yearbooks to elementary schools, middle schools, high schools and colleges across North America, is pleased to announce its collaboration with StoryRock, a world leader in digital multimedia offerings.

Lifetouch Interactive Memories, powered by StoryRock, offers students an interactive CD yearbook experience to complement their traditional printed yearbook. Students will be able to view photos that usually don't make it into the yearbook. Yearbook advisers and student staff can customize the CDs with video, Web links, personalized text, photos and narration.

Read entire article here

EnjoyYourDigitalLife.com launches to keep up with Viral Video 'Gestation' Phenomenon, to be featured on Inside Edition

2006-08-28T19:59:00.000-06:00

(PRLEAP.COM) EnjoyYourDigitalLife.com announced that Matt and Carlin Pressnall, the creators of the popular viral video ‘9 months of gestation in 20 seconds,’ will be featured on the nationally syndicated television show "Inside Edition" the week of August 21st, 2006. The video demonstrates a pregnancy with time-lapse photography.

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EnjoyYourDigitalLife.com is dedicated to helping others preserve, share, and enjoy memories. The site offers advice on what do with all those digital files that end up hidden away on hard drives when they could be turned into amazing slideshows, professional looking photobooks, and jaw-dropping DVDs. EnjoyYourDigitalLife.com will also allow users to freely share their own ideas with others and form a community interested in digital scrapbooking as a celebration of their lives.

Read entire article here

How to create a digital scrapbook

2006-08-26T15:50:00.000-06:00

By HELEN MALANI

It seems that everyone I know is scrapbooking – the documenting of life's special events and memories. Someone is always chronicling something – a child's recital, a bridal shower, a trip to Paris, a pet's birthday.

Like many hobbies, it can be time-consuming, costly and require work space. Digital scrapbooking, the art of doing it all on your computer, allows you to flex your creative muscle while saving on time, money and space.

To read the entire article, click here

Digital Scrapbooking from Epson

2006-08-22T06:43:00.000-06:00

Epson America, Inc. today announced the availability of four digital scrapbooking reference guides - "Introduction to Technology," "Digital Scrapbooking Kits," "Divine Secrets of the Design Sisterhood," and "Scrapbooker's Guide to Photo Corrections & Artistic Effects" - which provide consumers with useful instructions on using technology as yet one more scrapbooking technique. From basic techniques describing how to use a digital camera, photo printer and scanner, to more advanced instruction detailing ways to use Adobe(R) Photoshop Elements image-editing software to enhance photos and create digital scrapbook pages, these reference guides are designed for consumers at every skill level.

Click here to read entire article

25 Photoshop (CS2) Tips for Photographers

2006-08-16T15:16:00.000-06:00

DIGITAL FOCUS: By Jun Miranda

(Jun Miranda is the first Philippine-based Adobe Certified Instructor, Adobe Certified Expert for Photoshop CS, and CompTIA’s Certified Technical Trainer. He is also the President and Program Director of the Philippine Center for Creative Imaging, Past President of the Camera Club of the Philippines, the founding president of the Club de Camera Digital and a member of the National Association of Photoshop Professionals.)

Although they are meant primarily for photographers, the tips I compiled here are also useful to any Photoshop user. Some tips are not limited to Photoshop CS2 only.

Click here for entire article

Google warns on 'unsafe' websites

2006-08-07T11:24:00.000-06:00

Google has started warning users if they are about to visit a webpage that could harm their computer.

The warning will pop up if users click on a link to a page known to host spyware or other malicious programs.

The initiative comes out of a larger project cataloguing programs that plague people with unwanted ads, spy on web habits or steal personal data.
Google is one of several companies trying to act as an "in-flight adviser" to ensure people stay safe online.

Read entire article here

Digital photo tips from some readers

2006-07-22T15:40:00.000-06:00

By Linda Knapp
Special to The Seattle Times
Saturday, July 22, 2006

Some of this column's readers are far more knowledgeable than I about photography, so it's a treat when they respond to my columns on the subject and take the time to teach me a thing or two.

Today, I'll share some of what I've learned.

Processing images on a computer
A year or so ago, several experts advised me to try saving images in the camera as RAW files (rather than JPEGs). Their most persuasive argument was that it would enable me to change the exposure, white balance, brightness, contrast, saturation and other settings, as if I'd taken the shot using those settings in the first place.

Read entire article here

Leading Scrapbook Software Now Available Via Free Download

2006-07-21T16:35:00.000-06:00

Free scrapbooking software (no surprises), countless templates, backgrounds, and embellishments helps you design, print and share your scrapbooks with friends and family. Powerful easy to use software lets you edit your photos, together with hundreds of free templates, backgrounds, embellishments and designer ideas. Add Text boxes for journaling and balloon text boxes to create custom pages. Multilingual

ATLANTA, GA (PRWEB) July 21, 2006 -- Aurora Digital Imaging today announced that ScrapbookFlair will be the new name of its digital scrapbooking software, which was introduced 18 months ago as PhotoOne Print and sold for $29.95. The software will now be available to consumers free of charge at wwwscrapbookflairsoftware.com. Unlike other “free software” offers, ScrapbookFlair is a complete and fully functioning package. The easy-to-use PC software allows people to take photographs from their digital cameras and create scrapbook pages in a matter of minutes. As ScrapbookFlair, the software also offers a variety of enhanced and unique scrapbooking features, including custom colored backgrounds, balloon text, photo manipulation and designer art work.

Aurora Digital Imaging, Ltd. (http://www.auroradi.com/), is a privately held company specializing in the application of technology for large-scale, consumer-based businesses. Based near Atlanta, Ga., Aurora’s principal markets involve digital photography, online scrapbooks, and web-based communities.

http://www.prweb.com/releases/2006/7/prweb413754.htm

Lasting Impressions Announces MemoryMixer Lite

2006-07-20T18:27:00.000-06:00

WOODS CROSS, Utah, July 20 /PRNewswire/ -- Lasting Impressions for Paper, Inc., the leading manufacturer of embossing templates and digital scrapbooking software, today announced MemoryMixer(TM) Lite. The new product has the same popular features as the original MemoryMixer, the only difference being the quantity of content. MemoryMixer Lite offers less QuickMixes, backgrounds, and embellishments, but allows a Lite user to buy additional content as desired. Thus customers can upgrade to the full version at their own pace.

Read entire article here

I/O Brush: The World as the Palette

2006-07-15T19:29:00.000-06:00

Kimiko Ryokai, Stefan Marti, Hiroshi Ishii
Josh Monzon & Rob Figueiredo© 2003-2005 MIT Media Lab

I/O Brush is a new drawing tool to explore colors, textures, and movements found in everyday materials by "picking up" and drawing with them. I/O Brush looks like a regular physical paintbrush but has a small video camera with lights and touch sensors embedded inside. Outside of the drawing canvas, the brush can pick up color, texture, and movement of a brushed surface. On the canvas, artists can draw with the special "ink" they just picked up from their immediate environment.

See the amazing video here

and read the article here

Twisting Pixels Announces Major Updats to its Award Winning Special Effect and Photoshop Plugin Products

2006-07-14T21:42:00.000-06:00

Twisting Pixels, the leader in the special effect and photoshop plugin arena, announces major updates to its award winning products. Twisting Pixels now offers 48 incredible photoshop plugins as well as an image processing application to apply 48 filters to any photo or image.

Las Vegas, NV (PRWEB) July 14, 2006 -- Twisting Pixels is pleased to announce the release of the next version of its incredible special effects applications and plugins for photographers, graphic artists, and imaging enthusiasts. Twisting Pixels products include feature rich visual effect filters that modify and enhance any image to achieve an artistic end result. With over 48 filters and plugins to choose from, Twisting Pixels offers something for every aspect of design.

PixelCreation, PixelPack, PixelPaper, and PixelSampler are built upon an interactive framework that allows the user to draw onscreen to manipulate the images in a dynamic, easy to understand manner. For example, users can interactively create fluffy clouds, romantic moons, or celestial constellations by just by placing them over the image. All products come with a very easy and intuitive preset system that allows the user to create unlimited possibilities and variations and ships with just under 100 presets already created.

To read entire article, go here

Digital Scrapbooking Creates Revival for Photofinishers and Scrapbook Retailers

2006-07-12T18:29:00.000-06:00

BUENA PARK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 11, 2006--Scrapbooking has blossomed into a $3.3 billion industry and has even surpassed golf in popularity among American households. As this growth has occurred retailers from two very different markets, photofinishing and scrapbooking, have discovered new business opportunities and the promise of revitalization.

Parallel Markets

Photos are an important part of scrapbooking and this close tie has benefited retailers in both areas. The retail scrapbooking market today resembles the photofinishing landscape of seven years ago. Small-to-midsize independent stores currently compose the majority of outlets, with a few large chain stores represented. The rise of digital scrapbooking is causing anxiety and apprehension among some scrapbook retailers just as the arrival of digital photography contributed to turmoil and uncertainty in the photo industry.

Some scrapbook stores have been quick to understand the digital connection between photos and scrapbooking. David & Cathy Potts are the owners of ScrapMasters, located in Bel Air, Md. At ScrapMasters, they've created a unique combination of traditional scrapbook store plus coffee/tea and pastry cafe, with a state-of-the-art photo print center featuring four computer stations where customers can edit and print their digital photos. Early on, they recognized the importance of enabling customers to print photos on site, but were not satisfied with the quality of available dye-sublimation printers. After conducting research, they chose the Noritsu dDP-410 inkjet printer for their photo output needs. David Potts likes the printer's flexibility. "Having the ability to offer a wide variety of print sizes is important in the craft business. 6" x 6" is our most popular print size." For Potts, education is a key selling factor. "We have not had a lot of people coming in asking specifically about digital scrapbooking yet, but once we show customers what is possible with digital they are very excited about it."

Read entire article here

Set up your monitor and be prepared to see the light

2006-07-05T17:27:00.000-06:00

by Terry Lane
July 6, 2006 LiveWire

Back in the olden times - say five years ago - when the standard method of sharing photographs was to hand around prints, we all saw the same thing.

These days, when the preferred method of sharing photographs is through the internet and by display on computer monitors, we are all seeing something unique. It would be rare to find two monitors calibrated alike. In fact it is rare to find any monitor calibrated at all. Brightness, contrast and colour are all over the place.

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A new monitor needs immediate adjustment of brightness and contrast. To do this go to dpreview.com and click on any camera review. Near the bottom of the first page of any camera review page there is a greyscale image that shows 26 tones between white and black. A properly adjusted monitor should show differences between all 26 blocks.

Anyone with Adobe Photoshop or Photoshop Elements installed also has Adobe Gamma adjustment installed. It is located in Control Panel on Windows PCs and can be run as a simple step-by-step wizard. It's a bit like going to the optometrist in that it involves making choices between slightly different images - the adjustment is subjective.

Some questions have to be answered to which the correct answers are not obvious. When Adobe Gamma asks for the gamma number, the right answer is 2.2. When it asks for the monitor phosphor (for CRT monitors) the correct answer is probably P22. And when it asks for the hardware white point the correct answer is 6500o K. There may be some arguments about these variables, but these numbers are a good starting point.

To read entire article, go here

Protecting and Cleaning Your Scanner Glass

2006-07-03T19:42:00.000-06:00

From Sue Chastain,Your Guide to Graphics Software.
FREE Newsletter. Sign Up Now!

If you're into digital scrapbooking, you know that anything that can fit on the scanner bed is fair game. I can tell you from experience that you need to work fast when scanning chocolate. Scanning objects can be a lot of fun, and if you've never tried it, you may be surprised at the results. But before you go crazy with scanned objects, be sure to see these tips for protecting and cleaning your flatbed scanner glass from Printers and Scanners Guide Barbara Krasnoff.

Read entire article here

In Pictures Computer Books - Free Downloads

2006-07-02T06:56:00.000-06:00

I downloaded the Photoshop one, and it's very very basic. It would be of use to someone who has never used it before, or someone who is making the transition from PSP to Photoshop.

From Sue Chastain, Your Guide to Graphics Software. FREE Newsletter. Sign Up Now!

In Pictures offers computer books based on pictures, not text. Currently, they are giving away electronic PDF versions of several books as a free download through July 31, 2006. The graphics software titles include Photoshop CS2 In Pictures, Photoshop Elements 4.0 In Pictures, and Fireworks 8 In Pictures.

Read entire article here

or go to the website: http://inpics.net/

Simple Digital Scrapbooking Using Paint Shop Pro X

2006-07-01T08:36:00.000-06:00

Scrap Girls announces Paint Shop Pro X as their newest addition in the Scrapbooking Software Secrets Revealed line of easy-to-use digital scrapbooking training movies

(PRWEB) June 30, 2006

Scrapgirls.com, an Internet store specializing in digital and printable supplies for scrapbookers, card makers and paper crafters, introduces Scrapbook Software Secrets Revealed: Paint Shop Pro X. The course consists of short, narrated, screen-capture movies in which scrappers literally watch and listen to Rozanne Paxman, CEO of Scrap Girls and creator of Scrapbook Software Secrets Revealed. The consumer will learn the most popular scrapping techniques, understand how to save files for printing or sharing over the internet, create brushes, backgrounds, torn paper, digital vellums, text on a curve, and rounded edges. Learn to repair damaged photos, manage transparent embellishment files that allow digital scrapbooking layouts to look real, and so much more. The tutorials show short-cuts and tips that will be helpful to even those without extensive computer experience.

Read entire article here

Microsoft woos digital-photography enthusiasts

2006-06-29T19:57:00.000-06:00

By Caroline McCarthy
Staff writer, CNET News.com
Published: June 29, 2006, 12:17 PM PDT

Microsoft has recently been attempting to appeal to a crowd it traditionally hasn't focused on: digital photographers.

The software behemoth has never been known as a leader in the creative side of software manufacturing; that title arguably goes to Apple Computer or Adobe Systems. But Microsoft is trying to change that image in anticipation of the eventual release of its Vista operating system, particularly in the field of digital photography.

Thursday marked its first Pro Photo Summit, featuring the launch of a program called Icons of Imaging, designed to showcase the work of leaders and innovators in photography; and the announcement of the winners of a Future Pro Photographer Contest.

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Earlier this week, the software company purchased iView Multimedia, a British start-up that specializes in digital photo organization, as a potential rival to Adobe's Lightroom and Apple's Aperture.

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Microsoft is also working on Windows Media Photo, a format designed to rival the popular JPEG digital-photo format.

To read entire article, click here

New Web Site Offers Free Advertising For Small Business Owners

2006-06-29T19:55:00.000-06:00

Finding an affordable way to advertise your personal, business or e-commerce website can be daunting. Net Top Sites offers a free alternative to immediately create a link back to your site.

American Fork, UT (PRWEB) June 29, 2006 -- Golden Fleece Enterprises announces the launching of Net Top Sites, a free advertising portal that features real time website popularity ranking in more than 175 product categories.

"While we realize that there are already top site listings available to the web entrepreneur in some market categories, we wanted to bring together all market categories in one place making it easier for the web consumer to compare sites" says owner Paul Lindberg. "If we haven't got a category that fits your market segment, we will add one for you."

With more than 175 product categories to choose from, finding a category that fits your need should be easy to do. Most website owners choose a more specific niche that best suits them. For instance, the Craft industry has many diverse specialties such as Knitting, Painting, and Paper Crafting. The latter is broken down even further with Scrapbooking and Digital Scrapbooking as specific niche markets.

To read the entire article, click here

Scrapblog(TM) Launches Newest Version of the World's First Online Scrapbooking Service

2006-06-20T05:49:00.000-06:00

Enhanced Features Enable Integration with Flickr and MySpace; 'Favorite Scrapblog' Contest Rewards Contributors with Digital Cameras

MIAMI--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 19, 2006--Scrapblog, LLC today debuted the latest version of its Web application, going beyond the status quo of photo-sharing sites by offering a more interactive way to preserve, personalize and share memories online. The site also announced a monthly contest for the most popular Scrapblogs, offering the latest digital cameras as prizes.

Scrapbloggers can now import their favorite photos from Flickr and enhance them with a variety of stickers, backgrounds, themes, balloon comments and other rich-media blogging tools. Ideal for parents, grandparents, students, newlyweds, vacationers and sports fans interested in sharing memories with friends and family in real-time, Scrapblog enables users to tell stories around their pictures. Scrapblog pages can now be embedded into MySpace.com pages or personal blogs.

Read entire article here

Scrapbook design award for Adobe Photoshop users

2006-06-20T05:41:00.000-06:00

Scrapbook design award for Adobe Photoshop users :

In just 23 days the "2006 Scrappy Awards," the first scrapbook design contest held exclusively for Adobe Photoshop Elements users, will stop accepting entries. The deadline for entries is 12:00 midnight EST, June 30, 2006. "This is an excellent opportunity for digital scrapbookers to showcase their best work and hopefully win some of the most cutting-edge tools out there,” said Matt Kloskowski, editor-in-chief of Adobe Photoshop Elements Techniques. “Then the winners can use those tools to create more funky and fantastic scrapbook designs." The "2006 Scrappy Awards" contest is free to enter. Entrants may submit a single digital scrapbook page created in Adobe Photoshop Elements

Read entire article including the categories here

Review: Five Photoshop Wannabes

2006-06-18T14:44:00.000-06:00

June 09, 2006
Review: Five Photoshop Wannabes

Photoshop may be the standard for image editing, but these five low-cost image editors set out to do its job for for a lot less money.

By Ron White

There is no doubt that Adobe Photoshop CS2 is the reigning champion of image editing. Anything that can be conceived by human (and perhaps extraterrestrial) imagination can be created on-screen with a few shrewd choices from Photoshop's arsenal of brushes, tools, palettes, and bag of clever visual tricks. It is the standard of pixel pushers around the world. It has redefined art and photography. It is a fine, fine program that costs $649.

I'm going to repeat that.

Adobe Photoshop CS2 costs $649. Six hundred. And forty nine. Dollars.

It is not illegal to charge $649 for a single software program. But it's not mandatory either, and we decided to find some less expensive alternatives and see if they came up to the standard set by Photoshop.

Read entire article here

OurStory.com lets you organize your memories online

2006-06-12T18:58:00.000-06:00

From their website:

Step by step, we travel life's journey. Now, step by easy step, you can tell life's stories

Collect, illustrate, and preserve any story — big or small — using words, pictures, and voices. With OurStory, you decide who sees what, so that your privacy is always protected. OurStory keeps everything organized and secure... in a place where you can add to it, publish it, and enjoy it forever.

This site looks kind of neat... basically it's just a collection of photos with your stories along with it, and it organizes itself by date. They also have Baby Story and Love Story which look like they have questions specific to baby and wedding that help you record your memories (like an online baby book).

http://static.ourstory.com/doc/tour.html

Busy mothers, who don't have time to organize 4,000 digital pictures are now paying professionals to complete their family scrapbooks

2006-06-05T19:17:00.000-06:00

MOMMY BLOGGER

REBECCA ECKLER

The instant you have a baby, you become a card-carrying member of the Mommy Club. You will worry that your membership might be revoked if you don't follow the cult-like mommy masses. These days, you must scrapbook. You must scrapbook. You must scrapbook.

"Moms are coming in to scrapbook for their child because if all the other children in the neighbourhood have a scrapbook, the moms fear the impending trauma and therapy bills their child will experience if they don't," says Angela Urbano, the 36-year-old founder of Urban Scrapyard, a scrapbook "boutique" recently opened in Toronto (http://www.urbanscrapyard.com).

As with any emerging mommy trend, there is a competitive side. That's why busy mothers, who don't have time to organize the 4,000 digital pictures they have taken of three-month-old Tommy, are now paying professionals to complete their family scrapbooks.

The cost ranges from $50 to thousands of dollars. All one has to do is provide photos to Urban Scrapyard and the designers will create one for you. (It's like having a really good accountant. "Here's my shoebox full of receipts. Do my taxes. Thanks!")

Read the entire article here

or visit the website:
http://www.urbanscrapyard.com/index_www.html

Snapjot helps customers transform keepsakes into digital stories that will last forever

2006-06-05T19:12:00.000-06:00

Baby Breaker Birth Announcements
By Tim Beyers (TMF Mile High) June 2, 2006

Welcome back to Baby Breakerdom! This week's quest to uncover budding Rule Breakers finds big money for storytellers and plenty of green for green firms.

First up this week is SnapJot, a company that helps scrapbooking enthusiasts such as my wife take their craft online. According to the company's website, its goal is to help customers transform keepsakes into digital stories that will last forever. That's achieved by uploading photos, videos, and writings to a personalized site. It sorts of reminds me of the slide shows my uncle and grandfather would assemble when I was a boy.

But there's more to this than mere nostalgia. The technology behind the idea is impressive. For example, one of the chief problems with scrapbooking is that it requires long hours of organization. SnapJot address that by using the time associated with each "scrap" as an organizing principle. Chronological stories are assembled automatically. Knowing my wife as I do, I can imagine this feature alone could be a major stressbuster.

Read entire article here

or visit the website:
http://www.snapjot.com/snapjot/

OK, Picture This aims to take the work out of preserving memories

2006-06-05T19:10:00.000-06:00

Are you one of those people who can't find the time to tackle the boxes of pictures building up in the hall closet? Or maybe you are looking for a unique gift for a loved one?

That's exactly what Deborah Olsen had in mind when she created digital photo albums for her grandchildren. And these gifts have truly kept on giving.

Seeing her children receive these personal, timeless presents from their grandmother gave Tabitha Geary the idea for OK, Picture This, an online scrapbooking company that allows customers to mail in pictures to create digital scrapbooks, collages, videos and more.

Read entire article here

You Really Can Learn to Scrapbook on a Computer For Free

2006-06-05T19:07:00.000-06:00

A little time, a computer and an Internet connection is all you need to learn to scrapbook. Teens to Baby Boomers are finding that computers are the easiest and least expensive way to preserve the past and create new memories at the same time. We’ve found free lessons, free software and even free templates all in one site.

Colorado Springs, CO (PRWEB) June 3, 2006 –- You really can learn to scrapbook on a computer for free. We’ve found free lessons, free software and even free templates all in one site. Now, all you need is a little time, a computer and an Internet connection.

ComputerScrapbookTraining.com, has taught thousands how to use their home computers and printers to create scrapbook pages. Wes and Kathy, owners of ComputerScrapbookTraining.com, report that they average more than 2500 active users from around the world signed up for the classes on any given day.

Read the entire article here

Free video-based tutorials for Digital Scrapbooking!

2006-05-02T07:21:00.000-06:00

From Ronna Penner

Hi everyone! Just thought I'd let you all know that I have developed video podcasts on digital scrapbooking (they were a long time in development!). These weekly 5 minute video tutorials are for beginners to advanced users (Photoshop based) and it doesn't matter whether you're using a Mac or a PC. I'll show you tips, tricks and techniques--and other cool stuff--for making your digital layouts the very best they can be.

I cover things like how to add a drop shadow to see-through elements, using the selection tools, quick masks and the pen tool, to name a few. Many of my techniques can be adapted to other programs.

Currently there are 2 episodes available with many more to come. I will release a new episode every Monday (if the iTunes gods allow).

The best part? These podcasts are totally free! You can subscribe them through iTunes here:http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=151724903&s=143455 (if that link doesn't work then just go to the iTunes Music Store and search in Podcasts for "Scrapadelic")

Or view them on my Podblog here:http://scrapadelic.libsyn.com/ (the latest version of QuickTime is required to view them)

Thanks, and I hope you enjoy the podcasts. If you have any suggestions for future episodes, be sure to let me know. :-)

Ronna Penner
Independent designer for www.scrapbook-elements.com
My websites: www.scrapadelic.com / www.typadelic.com

Intriguing Development Announces iRemember Scrapbooking Contest

2006-04-23T18:18:00.000-06:00

(PRWEB) - Lexington, MO (PRWEB) April 23, 2006 -- Intriguing Development, Inc. today announced the iRemember™ Scrapbooking Contest.

Your scrapbook layout could be used and admired by thousands of people! Intriguing Development is looking for outstanding layouts to convert into templates for future versions of the company's iRemember Digital Scrapbooking software for Mac OS X. You could win cool scrapbooking prizes and have your page featured in a future iRemember ad in MacAddict magazine.

Read entire article here

Call for Submissions: Show off Your Work!

2006-04-17T20:17:00.000-06:00

From Sue Chastain,Your Guide to Graphics Software at About.com

Join our community of users who are willing to share their enthusiasm and knowledge of graphics software! Submit examples of your work to be included in our galleries, along with your answers to a brief questionnaire. You can promote your own work while enhancing the graphics software community and helping other members.

Go here for a list of categories...

Download Free Brushes for Adobe Photoshop

2006-04-11T19:48:00.000-06:00

From Sue Chastain,
Your Guide to Graphics Software.

http://graphicssoft.about.com/b/a/257664.htm

HP R927 Camera Adds Slimming Effect, Makes Girlfriend Happy

2006-04-07T16:47:00.000-06:00

Here’s a new camera from HP that’ll help you answer that age-old - but always tricky - question from your girlfriend: “Do these jeans make me look fat?” Instead of stepping onto a verbal landmine, take her picture with the 8.2MP Photosmart R927, one of several new digital cameras from HP that boasts a special “slimming feature.” Before you show her the picture, hit the slimming effect in the Design Gallery in playback, and she’ll look as much as 10 pounds thinner on the camera’s 3-inch LCD.

“It’s a pretty subtle change we’ve built into the camera,” Karl Wardrop, HP’s digital imaging product manager told the New York Post. “It’s not dramatic. It slims the center of photos and slightly widens the outside to maintain perspective. It’s like the (fun-house) mirror from the fair, but not as exaggerated.”

While there are many ways to slim (or fatten) a person’s physique in Photoshop and other image editing programs, HP is the first manufacturer to offer the effect in-camera. The R927 is available this month for $399.99. Boyfriends of the world can now breathe a sigh of relief. — Dan Havlik

Focus Pocus [New York Post]
http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/digital-cameras/hp-r927-camera-adds-slimming-effect-makes-girlfriend-happy-165926.php

Digital Photogaphy Tutorials

2006-04-06T21:51:00.000-06:00

Keith and Rebecca Snell own Spirit of Photography here in Colorado Springs.
Some great pics here: http://www.spiritofphotography.com/index_files/Page651.htm

And check out these great tutorials!
http://www.spiritofphotography.com/index_files/Page390.htm

Digital Photography Concepts and “In Camera” Settings
Understanding and Controlling Exposure
The Zone System
The Histogram
Exposure and Digital Noise
Tone Curves
White Balance
Sharpening
JPEG vs RAW
Bit Depth (8 bit vs 16 bit files)
Color Space

Digital Photography “From Camera to Print”
Transferring the Image from the Camera
Camera Raw
Histogram
Color Space Selection
Bit Depth
Size
Resolution
White Balance
Exposure Adjustments
Advanced Tab
Basic Post-processing in Photoshop
Layers
Clone Tool
Image Size
Crop Tool
Advanced Photoshop Sharpening
Sharpening Theory
Building and saving a Sharpening Action
Capture Sharpening
Creative Sharpening
Output Sharpening
Basic Printing

The new crop of scrapbookers

2006-04-06T21:41:00.000-06:00

Not really about digi, but a good article

Digital photo advances, cable TV exposure and a few key names like Leeza and Martha are reinventing the hobby as an elaborate and communal experience.

By Charlie Amter, Special to The Times

IT'S 10 on a rainy February night in Burbank, and 18-year-old Ali Nunley is eschewing the high school party scene in favor of spending her Friday night with a group of women inside a closed crafts store.Nunley's parents haven't grounded her; rather, she is here willingly to feed her growing addiction to her latest hobby, scrapbooking.

"I just think it's cool," she says as she delicately places a photo of her and friends on a recent outing to Knott's Berry Farm into an elaborately designed montage deep inside her thick scrapbook.Nunley is with 20 other women, ranging in age from 18 to 60, sitting at a 25-foot-long table at the scrapbooking store Once Upon a Page, joining in what's known as a "crop." The store's weekly "Friday Night Croppin' Frenzies," with participants sometimes dressing in pajamas, typically attract at least 15 women from 5 p.m. until midnight, all there simply to swap tips and work on books full of personal photos and artistic embellishments.

Read entire article here

Scrapbooking With Video and Sound, Minus the Paper and Glue

2006-04-06T21:38:00.000-06:00

For many scrapbookers, all that messy glue and paper is part of the fun. For others, it's just a mess.

MemoryMixer, digital scrapbooking software from Lasting Impressions for Paper Inc., not only helps keep things neat and tidy, but also lets scrapbookers add video and sound to their collections of memorabilia.

MemoryMixer ($80 at www.memorymixer.com, for PC's and Macs) can be used as a simple layout tool or for creation of a full multimedia experience. Users can scan and load high-resolution images of report cards, diplomas, children's drawings, wedding invitations and the like, which can be printed out along with photos for a traditional scrapbook. For online scrapbooks, users can add sound or video, which may play automatically or manually. There is also a feature for linking to the Internet.

For novices, MemoryMixer offers dozens of ready-made page templates to choose from. Experts can design their own. Either way, the glue and scissors can be left in the junk drawer.

From NY Times

Capturing the personal touch in a computer culture

2006-04-06T21:37:00.000-06:00

Are you more `drag and drop' than `clip and save'? Then scrapbook digitally.

By Zan Dubin Scott, Special to The TimesApril 6, 2006

WHEN Lianna Vigil came upon the only known photo of her maternal great-grandmother last year, the avid scrapbooker instantly pictured it in one of her albums. She also counted 10 close kin who would want to share the treasure. She had to create only a single album, however, thanks to digital scrapbooking, a thriving segment of the memory trade that's making more crafters like Vigil ditch paper and glue in favor of drag and drop.

Read entire article here

Get Great Styles and Designs for Your Scrapbooking Projects

2006-04-05T16:55:00.000-06:00

Whitman, MA (PRWEB) April 5, 2005 -- Body Works Studio, a web design company in Whitman Massachusetts announces the release of their newest project, BWScrapbooking.com.

BWScrapbooking is a digital scrapbooking website that specializes in original downloadable designs that crafters can use in their electronic or printable scrapbooking projects. BWScrapbooking.com is a member site, and as a paying member you will have access to the BWScrap Files where you can download any of our unique designs, and images that you want. There are no limits.

See press release here:
http://www.prweb.com/releases/2006/4/prweb367195.htm

Website:
http://www.bwscrapbooking.com/index.html

Smilebox Beta is out!

2006-04-04T21:12:00.000-06:00

A while ago I posted about this new product... I just found the beta in my email this morning and have been playing with it today. It's pretty neat, give it a try!

http://www.smilebox.com/

What is it, you ask?

From their website:

Smilebox™ is an exciting new service that makes it easy for people to connect with friends and family in a more creative and compelling way. Unlike existing solutions that focus on organizing, editing and sharing photos or sending pre-packaged greetings, Smilebox enables users to create something truly powerful by choosing from hundreds of unique, multimedia designs, easily personalizing them with their photos, music, words and style and then sharing them via print or email.

Smilebox creates a new category of service called "creative messaging," which draws from related categories including photo services, scrapbooking and greetings; delivering a new medium for communication that is unparalleled in its ability to convey mood, thought and emotion.

In consumers' words, Smilebox makes it easy to be creative, it is a significant timesaver, is highly personalized and is an excellent value -- There is nothing quite like it.

Software suppresses noise on digital and scanned images

2006-04-04T21:09:00.000-06:00

April 4, 2006 - AKVIS Noise Buster v1.1 for Windows and Macintosh reduces luminance and color noise on digital images, helping to eliminate grains that compromise smoothness of digital photos. It provides separate setting areas for luminance and color noise and shows before and after images for instant preview and tweaking of parameters. Compatible with programs such as Adobe Photoshop and Jasc Paint Shop Pro, software requires image processing program that supports plugins.

Click here to read entire article

For a free trial, AKVIS offers 10 days of fully functional use.
Details are available at http://akvis.com/en/noise-buster/index.php

Company Name: AKVIS LLC
E-mail: pr@akvis.com
URL: http://akvis.com

Picture the possibilities

2006-03-26T16:27:00.000-07:00

By Gregg Ellman
Star-Telegram Staff Writer

One thing is certain with digital photography: You'll take a lot more photos than you did with film. With 1G cards, which cost less than ever, you can shoot 400 photos without running out of memory.

After you've downloaded the photos to your computer, looked at them a few times, maybe even e-mailed them to some friends and made a few prints, what do you do? Or better yet, in today's digital photo era, how can you make use of the photos filling shoeboxes under your bed?

There are endless possibilities. Here are a few.

MemoryMiner ( www.memoryminer.com) helps you build a photo database.
The database is created from information you provide. Anything such as names, dates, addresses, times and other descriptive information can be included.

[content removed, to see full article, click here]

Actual scrapbooking has made its way into the digital world, and several companies have software that makes great use of your digital photos.

On the Mac side, there's IRemember Digital Scrapbooking at www.macscrapbook.com. For PC's, Leeza Gibbons Scrapbooking Software is available at www.mountaincow.com.

IRemember lets you be creative, incorporating your photos into neat scrapbook pages. (I chose the 12-by-12 size; you can make it any size you want. The software comes with more than 500 templates and 3,000 clipart images, many different fonts and backgrounds. Drag and drop your photos onto the pages you create and you're done.

[content removed, to see full article, click here]

BetterPhoto.com™ Adds Four New Courses to Spring Schedule

2006-03-14T20:14:00.000-07:00

BetterPhoto.com™ announced that four new courses have been added to the Spring schedule of classes, including three courses on using Canon digital cameras, and a Photoshop Elements course. Spring quarter classes begin on April 5, 2006.

Redmond, WA (PRWEB) March 15, 2006 -- BetterPhoto.com™, the worldwide leader in online photography education, today announced that four new courses have been added to the Spring schedule of classes, including three courses on using Canon digital cameras, and a Photoshop Elements course. Spring quarter classes begin on April 5, 2006. All BetterPhoto courses are taught by a roster of 22 professional, published photographers.

Read entire atricle here

ProtectMyPhotos Launches Online Photo Backup Service

2006-03-10T20:29:00.000-07:00

From Angie Pederson's SB Industry News

Orlando, FL - ProtectMyPhotos recently launched its new online photo backup service, coinciding with the Photo Marketing Association (PMA) 2006 convention. The company is focused on providing the most complete photo protection service for consumers.
"We started this company because we needed this service ourselves.

Other backup solutions such as burning CD’s, expensive online services, and companies that force you to order prints just didn’t cut it," says Cliff Shaw, CEO of ProtectMyPhotos. "Our goal with ProtectMyPhotos was to create an affordable and easy-to-use service that allowed for seamless uploading and protection of customers' digital photos, and required zero maintenance.

Market research shows that 97% of digital camera owners would be distraught if they lost their family photos, but only 18% have all of their photos backed up. I think that says a lot about the shortcomings of the current solutions. When it comes to backup, people want it to just plain work."

Read entire article here

FREE USB "Thumb" Drive

2006-03-09T18:40:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Lorraine for alerting me on this!

Steve Bass's Tips & Tweaks
Fixes for the trickiest high-tech hassles.
See all Steve Bass's Tips & Tweaks.

Free: USB Flash Drive from Microsoft

Posted by Steve BassThursday, March 02, 2006, 01:00 AM (PST)

Microsoft is offering a free USB drive when you take a short, four-question, propaganda-laden quiz about Windows licensing. It's a pretty cool -- and painless -- way to get a USB drive.
Okay, it's not completely painless. You need a Microsoft Passport password (register for one here). And the drive comes loaded with easily deleted propaganda.

Read the rest here

Digital Scrapbooking: Getting Started

2006-03-05T16:51:00.000-07:00

Sunday, March 5, 2006
Copyright © 2006 Republican-American

A photo editing program. You'll want to be able to crop, trim and re-size your photos. Arcsoft makes easy-to-use photo studio tools in the $50 range. Kodak Easyshare, which will let you crop to a variety of sizes -- 4x6, 3x5, or 2x3, for example -- is available for free. The Digital Scrapbooking Company (www.digitalscrap bookingplace.com) recommends Microsoft Digital Image Pro and Adobe Photoshop Elements. They are a bit more difficult for the beginner and more expensive -- about $100.

And 4 other things you may or may not need to get started... read entire article here

Paper or digital?

2006-03-05T16:47:00.000-07:00

Preaching to the choir here, but in case you needed prodding to switch to digi...

Though I have to disagree with the one about storage and a smaller amount of space... smaller amount of PHYSICAL space maybe, but have you seen my hard drive lately?? LOL!

Sunday, March 5, 2006
Copyright © 2006 Republican-American

There is no mess. All necessary supplies are on a computer or CD. There's no need to spend tons of time getting supplies out just to have to put them away again in an hour. And, if something else comes up, digital scrapbookers can just hit save and walk away.

And 5 other reasons why digital is better than paper.... read entire article here

Speeding Photoshop

2006-03-01T17:13:00.000-07:00

Wednesday 01 Mar 2006

No-one wants to wait for struggling applications when you're trying to be creative. Optimize your image editing with Digit's guide to getting the quickest possible performance from Adobe Photoshop.

Most people would prefer not to see Mac OS X’s spinning beach ball when working in Photoshop. Although eliminating it is not always possible, you can go some way toward doing that by managing your resources wisely. To that end, it’s worth spending a few minutes fine-tuning Photoshop to squeeze the maximum performance out of it.

Read entire article here

Adobe unveils Photoshop Elements 4.0 for Mac

2006-02-28T05:37:00.000-07:00

Jim Dalrymple
MacCentral Mon Feb 27, 12:01 AM ET

Adobe on Monday will unveil the latest release of Photoshop Elements 4.0 for Mac, the company’s consumer-level photo-editing application. Elements 4.0 includes many new features that will help consumers with their everyday photo needs. Adobe also said the application was not being released as a Universal Binary for Intel Macs because of time constraints.

Many of the tools included in the new release allow Elements users to accomplish tasks that would have required painstaking work in the past.

To read entire article, click here

New FREE site to advertise your kits

2006-02-27T21:50:00.000-07:00

Here's a new site that I just heard about... supposedly offers free advertising, posting of kits and sales, etc.

http://www.digitalscrapads.com/

DizTeq review of Memory Mixer

2006-02-27T21:48:00.000-07:00

Color Memory Mixer
by Lasting Impressions for Paper

Memory Mixer by Lasting Impressions for Paper (www.memorymixer.com) is a solid solution for the novice digital scrapper, especially one coming from a traditional paper scrapbook background. The application can be used to create the usual paper layout styles, but it also allows the user to incorporate multimedia features, creating CD and DVD slide shows with music, narration, movies and even Web hotspots. Layouts can be output for home printing, or for uploading to commercial book and photo printing.

Memory Mixer was created by the folks at Lasting Impressions, along with StoryRock, the world's largest provider of digital yearbook technology for schools. This influence can be felt from the instant you install Memory Mixer - the graphical interface is streamlined, and yes, a little cutesy, but not too sweet.

Memory Mixer is NOT an full-featured image editor. It's more of a page layout tool, with multimedia interactivity added. You won't be creating your own components in Memory Mixer, but you can do a bang-up job assembling pages with the included resources, or your own files.

Memory Mixer stores layouts in "albums" which can consist of one or more layout pages. Open the application and you will see this dialog - choose Mix to start a new album, Open to open an existing album you've already saved, Shop to search online for additional products (not yet enabled on the sneak preview version I reviewed) and Visit to go directly to the Memory Mixer site. While "in your face" advertising might be inappropriate in a more mainstream image editor - it's a welcome necessity in a scrapbook tool!

To see screen shots and full review, click here

Expert's tips put digital photography in focus

2006-02-18T15:30:00.000-07:00

Kristen's note: I don't like the comment about not using the LCD as a viewfinder because it'll result in blurry pictures. Sure, holding the camera up to your face puts your arms in a better position to hold it steady, but he doesn't explain that, he just says LCD will give you blurry pictures. I guess you have to buy his courses to get the rest of the story. Anyway, on to the article.

Saturday, February 11, 2006
By ABIGAIL LEICHMANSTAFF WRITER

We asked Jim Miotke, author of "The Better Photo Guide to Digital Photography" (Amphoto, $24.95), for some basic how-to info.

Want more? Sign up for one of his 50 online courses at betterphoto.com.

Q. What are the basics of taking great pictures?

The easiest way to make a photo jump out is simply to move in closer to your subject.
Don't use the LCD screen as a viewfinder. Even though it feels more comfortable, your pictures will turn out blurry because of camera shake. This is accentuated with telephoto shots, because it's hard to hold the camera steady without a tripod.
For scenic nature photography, the best time of day is a half-hour before and after sunrise. That's when you get the magic light. Photographing people right as the sun is setting produces a wonderful glow. Turn in the opposite direction from the sun and use that pink light.
When photographing kids, take many, many pictures. On a good day, it takes seven to 10 exposures to get one that really works.

For more questions and answers, read the entire article here

Netherlands Debuts First “Video” Stamp

2006-02-17T21:58:00.000-07:00

Well, this is just crazy... video stamps?? Thanks to Lorraine for pointing this one out...

The next big thing?

By Michelle@Scrapability

Okay, this has surely got to have an application to scrapbooking in the forthcoming future. Via the Gizmodo blog, the Netherlands has video stamps - yes you heard me correctly - thin pieces of plastic with videos on them. And each stamp only costs €.39.

The new technology is called Lenticular secure printing, and you can learn a little bit more about it here. So, my question is - if we can now put short videos onto our postage stamps, how long will it be before a Postal site, or similar allows you to upload digital video segments to print onto thin plastic for ourselves? And after that happens, how applicable will those be to inserting onto a scrapbooking album page?

Introducing Smilebox

2006-02-09T17:39:00.000-07:00

Stumbled across this company listed in a Forbes article... looks kinda neat. You can sign up for their beta coming out in March...

From their website:

Smilebox™ is an exciting new service that makes it easy for people to connect with friends and family in a more creative and compelling way. Unlike existing solutions that focus on organizing, editing and sharing photos or sending pre-packaged greetings, Smilebox enables users to create something truly powerful by choosing from hundreds of unique, multimedia designs, easily personalizing them with their photos, music, words and style and then sharing them via print or email.
Smilebox creates a new category of service called "creative messaging," which draws from related categories including photo services, scrapbooking and greetings; delivering a new medium for communication that is unparalleled in its ability to convey mood, thought and emotion.
In consumers' words, Smilebox makes it easy to be creative, it is a significant timesaver, is highly personalized and is an excellent value -- There is nothing quite like it.

http://www.smilebox.com/

Free Photo Book

2006-02-09T17:37:00.000-07:00

MyPublisher.com is apparently offering a free photo book... don't know if there's a catch, but here it is..
http://www.mypublisher.com/associations/bz0705/index.php?assoc=bz0705

Update thanks to Lorraine:
The catch is that you have to buy a book... so it's like a "buy 1 get 1 free" thing...

Scrapped - The Movie

2006-02-07T18:43:00.000-07:00

A movie about scrapbooking... whoever would have thought? LOL! This looks totally funny. And, you can get the graphics used on the website for free by going to the blog he mentioned.

Be sure to watch the promo movies!

http://www.scrappedmovie.com/

Paint Shop Pro X - Computeractive Review

2006-02-06T15:35:00.000-07:00

Paint Shop Pro X
A brand-new makeover for an old-faithful photo editing package

Ratings
Overall rating: 4 Stars
Ave. user rating: 5 Stars

Verdict
Good Points: New learning palette; automatic 'fixes'; handy tools

Bad Points: Expensive compared with its rivals

Much improved ease of use makes this a very attractive upgrade, but it's still more expensive than many of its rivals

Read entire article here

Digital Film Tools Releases Snap for Adobe Photoshop

2006-02-06T15:31:00.000-07:00

(PRWEB) - (PRWEB) February 6, 2006

Digital Film Tools releases Snap for Adobe Photoshop. Snap is an easy to use interactive image cutout tool. Image cutout is the process of removing or isolating an object in a picture.

Using a coarse to fine editing approach, an area of the image is cutout by first marking the object and then refining the boundary. Object marking occurs at a coarse level, which roughly defines an object by marking a few lines. Next, boundary editing works at a finer scale by either clicking and dragging polygon points to edit the object boundary or drawing a stroke along the object’s edge.

Read entire article here

So Many Ways to Credit (from Scrap Rants)

2006-02-04T20:59:00.000-07:00

Michelle at Scrapability has come up with a huge list of ways to keep track of "credits", those pesky pieces of information like who made that kit, and what font did you use -- stuff you'll need if you are going to post your layouts online or submit to publications. Good info here!

Read it here

Ohio University students, staff volunteer to repair photos damaged by Katrina

2006-02-04T14:25:00.000-07:00

Saturday, February 04, 2006
Mary Beth Lane

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

ATHENS, Ohio — The family faces peering out from water-soaked, spotty photographs are unfamiliar.

But the Ohio University photojournalists restoring these precious family heirlooms damaged by Hurricane Katrina are treating them as lovingly as if they were their own.

The restorers use their laptops and skill with Adobe Photoshop, a computer program, to painstakingly erase the streaks, stains and white spots that Katrina floodwaters splotched onto the family pictures.

Read entire article here

2006 PCCRAFTS Computer Crafting & Digital Scrapbooking Convention

2006-02-03T05:36:00.000-07:00

My friend Melinda received this from an email list that she's on...

Hello everyone!

I wanted to keep you informed about our upcoming 2006 PCCRAFTS Computer Crafting & Digital Scrapbooking Convention.

We have set the dates for Thurs. Sept 28th till Sunday Oct. 1st 2006

It will start Thurs Evening with a welcome BBQ by the pool. Classes being offered Friday, Sat and Sunday. And end Sunday early evening with a Dinner Awards Banquet. We will be posting more very soon so stay posted. If you have any questions please feel free to contact me at info@pccrafts.com

What kind of classes do YOU want to see at this years convention?? Do you have a crafting talent you would like to share at the convention? Are you interested in teaching a class? Would you be interested in a bus trip to Phila. PA. ?? If so contact us at info@pccrafts.com

I think you will be VERY pleased with this years convention. The Conference Center is located in a relaxed, natural environment. Wonderfully secluded yet highly accessible. Located midway between center city Philadelphia and the Valley Forge area, in Lafayette Hill, Pennsylvania, it offers a beautiful secluded setting on a 310-acre property comprising a golf course.

Thanks,

THE PCCRAFTS TEAM
www.pccrafts.com

Sony Unveils Digital Scrapbooking for PictureStation Kiosks

2006-02-02T05:47:00.000-07:00

Okay, so I've seen this article pop up numerous times and have always ignored it because I didn't think it was very exciting... lots of these photo kiosk things have pre-made frames and such which are kind of gaudy looking. But when I saw the words Shabby Princess attached to this one, I had to take a second look because A) these pre-made templates might actually be good, and B) Shabby Princess has gotten in with Sony, you go girl!

The PictureStation Digital Scrapbooking software is now available (January 30, 2006)
Sony Electronics introduced Digital Scrapbooking software for its PictureStation Digital Photofinishing kiosk.

The new software package offers 35 pre-designed layouts for creating both 8 x 8 and the larger size 8 x 10-inch scrapbook pages, which are ideal for digital scrapbooks.

It also offers creative photo cutouts for mattes right on the photos. The customer chooses the size, shape, thickness and color of the matte using easy to follow touch keys. The cutout can be applied to any PictureStation print size, and even to edited photos. This new software also includes a set of seasonal borders. With this addition, there is now a scrapbook icon on the PictureStation kiosk, which includes 35 pre-designed layouts, as well as 50 new seasonal border designs for 4 x 6, 5 x 7 and 8 x 10-inch prints (both horizontal and vertical orientations) - totaling more than 250 borders.

Read entire article here

TemplateZone and CottageArts.net Announce New Scrapbooking Software

2006-02-02T05:35:00.000-07:00

Kristen's Note: After a quick look at the tutorial, a key feature that seems to be missing here is the ability to add text...

TemplateZone.com has created a new digital scrapbooking product for the home market. This easy-to-use software makes it possible for anyone with Microsoft Word to create great-looking scrapbook pages.

Cambridge MA (PRWEB) February 2, 2006 -- TemplateZone today announced a new software product, SimplyReady Digital Scrapbooking. This product is designed as a complete home solution for computer users to quickly and easily create scrapbooks from their digital photographs using Microsoft Word. Users may then print with their inkjet or color laser printer or share the created pages over the internet.

SimplyReady Scrapbooking is a result of artistic collaboration with CottageArts.Net, the premier source for scrapbooking designs on the web. All of the designs, layouts, backgrounds and embellishments have been developed under the design supervision of Michelle Shefveland.

[content removed, read entire article here]

"SimplyReady Digital Scrapbooking has five differently-themed Theme Packs: Simply Kids, Simply Recreation, Simply School Days, Simply Vacations, and Simply Vintage. Each of these comes with its own set of template designs and embellishments centered around the title, complementing the theme with colorful additions.

Click here for full article and screen shots
or go to the website: http://www.simplyreadyscrapbooking.com/

NAPP Launches Photoshop Killer Tips Daily Video Podcast

2006-01-30T18:21:00.000-07:00

January 30, 2006

Straight from the National Association of Photoshop Professionals (NAPP), comes " Photoshop Killer Tips, an exciting new daily video Podcast featuring Photoshop ® Guru Matt Klowkowski, one of the co-hosts of the top-rated weekly Adobe® Photoshop show " Photoshop TV" (http://www.photoshoptv.com).

This new video Podcast is short and sweet, with each daily segment only one to two minutes in length, but each episode is packed with nothing but the coolest Photoshop tips, tricks, timesaving shortcuts, and easy-to-follow step-by-step tutorials. Subscribe (for free) to Photoshop Killer Tips at http://www.photoshopkillertips.com . (New episodes are posted each weekday.)

Read entire article here

How to create an animated GIF with Photoshop Elements

2006-01-28T14:42:00.000-07:00

By Stephen Regenold

Products used: Adobe Photoshop Elements.
Time needed: 15 minutes.

Photoshop Elements is a powerful image-editing program, but its capabilities extend beyond photo touch-up. By combining the program's advanced layering options with the built-in animation tools, you can quickly create a GIF animation for use in a computer slideshow or on the Web.

Click here for tutorial

"Digital Illusions Explained - High Quality Training Resources"

2006-01-24T20:10:00.000-07:00

Here's another new discovery by my friend Melinda...

http://www.wz2k.co.uk/index.php

Digital Illusions Explained offers the creative user all the help s/he could possibly need to develop the all important skills and knowledge needed for a career in graphic and web design.
You will benefit from exclusive video and PDF training material that covers many of the industry standard design applications and technologies; such as Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, Macromedia Dreamweaver, PHP/MySQL integration, etc.

Not only do we offer the large array of free downloads, but also a range of topical and useful sites, programs, articles and information on this news page. New in 2005 are the Premium Downloads that offer a cost effective range of high quality video training.

We hope you'll enjoy your stay and develop your knowledge with expert help and support freely available on the forum.

Pages to note:

Downloads -- Training and PhotoShop Actions/Styles
http://www.wz2k.co.uk/pages/downloads/index.php

Articles -- Various articles on book reviews, photography, and software reviews
http://www.wz2k.co.uk/pages/articles/index.php

PhotoShop Tutorials Forum
http://www.wz2k.co.uk/vb/forumdisplay.php?s=72ffbfe4b15770e7a7102e96f712d9a6&f=9

Alien Skin ships Exposure PS plug-in

2006-01-24T18:31:00.000-07:00

Now that you've gone digital... go back to film again!!

Alien Skin Software today released Exposure, a new plug-in for Adobe Photoshop and other compatible host programs. Exposure brings the look and feel of film to digital photography. Digital photographers can simulate current and discontinued film stocks, as well as recreate their signature look as a one-click effect. Exposure also simulates darkroom and studio effects such as push and cross processing.

Read entire article here

Plugs 'N Pixels - Image Creation, Manipulation, and Education

2006-01-23T18:53:00.000-07:00

This is a new website that someone on my local Digiscrap list posted (thanks Melinda!) I haven't had time to check it out yet, but here's what it says:

Welcome to Plugs 'N Pixels! Our goal is to help you quickly and easily navigate the seemingly endless list of creative software and related titles currently available, in what we hope is one of the most organized and visually appealing formats on the internet. Use this one-stop source of information to compare features and prices as well as reading user forum comments before making any purchasing decisions. Browse the software titles by functionality or by developer, using the links below. Either way, you'll get the information you need more quickly and easily than from any other source! Be sure to stop by often as new material is added regularly. And don't miss the free ezine!

Check it out:
http://www.plugsnpixels.com/

These pages list plug-ins for all KINDS of stuff!

http://www.plugsnpixels.com/imageeffects.html
http://www.plugsnpixels.com/imageenhancement.html

Free Photo and Video Courses

2006-01-23T18:45:00.000-07:00

"Since I have three little anklebiters, I tend to take an embarassing amount of pictures. CNET’s Photo and Video Clinic is the very thing I need to take my photography to the next level. This hub of content includes free courses (registration required) on how to make a good digital movie, how to touch up your digital photos, and how to share online those cute photos of your half-nekkid kid running in the sprinkler. — Wendy Boswell"

Read article here
or check it out:
http://www.cnet.com/4520-11484_1-6365898-1.html?tag=txt

Download of the Day: Microsoft Research Group Shot

2006-01-23T18:41:00.000-07:00

Now THIS is interesting!!!

Windows only: New software Microsoft Research Group Shot merges the best areas of similar group photographs to make one picture where everyone’s smiling and looking at the camera with their eyes open.

Read entire article and see screen shots here
or check it out:
http://research.microsoft.com/projects/GroupShot/

Colorize your black and white photos

2006-01-23T18:38:00.000-07:00

Not sure how useful this will be to you, but what the hey. Here it is...

Software Recolored makes colorizing your black and white photos a relatively simple task.
To add color to a photo, all you have to do is add markings to the different regions of the image, indicating how it should be colorized. Then click the Colorize button and let the software do the rest.

Recolored is free for non-commercial use, Windows only.

Read entire article and see screen shots here

Book Review - The Adobe Photoshop Elements Crafts Book by Elizabeth Bulger

2006-01-22T14:55:00.000-07:00

Digital Art and Design

Diane Cipollo BellaOnline's Digital Art and Design Editor

Book Review - The Adobe Photoshop Elements Crafts Book by Elizabeth Bulger

Author:Elizabeth Bulger
ISBN: 0321368967
Publisher: Peachpit Press

Books applying graphic software to craft projects aren't very numerous. Perhaps this is because authors of books about graphic software aren't familiar with traditional crafts. But when I opened this book, it was immediately evident by the way the material was presented that Elizabeth Bulger is at least familiar with traditional crafting; if not a crafter herself. Throughout her book, crafters will recognize the same simple presentation as found in craft books of all kinds.

[Content removed. To read entire article, go here]

After a brief introduction to the software, Bulger offers a variety of fourteen projects which can be created using Photoshop Elements 3 or 4. Written from the traditional crafter's point of view, each project is an opportunity to practice new techniques.

Read the rest of the article here

Adobe PhotoShop Elements 4 - Computeractive Review

2006-01-20T18:09:00.000-07:00

Adobe has tailored its mid-range photo editor to its target enthusiast market

Ratings
Overall rating: 4 out of 5 Stars
Average user rating: Not rated yet

Verdict
Good Points: Automatic quick fix; object extraction and blemish removal; auto straightens shots
Bad Points: Smart Fixed photos not always improved; switching views can be slow
Improvements: make digital photo touch-up even easier but there are cheaper options

Simon Williams, Computeract!ve 16 Jan 2006

Photoshop Elements started life as a cut-down version of the professional Adobe Photoshop, catering for a less exacting audience on a budget. With version 4, Adobe has focused more on digital photographers.

Click here to read full article

Lasting Impressions Announces Winter Wonderland Event

2006-01-19T05:54:00.000-07:00

Retreat for Company's Top Retailers Offers a Unique Educational Opportunity
SALT LAKE CITY, Jan. 18 /PRNewswire/

Lasting Impressions for Paper,Inc., recently held Winter Wonderland 2006, the company's first annual education conference for its top retailers. The event took place on January 13 and 14 at the Salt Lake City Downtown Marriott hotel and featured classes, hands on workshops and training sessions designed to help scrapbooking stores learn how to enhance their businesses. Attendees also got a sneak peek at Lasting Impressions' latest products, ranging from traditional scrapbooking to digital solutions.

[content removed -- for full article, click here]

The company also educated retailers about the digital market, including hands-on demos of MemoryMixer, their new, consumer-oriented software that engages more of the senses than traditional paper scrapbooking or even early digital solutions. The product allows people to combine digital video, digital sound, digital photos, computer graphics, typewritten text using their fonts, narration capabilities and scanned memorabilia into a multi-media experience. The workshop training was designed to help retailers understand and prepare for the future digital market.

SOURCE Lasting Impressions for Paper, Inc.
Web Site: http://www.lastingimpressions.com

A good cause...

2006-01-17T18:59:00.000-07:00

One of my fellow designers has a fundraiser going to donate money to a grief counseling organization, in memory of her friend's little baby who just passed away. Please take a moment to check it out if you like...

http://alishahess.blogspot.com/

More Digi in the News

2006-01-12T19:09:00.000-07:00

Digital Scrapbooking

January 11, 2006
If you think paper and glue when you hear "scrapbooking," you should think again. Many scrapbookers have gone high-tech. They have said goodbye to piles of paper and cutouts; they use digital cameras and computers to preserve their family histories and organize their memories. Lisa Vaughn of Studio D in Naperville has some tips for scrapbookers who are ready to give up their scissors.

Read entier article here

Katrina survivor reunited with photo album

2006-01-11T21:59:00.000-07:00

Not related to digital scrapbooking, but I thought it was a good story...

State News, USA
Melissa Domsic
www.statenews.com
11 Jan. 2006

Kaysi Higgins came to Lansing in October with clothes for three days, a toothbrush and not much else.

Photo albums and other belongings back home had been ruined when hit and split the ceiling of her New Orleans home, but she still had an album that held pictures from as far back as her baby years.

Higgins, 16, lost the album in MSU’s Main Library but got it back Tuesday after an MSU police staff member tracked her down using clues from the photos.

Read entire article here

Software training podcasts debut in HD

2006-01-11T17:21:00.000-07:00

Wednesday January 11, 06:43 PM
By Jonny Evans

Total Training has announced a series of High Definition training podcasts. The Total Training Guru Lounge is a series of video podcasts featuring the company's software training evangelists. Episodes include tips and tricks for popular software applications from Adobe and Apple, as well as other topics of interest to viewers.

Brian Maffitt, a visual effects guru, will serve as the podcast host. Deke McClelland, accomplished author of Photoshop training books and member of the Photoshop Hall of Fame will appear as the first guest on the show. In Episode 1 viewers will discover new ways to make photos look like line art, while subsequent episodes will explore fun projects for special occasions, software secrets, and more.

Read entire article here

Do Burned CDs Have a Short Life Span?

2006-01-11T10:41:00.000-07:00

John Blau, IDG News Service Tue Jan 10, 8:00 AM ET

Opinions vary on how to preserve data on digital storage media, such as optical CDs and DVDs. Kurt Gerecke, a physicist and storage expert at IBM Deutschland, has his own view: If you want to avoid having to burn new CDs every few years, use magnetic tapes to store all your pictures, videos and songs for a lifetime.

"Unlike pressed original CDs, burned CDs have a relatively short life span of between two to five years, depending on the quality of the CD," Gerecke says. "There are a few things you can do to extend the life of a burned CD, like keeping the disc in a cool, dark space, but not a whole lot more."

Read entire article here

Intriguing Development has announced iRemember 1.5.

2006-01-10T18:35:00.000-07:00

The product is a page layout application that turns digital photos into personalised scrapbooks. iRemember offers multiple features for preserving and sharing image collections wothout needing .Mac.
It offers opacity controls, JPEG export to send scrapbook pages within emails and Photoshop-like command keys.
Existing features include image cropping, resizing, rotation and add shadow effects. The software includes clip art, templates, borders, backgrounds, and a clip art browser.
iRemember version 1.5 is a free download-only upgrade that should ship by the end of the month. The software costs $49.95.

Originating link

FX Foto Press Release

2006-01-10T18:26:00.000-07:00

NOTE: FxFoto has a free standard edition that does organizing and lots of editing for free. It can be downloaded from our website at http://www.fxfoto.com/. The organizing tool is somewhat like Picassa but the FxFoto free version has many more editing tools including a clone brush.

There is also a version for digital scrapbooking called FxFoto Creative which although it isn't free, is fairly inexpensive and is sold at Scrap Outside the Box.

Media Contact:
Susan White
Triscape Inc.
603-890-9200 Ext. 205
email: swhite@triscape.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Triscape Introduces FxFoto Creative Edition for Digital Scrapbooking

Windham, NH, January 10, 2006 – Triscape, Inc. has released a new edition of its popular FxFoto photography software for the digital scrapbooking market. FxFoto Creative Edition provides a unique blend of photo organization, editing and layout capabilities with all the tools needed for creating beautiful scrapbook pages digitally. It is designed to be easy to use while providing advanced creativity tools.

Digital scrapbooking is an exciting new segment of the $2.5 billion scrapbooking market, feeding on the rapidly growing demand for digital cameras. Scrapbooking is the third most popular craft in the US and digital scrapbooking provides easy and cost effective means for creating, archiving and duplicating stunning layouts without paper, scissors or paste. A large number of talented digital designers supply beautiful and often photo-realistic digital scrapbooking kits with background images and embellishments that replace the paper elements used in traditional scrapbooking. FxFoto Creative comes with a selection of ten digital kits and hundreds of backgrounds from top designers. It supports virtually all digital scrapbooking kits from third parties. FxFoto Creative allows scrapbooking retailers to tap this emerging market of new digital scrapbookers and increase sales to customers who need photo editing or want to experiment with digital techniques.

FxFoto Creative supports a wide variety of image and text effects in a single easy-to-use application. Partial transparency allows translucent photos and embellishments that can be rotated to any angle. In addition to rectangular and oval cropping, it provides a Cutters Library of special crop patterns such as butterfly and tag shapes. Crops can be feathered to blend into the background. Adjustable drop shadows can be applied to non-transparent portions of any photo or element. Curved, wavy, rounded corner, circular and even dialog balloon text can be added for impressive journaling effects. Over fifty advanced filter effects such as oil painting, distress and spot glow add artistic flair to photos or layout elements. Other advanced photo editing tools include auto-improve, spot improve, blemish removal, plus clone and color brushes. FxFoto Creative allows for flexible free-form layouts without the complexity of layer-oriented applications. Users can also choose from a number of drag-and-drop theme templates to quickly generate scrapbook pages.

Unlike most photo editing software, FxFoto integrates an easy visual organizer for photographs and graphic elements. Users can scroll through all of their photos and scrapbooking kits in a single animated pane and then click or drag selected images into layouts.

FxFoto Creative Edition runs with Windows 98/ME/2000/XP and is available for $49.95 from selected retailers and the Triscape web site at http://www.fxfoto.com/.
Evaluation copies are available upon request.

About Triscape
Triscape, Inc. was founded in 1997 and is located in Windham, New Hampshire, 35 miles north of Boston. The company is privately held and specializes in graphics software. Triscape can be reached at www.fxfoto.com, 603-890-9200, or 25 Indian Rock Road #444, Windham, NH 03087.

Digital scrapbookers utilize latest in technology

2006-01-05T17:33:00.000-07:00

By JILL SHERMAN, DAILY SUN

THE VILLAGES - They would never know the actual content of the torn-off picture corner. Scrapbookers watched intently, though, as a computer whiz filled that missing link with his own interpretation of what may have been there.James “Stue” Stueber presented “Photo Restoration Using Adobe Photoshop Elements” to The Villages Digital Scrapbooking Club Tuesday at Mulberry Grove Center.

James “Stue” Stueber presented “Photo Restoration Using Adobe Photoshop Elements” to The Villages Digital Scrapbooking Club Tuesday at Mulberry Grove Center.

To read full article, go here

Brush up on photo editing with free programs

2006-01-01T17:34:00.000-07:00

January 1, 2006

Most digital cameras come with basic software that helps organize and manipulate photos. But those programs tend to be limited. Before you spend a fortune rectifying the problem, check out free programs. Some are excellent.
Here are four to get you started:

1. Photo organizer. So where did you put that picture of the elephants? You may have thousands of pictures on your computer's hard drive. Finding the one you want without a good organizer like Google's Picasa2 can be problematic.
--- see whole article for more ---

2. Advanced image editing. Adobe Photoshop CS2 is extremely popular with professional and serious amateur photographers. But its $650 price tag leaves it out of range for many. That's where GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program) comes into play.
--- see whole article for more ---

3. Easy image editing. Advanced editors are great, but sometimes all you want to do is click a button to remove red eye. Paint.net (www.eecs.wsu.edu/paint.net; Windows only) makes it easy to remove red eye, crop images, change image size and create really cool effects. And you won't have to take a class to figure it all out.
--- see whole article for more ---

4. Stitch it up. Have you ever wished you could piece together a series of shots, like a mountain range or parade, into one large picture? AutoStitch (www.cs.ubc.ca/(tilde)mbrown/autostitch/autostitch.html; Windows only) will take multiple pictures of a scene and create a two-dimensional panorama.
--- see whole article for more ---

Read whole article here

Other free tools better than your digital camera software

2005-12-30T16:26:00.000-07:00

By PHILLIP ROBINSON
Knight Ridder News Service

You know that special software that came with your digital camera? Forget it. That’s right: Even though most new cameras come with a CD full of software that’s supposed to be something really special, you don’t need any of it. In fact, you’re better off without, because some free tools are better than the “bundled” programs that come with the camera.

Read entire article here

ColorWasher 2.0 - Flexible Photoshop plug-in simplifies photographic color correction

2005-12-30T16:22:00.000-07:00

By Jay Nelson

Everyone has photos that are underexposed, washed out, taken under strange lighting conditions, or have faded with time, and Adobe Photoshop (, August 2005) has all the tools you need to fix any of these problems. However, if you’re not willing or able to spend the hours necessary to understand, let alone master, Adobe Photoshop’s color-correction tools, there are several plug-ins that can do the heavy lifting for you.

Read whole article here

Digital Retouching in Today's Media

2005-12-20T15:29:00.000-07:00

Okay, not really scrapbook related... but!

A couple of posts ago, I posted a tutorial on whitening teeth. As we all know, modeling photos in magazines are digitally re-touched to achieve "the perfect body" -- but do you know exactly how much re-touching is done?? After you see this, you'll think of it not as re-touching, but more like an overhaul, LOL! Show this to your teenage girls and any woman you think needs to see it. It's a real eye opener...

Girlpower! unveils the fraud
Click on Reveal the Bluff -- a window will pop up, then wait for the orange "Unveil the Fraud" sticker to pop up and then click on that.

Greg's Digital Archive
Click on each photo on the left of the girl in the bikini. Roll your mouse over the large photos to see the changes made.

Now, don't you feel better about yourself? :-)

Here's the big-picture view of creative gifts from photos

2005-12-15T10:27:00.000-07:00

By Stephanie Dunnewind
Seattle Times staff reporter

The versatility of digital photo images has added a huge new dimension to gift giving. Santa's gift bag may be stuffed with some familiar faces this year: Your own. Photo prints are still the most common purchase, but gifts personalized with photos — top subjects include kids, pets and vacations — are increasingly popular, said Jill Aldort, a senior consultant for InfoTrends/CAP Ventures, a Massachusetts-based firm that researches digital imaging.

With a variety of online sites and stores offering photo gifts, products range from $6 luggage tags to $21 playing cards to a $200 woven portrait used as a blanket or wall hanging. Pictures can also adorn cookie tins, cutting boards, clocks, coasters, golf towels, license plates, lightswitch covers, nightlights, ornaments, pet dishes, purses, puzzles, ties, travel mugs and sports balls.

To read entire article, go here

Neat design site - Adam Polselli

2005-12-02T16:05:00.000-07:00

My friend Melinda was nice enough to pass on this neat site... it has some great photos on it, but the coolest part is the design and color scheme ideas he has. It's really for web designers, but can be applied to your digi layouts as well... He's got several categories like Southwest, Vintage, etc, and offers not only color suggestions for each category but font suggestions, and other layout and graphics ideas as well.

Check it out here!

Scrap Outside the Box Newsletter hits the street!

2005-12-01T18:38:00.000-07:00

See the full newsletter with articles, tutorials, and previews of all the new kits here!!

Understanding Print Preview in Adobe Photoshop

2005-11-29T17:37:00.000-07:00

Adobe Photoshop is the standard for graphic editing and photo retouching. This also means that the number of options and functions it has might overwhelm the user. Photoshop's Print Preview is one of those. Photoshop gives you total control over the print options of your graphics, but knowing what they all mean can be a task, even for the experienced user. This quick rundown of the Print with Preview function of Photoshop will shed some light of the most important printing options.

Click here to see tutorial

Affordable gifts add deft touches to digital creativity

2005-11-29T17:33:00.000-07:00

By Leonard FischerGannett News Service

Help friends and family make the most of digital photos, videos and music this holiday season with software, peripherals and stocking stuffers that will help get their creative juices flowing.
Here's a look at some fun, affordable suggestions. Many will appeal to kids and teens as well as moms and dads.

Article Quick Look below-- Click here to read full article

Suite deals
Software suites that include tools for enhancing, editing and sharing photos and videos are more powerful and easier to use than ever this year.

Perfect prints
Canon, Hewlett-Packard, Epson and others all sell inexpensive printers that let you quickly print 4-by-6 photo snapshots from the comfort of the home office or den, but HP gets a leg up on the competition this year with a new model that lets you print larger, 5-by-7 prints just as easily.

Art attack
Young artists or adults with a passion for the creative can turn digital photos into digital masterpieces with a software and hardware combination from Corel and Wacom.

Mobile music
Cell phone-addicted teens can save a bundle on downloadable ringtones by creating their own with some inexpensive software.

Comic creators
Two fun and easy-to-use programs let kids create their own comic books using digital images.

Scrapbook heaven
The holidays are a great time to capture digital memories. And software to help you showcase them makes a great gift.

Digi Scrapping hits CNN.com!

2005-11-25T16:12:00.000-07:00

Scrapbooking goes digital
Friday, November 25, 2005; Posted: 10:24 a.m. EST (15:24 GMT)
CONCORD, New Hampshire (AP)

..... Digital scrapbooking is a fast-growing offshoot of the $2.5 billion scrapbooking industry.
Motivated by the same desire to preserve memories as their traditional peers, digital scrapbookers use photo-editing software and other programs to arrange digital or scanned photographs, text and embellishments on their pages.

Finished pages can be printed and inserted in standard scrapbook albums, bound in hardcover coffee table-style books, burned to CDs and DVDs or shared through e-mail.
Last winter, Armstrong created a batch of pages covering her family's activities of the previous year and printed two copies, one for herself and one for her parents in Florida.
"There's no way I would've done a paper scrapbook to send them," she said. "Heck, I couldn't even do it for myself."

Some digital scrapbookers strive for realistic pages featuring digitally created ribbons, tags and other embellishments, such as shadows that give an appearance of depth. Others adopt a more artistic style by blending photos together, or they go for the cleaner, graphic style of magazine layouts and advertisements.
For many, the main appeal is flexibility: Photos and embellishments can be repositioned, resized or re-colored.

And while printing pages can be expensive, digitally created "papers" and decorations can be used over and over, and many coordinated kits can be downloaded for free from dozens of Web sites....

Read the entire article here

Meredith Fenwick has a new CD out!

2005-11-20T07:13:00.000-07:00

One of my all time favorite designers has put her first CD out with an AMAZING array of papers... the colors and textures are just so awesome! You can check it out here:

True Colors Paper Collection by Meredith Fenwick

Fixing Chromatic Aberration (Color Fringing)

2005-11-09T21:46:00.000-07:00

In photography, Chromatic Aberration is that purple or cyan color that sometimes outlines objects that are heavily backlit or over exposed. Chromatic aberration or "color fringing" is caused by the camera lens not focusing different wavelengths of light onto the exact same focal plane (the focal length for different wavelengths is different) and/or by the lens magnifying different wavelengths differently. These types of chromatic aberration are referred to as "Longitudinal Chromatic Aberration" and "Lateral Chromatic Aberration" respectively and can occur concurrently. The amount of chromatic aberration depends on the dispersion of the glass.

Read a technical explanation of what it is

And here's a tutorial on how to fix it, compliments of 2 Minute PhotoShop Tricks.

Making index prints using Win XP

2005-11-06T09:31:00.000-07:00

If you put your photos, layouts, or digi kits on CD, this may be a good way to make an index print so that you'll know what's on your CDs at a glance...

How To Print Multiple Photo Layouts from Windows XP

From Sue Chastain,Your Guide to Graphics Software.
Windows XP has a built-in Photo Printing Wizard to help you print multiple photos in several common layouts. Windows will automatically rotate and crop the pictures to fit the layout you choose. You can also choose how many copies of each picture you want to print. The layouts available include Full Page Prints, Contact Sheets, 8 x 10, 5 x 7, 4 x 6, 3.5 x 5, and Wallet print sizes.

Read full tutorial here

Krylon introduces spray-on protectant for printed photos and scrapbook pages

2005-11-04T22:26:00.000-07:00

Make Smiles Part of Your Family Legacy

--(HISPANIC PR WIRE – CONTEXTO LATINO)--Weddings, graduations, family reunions, family vacations, birthdays -- all are milestones that offer many photo ops. The stories behind the smiles are rich and treasured. To help preserve their family histories, one in four Americans will scrapbook their memories this year. With these quick tips and today's technology, it's easy to capture your family history.

-- some content edited out, see below for article link --

To ensure long-lasting photo quality, archivists say you should protect images. That's why Krylon has introduced a spray-on digital photo and paper protectant called Preserve It!(TM), which doubles the life of digital photos. Preserve It! protects digital images from early aging and makes them resistant to moisture and fading. Easy-to-use Preserve It!, available in matte and gloss finishes, dries quickly, and its clear formula will not alter the finished photos. The spray also extends the life of images printed on the highest quality paper with the highest quality ink, and works on traditional photos, too. Use it to protect the written family history you've recorded, as well.

Click here to read the full article

Teeth Whitening Tutorial

2005-11-03T19:13:00.000-07:00

This is from the 2 Minute PhotoShop Tricks website... the tutorial is for PhotoShop but will probably work with Paint Shop Pro as well.

Click here for tutorial

Quick Photoshop Tricks

2005-11-02T17:32:00.000-07:00

Wednesday 02 Nov 2005
Many photo-editing tricks are simple to do – if you know how. We talk you through three common techniques for enhancing your work. Photoshop trickery doesn’t have to be tricky. Some of the techniques used in magazines, films, and on the Web are actually quite simple. These three techniques take minutes, and can be done in Photoshop and Photoshop Elements.

-- Burned-in portraits
The burned-in edge effect adds an amazing amount of warmth to your portraits, which is why it’s so popular with professional photographers. Once you’ve learned this simple technique, you’ll apply it all over your work.

-- Instant stock-photo effect
The “wild colour” effect is incredibly popular right now. In fact, there are entire collections of royalty-free stock photos that use this technique, and you often see it used in print ads, in magazines, and on the Web. It’s ideal for taking an otherwise boring image and using wild colours to make it trendy and interesting.

-- Painted-edges technique
This technique, where you essentially hide the photo and then paint it back in, is particularly popular with landscape and portrait photographers. It works well for so many different styles of photos though, so it has many uses.

To read the whole article/tutorial, click here.

New Place to Print 12x12 - CHEAP!

2005-11-01T05:58:00.000-07:00

Scrapbooking Company, ShinyNickels.com, Adds New Product Line and Gives it Away

(PRWEB) October 14, 2005 -- ShinyNickels.com, an online and physical scrapbooking company, has added scrapbooking paper and digital printing to their product line. Management decided on a novel new way to get the word out to the public about their new line and this relatively new company…give every consumer free paper.

Every customer that logs into ShinyNickels.com will receive $5 store credit towards their purchase. http://ShinyNickels.com has over 4,000 (yes, you read correctly) newly designed papers available in a myriad of color combinations designed to color match Bazzill paper, as well as many of the other major cardstock producers. In addition, ShinyNickels.com offers 12 X 12 digital printing for the up and coming digital scrapbookers out there, who have difficulty finding a place to print their pages. ShinyNickels.com offers a price so low, as to be an industry shocker! Prior to this product offering, consumers were left to seek out print shops or other online stores that offer the printing service for double the price, or more. ShinyNickels.com offers 12 X 12 printing for both $1.50 and $2.00 per sheet, depending upon the quality and weight of paper chosen by the customer.

Read the whole article here

Digital Scrapbooking: Fun with Extractions

2005-10-30T09:29:00.000-07:00

Extractions are selections of photographs or graphics isolated from their background. The extraction can be displayed alone or with other photos or graphics to produce new images. Extraction is an interesting technique, which can be used many ways in digital scrapbooking layouts.

See the full article/tutorial here

Former school teacher instructs computer classes

2005-10-30T09:27:00.000-07:00

By JILL SHERMAN, DAILY SUN

THE VILLAGES - Margie Whiddon's schedule will be pretty busy for the next couple of weeks. Thankfully, this resident's calendar is filled with activities she enjoys.Whiddon is gearing up to teach four computer courses - Digital Scrapbooking Part I; Word Graphics and Art; Excel Part I; and Word Macros, Tables, Mergers - beginning Monday at The Villages Lifelong Learning College.

As the former school teacher who started up The Villages Digital Scrapbooking Club more than a year ago, Whiddon has traditionally appreciated the chance to share her knowledge with others.

Read the whole article here