Digital Scrapping Techniques

[elliesmama]

What would you most like to learn how to do in your digital scrapping?

This could be anything from creating brushes to designing your own papers..

If you were going to buy a book on digital scrapping, what kinds of things MUST it have in it in order for you to feel compelled to purchase?

Thanks so much!
Nancie

[Geralyn]

I would definitely say a chapter on creating your own paper. Also a good chapter would be one entitled "making it your own", where you would describe how to change papers or stamps or ribbons, etc. to really make it your own - color, size, etc.
Please keep us in the loop about the possibility of a book! I would love to submit work for you!! I love your creations!
Have a Merry Christmas!

[mesokee]

well thank you to ask us, I really would like to know how to make metal eyelet, but the most i would like to know is to make my papers, I try to make them with creativity but I need some few easy ways to make them!!! thank you so much for help us!!!:p

[happyrobyn]

I think making realistic shadows would be a good addition as well as recoloring papers to suit your layouts. Blending modes are also interesting and using filters and actions. OK ... I'll stop now!

[Fiddlette]

I would love specific help on getting certain types of cool photo effects, not from the camera, but from photos we already have and need to improve upon, or getting artistic effects from, like heritage photos...with filters and actions, or what not....

And info on how to make elements....including suggestions for cool software to help make them!

And I wish there could be more places that sell actions that produce special effects....there just arent ENOUGH in my opinion...and I bet there are a lot of designers out there with little secrets up their sleeves on how to achieve certain things....why not sell your secrets by way of an action?

Maybe the actions could be sold along with a book about the effects?

[SteinwaysMom]

I would love to know how to create various stitch effects as well as learning to create paper and elements.

There are basic 'how to books' but I like the books in the 'cool tips and tricks' category.

It would be nice to have lessons in layout design - maybe showing a layout that needed work and what was done to make it go from blah to fantastic.

Good selling point would be access to a website for freebie downloads or a CD w/the book.

[IslandMother]

I would like to see much more on collage design. Before/After layout fixes. Techniques and blending. Maybe even some sketches. But I want to see them about the altered/collage style. I see so many great collages on this site, and I am at a loss about how to create something beautiful like that.

(For the 'regular' looking layouts, you can do pretty much the same thing as in paper LO books.)

Marilyn

[happyrobyn]

Marilyn ... a sketch for the altered challenge ... interesting!!! Great idea. I'll have to talk to Christine.

[penelapop]

I would like a step by step book with good pictures that doesn't assume I know what they are talking about. I am new to this and don't know how do do anything but put the pictures and papers etc on the page. I think I am clever when I can cut a paper diagonally. So a book with CD on how to do it would be sensational.

If there are any good books that are simple and I could get in Australia please let me know:) :)

[DianneRigdon]

Oh Penelapop that was so cute! I have no doubt you ARE clever to do that! You know, you can of course ask any questions. I would say too that for me just jumping in with both feet and asking questions as I went was the best learning tool. People on most scrapping forums are SO willing to help. Also, there are a lot of tutorials out there....the site that many people go to for the beginningest tutorials is scrapbookbytes. Also there are some really neat-o classes being offered at a website called twigslc.com. You might want to check them out and like I said start scrapping and asking here and we'll help you however we can!!!

[mikobean]

penelapop - in addition to all the great tips that diane just gave, I would suggest maybe getting "Digital Designs for Scrapbooking" by Renee Pearson (I got mine at a scrapbook store, but I know it's also available on Amazon). I just bought it on a whim after on and off paper scrappin, and within a month I was hooked! It has some great step by step instructions, starts off basic and gets a little harder (pretty basic, though, throughout - which I thought was helpful). Includes some really neat papers and elements and actually lets you complete scrapbooks through the "lessons" if you want to. After using this book, buying Photoshop Elements 4.0 and reading "Photoshop Elements 4.0: The Missing Manual," I felt pretty comfortable with the basic techniques and was able to browse galleries and say, "oh, maybe I can do that!"

That's my 2 cents. :)

[Ducchess]

You might look at www.scrappersguide.com (http://www.scrappersguide.com). She has some wonderful cd's and a newsletter that are super informative. My favorite site for lots of neat freebies and good info is www.cottagearts.net (http://www.cottagearts.net). Just keep trying and it will all come together:)

[sevett]

I am a big fan of online tutorials. Threre are actually successful graphic designers that learned everything they basically needed to know for a succesful career by learning online. I work mainly with film, but I want to do scrapbooking as a hobby. Blend modes, making fabrics and elements have that 3d quality to them, not just drop shadows-all that takes is a click in Photoshop after clicking on the layer. But some advanced tips, ones that designers don't want to disclose, those are the ones I want.:crazy: