Just Digi-scrappin' Talk! Join us!

[wendella247]

I see there's a lot of talkin' going on about digi-scrapping over on the Goals thread (Forums at Splitcoaststampers) lately and it made me think we ought to have a place in the digi-scrapping forum to just talk about digi stuff. So let's start here and see where our thread goes!

What program do you use and how long have you been digi-scrapping?

I use PSE9, but my interest in using graphic images started with MS Word when I did a monthly newsletter at work back in the late 90's. I also learned some things in various greeting card programs, MS Publisher and Picture It, gradually easing into PSE2. It was hard to find digi kits and tutorials in those days (mostly just clipart from Microsoft and such), but thank goodness, that's all changed! I love digi scrapping, but I enjoy paper crafting too. How about you guys?



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[eeddmm]

I became interested in digi scrapping when I found the scrapbooking thread here at SCS back in the beginning of 2009. I never scrapped before 2008 and I was starting to see such awesome pages made digitally which appealed to me because of the "tidyness" of keeping supplies in one spot. For Christmas that year, my boss gave everyone gift cards to Walmart and I used part of mine to buy Photoshop Elements 7. I thought I was very computer savvy but I had that program for 6 mos before finally calling "uncle" and taking a "free" class at JessicaSprague.com that gave me enough pointers to begin using it and from that point on, I haven't looked back! My DH bought me the upgrade to PSE9 2 Christmases ago along with my own laptop so I can dedicate it for digi scrapping. I love looking for tutorials on techniques on the internet and searching for freebies of which 99% of the over 54,000 files I have are freebies.

[wendella247]

Glad you stopped by, Terry! I think the traditional scrappers on the Goals thread might get to feeling a little bit overtaken when we digi-scrappers start talking shop!

One of the things I love about digi is one can make a page that looks quite "paper-like," but can also use really cool techniques that one can't accomplish with traditional scrapping--like reduced opacity, blending, masks, changing colors, fantasy pages, etc.

[FMcrafter]

I am a scrap using what ever I have person!!!!! I just did a paper page for grumpy, DS, book...have an 8.5 x 11 lay book for digital pages..my book is hybrid...I have been loving doing recipe cards hybrid...as in print it separately then assemble to meet traditional swaps...
Paper crafting about two years and digital side psd 8

[eeddmm]

I recently subscribed to Photoshop Roadmap and this month's issue had a link to download Perfect Effects 3 for free. It's a smaller version consisting of 25 special effects that can be added to your pictures instead of the 300+ effects program that allows you to change your photos. It's supposed to work with Photoshop Elements 9 and 10 but I couldn't get it work directly in PSE. I probably downloaded it to the wrong place but it works independently and then I brought the pics into PSE. Pretty cool effects.

Check it out...maybe one of you can make it work properly in PSE9 or 10 and let me know what I did wrong when I downloaded it!

Perfect Effects 3 Free

Here is a picture I changed using the free program. The first is before and the 2nd after only one click!

[eeddmm]

Here's another tip I just discovered for Photoshop Elements. I downloaded a picture of Spongebob a while ago and when I tried to put it onto my layout, I had to erase the white area from around him. It was suggested that I should have used the magic wand instead of the erase tool.

I've seen twice now within the last 2 days that if you bring something with a white background onto your layout and on that layer you choose a "darken" blend mode that your white background will disappear. I tried it with the Spongebob png file and it works! The different Darken blend modes will make the remaining portion of the picture look different but it gets rid of all the white at one time! Amazing!!!!!!

[wendella247]

That's an interesting way to do it. I've always had good luck with the magic wand. I just click on the white and click delete and away it goes. There are so many ways to do the same thing in Photoshop programs!

Have you ever checked out the site Elements Village? Lots of tips and tricks!

[wendella247]

12x12 prints are on sale for 99 cents at Scrapbooks Please:

Scrapbooks Please



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[wendella247]

So, how many years do I have to digi-scrap before I consistently remember to hit save on a regular basis? I just spent 2 hours creating a page and my program froze and I lost everything. Can't blame anyone but myself, but very frustrating!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! UGH!

[FMcrafter]

I have to restore my system then I can try it out....stealing my sons tablet...ssshhhhhh

[wendella247]

I downloaded the program and had to open it independently too, Terry.

Quote:

Originally Posted by eeddmm

I recently subscribed to Photoshop Roadmap and this month's issue had a link to download Perfect Effects 3 for free. It's a smaller version consisting of 25 special effects that can be added to your pictures instead of the 300+ effects program that allows you to change your photos. It's supposed to work with Photoshop Elements 9 and 10 but I couldn't get it work directly in PSE. I probably downloaded it to the wrong place but it works independently and then I brought the pics into PSE. Pretty cool effects.

Check it out...maybe one of you can make it work properly in PSE9 or 10 and let me know what I did wrong when I downloaded it!

Perfect Effects 3 Free

Here is a picture I changed using the free program. The first is before and the 2nd after only one click!

[eeddmm]

Quote:

Originally Posted by wendella247

So, how many years do I have to digi-scrap before I consistently remember to hit save on a regular basis? I just spent 2 hours creating a page and my program froze and I lost everything. Can't blame anyone but myself, but very frustrating!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! UGH!

I still do it every now and then too!

[wendella247]

After I posted this, a found a version I had saved earlier, but it didn't have most of the additions I'd made. It WAS better than starting from scratch, though! lol

[wendella247]

I just started a FREEBIES ALERT thread for anyone looking for freebies or who has found some good ones:

FrEEbiE and "Great Deal" Alerts! (Add any you've found too!) by wendella247 at Splitcoaststampers


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[FMcrafter]

PSE 10 till aug 6 check code SummerElements
Save $50 on Photoshop Elements 10- now only $69.99. Offer code SummerElements, ends August 6.

http://www.adobe.com/products/elemen...BX&PID=4036986

[wendella247]

Thanks for the Photoshop Elements discount update. That's a great price!

[FMcrafter]

look at this bundle!!!!!

Scrapbookgraphics.com :: Close Outs :: Retiring Bundle 2012

[wendella247]

Hi FMcrafter, Chief of the Corruptors! I see you're at work again, enabling us to accrue lots of new goodies. Wish I could, but my budget is shot! Lots of great stuff there, though! Thanks for sharing!

[FMcrafter]

I know!!! I wish I could sleep!!! Instead I am digital shopping. ..bad Lynn!!

[wendella247]

Hey scrappy friends!!!

There are seven (7) VSBN challenges here. Check 'em out!

You have plenty of time to get your pages done. They're not due until 10:00 PM, EST ON AUG 18, 2012.

These are for all scrappers, be they traditional paper or digi!!!


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[FMcrafter]

Anyone know a good organizer for photos? Now that I have moved to a new computer and PSE10 it can't seem to catalog my 56gb of images?

[wendella247]

I've heard AC/DC is good, but I've never used it.

[FMcrafter]

I have heard of it as a rock band!!! Lol is that the name? What I did was split into two catalogs and it seems to like that

[FMcrafter]

I found it

ACDSee 14 - Photo Editing, Photo Management, Photo Editor, Digital Photography, RAW, Digital Asset Management, DAM

[wendella247]

Guess I had the speeling wrong. Does the program look like a good plan to you?

[FMcrafter]

Ok..just lost my message

PSE10 organizer is ok with 20gb which I separated the catalog into 3 separate ones. I have tagged everything and written to the metadata so we will see

Picassa is free..works with large amounts of data...can watermark and resize photos for the web in batch...works extremely well with google...limited editing capabilities

[FMcrafter]

this sounded good but cannot afford the price

Adobe photoshop Lightroom 4 $146

http://store1.adobe.com/cfusion/stor...de=LIGHTROOM15

[FMcrafter]

Just blew up acdsee...LOLOL...I guess it does not like that many files either. I would never tag by focus, apature, ISO..ect so that whole part is useless...there are labels and rating systems it shows the structure more like a file system..since it crashed on the catalog I think I am going to remove the trial version...seems it can't handle it either

[lori92760]

my organizational skills are terrible. i have my digital supplies somewhat organized: papers, then by color, embellishement and then 20 different catagories. templates, blah blah blah, probably two dozen files and then sub files. and still i spend more time looking than i care to.

but photos? i dont take many but my husband takes thousands. i will generally look at pictures for the first time and if i like any, i throw them in a to be scrapbooked filed and then catagorize them, flowers/garden, people, dogs, other. how do you guys break them down?

i would love to have the patience to organize my supplies by say: yellow, linen, paper, designer abc. rusted bracket, by designer cde, but i know my limits!

any great ideas that really help that even i could do?

[FMcrafter]

What program are you using??

[lori92760]

i use pse6. i have pse10 to be installed, but my husband needs to upgrade my computer, it bogs down with pse6.

all my organizing is just using windows. i am pretty particular about what i will spend time scrapbooking. the picture has to be pretty special to me. i did a book for each kids graduation, with pics thru their childhood. what i do is so random otherwise. except all those crazy flower pictures.

my husband is asian so he takes pictures of EVERYTHING! i have never in my life taken a picture of a plate of food or a cocktail, but he and his friends post these kinds of pics all the time. to me thats like taking a picture of paint drying! good thing we share a healthy sense of humor.

[FMcrafter]

Ok...I can only say from my experience

My pictures are filed in windows based on major subject and then within that I have dates/events. With pse8 which I started with, I tagged the images with further inpformatio. Using the organizer. Then I told the organizer to add all the tags to the properties of the file. This is known as metadata. I am in the process of finding out how much of this metadata can be searched by windows 7. Will let you know what I find out if you wish.

[lori92760]

what i find is i could spend all my time tagging things and organizing and very little time actually crafting. scrapgirls is very good about including the collection name on everything flower, paper, staple, etc. i also have a file with picture of each kit and the name. so if i look in that and see a kit i like, i can search windows for the kit name and it brings up everything associated with that kit. some other companies will simply name their flower: flower one or simply element. after downloading one of those kits it takes a bit of tagging and renaming.

[FMcrafter]

My kits are by kit name and within separated into papers and elements...I use tags to search for a flower

[FMcrafter]

ENABLER ALERT!!!

Scrapbookgraphics.com :: Collaborative Projects :: Heart First Collab

[lori92760]

oh my garsh, i love that store. just quickly browsed before going to bed and i found to many things. did you see the art dolls? i have been looking for a digital source for those.

thanks for sharing that site.

[FMcrafter]

Did you see the free PSE courses???

Education : Classes : Photoshop Elements - Two Peas in a Bucket

[basketballmom]

OK, I'm relatively new to digiscrapping.
I'm a SU! demo ... and I've had My Digital Studio for awhile. (since it came out). I just haven't used it a lot.
Now that MDS2 is out, it's a lot easier to use, and I'm trying to use it more.

I also have Photoshop Elements 10 ... which I mostly use to edit photos ... and I try to organize a bit. But I've given up on the photo organization. It just takes too much time. Four people, four cameras, 1 Alaska cruise, 7 days, over 5000 photos!
Guess what hasn't been scrapbooked after 3 years?

[FMcrafter]

I tell you what...you send me on the cruise and I will organize and scrap all your photos!

[lori92760]

i love the hundreds (literally) of actions that you can do or add on to photoshop element. not sure how mds2 will compare. when i first stated digital i had a program call "scrap explosion" (?) and quickly found it to be very limiting.

i am a terrible organizer, at everything. photos are no exception. i just have a file with photo i want to scrap someday. i am pretty picky what goes in there because i know i will never get around to doing 1000's.

with my husbands photos i have thought that once i get a book done, make a regular page with a pocket and include a cd with all that i could not get scrapped before i die!