Digital Scrapbooking

Author: admin  //  Category: digital scrapbooking


digital scrapbooking

Scrapbooking has remained a popular craft thoughout many generations all over the world. The desire to preserve precious moments has urged people to collect mementos such as pictures and small souvenirs, and then arrange them in a creative manner to help reminisce about memorable times. While several scrapbookers prefer traditional methods of memory preservation by using good old paper, scissors and glue, a lot have ventured out into the hi-tech world by making digital scrapbooks.

The popularity of digital scrapbooking is growing steadily. In fact, many of the traditional scrapbooking magazines have released special issues featuring the making of scrapbooks with computers. Some hobbyists have introduced themselves into the digital art by just making parts of their scrapbooks on computers and then printing them out to attach to their normal albums. However, others have ventured into hardcore scrapbooking, i.e. making scrapbooks entirely on the computer, as it saves time and materials, plus it provides many more capabilities not available with traditional methods.

Many digital scrapbookers are photographers who use digital cameras and have their pictures stored in their computers. The beauty of their work would go to waste if they are just stored there in folders, so they came up with interesting ways to showcase their photos. Not only are digital scrapbooks quick to make, they can also easily be distributed and used as portfolios. Otherwise they can be quickly shared to just about anyone who has a computer.

Digital scrapbooking is quite simple. There are few things needed to make digital scrapbooks. First of all, you need a computer with a decent graphics card. Next, you need digital imaging software such as Adobe Photoshop. Such software is not only designed to edit pictures but also to make layouts such as scrapbooks. Obviously, you need photos. You may also use scrapbook templates such as Simply Digital, which helps beginners with design ideas. For those who want to print their work, a good quality photo printer and photo paper is needed.

With these materials, digital scrapbooking can be easy. Like traditional scrapbook making methods, it basically involves designing backgrounds, adding pictures, inserting accent designs, adding texts and titles, and so on. The good thing about digital scrapbooking is everything can be easily edited and mistakes can be easily removed.

With digital scrapbooking, you can be nostalgic without being passé. Memories can be easily preserved and cherished with digital scrapbooking

printing digital pictures

Author: admin  //  Category: Articles, Digital Camera, Online Photo


Digital Cameras + Photo Printers = Quality Instant Photographs

By W R Kirk

printing digital pictures

In the 1950’s and 1960’s Polaroid’s instant cameras were all the rage. You could shoot a picture and have the finished print in a minute or so. The quality wasn’t that great, but hey, you had your pictures now! Today with digital cameras and high-tech photo printers , we have quality instant photos virtually indistinguishable from processed prints. And unlike the old instant cameras, you have the digital equivalent of a negative for future use.
Checking photo printer reviews happily discloses that even an inexpensive photo printer produces true photo quality prints. The main difference in printer prices has to do with features for printing digital pictures. Of course the best digital photo printers will produce better quality, but for the average consumer there’s no noticeable difference.
A Quick Review of Printer Types
The two types of true photo printers are: 1) thermal dye transfer (usually called dye sublimation), and 2) photo ink jet. A quick photo printer review reveals the differences.
Thermal Dye - These printers dry transfer pigments from a ribbon, usually 3 colors plus a protective clear coat. Most have a maximum print size of 4″ X 6″, but a few will print digital photo enlargements up to 8″ X 10″. Many are portable, some even battery operated. A thermal dye printer’s 300 X 300 dpi resolution will match an ink jet’s 1200 X 4800, and the print’s clear coat makes it look and feel more like a conventional photograph.
Photo Ink Jet - Differences from traditional ink jet printers include; faster printing, inks formulated specifically for photos, and more nozzles applying the ink. Prints are very high quality and generally cost less than thermal dye transfer prints. Photo ink jet printers print photos up to 13″ X 19″, and can also serve as an all-purpose printer for your computer.
Tips for Comparing Printers and Printing Photos
• If you want to print photos directly from the camera, both camera and printer should be PictBridge compliant. Most camera/printer dock combos are brand & model specific so if you replace either one, you can’t use it with the other. PictBridge is a standard allowing any compliant camera and printer to interface with a USB cable.
• When reviewing printers make sure they will print the sizes you want. Otherwise you may not always be able to get the prints you want, and/or waste a lot of paper and ink in doing so.
• Just because a printer has a lot of whistles & bells, high resolution settings, etc., doesn’t mean it will give you better pictures. Look for the features you will actually use, and by all means carefully compare the finished print quality for each printer.
• Download some free photo editing software for easy picture enhancements. It isn’t necessary to buy expensive computer software when you can find a free photo editor with a quick online-photo-prints.
Photo printer technology has come a long way in the last couple of years. Even though do-it-yourself prints are still about double the cost of print processing services, it’s still cheaper than conventional film processing and the flexibility and convenience can be well worth it.