BushArts.com - Scrapbooking
News...
BushArts now have support and Downloads for ScrapbookMax! Check it out!.Photos
Getting your own photos into the computer can be done via several methods. Most regular film developers will also supply a version of your printed photo on a CD at the time you get the film developed, or later created from your negatives. Many are also able to Print from your camera memory card or directly from a portable disk. Scanners are also a very useful tool to get your own previously printed photo into the computer. Digital camera owners already have this capability. Editing your own photos requires only a little skill, many programs now are extremely simple to use when applying any one of a number of special photo treatments. Cutting a person out of a photo, adjusting a poor colour result, cropping unwanted detail out, or simply adding a little sharper detail is all available to the average home user. This gives you the option of manipulating your photos to achieve a very unique result. Keep in mind that whilst most home inkjet printers use acid free ink, it is not generally permanent or waterproof. If required, many professional photo printers can take your computer file, and print it in more permanent form for you.Printed Scrapbooks (Professional)
A recent addition to the scrapbook option list comes the ability to have your own photos printed into a professionally created "Real" book. One such service is provided by the people at Momento.com.au, (Also now available downunder through Officeworks stores). Similiar offerings are available in other countries too. This service includes free software to prepare each page at home on your own computer. Naturally, professional printing is not a cheap service, please refer to the links for further detail. We would recommend anyone interested in this type of product, to prepare their own images first, and include any scrapbook style or effect that you may like to add in addition to, or incorporated onto, your own photos.Digital Scrapbooks
If you are into Scrapbooks, have you ever considered creating an electronic or digital scrapbook? There are distinct advantages in creating a scrapbook viewable on a computer, or even converted for viewing through your Television. Mistakes can be erased with a click, and the cleaning up afterwards is much simpler too. Changes can be made at any time by simply re-editing the image you started with, or you may like to try out several different variations before settling on the final version. Software is available in several formats, with your imagination being the only limitation, and the skill level required is really not that high. The final product can be as good as anything professionally done. People with scanners are able to get electronic versions of almost everything into the computer, from original documents such as a Birth Certificate, through fabrics and mementoes, to clips of hair. Once scanned, each piece is simply another digital computer graphic to be used, and your original object can be safely and securely stored away. These are just some of the programs you may use to present your own Digital Scrapbook...- DeskTopAuthor ...the simplest to use, and looks like a real book.
- Multimedia Builder (MMB)...great community support to help with a project.
- Swish(max)...Flash format, sensational for Web distribution.
Scrapbook Programs
The easiest method to create a digital scrapbook, is to use your favourite image processing program, adjusting photos and adding extras over or around the image, then importing the completed image into any presentation program that suits your skill level. Completed projects can then be shared, either on disc, CD/DVD, or sent via email for example. Another option is to purchase a purpose built scrapbooking program. Our first choice is "ScrapBookMax" by Indigo Rose Software. Purpose built for scrapbookers, ScrapbookMax has a wide variety of output options, and is quickly building itself a large community full of extra resources. Or you can read our review with extras! Well worth your time to have a look. The Ulead and Broderbund companies also have products designed for scrapbookers, and are very fairly priced. They will not replace a good quality graphics program however, but may well be all that some people will ever need.Graphics and Design
Something to design your project in? Or want to create your own embellishments? This means learning a little about computer graphics. Even if your Photo, artwork or design is ready on your PC, running it through a capable graphics program can often improve or enhance that design. If starting from scratch, then these are amongst the programs most likely to be of benefit.
Our choices? Professional graphic artists use Photoshop, and it has to be a recommended product. However unless you are prepared to pay a lot for a program, and spend many many hours learning how to use it, then Photoshop will not be your choice.
We love the easy to use RealDrawPro so much that we have dedicated an entire section of the BushArts site to it. Combine RealDraw with Photoshop and you have an extremely easy to use program with all the power of the worlds best.
All of the other programs mentioned above are quality programs also but none of them will be suitable for everybody, you will need to decide for yourself.
It is not necessary for you to have every program, most times any one of the above will be sufficient. However there are subtle differences between the programs, so never limit your options by using only what you have, download a trial version of another program if you still feel there is more to be done.