Save time and money, and expand your digital photo creativity options with digital scrapbooking.

Digital scrapbooking, also called computer scrapbooking is an art form that is evolving from a strictly paper-based environment of preserving memories to one which uses computer technology for some to all the elements in scrapbook creation.

Now there are a couple of ways to do digital scrapbooking:

use your own computer, digital scrapbooking software, and printer, or
use layouts on online development services, and have them print the final pages.

Using Your own Electronic Equipment

This article is all about doing it yourself. Digital scrapbooking layout is graphic design using commercially available image-editing software programs like Adobe Photoshop/Elements, Paint Shop Pro, PhotoImpact, Digital Image Pro, Photo Impact and Picture It or specifically designed photo scrapbook software like HP Creative Scrapbook Assistant or Nova Scrapbook Factory Deluxe, to create the scrapbook pages.

Variety at your Fingertips

Backgrounds are easier: With digital scrapbooking, you print as many background pages as you need, any time you like. Just think, you won't be running back to the arts & crafts store every time you get a new creative idea, or need t replace a page because your child decided to add her creative touch, with her choclately fingers.

Print multiple copies: When you do a family album, what do you do when you need to make more than one copy for grandparents, siblings, aunts, etc.? You either have to spend time making more, by hand, or just ask everyone to share one copy. Neither option is very fun. And the cost of all the materials for a second, third or more copies can be high with traditional, paper-based scrapbooking. With digital scrapbooking, the only additional cost is the paper and ink for more pages. And think of the time you'll save, giving you more time to create new pages.

Enhance your digital photos: with photo scrapbook software, you can edit, resize, duplicate, and do so much more with your digital photos, very easily.

Share Electronically

Show off your computer scrapbooking art electronically: With such easy access to the internet, you can start an online gallery at the many digital scrapbooking communities. Once you post your layouts, you can share them with your friends and family. Digital scrapbooking images are digital images, just like digital photos. You can email your layouts, burn them to CD for the perfect gift and of course to create back up copies of all your hard work.

Even though scrapbooking the digital way is done with some type of image editing software or photo scrapbooking software, you can still display them the old-fashioned way in a beautiful scrapbook album. Print off one or more copies, assemble the album, and voila, memories to share with everyone.

If you are new to the area of digital scrapbooking, be sure to check out some of the following links for ideas, information and digital scrapbooking resources to get you on your way:

Computer Scrapbooking 101, a printable scrapbook page membership site with over 1300 scrapbook pages.
Scrapbooking With Jo-Ann.com : a great site for affordable scrapbooking supplies and software.
Digital Memories: Scrapbooking with Your Computer by Carla Rose, or the Digital Scrapbooking Magazine.

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