Making a Scrapbook Sketch

“How do you make a scrapbook sketch?” Lee asked recently. “Normally I would draw it by hand and then scan it into the computer, but I’d like to get a more ‘professional’ result. Can you help?”

To make the sketches here on ScrapbookingGems, we initially used Microsoft Publisher, and then Macromedia Fireworks simply because we had it and could do more with it.

The advantage of Macromedia Fireworks or other photo-editing program is that you can decide the size, type and dimensions of the file you output.

Here are our tips for making a scrapbooking sketch:

• customize your page size to 12×12 or the size you wish to work at - if you plan to print each one then 8×8 will print on most printers if cannot change the output size
• use the basic or custom shapes to create rectangles, circles, etc., as place markers for photographs and embellishments; you can vary the shade or color as you require (you’ll use less ink in printing if you just use outlines, but shading can help)
• depending on how well you know your program there may be lots more you can do, including the ability to skew or distort the shapes which adds variety and enables you to be more creative with the basic shapes
• create text frames where you want words and size them appropriately
• decide whether you will just give an impression of photo & journaling placements or want to specify more detail in your sketch
• create a frame, box or lines to encompass the whole page, otherwise when you publish or print the image you will not have the space defined, only the elements within it with nothing to contain them

I’m sure there are many other programs that will work, including photo-editing programs like Adobe Photoshop Elements. (I’ve left that to Isabella to investigate, but with the results she’s been getting, I may look into it soon myself. LOL.)

So, whether you want to submit scrapbook sketches for publishing on the web or just want a neat version to store in a file for your own use, I hope these tips help. If I’ve missed anything you can add it below in the comments.

 

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[tags]sketches, scrapbooking sketches[/tags]