Information

[babykaykz1108]

Okay, so I'm in the process of packing for moving and I am trying to come up with a way to fulfill the urge/need to scrap without continuing to open boxes and remove my scrapbook supplies. Well last night I was on another thread and some of you were discussing digital scrapbooking and I thought that would be a fantasticly tidy and cost effective way of taming the beast! LOL


But I do have one major question...



How do I get started and is there a specific program needed to complete a digital layout? HELP.



Thanks in advance for all of your responses.

[AmyTeets]

Did you see that ACOT has their own software! So there's nothing to download If you go to Digital and in the drop down it says "Create A Scrapbook"

[babykaykz1108]

I did see that, but do the layouts save on ACOT's server or can I save them in my hard drive without having a program downloaded? I guess that's the heart of the question, it was my assumption that when you create a digital page you must have a program on your hard drive so when you open the layout it has a program associated with it to open properly.


Unless of course the file is saved on your hard drive as a JPEG and if that's the case it would open and be stored in the picture folder.



UHHGGG!

[milmomma]

Okay there is Amy's option of ScrapHD, but you have to have internet. If you want to download software so you can do it anywhere, Gimp is free (gimp.org), Photoshop Elements 30 day trial (adobe.com). Most tutorials are for Photoshop.
Check out this thread and it will help you get started- viewtopic.php?f=6&t=215930

ScrapHD you have to have a membership to save your layouts to your hd. Its monthly or a year fee. There are free softwares as mentioned above you could try. These you would be able to save your pages. Many places even print 12x12 bound albums now, that are great for digital pages.

[AmyTeets]

Right, you do need the have the membership in order to get the file to save on your hard drive. But those can be rather large. So it depends on if you plan on printing them at home or not.

[babykaykz1108]

I have an external 1TB hard drive. That should work for a few thousand layouts.

[sarahwhithers]

I haven't used ScrapHD so I have no idea what you need to do with it, but I do have photoshop and use GIMP at work. GIMP is a free program and does a lot of similar things that Photoshop does. And if you need some help with it, I can always answer some questions for ya.

http://www.gimp.org/

That's their website if you're interested. And than once you have the software, it's pretty easy fromt here. You download what kits you like - or even just freebies if you wanted to start out that way - and than add to a file just as you would paper. It's just copy and paste versus gluing.
So again, feel free to ask me any questions! I'm not a GIMP pro in any way, but I know a little.

Good luck!

[AmyTeets]

I have an external 1TB hard drive. That should work for a few thousand layouts.

LOL it might! I'm so glad those have come down in price, because we scrappers neeed them!!!

[PezKat]

I'm somewhat of a newbie to digi and I got GIMP a few weeks ago and love it!! Some things aren't exactly intuitive but once you learn them it's awesome. It does a LOT for a free program!! And yes, there are tons of freebies available to get you started; ACOT has some & then Google "free digital scrapbook" and you'll get a bunch! The digi designers are awesome to do this for us to help us 'test the water,' so to speak, both for digi overall & for specific designers' products.

[Jenn Kellams]

Paint.Net is a great program. We use it in the schools because it is a free download. It is VERY much like Photoshop which is nice!