Hello! I'm new!

[ishopalot]

Hi, I just joined and was interested in using my "free" time to clean up all my digital photos and turn them into a scrap book. It was apparent to me I needed one after my 11 year old son asked to see his baby book and I sheepishly handed him a large cardboard box...:o
I was watching my local channel and they were talking about a drop and drag program for digital photos, but I didn't catch what it was can anyone advise?
Thanks!
DK (ishopalot)

[ishopalot]

Hi again,
As I was reading more on the forum, I see that most of you have a bit more info about yourself listed. My first name is Donna Kay (like Mary Kay) but I shorten it most times in email to DK
I am married to Jack and we have four boys between us: 23, 20, 11 and 3. I am a stay at home mom for now. I left nursing school to take care of my 3 yr. old son who has been dx with a disorder...I do an on-line journal if you wanted to read up on us.
www.caringbridge.org/visit/tylerlangan
I have always been creative but never really good at any one thing, I love to snap photos and would like to "show them off"
I don't know where to start however, I purchased the beginers CD and signed up for the online class. I also have an older version of Photoshop Elements, but I really don't know how to use it.
What should I do next? I can't wait to get started!
Love to hear from you!

[luv2digiscrap]

Hi DK! Welcome, I'm new too, to the forum, not to digital scrapbooking. It's a lot of fun. The easiest way to get started is to use quickpages. There like pre-made pages you just put your pics on the bottom layers and the quickpage on top. Then you adjust the pic size to fit in the pre-made frame. Then you can add text etc. I don't have any of the cds so I don't know if they have quickpages (drag and drop). There are a lot of designers blogs that offer digi-scrap freebies including quickpages. I hope this helps.
Char
y

[digimad]

I would read the tutorials in the tips section of this website. And then practice doing the things they discuss in Photoshop. Welcome to the board! The online class will help and don't be afraid to ask any questions you have. The ladies on this forum know alot about photoshop and we have all had questions at various times. You will love digiscrapping.:)

[chryslergreen]

Welcome DK!!! I couldn't help but notice you are in PA - woo hoo! I'm in Philly - It's nice to have another easterner here ;) How cool that you live in Hershey. We went out to visit not too long ago, the whole place smelled like chocolate - YUM!
Anyway, there are a lot of "drag and drop" type programs out there, but nothing beats photoshop because you can do anything and everything, from quickpages (like Char suggested) to creating your own pages (which is primarily what most of us on the forum do). What version of elements do you have? Do you have a lot of experience with it?
I think Madeline's suggestions are great. Also it's easy to get frustrated when you're starting, but keep going and ask any questions you have here on the forum.

[LucyLu]

Welcome... DK lots of fun help on here. I beleive there is going to be a beginning on line class soon... ( I did see that some where didnt I )

[supermombritt]

Welcome to t he forum. Some of the DSM pages do have predone layouts. They are great to use. You have come to the right place for questions and answers.

[Kelli West]

Welcome DK!!! Glad to see an avatar (it always makes it more fun to see faces) and glad to have you onboard! if you have any questions DO NOT hesitate to ask! We have the best forum out there!!!

[Kim Hansen]

It's so fun to have you two new girls. Keep posting. Like the avatars--helps us know who you really are:)

[Alyson]

Yay! :cheer: So glad you posted more info. I would love to go to Hershey someday...and Phili!! In Pennsylvania, I've only been to Pittsburgh (which I loved). It really made me want to see more of the state.

There are so many ways to learn how to digi scrap. I think the online class will help you a lot. I'm sure Alisha will go over most of the info covered in the Tips section (linked at the top of the page), but it's nice to always have those tips there to look at. There's a lot of info at first, but don't give up and before you know it you will be a digi scrapping pro. There are also tutorials on the Beginner CDs that will walk you through the steps of making layouts and give you info on Photoshop.

I think most of us on the forums use Photoshop. I haven't really tried any other programs, but I LOVE Photoshop. It's so diverse and there is so much you can do with it. I wonder if I will ever learn it all (btw, you don't need to know it all to be successful at digi scraping).

[ishopalot]

Thank you for the warm welcome! I have photoshop elements, but I don't know what version. It has to be at least 3 or 4 years old. Should I update to a new version? I always see Adobe ads but photoshop is around 500.00...am I correct? I paid way less for elements, but I don't know if it's as good.

[Alyson]

I have the full version of Photoshop, but only because I was able to get it for the student price (way cheaper). Many, many, many people digi scrap with Elements and it works just as well. I know of a few things you can't do with elements, but until you get the hang of things they aren't things you would probably try. After you get going and know a little more of what you are doing and what you want to do, you might want to look into the differences between Elements and the full version, but I wouldn't worry about that now.

[chryslergreen]

You should be fine with what you've got now. I started out with Elements 3.0, but switched to 5.0 about 8 months ago - but only because it was given to me. There are a few advantages to the newer version, but not a whole lot. I think the latest version of Elements is 6.0 (someone correct me if I'm wrong.) But with any version of Elements you should be able to do all the basics that you need to get started!

[Alishaw]

6.0 is the newest version, but like Alyson said, you will do great with whatever version you currently own and if you find there is something specific you can't do (ie shadow color-not a huge big deal, photo bin-available in 4-6.0, etc) you can always upgrade later and know you've invested wisely because you are actually using it! The full version is expensive and I know a lot of designers & photographers that prefer Elements for the ease of use. We'll go over start to finish in the class so you can get started making pages right away!
In the mean time, we're excited to get to know you more and love having you here!

[Jenny McDonald]

Welcome! I remember when I first started out. Just read the tutorials and don't worry, you have to be really talented to break a computer. That was my fear, that I'd break my computer.

[rizkid22]

Hi Donna! Glad you are here. The tips section at the very top of the page will help you to learn some of the fundamentals and get started. They really helped me. Please ask questions, because more than likely someone else has the same question. Here is a link to the tips section. http://www.digitalscrapbookmemories.com/digitalScrapbookTips.asp

[Keith]

Welcome!

Were you looking for ways to clean up the digitlal photos? or to get that box of other photos scanned in to be digital?

For me it only makes sense to clean up the digital photos you are going to use or enjoy. But always keep them all. Then never delete or change the original because you may get better at cleaning them up and want to try again later.

So work with one, save it has a new name, keep the original intact. And just spend the time (that we are all full of HA) to work with the ones that you like the most.

[April]

Hi DK! Glad to have you here. Most of us here use Photoshop Elements but some easier programs are ArcSoft Scrapbook Creator and Memory Mixer. Those might have been one of the drag and drop programs you saw???

[brookiewookie]

Welcome, Char and DK!! :) This is a great place to get answers!

[A-to-Z]

Welcome!! Keep posting...this is a great place to ask any questions you have1