Tutorial: How to Scrapbook

OK, as promised here’s the mini tutorial on how I do scrapbooking. I don’t think there are hard and fast rules and what’s right what’s wrong. Everyone has their own way of doing, so this is just one way that I use :). My take, explore with PS and you will find the wonders in it hehe…if you are non-PS user, sorry lah, this tutorial not for you liao. I also can’t help you cause PS is the only software I know.

OK, enough of crap, lets start work.

Before scrapping, you at least have to have an idea what layout you want, this will make things easier when you start scrapping. If you have no ideas, you can always go to those scrapbook forum, look at how people scrap and get some idea. I do that as well :).

Then choose the KIT that you want to use for scrap.

1. First open one of the background page (those with fancy fancy design).
2. Then duplicate a layer by placing your mouse on the paper and right click, duplicate layer. THen just press OK.
3. Then click on Windows, Layer to show the layer you just created. You will see 2 eyes on the 2 layers, you can click on the eyes on off on off..that will actually hide and display the layer.
4. Next, choose the bottom layer, then press Ctrl+A (this is to select all), then press DELETE. With this you will notice one layer will be the fancy design paper, one is plain (if you want white, just take the bucket and then paint in white).
5. Layers are very important for Scrapbooking, cause it’s all about stacking up the papers layer after layers..so play with this function more and you sure become xpert :).
6. Next, to add the picture, open the pic.
7. To add a frame to the picture, click on Image, Canvas Size. e.g image size is 6×6, change it to 6.1×6.1, you will instantly get a nice frame :).
8. Then again, duplicate your photo on the fancy background by right click duplicate layer and then select where you want to duplicate that layer to.
9. If picture appears very small on the fancy background, you can adjust the size by Edit, Transform, Scale…this will edit on whichever layer you are at, not on the whole file itself.
10. Once you are satisfied, then move on and add more layers of fancy paper on the same file. To make sure you don’t cover each fancy paper on top of each other, you can use the marquee tool (the one in a square dot dot one) and cut and paste the desired size.
11. You can play around by arranging each layer on top of each other. And do scale, rotate, etc until you are satisfied (using the Edit Transform function) on each layer.
12. Once you are done with all the arranging, if you notice sometimes the scrap has that lil shadow, that is call the drop shadow effect. You can add that to make your scrap looks more realistic.
13. To add shadow, go to Windows, Layer. Select the Layer, right click blending options.
14. Select the drop shadow and make sure it’s ticked. Then slide the distance, spread and size until you are satisfied and click OK.
15. You have to do this for each layer..a bit of work, but worth the effort lah :P. With shadow it really look more real, like papers stacked on each other kekeke…
16. Then merge all the layers by selecting, Layer, Flatten Image.
17. Next use the text tool, add the wordings you like.
18. Then repeat step 16 to flatten the image.
19. Save the file as JPEG.
20. If you intend to print the scrap out, safe the file with the best quality (very large file). For internet upload purpose, you can just save as lower quality.

And there you go…A nice scrap for your kids and your blog in just 20 steps :). Done my homework before CNY, so don’t owe anyone hehehe…Happy Scrapping and do post your scrap up for us to look see.

If anyone has problem or stuck, can always email or MSN me. Will assist you whenever possible (if I’m not caught with my work). If the steps work perfectly, do link to my site on where you get the tutorial :).

Will try to post up another tutorial on how to get nice letterings and also the rounded square edges. That’ll be after CNY lah…