Making a digital scrapbooking page can be a lot of fun!  This tutorial uses the Distant Memories Welcome Kit created by the DSP Designers. Register now in the DSP forums and check your email to DOWNLOAD THIS PAGE KIT FOR FREE!  Or download another free page kit of your choice in the FREEBIES gallery!  Then find a few photos and follow this tutorial to easily create a digital scrapbook page in Photoshop CS.

1. Open Adobe Photoshop CS5.  Create a new file. (File- New)

2. Enter the desired scrapbook page size into the boxes as shown below.  To create a 12 in by 12 in document,  enter a width of 3600 pixels, 3600 pixels for height and  300 pixels/inch for resolution.  Hit OK.

 
3. Open your photos (File – Open).  Browse your hard drive to find the photos you wish to include in your scrapbook layout.  Then click Open.  Hold down the control button while clicking to select multiple photos.  Your photos will open in the same workspace as your new file.
 
4. Open your graphics (File – Open).  Browse to find your desired graphics.  Hold down the control button while clicking to select multiple graphics.  The graphics will open in the same work space as the photos and new file. 
 
5. If the window is maximized, the active file will be the only one on the screen.  To see all of your files click on the Arrange Documents Button and choose Float All In Window.

6. Click on your new blank file to bring it to the top of the workspace.  This will be your layout file.

7. Then do the same with the background of your choice.

8. You can move the files around on the workspace by clicking and dragging on the top bar of the image window, using the Move Tool (the top tool in the Toolbar).

9. Using the Move Tool, click anywhere on the background file and drag the file onto the new blank image while holding down the SHIFT Key.  Holding the SHIFT key will "snap" your background into the center of your blank document.  You may now close the background file.  Since I am using the Welcome Kit that was created at 200ppi, I will need to resize the background to fit my new document.  I will hit Ctrl + T to Transform my document.  I then hold down the SHIFT key and drag the corners out until I hit the corners of my blank document.  This will keep the ratio of the background and not stretch it.

10. Click on your first photo.  Using the Move Tool, click and drag it onto your layout. 

11. If you would like to resize your photo.  Hit Ctrl + T (transform) to resize and rotate your photo.   Always hold down the SHIFT key when resizing (clicking and dragging one of the side or corner boxes) to keep the correct aspect ratio of your photo.

12. If you wish to rotate your image, hover your mouse outside the corner of your image.  You will see a small set of arrowed angles appear.  Click and drag to rotate your image in any direction.  Hit Enter to turn your Transform tool off and accept your changes. 

13. For a scrapbook layout to look realistic, add a drop shadow to your photo with a Layer Style.  To open the layer style box, you can double click on the layer you want to add the style to, or click on the fx button at the bottom of the layer palate, and select drop shadow.

14. Click on the box that says “drop shadow” and adjust the settings to get your desired shadow.    Most DSP graphics come complete with an appropriate drop shadow and need no extra shadow added.  Remember to add shadows to each of your photos for realism.

15. Now click on the element you wish to add to your layout.  Using the Move Tool as before, click and drag it onto your layout and position where you desire.

16. Repeat this procedure with any additional photos or embellishments you wish to add to your layout.   Each item will be added in its own layer automatically in your layout file.

17. You can move any of the items in your layout at a later date by clicking on the relevant layer in the Layer palette to select that item.  You can also move any item above or below another item clicking on the relevant layer in the Layers palette and dragging it above or below another layer. 

18. To add journaling to your layout, click on the Type Tool in the Toolbar.

19. Then click on your layout and drag a rectangle where you wish to add a text box.  This will keep your text within the constraints of the rectangle. 

Type your desired text then click on the text layer in the Layers palette or press Control Enter to apply your text to the layout.  You can alter the color and font choices in the Options Bar at the top of the workspace, or click on the character tab to the right of the screen for even more options.  Using the Move Tool, you can move and rotate your text box just like other files.

20. When you are happy with your layout, save your file (File – Save As) as a Photoshop file (.psd) with a unique name in a folder on your hard drive. This file will remain with all layers intact and you will be able to reopen and edit it at a later date.

21. To make your layout small enough to upload to a website or share by email, you will need to resize your layout and save it for web.  To do this open (Image- Image Size).  Reduce your Resolution to 72 pixels/inch and your pixel dimensions to 600px by 600px.  Click OK.

22. Next Save for the Web (File - Save For Web).  Be sure to reduce the Quality amount until your size (under the preview) is below 125K.  Click OK.

23. This version will be flattened and will no longer be editable, but it will be a perfect size for emailing to friends and uploading to the DSP Gallery.

Scrapbook page created by Nicole Young
Graphics from the Distant Memories Page Kit by Digital Scrapbook Place.

© 2012 Nicole Young