Creating a Digital Scrapbook Page using Corel Paint Shop Pro Version 12®
and Digital Scrapbook Place scrapbook graphics.

Making a digital scrapbooking page can be a lot of fun!  This tutorial uses the Celebrate Life’s Moments 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 Paint Shop Pro.

BEGIN A NEW PAGE

Open Paint Shop Pro. Create a new file (File - New).

Enter the desired scrapbook page size into the boxes as shown below. (Access inches by clicking on the drop down arrow if necessary.) For good print quality, always use at least 200 pixels per inch in the resolution box.

OPEN YOUR PHOTOS

Open your photos (File – Open). Browse your hard drive to find the photos you wish to include in your scrapbook layout. Then click Open. Your photos will open in the same workspace as your new file.

OPEN YOUR GRAPHICS

Open your graphics (File – Open). Browse to find your desired graphics. Browse your CD drive if you are using a graphics CD such as one the Scraps of… lines of CDs. Or browse your hard drive to find graphics you downloaded to your computer. This example uses graphics from the Celebrate Life’s Moments Page Kit created by the DSP Designers.

Your graphics will open in the same workspace as your photos and new file.

If you only see one file in the workspace, click (Windows – Cascade) (shown below) to change to Cascade Windows mode. This will show all your files, with the selected one on the top.

BEGIN BUILDING YOUR PAGE

Click on your new blank file to bring it to the top of the workspace. This will be your layout file. Then do the same with the background of your choice.

ADD A BACKGROUND

Click (Edit – Copy) to copy the background of your choice. Paste this in your new blank file (Edit – Paste As A New Layer).

ADD A PHOTO

Click on your first photo in the Photo Bin to bring it to the top in the workspace. Copy and paste these into your new file. In order to manipulate your images once they are pasted in your new file you will need to select the pick tool. You will notice that the image has a “bounding box” around it which allows you to rotate and resize the image. To do this, click on one of the small boxes at the corners of the bounding box and drag in or out to resize. By default this tool is set to constrain proportions, so it will resize without distorting the image.

If you wish to rotate your image, click on the square end of the handle that is in the center of the image. You will see a small set of arrowed half circles appear. Click and drag to rotate your image in any direction.

ADD A DROP SHADOW

For a scrapbook layout to look realistic, add a drop shadow to your photo. Choose Effects – 3D Effects – Drop Shadow. Add the appropriate angle, size, and opacity as shown below.

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.

ADD REMAINING PHOTOS AND EMBELLISHMENTS

Now click on the embellishment file you wish to add next. Copy and paste as before, and position where you desire. 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.
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 by clicking on the relevant layer in the Layers palette and dragging it above or below another layer.

GET CREATIVE WITH EMBELLISHEMENTS

Often elements are included such as ribbons and paper clips that you may want to have fun with. It is easy to make elements look as though they are threaded, overlapped, or placed partially behind other objects.

To make these beads appear to weave under, then back over the blue ribbon, place the bead layer on top of the ribbon layer. Click on the Eraser Tool and erase any parts of the beads that should appear to be under the ribbon.

Find more great tips like this in other tutorials in the Tutorials section.

ADD JOURNALING

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

Then click on your layout where you would like to add text. Type your desired text and with the text box still open you can alter the color and font choices in the Options Bar at the top of the workspace by highlighting your text. Using the Pick Tool, you can move and rotate your text box just like other files.

SAVE YOUR LAYOUT

When you are happy with your layout, save your file (File – Save As) as a Paint Shop Pro (.psp) 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.

SHARE YOUR LAYOUT ON THE WEB

To make your layout small enough to upload to a website or share by email. Choose Image – Resize. In the New Size box, reduce the size to 600px. Be sure Constrain Proportions is checked and click Apply. Next choose File – Export – Jpeg Optimizer. Then adjust the quality slider on the right until your file size is under 125 kb. You will see the file size under the resized file image. Click Okay.

A dialog box will prompt you for a file name. Save with a unique name such as originalfilename_web.jpg. 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.

Graphics from the Celebrate Life’s Moments Page Kit by Digital Scrapbook Place.

ADDITIONAL LAYOUT IDEAS FEATURING THIS SAME PAGE KIT

Any subject, theme, or style, with digital scrapbooking, just use your creativity and your computer!

Paint Shop Pro is either a registered trademark or trademark of Corel Incorporated in the United States and/or other countries.