your questions about technology
So today I'm addressing your questions about technology and how it relates to my approach to scrapbooking. I'm not super technologically gifted or anything (trust me), so I keep things at a fairly basic level.
[ what i use ]
My iMac is my sidekick, the computer that I love. I use iPhoto (this application comes with any Mac) for storing and organizing all of our photos. We use an auto back-up system with an external hard drive.
NOTE: If you're not backing up your digital pictures ... DO IT.
I do not use iPhoto for editing. I have been using Photoshop CS3 and will soon be getting the new Photoshop Elements 6, which looks so awesome and even has features that the more expensive (CS3) versions don't even have. It's already available for PCs and the Mac version is coming very soon.
[ other tools i use ]
Digital SLR: Canon 10D
Digital point & shoot camera (goes with me everywhere): Canon Powershot SD900 (Elph series). Great video with this too.
Scanner: Epson Perfection 4490
Color laser printer: HP Color LaserJet 3550. (If I'm not using pre-made letters or my own handwriting, I print any and all journaling with this puppy. LOVE the quality.)
Small photo printer (for 4x6 prints when I'm in a pinch): I've used a few of these over the years and like them all, although the technology keeps getting better. HP PhotoSmart 245, Kodak EasyShare 500, and Epson PictureMate.
Wide format printer (for 12x12, etc.): I've never used one, personally, but since I'm dabbling a bit with digital pages these days, I am looking forward to trying out the Epson R1900. I'll give you my review when I do.
[ how i organize ]
In iPhoto, I organize all of our pictures in chronological/numerical order. Before I load any pictures in iPhoto, I do a quick edit through whatever batch of recent pictures I'm going to add, getting rid of any unwanted pictures (the bad & the blurry), then I re-number the batch of pictures, starting where I left off in our chronological pictures (remember they're in numerical order). I do this with a renumbering program (File Sequencer) and I LOVE it. It takes a few seconds to renumber the whole batch and then I dump these into iPhoto.
[ getting ready to scrapbook ]
This is the process of getting my pictures from my computer (in iPhoto) to becoming physical prints that I put in our scrapbooks: I create folders ("albums" for you Mac users) in iPhoto for any category that I'm going to tackle. So let's say I'm going to do a layout on a recent birthday. I browse through my collection of digital pictures and choose pictures that I think I may want to use. I copy these into the new folder called "Claire's 2nd birthday". I then draw a sketch based on how many pictures I want to use (or use a sketch I've already drawn) and now I know what sizes my pictures need to be. I open these pictures in Photoshop, "do my thing" (including resizing) and then upload my pictures to costco.com and pick them up!
[ editing ]
I do all of my photo editing with Photoshop but I hesitate sharing specific how-to's because everyone's software is different and the last thing I want to do is cause confusion. Maybe when I get Elements 6 (I've never used Elements, actually) I'll share a few tips with that program since many of you probably have that. But really - there are so many experts out there (like Jessica Sprague - have you checked out her online classes?) that I'll leave it to them to do the best explaining. You can always do a google search for tips with your specific editing software. I'm confidant that there is a LOAD of information waiting to get inside your head. : )
[ what about digital scrapbooking? ]
I am still a traditional scrapbooker, for the most part. However, I've been using Photoshop ever since we went digital in 2002. So I guess that makes me kind of "hybrid", eh? Anyway, I LOVE the idea of digital scrapbooking. Think about how much physical space you could save! But at this point, I'm more of a dabbler. I actually did an entire mini album that was 100% created in Photoshop. So ultra simple but I love it. You'll see that in CK very soon.
[ what i use ]
My iMac is my sidekick, the computer that I love. I use iPhoto (this application comes with any Mac) for storing and organizing all of our photos. We use an auto back-up system with an external hard drive.
NOTE: If you're not backing up your digital pictures ... DO IT.
I do not use iPhoto for editing. I have been using Photoshop CS3 and will soon be getting the new Photoshop Elements 6, which looks so awesome and even has features that the more expensive (CS3) versions don't even have. It's already available for PCs and the Mac version is coming very soon.
[ other tools i use ]
Digital SLR: Canon 10D
Digital point & shoot camera (goes with me everywhere): Canon Powershot SD900 (Elph series). Great video with this too.
Scanner: Epson Perfection 4490
Color laser printer: HP Color LaserJet 3550. (If I'm not using pre-made letters or my own handwriting, I print any and all journaling with this puppy. LOVE the quality.)
Small photo printer (for 4x6 prints when I'm in a pinch): I've used a few of these over the years and like them all, although the technology keeps getting better. HP PhotoSmart 245, Kodak EasyShare 500, and Epson PictureMate.
Wide format printer (for 12x12, etc.): I've never used one, personally, but since I'm dabbling a bit with digital pages these days, I am looking forward to trying out the Epson R1900. I'll give you my review when I do.
[ how i organize ]
In iPhoto, I organize all of our pictures in chronological/numerical order. Before I load any pictures in iPhoto, I do a quick edit through whatever batch of recent pictures I'm going to add, getting rid of any unwanted pictures (the bad & the blurry), then I re-number the batch of pictures, starting where I left off in our chronological pictures (remember they're in numerical order). I do this with a renumbering program (File Sequencer) and I LOVE it. It takes a few seconds to renumber the whole batch and then I dump these into iPhoto.
[ getting ready to scrapbook ]
This is the process of getting my pictures from my computer (in iPhoto) to becoming physical prints that I put in our scrapbooks: I create folders ("albums" for you Mac users) in iPhoto for any category that I'm going to tackle. So let's say I'm going to do a layout on a recent birthday. I browse through my collection of digital pictures and choose pictures that I think I may want to use. I copy these into the new folder called "Claire's 2nd birthday". I then draw a sketch based on how many pictures I want to use (or use a sketch I've already drawn) and now I know what sizes my pictures need to be. I open these pictures in Photoshop, "do my thing" (including resizing) and then upload my pictures to costco.com and pick them up!
[ editing ]
I do all of my photo editing with Photoshop but I hesitate sharing specific how-to's because everyone's software is different and the last thing I want to do is cause confusion. Maybe when I get Elements 6 (I've never used Elements, actually) I'll share a few tips with that program since many of you probably have that. But really - there are so many experts out there (like Jessica Sprague - have you checked out her online classes?) that I'll leave it to them to do the best explaining. You can always do a google search for tips with your specific editing software. I'm confidant that there is a LOAD of information waiting to get inside your head. : )
[ what about digital scrapbooking? ]
I am still a traditional scrapbooker, for the most part. However, I've been using Photoshop ever since we went digital in 2002. So I guess that makes me kind of "hybrid", eh? Anyway, I LOVE the idea of digital scrapbooking. Think about how much physical space you could save! But at this point, I'm more of a dabbler. I actually did an entire mini album that was 100% created in Photoshop. So ultra simple but I love it. You'll see that in CK very soon.
at
9:30 AM
22 Comments:
Thanks for all your tips. I know, for at least me personally and I have the feeling others too, that having someone who scrapbooks try out different pieces of technology helps us not spend our limited budgets on gadgets that don't work well for our needs. Thanks to you and CK for test driving some of this stuff for us. :) Have a great Tuesday.
This post has been removed by the author.
Hi Becky:
Re: your below comment:
I open these pictures in Photoshop, "do my thing" (including resizing) and then upload my pictures to costco.com and pick them up!
--
Does Costco print 2x2 or 3x3 photos?
Pls. advise.
Thank you Becky!
I would love to know if Costco, or any other site that you download to, prints the 2x2 or 3x3 size. Photoshop has such wonderful tools when it comes to altering your photos, but I never know how to get them printed. Any advice?
P.S. You are so blessed with your talents! I love your "Love One Another" display, I think I may do that to keep up all year round!
I too am a Mac Girl. I still have my trusty G5..still going after 6 years. I look forward to someday getting a Mac Pro :)
I personally am a total digital scrapbooker! I love how easy it is...no cleanup and you can keep everything organized on your computer! Actually since I became a digital scrapbook designer, I don't get the time that I would like to actually scrap and I need to do that!
I use Photoshop CS2 and iPhoto for my photos as well!
Hi Becky - Thanks for all of your awesome tips!! We are hoping to get a Mac soon!!
just um, responding to your commenters... if that's okay? you can create a 4x6 file in Photoshop and crop your picture to 3x3 (or whatever size) and then drag that 3x3 into the 4x6 file and just have a 4x6 printed... then you just trim down what you don't need. if you're wanting 2x2s you could even put 6 2x2s on one 4x6 file and then simply cut it apart when you get the print... :D
Hi Becky,
This has nothing to do with photos (sorry!) but everything to do with saving space (as you mention re: digital photos)...I recently moved all of our music CDs out of their cases and put them into albums (We R Memory Keepers 8.5x11 ring binders and Case Logic "pro-sleeves" for CD storage--order online from Staples) All of our music is on the computer/iPods anyway, and we have XM radio, so I find we rarely listen to regular CDs anymore. Maybe lots of people have already done this, but just thought I'd let people know the Memory Keepers albums are the perfect size for this (regular photo albums are too narrow, the CD pages stick out.) An FYI post, hope it helps!
Thanks so much for sharing! I was just doing some editing/uploading yesterday. I quickly figured out that my current system is just not working. Thanks for keeping things simple and real.
Make it a great day!
Hi Becky,
I am on top of my house cleaning big time, however I do notice dust finding my albums very attractive!! How do you prevent your pages from having dust settle in them or is that just something that is going to happen with top loading albums?!?!?
Thanks so much!
Kate
Any suggestions from anyone would be great too!! Is this something I shouldn't waste my engery on?
Great tips. I love my MacBook. iPhoto is very easy to use. I appreciate the tip on the Sequencer. How nice and organized your mind must be. You make it look easy.
I recently purchased Photoshop CS3-any books or online classes you recommend??? How did you learn - it's not too intuitive.
Thanks! Teresa
thanks for the tips. i haven't tried the sequencer thing with iPhoto. i have been kind of flipping back and forth with lightroom which i use for my clients' stuff. i need to remember to get the pictures printed part for my own personal pics. i swear i would do more scrapbooking that way!
I just bought photoshop elements 6 at costco for a great deal. I would love any help you can give with it. This is my first photoshop, and I am trying to learn the tricks and to be honest just how to use it. I checked out a scott kelby photoshop book, and hope to it will help me.
I would especially love the tips, that you find.
Hi Becky
Can you tell me more about your external hard drive??
Thanks for all the help!
Cindy
Good Morning!
I have a random question, or two for you. What is for dinner tonight? Do you have an organizational system set up for planning your family meals and Costco/grocery store visits? I know these questions are a bit off the subject, but I'd sure appreciate your thoughts and/or suggestions. Thanks for the Garlic Chicken Farfalle recipe - big hit with my family!
- Denise
I too organize all my pictures in "albums". Except I date each of my albums. For example, all the pictures I take in the month of January are listed in an album called "01-2008 Album". Then, I have folders under that with the different activities I took pictures of- example: trip to the library or playing outside with friends. I might have 6-12 folders in January. That way when i need to go back and find some pictures, they are much easier to find. I also might have a misc. folder if I only took one shot of something. I have about 5 years worth of pictures organized this way and it has really helped. I also back up all of my pictures on an external hard drive.
I am trying to scan 12 x12 scrapbook pages. However the scanner Becky uses only scans in 8 x 14 sixe pages. Anybody out there smart and can tell me how people are doing this. Thanks
Becky,
You will LOVE Elements 6.0... I have had it for a couple of months and it is so functional. I have also been using the organizer module and, although I haven't used iPhoto, I really like it too. You should give it a try.
Becky,
As you always share great scrapbooking tips I thought I would share some ways I use Photoshop CS3 when prepping images for scrapbooking that you or other readers may find useful:
I like to scan a multiple photos at one time, and usually don't get them exactly straight in the scanner. If you go to File > Automate > Crop and Straighten within Photoshop the pictures will automatically be recognized from the white background space and create a new straightened picture file for each scanned picture. No more scanning pictures one at a time! =)
Photoshop has a tool called Batch processing (File > Automate > Batch) (or File > Script > Image Processor) that will allow you to rename/renumber or resize all the files within a folder, similar to File Sequencer. Batch processing will also allow you to convert a group of pictures from color to black & white or sepia tone. You can choose to override the originals or create a copy in a new folder.
As I'm a windows user I don't have much experience with Mac. However, the Bridge tool that comes with Photoshop CS3 is great for previewing your organized files. It will give detailed information on the camera setting used to take the photo (metadata). You can also access the batch process feature within this tool.
PS - I used to work for Adobe, so if you ever have a Photoshop question, let me know. I’m sure I could be of some help.
I know that you left this message a long time ago, but my husband I are Mac users and we have been looking into some new technology, we need to get something to back up our photos mainly because I lost my first daughters entire first year of photos on our old computer, do you recommend anything? Also, I am starting to do some digital scrapbooking mainly just to make my blog look interesting but I may switch to my girls scrapbooks, I need a photo editing program... I don't know where to begin, and a program for the digital scrapbooking, all I am getting to is HELP!!! You know people that use it I thought maybe you would have some good advice, Thank you sooo much.
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