This is the second instalment of my series on digital scrapbooking basics. If you missed it, you can read the first instalment here - What Is Digital Scrapbooking? The Basics (Part 1).

Creating New Pages

To begin, open a page at the size you desire, in all examples I will use a 12"x12" inch layout, as this is my preferred format. Remember to set the DPI/PPI at 300, to ensure the proper resolution for print. I also always begin with a Transparent Background but this is a personal preference, do as you wish!

Dragging Photos Into Layouts

Open the photo/photos you would like to use in your layout using the File>Open command. Once the photo is open you can manipulate or make changes to it, I recommend making major changes to the photo before dragging it into the page; you can make further alterations later but try to get the basic look of your photo right first (i.e. de-saturate, cropping etc).

Choose the move Tool (left) using your mouse, left click on the photo, then with the mouse button still pressed, drag the photo to the blank scrapbook page & release the button.

HINT: If you hold your SHIFT key down just before you drop the photo (or element or background, whatever) it will drop dead centre on the page, this is particularly helpful for backgrounds, no time wasted on getting it into the right position.

The photo can be moved to any area on the page using the same method. Do this with as many photos as you would like in your layout.

HINT: Sometimes you will try to move something in your layout but something else moves instead, check your layers palette and make sure you have the corrected layer selected, to make things even easier, name your layers, double click on the word in the layers palette and overtype it to something that is significant to you, ie "Photo", "Ribbon", "Tag", or "Background".

Choosing Colours with the Eye Dropper Tool

The Eyedropper tool samples colour to designate a new foreground or background colour. You can sample from the active image or from anywhere else on the screen. First select the Eye Dropper Tool then do one of the following:

• To select a new foreground colour, click in the image on the colour you want.
• Alternatively, position the pointer over the image, press the mouse button, and drag anywhere on the screen. The foreground colour selection box changes dynamically as you drag. Release the mouse button to pick the new colour. If you want a different colour, repeat this process.

This is a great way to pick out colours and use them in your layouts. I suggest you always try to use a colour that is dominant in your picture as a base colour in your layout, to ensure a harmonious overall effect. If there isn’t a colour that you like in the photo, or the photo is particularly busy, or if there are too many colours, try de-saturating (convert your photo to black & white).

Another useful tip for the Foreground/Background, Black as Foreground and White as Background is to simply hit D on your keyboard, you may also want to switch the foreground and background colours, for this you simply hit X on the keyboard. You can do both of these things by clicking on the appropriate section on the tool itself, see left.

Backgrounds

After deciding on a background colour (see section above), and making sure you have the bottom layer selected, fill the background layer with your chosen colour. Do this by selecting the Paint Bucket Tool (see right), and then click anywhere the layout, or, alternatively, you can use a shortcut by holding down the ALT key and then hit BACKSPACE on the keyboard; this will fill the layer with the Foreground colour. You can also fill the layer with the Background colour by hitting CONTROL and BACKSPACE.

There are a number of ways to add texture and interest to your background layer and we will cover these in the coming weeks.

If you would like to know something specific about Photoshop or Digital Scrapbooking, visit my blog at http://TheblissfulPixel.com/blog and leave a comment and I will post the answer here.