Digital Scrapbooking Hints & Helps

If you’re new to the world of digital scrapbooking (or are just looking for a refresher) here are some hints and tips to help you create polished layouts that do your memories justice.

Software

• Experiment with the various capabilities of your chosen software program. Don’t be afraid to try new things. One of the benefits of digital scrapbooking is that you can delete the layouts or elements you don’t like without wasting any supplies or dealing with a big mess. For help deciding which digital scrapbooking software package is right for you, check out our Digital Scrapbooking Software and Mac Digital Scrapbooking Software reviews.

Fonts

• Use no more than 3 different styles of fonts per layout. Adding more than that just creates visual clutter and detracts from, rather than adding to, the impact of your design. Typically, your layout should include a display font for the page title and a body copy font or two (depending on your design.)
• Text set in ALL CAPS translates as visual shouting and should be avoided except when used in a title or sparingly for emphasis (when you do want to shout.) You shouldn’t use all caps with a script font at all. The elaborate curls are very difficult to read and will make the reader skip what may be an important point in your layout.
• The same general rules apply to italicized and bold styles. They should be used sparingly for emphasis. A whole paragraph of bold text also seems to be shouting. Overuse of either italics or bold text tends to make your writing “sound” flat to the reader. It’s very difficult to tell when and where you wanted importance applied to your words if they’re all stressed.

Layouts

• It is possible to create layouts without photos such as when you have tickets, programs or other ephemera but no photos of an event. Simply scan the items and design your layout around them, incorporating sufficient journaling to fill in the story. Whenever you do use photos in a layout, they should be the focal point.
• Create a visual triangle to guide the eye through the layout for a design that flows together well.
• White space is important and doesn’t have to be white. This term simply refers to blocks of space in your layout that are free of embellishments and allow the viewer’s eye to rest.

Photos

• If your photo’s subject is looking off to the side instead of at the camera, be sure to position the photo so they aren’t looking off of the page. Use their line of site to guide the reader’s eye to the next point in your layout, say the journaling for instance.