Published in Scrapbook Industry News, Platinum Edition, October 2003 issue Scrapbooking in the 21st Century The Next Big Trend by Linda Sattgast Thereʼs a new phrase being bandied about in the scrapbooking community these days. Itʼs Digital Scrapbooking, and itʼs a hot new idea whose time has come. In fact, I predict it will be the next big trend in scrapbooking. As the president of Scrapperʼs Guide, a company dedicated to teaching computer skills to scrapbookers, let me explain what digital scrapbooking is and how I feel it will positively impact everyone in the scrapbooking community. Traditional vs. Digital Scrapbooking In some ways, digital scrapbooking is just like traditional scrapbooking except that itʼs done on the computer. And certainly my goal as a digital scrapper is the same: to produce beautiful pages that enhance my photographs and tell a story that keeps memories alive, not only for me, but for future generations. Well then, if the outcome is the same, why would I take the trouble to learn how to scrapbook with a computer? Ahhhh! But there IS a difference, a whole new realm of possibilities that comes with a computer. Let me share some examples with you, and if you havenʼt seen what Iʼm about to describe, itʼs worth a visit to my web site, www.scrappersguide.com. Scrapbook Page As a digital scrapper I start with a new, blank document in my computer. It can be any size I choose, but when Iʼm done adding my photos, journaling, and embellishments, I can print it and put it in a regular scrapbook album print out multiple copies (one for each of my kids, for example) easily make changes even years later if Iʼm not satisfied with something
News Release: New Breed of Scrapbookers, Contact: Linda Sattgast 503-618-9794, Page 2 archive it on a CD and keep it at a separate location for safekeeping print my page in various sizes, e.g. an 8 x 8 gift book size, or a smaller mini brag book size that fits in my purse e-mail it to family and friends anywhere in the world Photos In traditional scrapbooking I might crop my photos, but in digital scrapbooking I can fix and enhance them as well. if someone has red-eye, I can remove it if thereʼs a distracting element, I can clone it away if the color is off, I can correct it if the lighting is bad, I can adjust it if itʼs slightly blurry, I can sharpen it And then thereʼre all the other fun things I can do to enhance a photo: change the size make it look like a painting bend or distort it for special effect turn it into black and white or sepia make a vignette fade it onto my background page give it an artsy edge and, of course, crop it Paper As a digital scrapper I need paper in digital form. I can either scan paper that Iʼve purchased or I can create my own with the computer. Plain paper is easy. I have millions of colors to choose from. I can
News Release: New Breed of Scrapbookers, Contact: Linda Sattgast 503-618-9794, Page 3 even sample a color from within my photograph to make a perfect match for a mat. I can also make my own patterned paper, or I can purchase digital paper. And consider this: I can make any paper, scanned or digital, look like vellum, or I can change itʼs color with a click of my mouse. And finally, one of my favorite tricks is to use my own photo as the background paper for my pages, e.g. my snapshot of an ocean sunset as the background for my trip-to-the-beach photos, or my photo of a snowy landscape as the background for ski pictures. Stickers Stickers in digital scrapbooking take on a whole new dimension. Of course I can always scan stickers that Iʼve purchased, but I have another possibility: I can create custom stickers from my own photos or scans. For instance, I can photograph my childʼs favorite toy, select it out of the photo with my computer software, resize it if necessary, and use it as a sticker. This can add a very personal element to my page. Embellishments Many scrapbookers add dimension by attaching little trinkets, tags, brads & eyelets, ribbons, etc. to their pages. I can create the same look in the computer without adding any of the bulk. (See my Embellishments web page for examples.) I can even create a popped up look or a sunk-into-the page look by using shadows. In fact, most people who see my pages for the first time have to touch them to be sure theyʼre flat because they look three-dimensional. Special Effects This is where digital scrapbooking really shines. I can do just about anything I can imagine, and I have a pretty big imagination! One of the sample page layouts on my web site is a tribute to my childrenʼs favorite books. I used a traditional set of mats under a photo of my children reading a book together, but the rest of the spread is
News Release: New Breed of Scrapbookers, Contact: Linda Sattgast 503-618-9794, Page 4 pure imagination with storybook characters stepping out of their books on a fanciful night-to-day background complete with sun, moon, and glowing stars. How To Profit From Digital Scrapbooking As you can see, for those who are comfortable using it, or are willing to learn how, the computer can become a scrapperʼs most versatile tool. And one need not create entire pages to benefit from it. Some might only create a portion of their page digitally, and then attach it to their traditional page. Others might only use it to enhance their photos, but in any case, digital scrapbooking dramatically increases a scrapperʼs options. But what about the scrapbook store owner or the manufacturer of scrapbooking goods? If you fall into one of those two categories, hereʼs how you can profit from this new trend. First of all, embrace it. Itʼs coming... no, itʼs here, and itʼs not going away. Learn all you can about it so you can benefit your customers, some of whom may be newly enticed into this field by the possibilities of digital scrapbooking. Wouldnʼt it be great, for example, if we could attract men and teens by using technology? Scrapbook Store Owners If youʼre a scrapbook store owner, you may lose sales in some areas, but gain them in others if youʼre willing to position yourself to offer services and products for digital scrappers. And most of those sales will be higher ticket items like software, photo paper, ink, digital products, and even printers. You can also provide services. How about teaching classes on digital scrapbooking, for instance? Or you can be the resource for printing out 12 x 12 pages for those who donʼt yet own a larger format printer. The local quick print shops can already do this, so why shouldnʼt you? And remember, traditional scrapbooking is not going to disappear, so in essence youʼre simply expanding your profit base.
News Release: New Breed of Scrapbookers, Contact: Linda Sattgast 503-618-9794, Page 5 Manufacturers This is your golden opportunity to provide products for the new digital market while still supplying the large traditional market. Take paper, for example. I recently bought a collection of gorgeous watercolor papers that were scanned and offered in high, middle, and low resolutions in a jpeg format. I have since wished that there were manufacturers of scrapbooking paper who would do the same with their pretty prints. And why not provide stickers and other embellishments in digital form? Sure, I can create my own stickers, but there are a number of artistic sticker categories that I would love to see in digital form. In fact, I would be your first customer because I know how versatile a digital sticker is! Welcome to the 21st Century Digital scrapbooking is an idea whose time has come, so if you havenʼt dabbled in it yet, I invite you to give it a try. I think youʼll be pleasantly surprised at how fun it can be. -30-