Getting started with digital scrapbooking

If you are new to digital scrapbooking, there are some basic tools that you will need to acquire. The list is the same for anyone whether or not you've paper scrapped before or not. That is the beauty and simplicity of digital scrapbooking. My goal in providing this information is to simply get you started. Which particular “brand” you choose to use from the tools on this list is entirely up to you, I am only giving you a list to get started with. As you grow and learn, you can change your tools and adapt to your new style and techniques.

Basic Digital Scrapbooking Tools

Keep in mind, that this is the basic list. It is in no means a complete list. It will not suit the needs and/or wants of everyone.

Basic digital scrapbooking tools include:
1. Computer
2. Graphics Software
3. Digital Pictures

That is pretty much all you need to get started with digital scrapbooking. Pretty simple, huh?

Now, don't panic if you don't have a digital camera. A digital camera is NOT required to digital scrapbook. That is the beauty of picture CDs that you can get when you drop off your film for development. If you have a scanner, you can scan printed pictures you already have. If you do not have a scanner, you can take them to a film developing place that does have one (ie Kodak Picture Kiosks).

Don't think that you need to rush out and buy a brand new computer. You don't. Many people make do with what they have. Digital scrapbooking only requires 2 things in bulk – RAM and hard drive space. If you've got that, you are good to go! I'll go more into detail on this in a little bit.

Don't think that you have to rush out and buy the latest and greatest graphic editing software to get started with digital scrapbooking either. You don't. You might have something on your computer right now that will work to get you started. If you are already comfortable using a particular software package, don't feel you have to change. You don't. So look on you computer and see what you have.

Optional Digital Scrapbooking Tools

Now that we've covered the basics, let me give you a list of optional tools. Remember, these are not required to digital scrapbook, but they can be useful.

Optional digital scrapbooking tools include:
1. Digital Camera
2. Scanner
3. Photo Printer
4. CD or DVD Burner

A digital camera make it super easy to get your digital pictures. Do not feel that you have to go out and buy a new digital camera if you have an old one. Just keep your current camera's capabilities in mind when you are designing your layouts. If you don't ask more of it than it is capable of, it won't disappoint you. A scanner can be used for scanning old pictures, embellishments, and other things. A photo printer can be used to print your layouts or just simply to print proofs before you have them printed at a lab. The CD/DVD burner is to help take care of the “space” problems that many digital scrapbookers run into.

Now, you're probably wondering just how much RAM and harddrive space you'll need if you many digital scrappers run into “space” issues. It is entirely up to you. I recommend no less than 256MB of RAM. Remember that how much your NEED is highly dependent on the software package you choose to use. Before upgrading to any software, I highly recommend that you check the software's minimum and recommended requirements before making your final decision.

As for hard drive space, that is entirely up to you. I wouldn't have anything less available hard drive space than you have RAM. For example, if you have 256MB of RAM, I highly recommend that you have a minimum of 265MB of harddrive space available for use. This is especially true if you are running Adobe Photoshop or Adobe Photoshop Elements (more so Photoshop than anything). A typical digital layout can run between 30-100MB easily! The larger your layout, the larger your file size. If you chose to use other peope's predesigned page kits, you will need storage space for them and they can be huge! I highly recommend that you have NO LESS than 3-4Gig of free space on your hard drive at any given time, but I like having room to breathe.

If you do have limited hard drive space but you also have a CD burner, then don't panic. Do a few layouts and see what your own average layout file size is. Typically a CD will hold about 700MB of information. If your average layout is 50MB, then you will be able to get approximately 13-14 layouts per CD. You can do that number of layouts and then burn them to CD and free up your hard drive space again.

Of course, you can always get an external hard drive to use just for digital scrapbooking. It is entirely up to you.