Advice needed for first scrapbook pages

[DanielCoffey]

I have a rather off-the-wall idea in my head for some scrapbook pages created using PSE5 and I would like to run it past you all please before I make any horrible mistakes...

Firstly, it won't contain any "real" photos of stuff like weddings, babies etc but it will actually be pages about one of my World of Warcraft roleplaying game characters, Cogno (the one I did those three forum sigs for).

I have the idea of one or two polaroid pics per page (to avoid overcrowding) containing either in-game screenshots or a montage of the in-game character superimposed on a real-world picture, along with two or so extra items per page (taken from a list of things such as a cardboard train ticket, a couple of those love-heart sweets, bits of poems/songs/menus etc or fake newspaper clippings).

Now, I only really intend this to be displayed in .jpg format on the web, but there is a *slim* possibility I may want to get it printed out in the future if it looks good enough. What page size and resolution should I aim for? I was guessing 8.5" x 8.5" at printing resolution (300dpi?). The catch is that any in-game screenshots or images I get from the web are likely to be at screen resolution only so may suffer a little in quality. How do you guys handle this? Will I regret it later if I start at screen resolution in the first place?

Secondly, do you tend to have a cover for a book? A titlepage of some sort? Do you tend to do a rough layout or storyboard before starting to work on the actual page? I see at least ten pages so far, but you know how it is with creative types - you get an idea that won't fit on one page so you have to add another...

I also know some of the things I want in it... a red leather cover with embossed gold lettering like a physical older book, a train ticket, those love-heart sweets and so on. I have almost no idea how to make these objects, so I hope you won't mind me asking for help with them (either in sourcing textures or approaching the problems of building them from scratch).

At the end of the day, I hope to have a small scrapbook with a slightly irreverent twist and to have learned a whole pile of PSE techniques along the way.

I look forward to your advice and comments,

Daniel.

[Wags374]

Not sure how to work with screen shot resolutions - I'll leave that for someone else to answer.

Your might be able to find some of the "extras" you are looking for at the following locations. The have some great freebies.

http://www.digitalscrapbookplace.com/gallery
http://www.scrapgirls.com/
http://www.scrapbookersplayground.com/


And if you are a subscriber check Wendy's tutorials in the subscriber area - she has one on making a book.

Good luck with your project - oh and if your primary intent is to show it on the web or just possibly print it. Then an 8x10 size might be a good option. Then you can print it yourself or get it commercially printed.

[cats4jan]

Scrap at 8x8 - gives you leeway on 8.5 x 11 paper.

You can print at home at this size - more control of the finished product - easier "do overs" if you are not happy with your printed effort.

Try a couple of pages of that "screenshot stuff" - print it up - and see if the resolution is going to work for you.

If you want it printed professionally, you could get a hard cover or soft cover book printed. But first, I would print some pages at home to get a real feel for what it will look like - and then send a few out to the company you would like to make your book - and then go forward.

The books are not expensive. Sorry I don't know any of the companies' names - but others on this board or a scrapbooking board will certainly point you in the right direction.

Sounds like a really cool scrapbook.

My son is a gamer - attends board game conventions all over the country - it's quite a hobby, isn't it?

[Wags374]

viovio.com has great prices and lots of product choices including comic book sizes.

[DanielCoffey]

Thanks for the tips and encouragement so far folks. I don't have a colour printer myself (B/W laser printer here) but I have seen the comments about online printers such as Viovio and Shutterfly on the forum. We also have UK-based online digital photo printers if I want prints made.

I'll start off at printing resolution then - I have had a short brainstorming session with my wife, Su, and we're looking forward to tackling some of the basic components (such as the Polaroid tutorial and I reckon the Rubber Stamp tutorial will be good to modify for making Love Heart sweets).

If it would be OK, I may start a thread which I'll use to document progress and stumbling blocks? It will be quite a large project for me so I'll break it down into smaller tasks.

Cheers,

Daniel.

[karen donnybrook]

Daniel,

SAVE ALL you pages as .PSD files and copy them to save as .jpg for the net. If you have the .PSD files it is very easy to go back and change any little thing but if you have not saved them . . . well let's just say, you have to reinvent the wheel :(

Karen

[troush]

Daniel,

Your idea sounds fun. Over at www.scrappersguide.com Linda has some great CDs that can get you started on scrapping.

-Trish

[DanielCoffey]

Next question - when creating a multi-page scrap book, do you tend to save each page in its own PSD file, or is there a multi-page option somewhere?

[willpresley]

Each page will be a file. When you save as PSD don't flatten your file - leave all the layers intact so you can edit if needed or desired.

[GaryK]

Daniel

This sounds like a great project. You will learn a great deal about PSE doing it.:)

I think the major obstacle will be the screen capture resolution. Even that depends on how big the end shot will be.

Starting a new thread is a good idea, but you may find it better just to post a new question/thread as a problem arises. Sometimes things get lost on a longer thread.

Or you could just leave things in this thread until you get into more specific questions.:)

[lindylou50]

Hiya Daniel from another UK member, you could try searching the gallery at deviantart.com I think you will find lots of inspiration there to get you started.