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How to get started in Digital Scrapbooking

You will need 3 basic things:

1.  A photo editing program: something like Adobe Photoshop (PS), Adobe Photoshop Elements (PSE), Jasc Paint Shop Pro (PSP), Microsoft Digital Image Pro (DIP), Ulead Photo Impact (PI), Corel Draw, Lumix Foto Fusion, Memory Mixer or any kind of program that supports .png files & layers.
2. At least 256 KB RAM on your computer operating system. (obviously the more the better)

You can also add to the mix:
Scanner
Printer
Digital Camera
Graphics Tablet
Etc.

3. Digital Kits: Two Peas offers Free Pea kits so you can download & dabble.

Start out by downloading one of Two Peas Free {pea} Kit.
In order to download the digital kits, you will need WinZip or some other software that will allow you to ‘unzip’ these files. If you don’t already have it, you can download it here www.winzip.com
These kits are all ‘zipped’ up so you can ‘unzip’ them to the proper size & use them in your software programs.
This will allow you to see your individual pieces or elements. It will automatically save it on your desktop.
Mac users, double click on your zipped file, PC users, right click to open it up.
Unzip it & store it on your desktop, so you know where it is. Later, you can burn it onto a CD so it won’t take up too much memory on your desktop.

Create a Basic Layout:
1. Create New Image: Go to FILE>NEW>& a window will come up.  In this box, you have the ability to choose the width & height (12x12); your Resolution (for high print quality, 300 dpi); & Color Mode (RGB). & for the Background Content choose “White”.
2. We have our blank canvas, but now we want to get out our patterned paper. Go to FILE>OPEN>desktop & find the desired paper from the Free Pea kit you chose. Click OK. Select your Move Tool & drag & drop your paper to your blank canvas.

3. Now, repeat Step 2 & open up the other paper or elements you want on your layout.

 4.  If you want to cut out some paper, click on the paper, select your Rectangle or Elliptical Marquee Tool & hitting your Shift Key at the same time, create a shape. (The Shift Key will ensure you have a perfectly proportioned shape.) You’ll see the Marching Ants. Go to EDIT>COPY. Click on your layout & go to EDIT>PASTE. Select your Move Tool to move it where you want.
5. Let’s add a Drop Shadow for more depth. Go to LAYER>BLEND OPTION>DROP SHADOW. You want to keep your Distance, Spread & Size at low pixels so it doesn’t look like you have a UFO hovering over your layout. Usually around 3-5 Pixels.
6. Repeat Step 2 to open your photo. Select your Move Tool to move it to where you want it. If you ever want to adjust your layers, simply go to your Layer Palette  & move your layers up or down. Think of layers as you do when you are actually creating a paper-based layout & layer accordingly.
7. One of the great things about digital scrapbooking is the custom colors you can create in your layouts. Select your Eyedropper Tool & click a part of your photo to add a complimentary color to your Text. Look at your Foreground Color box & you can see you’ve changed the color.
8. Select your Type Tool & font. Type your title &  journaling. Repeat Step 5 to add a Drop Shadow.

How to Save your layouts:
While creating, save often. Save at either 300 dpi for high-resolution prints. (Some say to save at 200dpi…experiment & see what is bes