two 12x12 or one 12x24?

[Elena]

So just curious...

When you are creating a two page layout, do you prefer to design at 24 X 12 and then crop each side to 12X12 for printing or do you design it as two separate pages to start?

I do two separate pages myself

[Amson]

I wish I was able to create 24*12 but unfortunately my computer jams with memory issues. 4GB just is not enough once you start adding many layers. For me I usually though work on both layouts at once and place them alongside every now and again to check.

[JulieSade]

Well...I'm starting out, I'm pretty new at this, but I just discovered that if I click on two layouts that are designed to be together (I bought two of them this afternoon), then what I can do is click between them on the PSE8 screen. It's not perfect, but it does mean I can look between them quickly when I need to.

I did put together my own 12x24 layered layout as an experiment, and then cropped it once for each side. It worked! I've got gobs of memory on my computer, at least at this point in time-just wait until I've been doing this a few months. There won't be any room on my harddrive!

[kikimama]

Hehe, very true, Julie. Between the supplies, the PSD files and the fact that I've taken so many more photos in the past year, the hard drive does get filled.

I don't do many 2 pagers, but find the file size gets so unmanageable so quickly with a 24x12 that I prefer to do them separately, then I can put the jpgs together if I want to upload it as a wide image all together.

[esther_a]

I do 12x24 if it's originally a 12x24 template or if I have photos or elements that flow across the border. Otherwise I go 12x12. So as I'm 50-50 I can't vote!

[earlofoxford]

Unless it's already a 12x24 template, I do two 12x12s. I have a wide monitor and can see both of them on the screen at once which is nice.

[dorah]

I voted for 24x12 as that is what I create a lot of my two pagers in. Especially if I know I am creating a two pager. Sometimes I work with 2 12x12 but find it is easier for me to have it all on one spread. If I am using templates, like the book of memories or whatever, I just drag one to the left and on to the right. Works great for me.

[anke]

I do 2 if I am using templates because the flow of the design is already there. If I would design my own, I would start with the 12x24 as one canvas

[dugarner]

I have less than 1 GB of RAM, and work exclusively with 24X12 files. I do have to shut down and restart my system after every layout, but that's a good practice anyway, since PCs get so gummed up with hostage RAM unless you turn them off (I don't know the technical term, but it sounds good to me!). If I'm using a( ) template(s), I copy the entire template(s) over to my document. My 24X12 documents usually wind up between 200-300 MB each. With a 1 TB hard drive, I won't have storage issues for very long!

[Kayleigh]

I'm a 12x12 girl.

[ang66]

Very rarely do two pagers but if I do it is 12x12.

[digigrandma]

Like Anke, if I do a 2 pager that flows together I always use a template so I create each page in 12 x 12 format and upload each separately to Shutterfly for inclusion in an album.

[deanie]

12 x 12 girl, as well.

[Lisa Pate]

I've done both, but prefer the 12 x 12, fun poll question Elena.

[muddygirl]

I rarely do 2 pagers, but when I do, I do 2 12x12's and work with them side by side when needed.

[lisa.hinrichs]

I used to do 2 page layouts all the time. I would plan relentlessly to make sure I croped the photos and had them printed out all the photo's in the right size so they would fill my page just right. Then I switched to digital. Even though it should be easier to do the double page layout because I can drop in a photo and edit it right onthe page, my origional monitor didn't give me a new workspace and I started realizing not everything needed a double page layout. Creativity is an evolutionary process and I am back to doing some double page layouts to make sure I get all the photo's in a size that everyone will be able to see.

Good question, thanks for asking.

[mymalloryboys]

I also do two separate pages - but sometimes I'll flatten both images and open up a new 12 x 24 canvas and drag them both on - to see how they look together or to see if I made any mistakes in matching things up.

[mungerre]

I do 12x12 just in case I decide I don't want to do a two-pager after all.

[readstoomuch]

I always work with 12 x 24 on a double pager . . . then flatten and separate them into separate pages.

I love seeing how everyone else does their pages . . . I never thought much about this before today, Elena. Interesting.

[Jana Morton]

I do both...when I know it is going to be a two page layout, I start with a 12 x 24 page...if I think I am only going to do a single page and then I can't get the photos to fit on one page, I will just start a second page and match them up. Interesting question!