New here, new to digital ... I have questions!

[brenda_in_tx]

This is my first post, so first of all, hello! I've been a paper scrapper for 6 years and am about to chuck all this mess and go digital. And I don't even feel guilty about it!

My first question pertains to the starting size. If I'm planning on printing a book of my layouts in 8x8 or 8.5x11 at say Shutterfly, is that the size I should create my layouts in rather than the standard 12x12? I feel like this is a stupid question, but I didn't know if I could create them in 12x12 and then Shutterfly's software would rearrange to whatever size I wanted to print in.

My second question pertains to the "Book of Memories" templates here in DD's shop. I actually submitted this question about a week ago but haven't received a response. I saw a 2010 Scrapbook at Shutterfly from a "KellyM215" that is a.m.a.z.i.n.g. and she said she used the Book of Memories templates. I assume when you buy these templates, they are fully editable, meaning you can delete or add whatever you want? I've never used a template (well actually, I've only done one digital layout and that was from a tutorial here and we created the layout from scratch). In looking at Kelly's book, she did a lot of different things with her templates rather than just using it as it comes from the store.

That's it for now - I'm sure I'll be back with a zillion more questions, and I look forward to getting to know all of you.

[katie pertiet]

Welcome Brenda! I'm sorry if I have missed your previous question! To answer your question about the book of memories, yes, they are fully editable and you can add and delete items. Titles can be replaced with something else and frames can be mixed and matched etc.

As for sizes. I almost always work 12x12 because that's the format all the products are designed for and then I upload as 12x12s to Shutterfly but print my books as 8x8s.

Hope that helps!
Again, welcome and I apologize for the oversight!

[brenda_in_tx]

Awesome - thank you so much!

[DonnaNJ]

Welcome Brenda You've found a great place to start on your digital adventure.. the people here are all soooo helpful.. enjoy the journey

[blkcow]

The book of memories is a fabulous template set....you will enjoy them so much. Welcome to DD...it is a wonderful site full of inspiration and support

[dugarner]

I'm also sorry I missed the original question---I'm such an advocate for photo books, I should have jumped on it. If you're wanting to print an 8.5X11 size, you're going to need to create your pages at that size. It won't resize that for you from a square.

For everyday scrapping, I do the same as Katie. I only print square so I always create 12X12. Shutterfly will resize the 12X12 to 8X8, except for the covers. If you decide to want to print an 8X8 book, you'll need to download the template for the 8X8 cover and use that. The pages will transfer from 12X12 to 8X8, but the cover proportions are not square (because of the foldover from the front to the inside of the cover) so they won't resize correctly. I learned that the hard way.

Oh, and YEAH templates! I can't remember the last time I started a page from scratch. And DD templates are the best, because you almost always get some "little extra" embellishments on the template that you can use on other pages. Here in Louisiana we call that extra stuff "lagniappe" (LAN-yap).

HTH!

[earlofoxford]

Welcome, Brenda -- so glad to have you here at DD!

[brenda_in_tx]

Thanks so much for the warm welcome and the extra tips. And let me clarify about my original question - I didn't post it anywhere here on the message boards - I sent it through the main site. But - no worries - everything was answered. I'm so excited to get started. I've been pouring over all the wonder layouts and all the digital goodies. My plan is right after Christmas to have a sale and get rid of all my paper stuff - it's been 2 years since I've used any of it and I'm sick of looking at it, then I'm going to buy the Book of Memories templates and make a scrapbook from last year's photos. I can't wait to get started!

[anke]

Hi Brenda, welcome to DD! We are thrilled to have you here, chucking all that mess is very liberating and templates are awesome!!!!! If you have any more questions, just ask away, we are here to help

[katie pertiet]

Originally Posted by brenda_in_tx

Thanks so much for the warm welcome and the extra tips. And let me clarify about my original question - I didn't post it anywhere here on the message boards - I sent it through the main site.

It was received and in my pile to respond to

[brenda_in_tx]

It worked out better this way - made me climb out of my hole and introduce myself.

[Bonvoyage4me]

No question is dumb cuz someone else is probably learning from what you are asking. Believe me I ask enough questions and someone always jumps in to help. That is what is so great about this site.
Plus the sales

[carollee]

Welcome welcome, you'll enjoy it here, the camaraderie and the inspiration. I always create at 12x12 and then it gives you the option whether to print at 12x12 or 8x8. I did early on create at 8x8 and have regretted it and had to rework a few layouts. Because once getting a 12x12 book, I'd never go back to small.

[tylertooo]

Welcome Brenda. You will love digital - and your right - the mess of paper scrapping I do not miss at all. You landed at the right site. Everyone here is fabulous, and you certainly can't beat the supplies here - everything you could ever want. Can't wait to see some of your pages.

[wendymck]

we are glad you are here brenda! looking forward to seeing your digital creations in the gallery.

[maureenreynolds]

Welcome Brenda! I never paper scrapped here but love love love digital. You've found a good home here!

You might want to note in a signature, or in a post question whether you're on a Mac or PC and which software you're working in...PSE# or some version of Photoshop CS#. That helps define some of your specific issues since each version of the software varies, and varies from one platform to another.

[blhdvm]

This place definitely has all the answers!! I learn something new everyday it seems!

[brenda_in_tx]

Originally Posted by maureenreynolds

You might want to note in a signature, or in a post question whether you're on a Mac or PC and which software you're working in...PSE# or some version of Photoshop CS#. That helps define some of your specific issues since each version of the software varies, and varies from one platform to another.

Great idea! I just added it - let's see if it shows up. And thank you, thank you, thank you to all who have welcomed me. I can't wait to get started!

[maureenreynolds]

See, you're catching on already!

[mugsbigsis]

Welcome, Brenda! Thanks for the wonderful comments on my book and I know you will love it here at DD! Everyone is so helpful and supportive here so don't hesitate to post in the forum. You'll always receive all the answers, advice and fun you need from everyone including Katie! I look forward to seeing more from you in the gallery. :O)

[brenda_in_tx]

Oh my gosh - I'm so glad you posted here! I cannot tell you how many times I've logged on to Shutterfly and looked at that book - it is AWESOME! Do you have it here on DD's site too? Every time I look at it, I just want to leave work and come home and scrap!

[Jean2]

Welcome Brenda! You will love it here! It is such a supportive group of people.

[mugsbigsis]

Originally Posted by brenda_in_tx

Do you have it here on DD's site too?

Well, now I feel bad. I felt like my gallery was taking up so much space that I deleted most of the individual pages and left the link to the book up.
You've made my day and I feel like I've let you down now.
There is so much inspiration at DD. A book by Dorah was the inspiration for my scrapbook. She did a similar book for Christmas in 2009 (then again in 2010). If you browse through her gallery back to Dec 2009 you'll find her original pages.

[brenda_in_tx]

Ok - thanks for the link - I'll check it out.

[Janet1949]

Hi Brenda, a big welcome from me also... One thing to keep in mind regarding printing your books is (and I found out the hard way too) if you are planning on printing a book at 8x8, you might want to leave the photos quite large, as most of us scrap 12x12 then reduce to 8x8, I found some of my photos you could hardly see, just too small.. not sure what the rest of the community would say about my suggestion...

[brenda_in_tx]

Originally Posted by Janet1949

Hi Brenda, a big welcome from me also... One thing to keep in mind regarding printing your books is (and I found out the hard way too) if you are planning on printing a book at 8x8, you might want to leave the photos quite large, as most of us scrap 12x12 then reduce to 8x8, I found some of my photos you could hardly see, just too small.. not sure what the rest of the community would say about my suggestion...

That makes sense to me and I sincerely appreciate all of these tips! I made an 8x8 photobook at Shutterfly of my two grandsons and my brother's granddaughter (6, 5 and 2 1/2) playing in the pool at my parent's this past summer to give my mom for Christmas just using Shutterfly's papers and embellishments and was very happy at the way it turned out, and since the minimum number of pages they have is 20 and that's how many pictures I had, I only had one pic per page, so I can see if you have a multi-picture layout how they could easily get too small for that size. It was actually that little book that got me to looking at Shutterfly's gallery and that led me here. Man, you girls have got it going on!