Newbie and Q about scanning

[ParkGrace]

Hi everyone,

I am a new convert to digital scrapbooking. I love that it is portable and fast, as a busy working mum who travels with work I can spend nights away in hotels scrapbooking rather than channel surfing and missing home. I have done an album my M-I-L's 60th, did 66 pages in about 3 weeks - WOW. I love that if I have 10 minutes, I can start something and I know this is the way to stay up to date with my scrapbooking and maybe clear some backlog. I have used Microsoft Digital Image Pro because I already had that. I have bought PS Elements, but have to admit I am a bit daunted by figuring it out.

I live in Brisbane, Australia, with my gorgeous husband, two fabulous kids, a boy aged 6 (7 in Apr) and a girl 3 (4 in Mar) our crazy spoodle dog, and two mad burmese cats. Life is crazy but fabulous, and they give me so much inspiration.

My question is regarding scanning in embellishments. I have lots of paper and silk flowers, frames and things I want to scan so I can use them digitally. I tried scanning a couple of things but the reflection of the light from the scanner meant that they didn't turn out so well. Any tips or ideas ?

Looking forward to meeting everyone and learning, I have to admit I have blown this month's scrapbook budget on the beautiful kits.

Best wishes,

Erika

[katie pertiet]

Hi Erika!

Welcome to DesignerDigitals!

Sorry I missed this post! When scanning you're dealing with the lighting on the flatbed so sometimes you end up with strong shadows and highlights. You can use the dodge and burn tool in photoshop to correct them or photograph and outline with the pen tool works best! I Hope that helps!

[justmp]

Welcome Erika! I really have no advice on scanning elements as I leave that to the people that know what they're doing, but I wanted to let you know we're so glad to have you here!!

[rubia]

Hi, Erika! So glad to have you here! And I'm the same as jodi -- i don't scan my elements. But I'd trust what Katie said -- she's the master

Can't wait to see more from you!

[readstoomuch]

Hi Erika ... and, welcome to Designer Digitals!
I must admit that I have scanned in very few bulky items to use in scrapbooking or many papers either. But, of course tons of photographs!

I love that you are able to do your scrapping while on business trips ... what great use of your time; and, I know that you enjoy it too. I look forward to seeing some of your layouts when you post them here.

I have PSE and have used it for several years and just love it so much. I find that I can do most anything with it ... and, if I cannot do something there is lots of help here at DD!
___________
Mollie

[beehive50]

First of all, welcome to DD, Erika! You will find this the BEST digi place to be! Everyone is friendly and helpful... and creative and talented, too! I had to laugh about you scrapping in hotel rooms... when I "went digi" I found that I could scrap on my lunch hour at work! No way I could do that w/paper! LOL

As for scanning elements... I don't! I just let the talented designers here do the work for me and pick up their cute trinkets from the DD store! It's way easier than doing it myself! (Does that make me lazy? hahaha) Seriously, I haven't scanned many "items" (mostly been paper layouts), but I've heard that if you put a dark sheet over the item that can cut the glare. Just don't be mad at me if it doesn't work... remember I said I've "heard"...

[SAHMom]

Welcome, Erika! 66 pages in 3 weeks is amazing!! YAY!
I don't have any tips on scanning, I'm mainly with Debi in letting the designers do the work and I just shop.. LOL!

[katrinak]

Welcome Erika! I too love the digi for travels without family! Last trip I ordered room service, got into my pj's and climbed into bed with my laptop and cable tv at 530PM!! It was a great trip!!

Can't wait to see your layouts! Sounds like you've been really productive!!

[HeidiKnight]

So nice to meet you Erika! I think you'll have best results from photographing elements on a solid color background and then extracting them in PS. Or you can do it my way and let the kit designers do all the work.

[ptknox]

Welcome to DD Erika...so glad to have you with us! Unfortunately, I can't answer your question about scanning because I am SO terrible at it that I create everything digitally just to save myself the embarassment! LOL! But I did want to stop by and welcome you just the same.

[teeleedee]

Welcome to DD Erika!

Tara

[shhbabymine]

hi erika - welcome to dd, seems like you've gotten lots of info about the scanning - cant wait to watch your gallery grow - and my goodness - some 60+ lo's in just a few weeks - thats impressive!!! weclome again!

[deenaw]

66 pages in 3 weeks? HOLY COW! That is awesome!!!! Anyone who can do that has my undying admiration! It's so great to have you here at DD! Welcome!!!

[grandma lynnie]

Welcome, Erica! It really is amazing to discover how portable digiscrapping is, isn't it? I'm so glad you've found digi and DD! You're off on a wonderful adventure!

[Crissy]

So glad to have you join us, Erika!! You will love the people here at Designer Digitals and that is AMAZING of that 66 pages you did!! I look forward to seeing your pages!

[tdavenport]

66 pages in three weeks is just an amazing amount! Welcome to DD! (And I'd chime in on your scanning question, but I haven't a clue.

[sarahorton]

Welcome to DD, Erika! I love the portability of digital scrapbooking, too! It's so great to have a hobby you can take along with you

So glad you've joined us. I can't wait to see your pages lighting up the gallery!

[tomkat]

I don't have any answers on the scanning issue either, as I'm another one of those that let others do the work for me. However, I did want to say that it's nice to "meet" you! I love it here, and I'm sure you will, too. Can't wait to see your work.

Oh, and the portability of digi-scrapping? I LOVE that! I also love the fact that there are no messes to clean up.

Katina

[JesseEdwards]

just thought I'd welcome you!!! and yes I totally agree with you on the time saving perk to digi! I had to do some paper scrapping and I haven't done that in a while...3 days later I have 6 pages. Digi is SO the way to go!

Anyway! Welcome to DD

[Britgirl]

welcome aboard ! I prommise you as a once die hard paper scrapper, you will never look back with digi!
break open that elements, its really not so hard once you get going... dont stress about all the buttons you dont know yet, just use a couple at a time and ask away here if you need a hand. {Cassies tutorials in store are brilliant for step by step slowly slowly learning. even after using PSE for years I learnt something new everytime I use one!} I've only done it once or twice but personally, taking a photo of something and extracting it works better than scanning. no rush tho, those pretty things you have will still be there when you feel more confident in PSE.

[luv2cre8]

Hi Erika and welcome! The only thing I've scanned is photos so far, although I have it on "my list" (in my head) to scan some of the kid's artwork into some layouts.

This is a great place to come, create, and learn! Welcome!

[digigrandma]

Hi Erika! Wonderful to have you here. I love hearing about your new found enthusiasm for digital scrapping. Welcome!

[kathie02]

Hi Erika and welcome to DD!! I can't believe how many pages you have scrapped already!! It certainly is addicting, isn't it!! Glad you found us

[Cassie Jones (1gr8muggle)]

Just wanted to add my welcome! You'll love it here!

[Tiff]

As a still-pretty-much-newbie, I wanted to tell you that you've found the best place to start - and stay.. Everyone here at DD is so helpful and genuine.. welcome aboard. I know you'll love it here just as much as I do.

[tracydigigirl]

Welcome to DD - I actually HAVE scanned stuff. Mostly memorabilia like toys, blankets, art. I like photographing and extracting now but in the beginning I did alot of scanning. The problem you are having is probably regarding excess light entering the scan field. you'll have to control that and for bulky stuff, you'll find that a dark fabric works best. thinking back, though, you'll get much better quality by photographing. Getting the scanned stuff to look right is tricky. it often looks "smushed" or one-dimensional. As for light reflecting off your metal objects, you'll face that same challenge with photographing if you use a flash. I'd suggest taking them outside to a well lit location (no direct light, ie. sunshine) and photograph without a flash.

The easiest solution, however, is to pick up some digi elements from the experts at DD. They are top quality and you can spend your creative time and energy creating pages, not elements. Have fun!

BTW, the time advantage was one of my favorite features of digi scrapping, too. i had two babies/toddlers when I started and leaving my paper scrapping supplies out between sessions wasn't safe or practical. With digi, I could use my 5 or 10 minute blocks of time for creating, not pulling out or packing away supplies.

Another tip, find some other paper scrappers and sell your supplies to them. Then use the $$$ to buy digi stuff at DD!!! That's what I did and it worked out for everybody.

[bjwtville]

HI-I must admit I did not read what everyone else wrote-full time nurse, wife mother, grandmother...but welcome....and I started with Microsoft DIP and moved to PSE and although a little learning curve was glad I did as you will find most tutorials and products are compatible with it. I was not sorry to make the move...I took a few lessons and there are some good tutorials here. As for elements I started scanning some but then fell in love with so many digital ones that I also gave that up too. This is a great hobby...addicting, fun, great people and the end product is WONDERFUL for the whole family and what a legacy you are leaving your children!!! Can't wait to see your work.

[Olisa]

Hi Erika,

Welcome to DD! I use an Epson Perfection scanner and have scanned a lot of elements (leaves, petals, pebbles, vintage book pages etc). When I scan elements, I experiment with the settings of my scanner to get good results (contrast, lightness and color curves - I'm glad that my Epson scanner offers custom settings - not all scanners offer this). But its always a lot of work to scan and then isolate the elements in Photoshop. Therefore I do this only with elements that are not available as digi kits.

You can see layouts with my scanned elements in my gallery.

Looking forward to see your work and wishing you lots of fun here at DD!

Ortrun
in Germany

[ParkGrace]

Wow, thanks for all your wonderful feedback and such a warm welcome. There were MANY late nights in getting all the layouts done, and I didn't do anything to advanced because I am still working with DIP. I picked up Jessica Sprague's books from CK and have them with me on my current trip. I spent last night at a business dinner with three other consultants, silently wishing I could just go back to the hotel and scrap LOL. So tonight I will order roomservice and hook in. When I get back home this weekend I will upload my efforts to date and get some feedback.

I have already spent quite a bit in the digital store and am just blown away by the fabulous stuff available. I only want to scan in some favourite things and then I am planning on selling off my paper supplies to raise some more money for a big buy up at the store.

I just love how portable this is. I have a tiny light weight drive that I keep in a small make up purse in my briefcase that holds all my photos and digital stuff, and just plug it in at hotels, airline lounges and even on the plane, although trying to use the built in mouse on a small aeroplane tray table did prove frustrating.

Thanks again for all your advice and warm welcomes,

Best wishes,

Erika

[kari]

Welcome Erika!

I'm a DIP user too... and took a few of the Jessica Spraque classes and now am loving PS! But you would be amazed with the advanced stuff you can do with DIP. If you do make the jump to try out PSE/PS... make sure to try out Cassie's tutorials too!