Scrapbooking with Photoshop?elements: The Creative Cropping Cookbook

By Lynette Kent

Today's advancements in digital technology are transforming the traditional art of scrapbooking. With a computer, digital camera, scanner, ink-jet printer, and Photoshop Elements--Adobe's popular digital imaging software for home users--you have all the ingredients you need to create a truly astounding and unforgettable scrapbook. But learning how to use these tools can be intimidating. In Scrapbooking with Photoshop Elements: The Creative Cropping Cookbook , digital scrapbooking trainer Lynette Kent distills the information you need to know about choosing and setting up the hardware you need. She also shares professional design secrets and introduces you to the vast range of artistic possibilities that emerge when you use Photoshop Elements. This practical and friendly guide demystifies the technical topics and leads you step-by-step through dozens of inspiring examples. Inside, you'll find: Professional advice and principles for coherent design Shopping lists to help you choose the right tools Creative ways to enhance photos with Photoshop Elements Artistic techniques you can't perform with scissors and glue, such as turning a photo into a sketch or painting, and creating type that is filled with a photo Tips for producing special text effects and customizing clip art and backgrounds Innovative ideas for making better photos for your scrapbooks Instruction on how to set up pages for printing and archiving Handy tear-out recipe cards that outline key steps from the book's projects Secrets for getting the most out of your digital camera, scanner, and ink-jet printer Essential information on preserving your images through digital archiving Bonus You also get exclusive coupons for savings on digital scrapbooking products.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0782143776
• ISBN13: 9780782143775
• Release Date: December 2004
• Publisher: Sybex
• Length: 175 Pages
• Weight: 1.25 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 8.1" x 10.1"

Customer Reviews

creative scrapbooking

The first part of the book explains everything the novice needs to know about design elements, digital cameras, scanners and printers. But what I really appreciated were her explanations of special effects and incorporating text with art for my scrapbooks. Her step-by-step instructions are less complicated than the help section of Photoshop Elements. This book is the perfect compliment to the PE's software.

Really helpbul book

This is a book that actually does what the cover says it does. I found the directions clear and complete, and I especially appreciate the inclusive index. A nice surprise was the selection of coupons in the back for discounts and free photo prints which I had not anticipated.

From a beginner

I am not a scrap booker, but this book is jam-packed with useful information on using my digital camera. I love the "recipe cards" which contain step-by-step instructions for the prodedures I use the most. Lynette has a knack for giving clear, easy-to-follow instructions. She has also has done lots of research on products and services that I can try out for myself. I LOVE the discounts! This book makes it easy for someone to start at the beginning with a camera and achieve terrific results.

Clear, Precise, and Elegant

I have read many "How To" books. This one is a cut above the rest. Lynette Kent clearly is a gifted writer, who knows, and loves her subject. Unlike so many books of this genre, that are written by "hired gun scribe hacks", Scrapbooking with Photoshop Elements has a spirit that makes the subject come alive, and makes the reader anxious to try out the many skills that Ms. Kent simplifies. A clear layout. Creative, real world examples. Precise and easy to follow instructions. I have seen books that cost twice this much, that do not deliver half the value. If you want to really take your scrapbooking to a new level-- buy this book! If you just want to learn a great program like Photoshop Elements--- buy this book!

Much More Than Scrapbooking

This book is much more than scrapbooking. Much more. I was rather surprised how easily Lynette explains some of the more esoteric items involved with photography. For example, Lynette explains focal length of a lens in a way that I wish I could have used when I tried to explain it. This book is worth buying just for the recipe cards alone. Ever tried to remember all the steps involved in a particular process that was written in a book? Lynette has developed a method of including "recipe cards" in the back of the book. You remove the cards and keep them handy just like the recipe cards that you keep for food preparation. Personally, I found the first three chapters about design and lay out apply to everything we see in graphics and pictures and not just for scrapbooking. I have often wondered why Grant Woods' "American Gothic" has been an image that has always grabbed my attention. Now I know why. This book will help everyone who wants to create really good images with their camera and likewise create stunning scrapbook pages that generations will say: "Nana really knew what what she was doing when she was preserving these memories. I'm glad I got to know her. Thank you!" As I stated earlier, this book is more than just about scrapbooking.