Digital Scrapbooking Day

The Savvy Shopper's Guide to Digital Cameras

The Savvy Shopper's Guide to Digital Cameras

by Molly Newman, Associate Editor, Digital Scrapbooking Magazine

Is a new digital camera making an appearance on your holiday wish list this year? With so many options to choose from, it's tough to navigate the maze of competing models and find the one that's just right for you. These tips will help you focus on the right features and ask the right questions... and ensure your new camera will be a gift that keeps on giving for years to come.

Don't get tripped up by the size trap. With even entry-level digital cameras boasting resolutions of 10 MP or more, you might believe that more megapixels always means a better image. But a better indicator of image quality is the camera's sensor size. Larger sensors pick up more light, allowing you to shoot at faster speeds in lower-light situations. Plus, jumbo-sized sensors produce finer detail at any screen or print size. Check out: Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3

Say goodbye to shake. Many new D-SLR cameras include on-board image stabilization among their features. Image stabilization banishes camera shake, meaning your shots (especially of fast-moving subjects like kids and pets) will be crisper and sharper every time. With this feature built into the camera body, there's no need to invest in pricey image-stabilized lenses. Check out: Sony Alpha D-SLR A350

Are you going retro? If you have a large collection of older SLR lenses, make sure the D-SLR you're checking out is compatible with the lenses you already have. Most manufacturers support the use of older lenses with new D-SLR bodies; Nikon is the only major manufacturer that does not.

Don't be a kit captive. D-SLRs are often sold as complete kits with a body and lens included. These lenses, though, are often low-end and too slow to be of much use. A better choice is pairing a D-SLR body with a lens that really suits your shooting needs, whether it's made by the camera body's manufacturer or a dedicated lensmaker such as Tamron or Sigma. Check out: Sigma 18-50mm 2.8 EX DC Macro HSM

Editors Note:  all photos from Digital Photography Review (DP Review) which is a great resource for in depth camera reviews.

Hybrid Scrapbooking: Wedding Scrapbook Page

Avery has shared some hybrid scrapbooking projects with us just for Digital Scrapbooking Day.  You can find free scrapbooking resources on their website.

FREE digital elements referenced in this project:

• Paper: Wedding Marble
• Border Sticker Paper: Wedding
• Journal Sticker Paper: Wedding
• Printable Tags: Wedding

Click on the graphic below for the full-size image - then right-click on the image and save it to your computer for future reference!

Hybrid Scrapbooking: Baby Scrapbook Page

Avery has shared some hybrid scrapbooking projects with us just for Digital Scrapbooking Day.  You can find free scrapbooking resources on their website.

FREE digital elements referenced in this project:

• Paper: Infant Texture
• Paper: Infant Blocks
• Border Stickers: Infant
• Journal Sticker Paper: Infant
• Clipart: A, B, C Blocks

Click on the graphic below for the full-size image - then right-click on the image and save it to your computer for future reference!

Hybrid Scrapbooking: Travel Page

Avery has shared some hybrid scrapbooking projects with us just for Digital Scrapbooking Day.  You can find free scrapbooking resources on their website.

FREE digital elements referenced in this project:

• Paper: Travel Landmarks
• Paper: Fun Stripes
• Tags - Stripes
• Journaling Sticker Paper - Travel

Click on the graphic below for the full-size image - then right-click on the image and save it to your computer for future reference!

Mixing Digital Photography, Scrapbooking and Journaling

By June Campbell

What a powerful mix when you combine digital photography, scrapbooking and journaling! But where do you stand on the great scrapbooking controversy? That’s the controversy around digital or computer generated journaling versus handwritten journaling.

Purists who take their scrapbooking very seriously argue that journaling must be done in your own handwriting, since it represents you and who you are. Others favor digital journaling. They point out that handwriting is sometimes less than exemplary and that the quality of the scrapbook is improved when the journaling is accomplished courtesy of a computer and printer. It's your call. There’s no right answer here.

However, it doesn’t have to be “either/or”. There is a third choice. Did you know that you can duplicate your own handwriting in a digital picture?  Yes, your own handwriting! Not just a fancy script font that looks a bit like your handwriting, but your own handwriting.

You will need an item called a Wacom art tablet. Check them out at http://www.wacom.com.  The tablets come in various sizes. A small 4” x 5” tablet with pen costs about $85 at Amazon and works quite nicely for our purposes. Once you become familiar with this item, you will use it regularly when editing  your digital photography.

Wacom tablets are computer peripherals. They resemble small writing pads that you attach to a computer port, or connect wirelessly if you have that capability. You will notice that a special pen comes with the tablet...

Idiotic Mistakes to Avoid When You're Learning Digital Photography

By Anna Williams

What Not to Do:

You take your memory card out of your camera, load your photos onto your laptop, and then put the card somewhere in your camera bag. thinking, “I’ll just put it in the camera after I answer this phone call.”  Then you forget all about it. The next day you see the photo opportunity you’ve been waiting for all week, you take several shots, and then you see the horrendous message: “No CF Card.”  Meanwhile, an enormous ugly cloud has moved in over the castle you are photographing and it stays there for the rest of the day.

What To Do:

Always, always, always put your CF card directly back into your camera after you have loaded your pictures!  

What Not to Do:

Well, this is obvious but not obvious enough for some people:  You put your batteries in your camera bag instead of directly into the camera.  You see the perfect shot, but by the time you’ve realized your battery isn’t in and you’ve finished fumbling around in your camera bag, it’s gone.

What To Do:   

Always put your battery back into your camera immediately after it has finished charging!