subject: Scrapbooking Software - Understanding The Language Of Scrapbooking Software [print this page] Before you start creating projects with a new scrapbooking software, you may want to view or use some tutorials. If you are a beginner, tutorials will show you basic techniques. For more advanced digital scrapbookers, tutorials are a great way to brush up on skills or learn new scrapbooking techniques. The only downside to tutorials is that some can be difficult to follow. This is especially true if you do not understand the language being used. To help you follow tutorials better, here are some common words and phrases you should familiarize yourself with.
LAYOUT vs. TEMPLATE: These two terms are extremely common and extremely easy to confuse. Layout commonly refers to the way photos, embellishments and text are arranged on a page. Template on the other hand, refers to a layout file that has elements arranged on different layers. You can add photos and other elements to a template to make it unique and personal.
ALPHABETS vs. FONTS: Alphabets refer to singular letters. They resemble stickers in traditional scrapbooking methods. Fonts on the other hand, can be downloaded or programs that must be included in your scrapbooking software or downloaded from a website to be used as text.
PIXELS vs. DPI vs. PPI: Pixels simply refer to the smallest element of a photograph. DPI (Dots per Inch) is used for printing and graphics. PPI (Pixel per Inch) refer to the screen displays like on computer monitors or television screens. Although different, they are usually used interchangeably.
LAYERS: Creating layers with a new scrapbooking software, is just like creating layers for a traditional scrapbook. Each element on the page creates a separate layer. For example, the background color is one layer, while photos, text and embellishments are used to create others.
ELEMENTS: Elements are also known as embellishments and are used to enhance your digital scrapbooking page. Common elements include buttons, ribbons, flowers, leaves and patches.
CROP: To crop simply means to trim away unnecessary parts of a photo. You can also resize the photo. If you mess up or are not found of the changes, you can undo them.
There are hundreds of tutorials online. There are also hundreds of terms that are used in them. Although this article does not provide you with all the terms available, it has provided you with some of the most commonly used terms you will use hear when learning how to use your new scrapbooking software. Once you figure out how to use your software, you will be creating excellent projects in no time.
