| The most frequently asked question we have
received is “How do you print your layouts and papers?”. It is
our hope that this article will help answer most of your questions and
help you gain confidence about printing our papers for traditional
scrapbooking, as well as gain understanding about how to print your
finished digital layouts in an archival manner.
Layout/Paper Size
Formats and Print Resolution (dpi)*:
Our templates and papers
are sized in both 8.5" x 11" and 12" x 12" formats, as these are the
two most popular sizes for scrapbookers. See our other tutorials for
resizing them to other custom sizes. The tutorials also give
steps on how to convert 8.5" x 11" to 12" x 12" and vice versa.
The graphics on our downloads page are created at 300 dpi for professional
quality. However, tests by printing experts indicate 180-200dpi
is satisfactory for printing on home ink jet printers. If you
would like to improve the performance working with our layered
templates within your image editor of choice, feel confident that you
can decrease the dpi to 180-200 dpi and get great results printing.
Most image editors have Image > Resize menu options where you simply
keep the same layout size and decrease the dpi to your choice. Dont
worry, if you make a mistake, you always have the original 300 dpi image
on our download page, that can redownloaded when ever you like to go back to, if
needed.
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Printing Options:
When printing the our pages or layout templates, you can customize
them to your liking by adding your own photos and journaling, and
print them in their entirety. You can also create smaller journaling
mats or photo mats with our papers and embellishments, add custom
text, print, and then cut or tear for traditional scrapbooking.
And, finally, you can print our paper designs as full-sized sheets for
use with traditional scrapbooking. You can treat them just like
scrapbook paper, and they’ll have a nice white torn edge when tearing.
What is so unique about our background papers is the color
possibilities are endless. If you like our French script paper,
but would like it in a pale shade of yellow rather than olive green,
see our tutorials on Changing Colors (color tutorials available for
Adobe Photoshop/Elements and Jasc Paint Shop Pro 8). There’s no
need to be stuck on a layout because you don’t have the perfect shade
of paper to match your photos! With the shadowing and
realistic embellishments
included on our templates, the printed layouts appear 3-D, however are
suitable for framing as they are flat!. Further, your scrapbook albums
created from printing digital layouts will not
have the bulk of traditional embellished layouts.
Note: we recommend printing on high grade
matte finish photo paper, as it has a wonderful sheen similar to
traditional layouts. After printing your layouts
or papers, it is recommended to let the ink dry for 24 hours before
framing or using to maximize print life. Then, simply add the
layouts to your scrapbook album or frame in the format of your choice.
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Printer and Paper
Choices:
The many options available for photo printers and
papers can be overwhelming. The great news is the major printer
companies manufacture top quality products and offer great information
on their websites. Here are some links to some review sites that
spotlight printers. With more and more affordable Epson, Hewlett Packard, and Canon printers/papers on the
market, Each person's needs and preferences are different, so doing your own
research is the best way to find a suitable printer and paper.
- CNet.com -
Compare prices on Printers Read expert reviews- Shop Now!
- Circuit
City: Click and Learn - Today’s printers give you
professional results right in your home. With four types to choose
from, it’s important to know your needs before you shop.
- Epinions
- Some of the best comparison shopping information on
Printers. Compare prices from across the web and read reviews from
other consumers
For standard letter-size (8.5" x 11") layout and
paper printing, check with your printer manufacturer for more options
for archival papers, as well as artistic papers, such as canvas,
watercolor, etc to create an artistic, frame-able piece. Home
printing is becoming very, very popular and the paper manufacturers
are creating many different options to meet their customers' needs and
desires.
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On-line Photo Printers:
You can crop our layouts to 8" x 10", or enlarge to
11" x 13" or 11" x 14", if you'd like to frame and mat in a standard
sized frame. You can then upload a JPEG or PDF to an on-line
printing service. Each service offers differing quality and
services, so please research for your own requirements. Here are
some of the most popular on-line companies:
www.shutterfly.com
www.dotphoto.com
www.ofoto.com
Copy Centers:
Another viable option for printing
your 12" x 12" layouts, if you aren't able to invest in a wide format
printer, is to save the image file as a 300 dpi PDF, JPEG, or TIFF
format file to a
CD and bring to a professional copy center, such as Kinko's. They will
print your 12" layouts as 11" layouts on 11" x 17" archival paper for
about $2. Just trim off the white edge, and mount on 12x12
cardstock for a laser quality page. They will print
standard 8.5" x 11" layouts for under $1. Ask your copy center
about the estimated print life of their inks and other archival
questions.
Coffee Table Books:
A hot trend for digital
photography enthusiasts is having coffee table books printed for
themselves and for family and friends' gifts. They offer a hard
cover, bound book of memories in different cover options, and you can
use the Simply Digital™ product line to
create your content! Save the finished layouts in the
manufacturer's specifications (usually in PDF format) on a CD and mail
to them (or upload to their servers), and they will print your book in
the quantity you desire. Here are some sites that offer this
service:
Epson's Storyteller Kit: make your own
photo books at home (includes everything, including simple-to-use
software)
www.leathercraftsmen.com
www.mypublisher.com
www.bound2remember.com
If you have any other
questions about printing, resizing, print resolution, etc., please
review our FAQ page.
*Note: the layouts and papers pictured in the first photo were printed
using an HP Deskjet d135 all in one printer and EPSON Matte Scrapbook
Paper. |
