What is your scrap process?

[SeattleSheri]

So looking at the variability in the amount of time it takes for us to make layouts, I thought it would be nice to know what everyone's process is. Maybe there is some opportunity for me to shave some time off the time it takes me to complete a LO :)

Here's my process:
open and edit photos (at least 15 minutes)
open papers & save as patterns
apply treatments to papers (if applicable)
open elements I want to use, drag and drop them onto my canvas
name and save PSD
group elements
layout design (element placement, shadow work, etc)
agonize over title and journaling ;)
save LO (save for the web and full size version, in addition to PSD version)

[lizzyfizzy]

mine is similar but has no rhyme or reason. i am one of the slow ones so i'm afraid i am no help. :unsure:

[crystalbella77]

um....I'm just totally random! lol!

If I have a kit that I am supposed to work with I open it and open all the papers and elements.

Then I go through and look at them and get a theme/idea in mind and get rid of what I know for sure I will not use.

Then I go through my oodles of folders of pictures and find the one/ones that will work with what I am doing.

then I edit my photo and start the LO making...which really just consists of my moving tons of things around until I think what I am wanting is coming through, lol! There's no rhyme or reason to it all, lol!

Shadows are always the very last thing I do before saving for web :)

[meems]

open papers & save as patterns
could you elaborate on this? why do you do this?

[scrapperjade]

What is saving papers to patterns? How do you do that, and whats it for?

My process goes like this:
1) Open a photo(s)
2) Open a template (I never scrap without one)
3) Put photo(s) in place
4) Start opening & arranging papers (I do this one by one)
5) Clip at least 4 papers papers to a layer 1000x at least before deciding which on looks best (yeah, I'm VERY indecisive).
6) Continue this process until I realize I've just wasted 2 hours on 3 layers :).
7) Shadow the layers I'm done.
8) Save in case PSE crashes on me.
9) Look through 19 different files on ACDSee looking for that *perfect* something to sit in the corner of my picture.
10) Bring in like 18 options, placing them there, then deciding, no that doesn't look right.
11) Add stitching. That ALWAYS looks good
12) Repeat the whole process for EVERY LAYER.
13) Save the finished product and be happy it only took 4.5 hours to complete.

Did I mention I use a template? You do NOT want to know how long it would take me to do a layout without one, lol!

[SeattleSheri]

could you elaborate on this? why do you do this?
I open all of the papers I think I want to use (usually just 3-4) so that I can use them off my blending options on my layer palette. I created my own action to convert them to patterns and automatically close the paper document, so it's all with one click of an action. Almost all of the papers used on my LOs are from patterns I've created from the papers. The main reasons I do it that way are that I'm very indecisive, I don't like to play with full size papers and I like the flexibility that the blending options provide of changing the scale of the paper. It's so nice to be able to switch the paper (or the scale) on a particular element if you change your mind.

Here is an example of a LO where it was very handy. I was able to change the scale of the red diamond paper (it's at 50% on the left and 100% on the right). I was also able to apply the papers on of all of the elements of the cookie through my blending options. You can also move the patter around on the elements so they are perfectly placed.

https://www.sweetshoppedesigns.com/inspiration/data/520/medium/Cookie092408b.jpg (https://www.sweetshoppedesigns.com/inspiration/showphoto.php?photo=62033&size=big&cat=&ppuser=5321)

[brooke22]

Im a kit scrapper so 90% of the time I have the kit in mind that I want to scrap with first before I even decide what photo's to put on there!

I get the page to the stage where photo's need to be added before I can continue, so basic layout first, get the frames on there then choose pictures. Edit pics in lightroom if they need it. Finish the element placement adding shadow layers as I go, title comes last with journaling.

Im a quick scrapper, the longest a LO will take me is about 1 - 1.5 hours if im not very inspired.

[SeattleSheri]

What is saving papers to patterns? How do you do that, and whats it for?
Saving patterns is really easy. In PS, just go edit -> define pattern and it will show up as a pattern option in your blending options under "pattern overlay", your paintbucket/fill and adjustment layer options. They are a great way to save papers you want to use over and over and to save time on other aspects of your designing process. For templates, you can just apply the pattern to the various components of the template (along with drop shadows, etc). If you don't want to bog your program down, you can either delete the ones you won't use frequently before shutting down or group them and save them as a set for later use (then you can easily reload them without having to define patterns again). HTH!

[lizzyfizzy]

wow! sheri, that is fancy!

[SeattleSheri]

wow! sheri, that is fancy!
Yes, I'm quite sophisticated ;) ... or at least I like to pass as sophisticated, lol. It sounds a lot fancier than it is. It's the only way I've ever done it, so I guess I don't have anything to compare it to.

[mrs_jb]

Mine is pretty consistant....
I choose the kit, then the photos.Then I work from the bottom up...background, layers (if applicable), elements, title, journaling.

[*Kelly*]

Sherri that made my head spin:blink: I wish I understood CS3 that well.

It totally depends how I start.. sometimes I start creating and then find a pic to go or vice versa.. I have no consistent method to scrapping. I'm really really random I suppose.

[SeattleSheri]

Sherri that made my heads spin:blink: I wish I understood CS3 that well.

It totally depends how I start.. sometimes I start creating and then find a pic to go or vice versa.. I have no consistent method to scrapping. I'm really really random I suppose.
I'm sorry! I didn't mean to, I promise! How do you use papers? Do you put the entire sheet on your canvas and use a clipping mask?

[*Kelly*]

yup.. i drag everything onto a clean canvas or onto a template whichever I might be using. I know there has got to be so many short cuts that I am missing and don't know about. Perhaps this is why it takes me a few days to do one page:confused:

[mrs_jb]

I'm sorry! I didn't mean to, I promise! How do you use papers? Do you put the entire sheet on your canvas and use a clipping mask?

Not Kelly, but I normally use the marquee tool and cut out the peices I want. To change the pattern size I usually just transform.

[rach3975]

I'm one of the slow ones, too, but here's what I do.

Choose photos to scrap
Open a new file and save frequently
Decide on a basic design and photo arrangement (I keep in mind the amount of journaling and usually have it written in a Word Doc, though I don't add it yet)
Place photos on LO
Choose colors and then kit or papers (For a CT LO, this comes first)
Place papers on the LO
Add journaling
Choose and place elements
Title

[amystoffel]

I don't really have a process. I guess first I open a kit and look at everything in it. Then I sketch a LO. Although they rarely end up like my sketch they just sort of take on a life of their own. After that it's chaos... :) Add shadows..blah blah...flatten, save and voila...

[LibbysMommy]

Choose the kit, then the photos and then start piling stuff on!! :) Very sophisticated here!! LOL!!

[newfiemountiewife]

Mine is pretty consistant....
I choose the kit, then the photos.Then I work from the bottom up...background, layers (if applicable), elements, title, journaling.

Same here...sometimes I think Jac and I share a brain LOL.

The only thing I might do differently is, sometimes I pick the photo first, but this is generally for non-CT LOs. However most of the time I scrap with CT stuff, so it goes kit first.

I just make a 12x12, drag the paper in and go from there.

It takes me about 1 hour to scrap a page.

[Chels85]

Choose the kit, then the photos and then start piling stuff on!! :) Very sophisticated here!! LOL!!

me too...

[sugarink]

Wow, it's fun seeing everyone's different ways of processing a layout... I'm also primarily a kit scrapper so I don't really spend a lot of time looking for other add-ons, but if I do, it's usually alphas or journaling elements. This is my usual progression, but not always...

1. Decide on a photo(s) and process/edit them.
2. Decide on 1 or 2 papers that I really like.
3. Decide on photo placement/layout design (I like using the grid feature or guides).
4. Add elements or other patterned papers. (This is where I take longest depending on how much I want to add to it--I decide on repetition or triangular method, assure that everything is spaced evenly and is in complete harmony with each other)
5. Add special effects - shadows, blending, etc.
6. Title and journaling.
7. Step away from the computer, come back and make necessary adjustments, fine tune, sometimes completely re-arrange it :p )
8. Save as PSD, then flatten image and save as FULL RES .jpeg, then resize down to 72 dpi for web, use unsharp mask filter, then save as a web file.

...and I'm done! whew! :w00t:

[NettieB]

This is one awesome thread! Thanks, Y'all!

Have one squirmy, whiny little one to put to bed, then will be back.

[my3hens]

Im all over the place LOL
I always open my photo and edit first as well
Then I drag a couple papers into ps3 and I actually build my layout on that paper. I just play and place and layer and then go back in and shadow. Sometimes I shadow as i go LOL I guess Im just random huh!
The patterns I used in siggys but got really lazy LOL So now I just drag all the papers directly into photoshop.

[nun69]

I decide on whether I am scrappin a LO around a photo or a photo around a LO! {makes perfect sense!!!}:p

1. pick a photo
2. start a blank canvas
3. look through windows photo gallery and decide if I can find the perfet kit...
4. do any photo enhancing and then put my photo{s} on my LO
5. depending on what I like in my LO I then look for a frame for my photo or decide just on using a mat
6. build from there!

sometimes I build a whole LO just from a kit and then I go find the perfect photo{s} and then do my photo editing then....

so I guess I really don't work the same on each LO!...

[mcardall]

it depends on the layout... but since the only scrapping i have time for anymore is CT scrapping, most of my layouts follow the same pattern...

Open the kit, move all the kit files into one main folder... i hate separate folders for elements and papers.

Open my Photos folder for the current month.

Open a new 12x12 canvas.

Then look through my photos for the current month and see if any of them fit the kit. If not, I go backwards through the months until I find one that works.

Then I start with a single background.. usually a neutral solid paper.

Then I add my chosen main photo, edit it if I feel like it, and build the layout from there. I add elements and change papers as I go. I do all of my shadowing as I go.

I save as a .psd file with the date of the photo as the filename. ie 2008-1002 001. Then I save it as a jpg file. Then I resize for web.

I upload it to photobucket, add it to my CT forum and if it is already released (which it almost always is by the time i get to it!) post it in the galleries and my blog. This usually takes me longer than it took me to create the layout!

I am a pretty decisive person. Most of the time my layouts take an hour or less. Some take only a matter of minutes. It just depends on the subject matter and the supplies I have to work with.

[babycake]

Wow, you guys are so organized! I'm a lazy scrapper... I just randomly do things as i go, sometimes i sort out shadows first, sometimes i leave......

One thing i do different to most of you is once ive saved as a PSD, i then resize to 600px then play with my shadows properly. They all get their own layer and thats when i blur or add colour or whatever to them. I used to find that when i resized after finishing my LO, all the shadows would look completely different to what i had made them iykwim??? This way i know what they will look like....... then i flatten, sharpen and SFW!

[nikki81]

Mine is pretty consistant....
I choose the kit, then the photos.Then I work from the bottom up...background, layers (if applicable), elements, title, journaling.

Mine is exactly the same as this hehe

[sannajeannine]

There's no rhyme or reason to how I do it....
Choose a photo to go with the kit I am going to work with and then just start trying this that and the other with papers, elements, etc. I use PSP X2 so I do a lot of waiting for it to unfreeze and usually by then I've changed my mind about something or other and decide to do something different....
Very scientific don't you think?? LOL!!!!

[mrshobbes]

More often than not it's this: when I'm at work or on a break I sketch in a notebook and scribble down specific elements to use if I can think of them. Of course sometimes what comes out is entirely different but it pretty much works out for me.

At home, edit photos in Lightroom quickly then choose papers. Often I'll pick the most neutral OR the most striking paper from the kit that I like. Many times during the process if the design isn't working with the paper I'll just add/subtract/blend as I see fit.

Then add photos, elements, journaling and title last (and oftentimes I find myself stumped on where to put them, lol). Then I open a text file and type in my credits while things are still fresh in my mind. In my credits I include the link to the photo (uploaded to Flickr or Photobucket) and links to the different galleries if it's a CT layout.

After, I shadow all my layers. I really like this part as, to quote Holly Griego, "it's like seeing my layout come to life." I really like that moment of when an element has a shadow and looks so much more touchable (I know, kinda corny :)) Fiddle around with shadow settings. Then I save the final layout (though I've been saving periodically throughout).

[NettieB]

It's great how many ways we all use!

I usually need a jumpstart - be it I'm doing a lift, a challenge, I found something cool in a magazine - like this painting I'm wanting to try using as a word strip pattern - so that I am starting with an idea of where I'd like to go. I'm too process oriented - blank pages frighten me. I need to focus on what I want from the page, want it to say or capture, before I begin.

Open ACDSee.
Choose Kit. Choose Photos.
Add background paper, photos, crops/template if using, inspiration layout to image basket in ACDSee, then open PSE from image basket.
In PSE, make new file with background paper, save.
Turn on Ruler and Grid, start using shape tools/crops/template to sketch out page layout. Rough shadow using pre-set PSE layer styles. Save.
After I have the sketch roughed in, back to ACDSee.
More papers, embellishments, etc. in image basket, then opened into PSE.

After this, then I add the photos to the page, decide whether to change them to B&W, sepia, etc., do the processing, and finalize.
Save.
Change shadowing - because PSE defaults and black aren't always the best. Save again.
Then usually Save for Print, sometimes Save for Web actions - I use Annie Manning's.
Back to ACDSee - generate image basket notepad file, save with layout.

[junebug]

i find a picture(s) i want to use and edit them.
find a background paper first
then i find a frame if i'm using one or an overlay.
then i go through the elements and open the ones that catch my eye.
figure out where i want the photo then just play around with the elements till it flows together. i usually dont' have an idea how i want it when i first start a layout. i just play til it 'clicks'.
save for web etc.

[SeattleSheri]

Wow, you guys are so organized! I'm a lazy scrapper... I just randomly do things as i go, sometimes i sort out shadows first, sometimes i leave......

One thing i do different to most of you is once ive saved as a PSD, i then resize to 600px then play with my shadows properly. They all get their own layer and thats when i blur or add colour or whatever to them. I used to find that when i resized after finishing my LO, all the shadows would look completely different to what i had made them iykwim??? This way i know what they will look like....... then i flatten, sharpen and SFW!
Em, I've totally noticed that this happens to mine too! My shadows look way more aggressive on my 12x12 version and come out looking flat on the version I upload. I never used to believe that it made a difference, but I think this old dog needs a new trick, lol. I always resize when saving for the web, but I might try doing it your way even if it's a bit more work. Thanks for the tip! :) :) ... did I mention I want to be Em when I grow up ;)

[SeattleSheri]

It's great how many ways we all use!

Open ACDSee.
Choose Kit. Choose Photos.
Add background paper, photos, crops/template if using, inspiration layout to image basket in ACDSee, then open PSE from image basket.
After I have the sketch roughed in, back to ACDSee.
Back to ACDSee - generate image basket notepad file, save with layout.
I think I need to check out ACDSee, I have it on my work machine, but not at home. I don't use it at work, but it seems a lot of people really like it! Do you have to pay for it?

[SeattleSheri]

Thank you ladies for sharing your process, I've been wanting to ask about it for a long time :)

I forgot to mention, in my process sometimes I will name the layers by kit/designer so when I'm uploading I don't have to go back and remember where I go the element from (I only do this if I have random items from different kits).

[NettieB]

Sheri - try the free trial to see if it works for you - it's not for everybody, and yep, it's not free. But to this nerd, well worth it. Be back with the linky.

Oh, and the great thing about the image bucket thing in ACDSee is once you have things tagged, generating the file listing of everything in your image bucket used on your page gives you a really comprehensive credit list! Kit, designer, store, even element or paper name.

OK: I'm back - and here's the link (http://store.acdsee.com/DRHM/servlet/ControllerServlet?Action=DisplayProductDetailsPage&SiteID=acd&Locale=en_US&Env=BASE&productID=106893200) but it's not for what I have, ACDSee 10, but what looks like the new and improved version....hmmm, verrrry interesting...think I'll kill some more precious minutes of nap time investigating...

[HeatherKS]

I generally start with picking the photo, then find the kit I want to use to go with it. I place photos first and then start pulling in papers, frames and elements until I'm satisfied. I shadow at the very end once everything's in place. Then I save the psd, flatten, resize and save for web. :)

[scarletsierra]

Em, I've totally noticed that this happens to mine too! My shadows look way more aggressive on my 12x12 version and come out looking flat on the version I upload. I never used to believe that it made a difference, but I think this old dog needs a new trick, lol. I always resize when saving for the web, but I might try doing it your way even if it's a bit more work. Thanks for the tip! :) :) ... did I mention I want to be Em when I grow up ;)

Yeah the shadowing thing bugs me as well. I haven't considered doing the shadows after resizing only b/c I plan on printing everything at some point, but I think I'll have to fiddle with that idea b/c I really don't like the differences in shadows and text, etc.

[bayeemachiee]

Wow-everyone is so different! Very rarely do I open a photo first-I always find a photo based on the kit I am using. And I too clip about 4 or 5 papers to my template before deciding which looks best-lol!! I am a kit scrapper too-I usually find it hard to really use more than one kit unless its a few elements or alphas :) this is an aweosme thread!

[LeeAndra]

If I am scrapping for myself, it's definitely photo/story first and then choosing a bg paper + elements.

If I am scrapping for one of my CTs, though, I have started doing it 'backwards' since the point of that particular page is to showcase the kit, first and foremost, so I pull out the bg paper, pile on some elements, & then find a photo/story to match. It's seemed to help focus my CT scrapping.

[Aggie Aviso]

My process is consistent in making a layout, papers and photos first then ellies second. Title is last journalling is something Ive almost always written down somewhere. I just rewrite, edit it to fit into the page.

My starting process is different. I consider myself a scrapper who has creative spurts. I make 5 LOs in a day and dont even open PS in a week :). During the week, I always look at my photos and then I tag photos (using Windows Photo Gallery) and write ideas/stories. Then I sketch. Im a big fan of templates (cant you tell) - but what I do most of the time is when I just dont want to scrap yet, I make templates of the ideas I drew. Most of the time I repeat my design ideas, I just move things around :D

With CT work, I just match the kit with the stories I have. That's the reason Im slow :) It seems I can't work without being completely anal about everything. LOL