help with posting please

[Pammy jo]

Ok friends, I really want to post some of my disney album that I finished in January, but I am no good at anything technical. Please bear with me and give me some help! When I took pics with my digital camera they just didn't show up that great and the 12x12 size is also kinda weird in the picture size. How do you all get such good pictures with your cameras? (And please make it simple!) Do most of you take pics or scan? My scanner isn't big enough so I think I'm better off with the camera.
Thanks!!!

 

[RRBB]

I've done both - digital pics and scanned. So I'll tell you how I did each...

Digital Pics - It took a while to figure out how to get the best quality but what I found works best is to set up outside on a sunny day. That way it's bright enough not to need a flash that causes a glare. Lay the page(s)/album flat on a low stool or box in a bright area but not in direct sunlight or in shadow. Stand directly over the page and look straight down to take the picture. If you have a tripod that would be best. I also find I get better pictures if I take page protectors off to do this.

Scanned - You have to can twice to get a full (or almost full) 12x12 page. Most scanner beds are only 11.5 inches long, so you have to figure out which edge is best to lose - or a little from both. Scan one side of the page then scoot the page over and scan the other side. After scanning/saving you need to go into a photo editing program. (I use MSPhotoDraw, only because that's what I have on this computer.) Open the files for both sides of the page. Select the picture from one file, copy it, and paste it to the other file. Now you can line up the two sides so that you get your whole page and save it. In PhotoDraw I have to adjust the background to include the "whole page" but this also allows me to crop any edges that don't match up before saving.

I hope these descriptions help rather than confuse. And FYI, there was an article in CK a few months ago about scanning and stitching pages. I can't remember off the top of my head which issue, but when I go upstairs later I'll look for it.

 

[SplshMtn99]

Being new to 12x12 myself...this is what I've been doing after much trial & error. (scanning 12x12 wasn't working for me & I couldn't be bothered to stitch).

On a sunny day, I place a 12x12 on the kitchen floor in front of the open door to get max sunlight. I place my kitchen stool/ladder right in front of it. I kneel on the stool's top step & I rest my arms on the top handle. This allows me to be just about right over the layout....and it steadys me while I take the picture zoomed to just around it. No flash. Using digital camera, I take several shots.

When I get them into the computer, I choose the best (non blur; auto correct any color or contrast if needed; crop closer to the 12x12 layout; sharpen image). All this just takes a minute.

Save it & upload it.

 

[grover]

Pammy Jo, I also use the digital camera to take the pics on a sunny day!! The flash causes to much glare so I leave it off, I also remove the page from the proctector-makes for a better pic. I usually lay mine down on the floor on top of a album which is lying on on the edge of a pillow so it is a slight angle,seems to work well for me to get alot of light on the picture but you have to watch for shadows!! I then upload them to my computer-I use whatever it is that came with the puter to save them--I think microsoft photo or something like that, then I save them online at www.imagestation.com HTH!!
Please share when you get them online-would love to see them!
Grover in Winnipeg

 

[Pammy jo]

Thanks for all the input. The scanning and stitching sounds like way too much work. Think I'll just go for the pictures. Now my goal is within 2 weeks to have some posted for you all to see.
Thanks again!

 

[safetymom]

For scanning you need to scan each half of your page. There is no reason why you can't scan sections. Just allow some overlap so that you can piece it back together easily.

The best and easiest program is Adobe Photoshop Elements. Under File is a choice create photo merge. I have scanned a banner in 8 segments then put it back together within seconds with Elements.

Elements comes with a lot of products. It also is available at great prices. Just watch your local computer store ads.

It is very easy to do and doesn't require lots of computer skills.

 

[Beanie]

Just wanted to say that I can't wait to see your layouts, PammyJo!!

 

[Pammy jo]

Safetymom, thanks for sharing the scanning on adobe idea. I tried it with two other pictures and it was real easy. Now I just need the time to scan my layouts. I think I may be able to handle this afterall!