Printing Mediums

One of the questions I get asked most about hybrid scrapbooking is “what do you print the digital part onto?” The answer is: Anything, and everything! There really are so many options, that is the great thing about hybrid.

Obviously the choices for the beginner hybrid scrapbooker are probably going to be limited so I thought what better than a side by side comparison! The papers that almost every scrapbooker has in their supplies are: cardstock (smooth or textured) and photo paper (glossy or matte). Each one of these can be used for hybrid scrapbooking, and each gives the project a different look and finish.

• Cardstock: I use plain white cardstock a lot for hybrid. First it’s inexpensive and second I have a lot of it. Textured or smooth depends on my project.
• Photo Paper: I print my photo’s at home so I always have photo paper on hand. Photo paper comes in lots of finishes, matt and glossy being the two most popular.

My choice for deciding which paper to print on depends a lot on the project in question. I decided to make a hybrid card, and print it out onto different papers to compare the difference.

I printed the digital portion onto smooth cardstock, matte photo paper and glossy photo paper. The cardstock (left) gave a dull flat color and finish to the card. The glossy photo paper (right) gave the most vibrant color and detail, but in lights gave off a glare and sometimes made it difficult to see (and photograph). Falling in the middle is the matte photo paper, which really did fall between both. The colors were stronger than the cardstock, but the detail wasn’t as good as the glossy photo paper, but there was no light glare.

In this scan you can see the difference between the card on the left (cardstock) and right (glossy photo paper). The difference is much more pronounced in real life.

I’ll still continue to use all three papers, deciding which finish I‘d prefer with each project. I like the variety. Even though the cardstock gave a flat finish with duller colors, for some projects that works great, especially on grungy or heavily distressed papers. Each paper has pro’s and cons, each one is worth trying, and each one has a place in my hybrid scrapbooking!

Credits: Digital papers: Kitchen Curtains, Meredith Fenwick, Digital stitching: Robin Blankenship; Flower: Yellow Sprite, Prima; Gem: center kisses, Prima; Photoshop CS3

Of course this is just about papers, not taking into account transparencies, vellums and specialty printing mediums, that's a whole other tutorial ;)

Have fun with Hybrid!

Hugs

Di

How To Combine Paper with Digital Scrapbooking: Tutorials

What is hybrid scrapbooking?
It's a digital layout that is printed and embellished by hand. Or you can print out the papers and embellishments, and adhere them the traditional way. Hybrid scrapbooking "undercuts the objection of "It's too time consuming." The crafter can spend as little or as much time as desired on the hand embellishments." Creative Leisure News

Beth Price, EDS Creative Team Member, adds that according to Wikipedia, HYBRID means a cross between populations or cultivars of the same species. In the world of scrapbooking, we used to have 2 distinct groups of scrappers ñ the digi people or the paper people. Lately, weíre starting to use the word Hybrid as these formats begin to cross over. Hybrid is being used to define computer-generated graphics or photos that are used with paper layouts. You can embellish a photo right on the computer before printing and save finding the perfect rub-on or quote. Sometimes you can alter a photo and save it from the trash, hiding a blurry focus, a poor resolution, or a distracting background, for instance.

In hybrid scrapbooking you can,

-use brushes, frames, text, or even embellishments on photos and print (at home or in lab)

-make a paper layout, import it to photoshop (via digi pic or scan) and add brushes, text, re-coloring, elements on TOP of your paper page

-print out digi papers, embellies, alphas, word art, etc onto matte photo paper or cardstock and use on paper

-print brushes or wordart onto transparencies and use on paper pages

Source: Tia Bennett, Garden Girl - twopeasinabucket.com

Update 2/12/2007: Want to learn more about Hybrid Scrapbooking? Go to Scrapbook Dimensions and download your FREE premiere issue for February/March 2007.

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New Magazine Uniquely Blends Two Popular Methods
Into the Ultimate Scrapbooking Experience

HIGHLAND, UT November 21, 2006 – Scrapbook Dimensions Magazine announces the January release of its Premiere Issue which is aimed at combining the long-standing traditions of paper scrapbooking with the ease and appeal of its ever-growing digital counterpart. Many people are very interested in reaping the benefits of both sides of the scrapbooking market and have learned how to get the best of both worlds! A "hybrid" or "tradigi" scrapbooker finds unique and practical ways to make the best use of all tools and products, and the results can be absolutely amazing! Scrapbook Dimensions is the first magazine to provide focused inspiration and education covering this "hybrid" approach to scrapbooking.

Co-editors Cindy Wyckoff and Deanna Shain (digital and traditional scrapbookers, respectively) have combined their vast experience with their love of this hobby to launch a truly unique and innovative magazine. This magazine will provide project ideas, informative articles, layout gallery inspiration, how-to tips and techniques, and product reviews for bridging the gap between these two seemingly different but very complementary approaches to scrapbooking. "We touch on all areas of interest to both traditional and digital scrappers showing how fun and easy it is to save time on layouts by using the computer but still keeping a hands-on approach to add to the creative process, “Wyckoff said.

For more information about Scrapbook Dimensions Magazine visit their website at www.scrapbookdimensions.com. While at the site you can you can request a free copy of the upcoming Premiere Issue.

Featured Reader: Tara Pollard PokostaClick on image to enlarge. Layout posted with permission from designer.

Tara's Instructions:I just couldnt' resist buying (and dowloading some free kits).....so the pp's are digital and i printed them out, the doodle journaling thing and name thing are digital too. all printed and cut out. then i used heidi letters and some jewels. and a prima cork flower. eventually i will learn to do an all digital page and actually have it look good!!! tfl!!! tara

Supplies used:

• the black/white pp is kim christensen digital; so is the doodle journaling thing, and the doodle on the photo! all printed out on the b/w pp
• the dot pink is digi by kim christensen also.
• the letters are heidi swapp! and the jewel is heidi swapp that is on the prima flower.
• colorbox chalk ink
• sharpie marker!

Featured Reader: Kathy Montgomery

Happy Birthday Card posted with permission from designer

Digi kits used:
"Tattoo Art" by Rhonna Farrer, (doodles and elements on right side of card)
www.twopeasinabucket.com
"Cottage Bluff" by Veronica Ponce, (stitched border along left side of card)
www.twopeasinabucket.com

How-to: Printed digi elements onto white cardstock, and matted onto front of pink

5X7 cardstock card. Hand-printed "Happy Birthday" with pens. Added Nunn

Designs copper charms, and Offray ribbons to front of card.



Next:

Hybrid mini-album by Tiffany Tillman

More inspirations for combining traditional scrapbooking with your computer skills all week! Bookmark us now! Thanks.

Keywords: Adobe Photoshop, Advanced, CS2, Digital Image Pro DIP, Gift Ideas, Hybrid, Photo Editing, Photoshop Elements PSE, Printing, PS7, Resources