One
of the wonderful qualities of digital scrapping is its versatility.
We can scrap in traditional paper-scrapping sizes as well as any
other dimensions we can imagine. Some sizes are easier to print
than others and some are easier to display, but the sky is the
limit when it comes to options in digital scrapping.
12x12
Positives:
This is a standard size in the scrapbooking industry. 12x12 offers
a lot of workspace as well as a familiar look to scrappers. It
is easy to store and display 12x12 layouts because albums in this
size are readily available. Many photos can be used and they are
clear and visible after printing.
Negatives:
Layout is larger than your average home printer so most scrappers
will need to have these printed outside the home. Many scrappers
have to print at 11x11 at local copiers.
Jill
says: I either put these in a post bound album or frame them,
or I send them out to have them bound in a hard cover coffee table
book.
11x8.5
or 8.5x11
Positives:
Not only a standard and familiar size to scrapbookers, this is
an easy size to print from home. Storage is easy to find and can
often be very cheap: a 3-ring binder from the office supply store
and some inexpensive page protectors.
Negatives:
In general, this size needs to be printed from home as it’s
not a standard print size at your photo shop. Scrappers will have
to trim 12x12 digital papers to fit their needs.
Tina
says: I like the option of being able to do a landscape format
layout.
10x8
or 8x10
Positives:
Easy to create prints from home or in a photo lab. This size is
easy to store in a similar manner as 11x8.5 layouts. Prints can
easily be framed for hanging at home or presenting as gifts. Most
of our products at The Digital Scrapbook Place come in 8x10 size
so no resizing is needed.
Negatives:
Can be expensive to print in a lab if you print many layouts at
this size. 8x10s tend to swim in the large page protectors.
Lauren
says: It is the largest size I can get printed here in New Zealand
professionally at a reasonable cost. I do find it limiting as
to the number of photos it will hold - I would love to scrap in
12x12 now and then.
10x4
Positives:
This is the size of a panoramic photo print. This size can be
adapted for holiday cards and mailed in a standard business-sized
envelope with a single stamp. They can easily be printed from
home or at a local photo mart. Can be stored in panoramic photo
albums that are easy to find.
Negatives:
This is not a familiar print size and not every photo processor
will be able to print them One-Hour.
Jenna
says: Have you ever seen the holiday cards you can order at your
local photo mart with a limited selection of greetings and backgrounds?
For digital scrappers, options are limitless!
8x8
Positives:
Can be easily sized from 12x12 products or “trimmed”
from 8x10 images. Finding 8x8 albums and refills is as easy as
walking into your local scrapbook store or Michaels Craft Store.
A multi-page album can be completed quickly for gift giving.
Negatives:
This size often needs to be an 8x10 when printing at the photo
mart, leaving you 2 inches to trim from the print. When resizing
from 12x12, details can be lost and text may become too small
to read clearly.
7x5
or 5x7
Positives:
A standard photo size that can often be printed for about $1 at
any photo mart. This size is easy to print at home and easy to
store in 5x7 albums. This is a great size for gift albums as well
as a good size for small children to hold. Prints can be framed
for home display and gift giving.
Negatives:
This is a small size for scrappers to work with and layouts work
best with few photos on the page.
Jenna
says: Most of my layouts are done 5x7. I often like to showcase
a single photo and find this size perfect. I have also made several
complete gift albums at this size and everyone is thrilled with
the results.
6x6
Positives:
Can be easily sized from 12x12 products or “trimmed”
from 8x10 images. Finding 6x6 albums and refills is as easy as
walking into your local scrapbook store or Michaels Craft Store.
A multi-page album can be completed quickly for gift giving.
Negatives:
This size often needs to be an 8x10 when printing at the photo
mart, leaving you a 2-inch and 4-inch border to trim from the
print. When resizing from 12x12, details can be lost and text
may become too small to read clearly.
6x4
or 4x6
Positives:
A standard photo print, this is easy to print from home and very
inexpensive to print at a lab. You can print multiple images on
one piece of paper and the prints are very easy to store. Simple
WordArt can be added to enhance a favorite photo for sharing with
family and friends.
Negatives:
This is not a standard scrapbook size, of course. This size works
best for highlighting a single photo. Would not be ideal for multiple
photos and elements as the print size would make them fairly small.
4x4
Positives: Can be easily sized from 12x12 products or “trimmed”
from 8x10 images. This uncommon size actually works best as a
physical thumbnail image of existing layouts. You can print at
a photo lab in 4x6 size, allowing a 2 inch border for notes, credits
and other information. Easily stored in a standard 4x6 photo album.
Negatives:
4x4 is not a standard size in the industry. Often needs to be
presented to the photo lab at 4x6 size and the border needs to
be trimmed, if desired.
You are, of course, not limited to the “usual” choices
listed above. Digital Scrapbook Place designer, Cris, usually
scraps in “a long, 9.5 x 6-7.5 rectangle”. She admits,
“there are no binders or books to accommodate this size”
but feels 8x10 can sometimes be too limiting. Whatever size you
decide to scrap in is okay. Paper scrappers share the same worries
about changing your size later or finding the perfect album to
store your layouts. We scrappers worry about so many things, it’s
a wonder we get any layouts done at all. The choices may seem
endless but for many digital scrappers, that’s exactly why
we love this hobby.
