Printing Printables Effectively

I have fallen in love with using digital printables on my paper layouts. However, I'm not in love with using up my printer ink or paper. Here is my secret for using printables effectively: Never print just one printable element. Instead, plan ahead and print multiple images on one sheet of paper. (Photo paper or smooth cardstock work best.) Here's how:

1. Open your word processing program and create a new document. (I've used Microsoft Word for these instructions.) Select File>Page Setup>Margins. Change your margins to 0.5" each. (If you have a borderless printer, set your margins to 0".) Click "OK."
   
   
2. Select Insert>Picture>From File. Browse your files until you find one you wish to print and select it. Click "OK."
   
   Sometimes digital scrapbooking elements will appear in your document with a black background. If this happens, click View>Toolbar>Picture. Click on the image. Then click on the "Set Transparent Color" button, and click on the black background. Note: If the picture you inserted has a black portion that touches the black background, this will also become transparent.
   
   
   
   
   
   
3. Right-click on the picture now in your document. Click Format Picture>Layout>Behind Text (Wrapping Style)>Advanced. Uncheck "Move object with text" ("Allow Overlap" should remain checked). Click "OK." This will allow you to move the picture anywhere on the page.
   
   
4. Click on the picture and then click on the "Crop" button on the Picture Toolbar. Crop the edges of your image tightly.
   
   
5. Continue this process, moving the pictures very close together, until the page is full of images.
   
   
6. Select File>Print>Properties, and set the color quality to Best and the paper to the selection that best matches your paper. Then click print.

Now you have beautifully printed digital images, ready for your paper creations! I use a 3-hole punch and place these printouts in a binder until I'm ready to use them. Happy printing!

Embellishment by Shabby Princess.

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