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Using Your Scanner and Printer as Scrapbooking Tools
by Andrea Steed
(Mar 30, 2004)
My most valuable scrapbooking tool is my computer. However, the peripherals are just as valuable to me in many situations—specifically my scanner and color ink jet printer. These tools help me alter my pages and create custom looks that are unique to my albums. It’s convenient, easy, and the one-of-a-kind look is tough to beat! Below are some of the ways you can take advantage of these tools. Print photos. The most common use for your scanner and printer are to print photographs. Scanning photos allows you the opportunity to alter them to create a special look for each photograph. Whether you choose to enlarge, reduce, crop, change the coloring, or edit portions of the photo itself, having a scanner and printer allows you these luxuries at your convenience. You don’t have to make special trips to a photo editing machine nor do you need to have photographs re-printed. You don’t even have to wait for photos that you’ve ordered to be mailed to you--it’s instant gratification. Tip: Keep in mind that photos printed on standard ink jet printers will not have the same archival quality as a professionally printed photograph.  Create custom background paper and embellishments. A page about a special baby blanket is made complete by a photo of the blanket itself—and even better than a photo of the blanket is to create a piece of patterned paper with the blanket’s texture. Simply arrange the blanket on your scanner to show depth and texture. Then scan the blanket and print the image onto white cardstock or photo paper, using a color printer. The result is a patterned paper that matches your theme and enhances your page with a personal touch. Use this technique when you want to include a pattern, texture or item on your page that corresponds to the photos or story for the layout. For example, add a scanned image of a wooden spoon, spatula, and fork to a page about your child’s first cooking experiment. Scan and print the items and then cut them out. You’ll have a three-dimensional look without the bulk. Heavy coins, dry cereal, product packages, and clothing are other examples of items that can also be scanned to create wonderful embellishments or backgrounds. Scan and reduce artwork. Every child comes home from school with dozens of pages of artwork. Since many times each masterpiece is too large, too bulky, or too sticky to put into an album, try scanning and reducing them. Then print them as smaller postcard-sized versions of their art to include on a layout. Tip: To protect your scanner bed from scratches, place a clear transparency on the scanner bed first then add the artwork. This will allow the scanner to scan the image, without risking getting your scanner bed dirty or scratched. Create color copies. While you probably want to include as many original memorabilia items in your albums as possible, there may be times when important documents need to be stored in a safer place than a frequently handled album. Birth certificates, passports, newspaper articles and other valuable documents can be scanned and re-printed to include in your albums. Not only does this create an acid free version of these documents, but it also allows you some peace of mind knowing that they won’t be damaged from frequent handling. These are just a few of the many things you can use your scanner and printer for in scrapbooking. A word of advice…you may want to invest in printer ink. Now that you’ve used these fantastic tools, it will be hard to stop! Article originally printed in the Ivy Cottage Creations January 2004 issue.  Shop at the Scrapbook.com Superstore for all your Scrapbooking Supplies!Enjoy 5-Star service, HUGE selection and LOW prices! Click here to start shopping! Featured Scrapbooking Supplies (from Scrapbook.com):
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