I thought I would include a quick fact glossary of terms that are used for digital scrapbooking.  I often refer to them without clearly defining what the terms mean, especially when it comes to the pdf freebies that I have been posting.  So, here goes a roundup of a few vital terms to know when it comes to digital or hybrid scrapbooking…

Digital Scrapbooking

Digital Scrapbooking is  a craft that uses your computer to generate scrapbook layouts without the use of traditional paper, glue, stickers and embellishments in their physical form or “tangible” form. The fabulous plus about this type of hobby is that you don’t need to visit a local store to purchase papers, alphabets, frames or even stamps to create a digital scrapbook layout.  You can purchase all your elements online. 

These elements are now available via online crafting stores and can be purchased and downloaded to your computer 24/7.  Many of these elements available for free by various scrapbooking publishers, graphic designers and hobbyists.

What many digital scrapbooking hobbyists do is use digital elements inside a photo editing “layering” program such as Photoshop Elements or Photoshop CS (a professional photo editing program) to build content-rich and layered scrapbooking pages in a digital format.  You can lay out digital elements according to the color theme, photos, elements and alphas that are pleasing to the individual scrapbooker and/or hobbyist.

Hybrid Scrapbooking

Hybrid Scrapbooking is  mixing digital elements with physical elements to create something handmade or tangible. This includes purchasing, downloading and printing digital files or other elements with a home based ink jet printer and mixing them with regular scrapbook materials to create a card, layout or any other handmade item.

This type of scrapbooking technique is used in Project Life layouts because it uses physical, tangible elements with computer produced or designed elements.   If you are using any form of technology to add details to your craft projects that is  considered hybrid scrapbooking or hybrid crafting.

Printables

Printables are pre-designed sheets  (or digital collage sheets) that include graphic elements to print out on your own printer and  can be used on your own personal craft projects. They are often made available for free or for a small fee and can be downloaded directly from your computer. 

Many printables are provided as pdf files or jpeg files that can be downloaded and printed.  These elements can then be hand cut (some crafters are using their die cutting machines to do the cutting) with traditional scissors and added to cards, scrapbooking and Project Life  layouts and more.

Cutting Files

Cutting Files are pre-designed shapes or elements that can be imported into some of the most popular die cutting machines on the market; like the Silhouette Cameo or Cricut. 

Those advanced digital hobbyist who have developed their skills can also use cutting file shapes as clipping masks inside of Photoshop and other layering programs.  These tools often produced professional die cut label, stickers, shapes for the hobbyist’s use.

So, that’s the round up of a few paper crafting terms you need to know, just in the event, you were curious as to what all the buzz was regarding digital scrapbooking.