| One of the basics of scrapbooking is cropping photos. | | | | we can crop other people out of the photos. |
| Some tend to avoid cropping, not sure of how to go | | | | - Crop for Creativity – Photos can be cropped into |
| about it. Others may go to the other extreme, cropping | | | | creative shapes. This should be used very sparingly. |
| every photo. | | | | Squares and rectangles are classic shapes that will |
| Looking back at my first albums, I see that all the | | | | always look pleasing. If it suits the layout, sprinkle a fun |
| photos were cropped, often in many different shapes. I | | | | shape in here or there to add variety to a page. As a |
| would usually cut almost all of the background out of | | | | general rule one creative shape on a page is enough. |
| most of the photos. Through the years, as I have | | | | |
| learned more about scrapbooking, and gained | | | | Now we have looked at some of the ways we can |
| experience, the way that I crop photos has changed. | | | | crop our photos. Try cropping very little at first, as you |
| I look back at those early albums and wish I hadn't | | | | arrange your page layout you can always go back |
| cropped out so much of some of the photos. | | | | and crop more. There are also some some things we |
| Sometimes the backgrounds in our photos tell part of | | | | don't want to do when cropping photos. |
| the story. I have learned that sometimes, less is more. | | | | - Instant Photos – Never crop instant photos |
| There are some good reasons to crop the photos for | | | | (polaroid). The chemicals inside that were used to |
| our scrapbooks. We can crop our photos to fit more | | | | develop them can bleed out and ruin your scrapbook |
| on a page, and also to create visual variety that is | | | | page. The layers can also come apart. If you must, |
| pleasing to the eye. Let's take a look at some of the | | | | scan them, print them on regular photo paper and crop |
| ways we can crop photos for beautiful scrapbook | | | | them instead. If you don't like the white border, try |
| pages. | | | | hiding it behind a photo frame. |
| - Crop for Balance and Focus – We can crop | | | | - Historical / Place References – Remember not |
| photos for balance. I know I don't always take the time | | | | to crop out all historical or place references. The |
| to compose every shot. Kids often don't hold still very | | | | places that the photos were taken tell part of the |
| long, making it difficult to get that perfect shot. Cropping | | | | story. |
| photos can shift the focus where we want it. | | | | - Shapes – Limit cropping photos into shapes. This |
| - Crop to Enlarge – With digital photos, this is very | | | | will tend to overwhelm the page. Sprinkling an |
| simple. Sometimes the subject of the photo is too | | | | occasional circle or oval to accent a page. Use |
| small, and gets lost in the picture. If we cropped around | | | | irregular shapes sparingly. |
| the subject the photo would be too small. We can | | | | - One of a Kind Photos – Never crop a one of a |
| crop to enlarge the subject by using photo editing | | | | kind photo. Scan these photos and crop those if you |
| software or at the photo lab before the photo is | | | | need to crop to fit in your page layout. |
| printed. If you only have a printed photo, try scanning | | | | - Heritage Photos – Avoid cropping photos taken |
| the photo and then crop before reprinting. | | | | before 1950. The paper these photos were printed on |
| - Crop Out Distractions – Sometimes we want to | | | | is a fiber-based paper. Cropping will cause the edges |
| keep some of the background, but distracting | | | | to fray and the photos to deteriorate. |
| backgrounds can be cropped out. Some backgrounds | | | | |
| are very busy, pulling our eye away from the subject. | | | | Keep these tips for cropping photos in mind. Soon |
| Maybe we don't want the dirty dishes in the | | | | you will be cropping with ease, and creating stunning |
| background. When photos are taken in public places | | | | scrapbooks. |