SCRAPBOOK LAYOUT:

“The Rule of Thirds “

When sitting down to plan your scrapbook page’s layout design several important elements must be considered. Two of those elements are: “The Golden Ratio” and “Rule of Thirds.” They are similar yet different as you will see.

We have tried to simplify some of the mathematical perspective and elements to provide a workable solution for you to consider and use. You already use these rules, you just may not know it.

Some people confuse the Rule of Thirds as being the Golden Ratio. While they are similar, they are different as the charts below illustrate.

The Top Chart Shows the Golden Ratio (in Red)

The Bottom Chart Shows the The Rule of Thirds layover on The Golden Ration (in Blue)

“The Rule of Thirds ”

The Rule of Thirds is an essential rule in the composition of photographs and scrapbook pages. The rule is simple: Imaginary lines divide the photo or page into nine (9) equal parts. Where the horizontal and vertical lines intersect as they create the nine imaginary boxes is where you align your photo’s subject, or your scrapbook page’s prime object or theme focus.

The use of this rule will help in making your photos and/or pages more pleasing to the eye, and easier for viewers to follow the natural flow.

While they are called “rules,” consider them more as guidlines. Using them as starting points, you can play with the placements a bit. Remember, you are your own best judge.

MORE SCRAPBOOK PHOTOGRAPHY

(Information on the latest digital camera technology)

Many scrappers are not content with just a snapshot. They want as perfect one as is possible. Each shot needs to be clearly focused–no blurs. Individuals in the snapshot should have a smile. Well, there are answers available for those willing to pay the price. The digital cameras that will help you are not your low end priced snapshot shooters. You can expect to pay from $300 – $500 (and more if you choose the “has everything models–not discussed here) for a digital photograph camera problem solver.

Here are some examples:

Sony’s 8 megapixel Cybershot T200 – offers a “smile shutter” that uses facial-recognition technology to locate a face in the picture frame to record the image only when a smile appears. Your job is to get the individual to smile.
Price: $499 – with a 5 x optical zoom with optical stabilization for blur free images, and a 3.5-inch LCD touch-screen.

Fujifilm’s 12 megapixel Fine Pix F50fd (Version 2.0) – detects up to 10 faces and will focus on them–not non-human elements: trees, cars, a dog, etc. It will even recognized faces at an angle – or profile. This digital camera offers a CCD shifting-image stabilization system, and has an anti-blur mode. The F50fd is able to take dual shots – one with and one without flash – that can be viewed (compared on its 2.7 inch LCD screen.
Price: $299

Need or want some underwater pics? Then Olympus’s 7 megapixel Stylus 790 SW may be your answer. This compact digital camera can take snap shots up to 10-feet under water…the 3x optical zoom lens has a water repellent coating. A 2.5-inch HyperCrystal LCD screen has Bright Capture Technology to improve low-light photography.
Price: $299

Panasonic’s 12-megapixel Lumix FZ18 has an 18x optical zoom lens along with their Mega Optical Stabilization system. A new “intelligent automatic” mode can activate several such features at once like: intelligent scene selector – which analyzes your photograph’s environment then selects a scene mode to fit it; facial recognition which can focus on up to 15 faces; intelligent ISO mode for reducing blue in low-light conditions, and continuous auto focus to keep locked on a moving object.
Price: $399

There are other upscale digital cameras with features and functions suited to your needs and pocket book. You’ll need to shop around. Consult with a couple of camera specific stores (like Ritz Camera) in your area. These more sofisticated and technical cameras may require some “hands-on-traning” or pointers, so online purchasing may not be best suited for your purchase. Either way, seach out the camera best suited for your needs and budget, and have great fun creating your memories.

SHAPE

“Taking Shape”

Everything has shape. In our scrapbook experience, shape helps us continue our focus on our theme or focal point.

Shape can help define your theme’s identity and/or function. One important aspect of shape is in denoting movement–or lack of movement. For instance:

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THE TRIANGLE SHAPE

To help break up the monotony of scrapbook pages you may want to use various shapes: circle, triangle, octagon and hexagon.

As you design your pages you will find many opportunities to uses these various shapes to help in bringing focus and continuity.

These shapes are the easiest to work with, but are not the only shapes you can use. If you are beginning your scrapbooking craft, we suggest you stay with the simplest of these shapes. As you gain confidence please feel free to experiment with other shapes.

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USING CIRCLES and OVALS

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SCRAPBOOKING

To help break up the monotony of scrapbook pages you may want to use various shapes: circle, oval, triangles, octagon and hexagon.

As you design your pages you will find many opportunities to uses these various shapes to help in bringing focus and continuity.Both the circle and oval connotes unity and infinity. They enclose with a sense of protection things found with in them. Their curved lines lend a softening to the stogy straightness of squares and rectangles.

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USING RECTANGLES

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SQUARES IN SCRAPBOOKING

The three photos above show a square and  two rectangles. To help break up the monotony of scrapbook pages you may want to use various shapes: circle, triangles, octagon and hexagon.

As you design your pages you will find many opportunities to uses these various shapes to help in bringing focus and continuity.

Universally, we look at scrapbooks and scrapbook pages and see rectangles and squares. Also, rectangles and squares are the shape our photographs are generally printed in.

First, understand that all squares are rectangles, but all rectangles are not squares. The primary differentiation is that rectangles may have sides of different lengths . . . two opposite sides are always of equal length.

The use of rectangles and squares in building scrapbook pages will continue to be the backbone of the creative process, again, that is how our photos come to us from the developer. Softening of the right angles can help to modify the monotony– cropping and using corner punches will help.

There are benefits to the straight lines of squares and rectangles . . . keeping page elements level and parallel. These straight lines help the eye to follow smoothly over the page’s elements. The simple fact of squares and rectangles being so familiar is a plus.

Other functional reasons to squares and rectangles: to amplify a sense of organization; to create balance when other elements seem out of balance; they give a presence of strength and rigidity.

Given that we have to deal with squares and rectangles how do we soften them these much used shapes, to reduce the monotony of the right angles that make them up. The first option, and the easist one is to crop the corners with a good pair of straight cutting sissors. You may also want to try using a pair of paper edger scissors, or better still use corner edgers. Matting your photos can also change the shape and texture.

The Judge

When all is said and done, you have to decide if a scrapbook says and appears as you would like. You usually are your own best and worst critique. In the end you only have to please yourself, but usually your pages are created for sharing with others–family and friends. In the end this is your page or book. Too often we seek perfection. Scrapping is not a perfect science. Perfection is in the “eye of the beholder.”

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