Call for submissions for December/January issue

Phew! Is it summer where you live yet? For our friends along the Eastern Seaboard, this call may offer some much-welcome relief from triple-digit temperatures. We're thinking of all things wintry, now... so crank up the air conditioning, throw some carols on the stereo and get ready to share your best work with us!

All submissions are due no later than June 30, and you can submit your layouts via our online form and your tips directly via e-mail.

Do you have a blog, or do you participate in an online message board? Please feel free to spread the word there. We're always looking for fresh faces to feature in the pages of Digital Scrapbooking! And, if you want to make sure you know when we've posted new calls for submissions, just click the RSS button in your URL toolbar (it should look like an orange and white square). You'll get the latest information delivered straight to your desktop.


Time- and Money-Stretching Tips
With tight-packed schedules and thin-stretched budgets, scrapbooking can seem like an unaffordable luxury. But digital scrapbooking gives you the opportunity to save both money and time while still preserving your family's memories.Do you have a great way to economize on printer ink? A super-fast way to edit a batch of photos? Send us your tips for getting layouts done faster or cheaper. Please note that this is not a call for layouts--we're looking for tips only. Payment is $25 per published tip, and submissions are due no later than June 30. Send your tips via e-mail, rather than with our online submission form. Please include the word Tips in your message subject.

T3: Tips, Techniques and Tutorials
Our hands-on how-to column, "T3," features both cutting-edge techniques from our Creative Team and tips and tutorials from our talented readers. For this issue, we'll give special consideration to submissions featuring winter holiday themes and time- or money-saving ideas.

Here's what we're looking for:
Tips. Have you found a great way to use layer blending modes? A quick fix for less-than-perfect photos? Send us your tips of 50 words or fewer on any digital scrapbooking subject, along with a layout or project that illustrates the tip in action.

Techniques. Busy scrapbookers are always looking for ways to make scrapbooking quicker and easier. Send us your time- and stress-saving tricks, along with a layout or project that shows how you've used them to create.

Tutorials. Send us your projects featuring intermediate- to advanced-level techniques, along with complete instructions for achieving the look. (Check out the step-by-step tutorials in our February/March "Kick It Up" column for an idea of what we're looking for.) Submissions are due no later than June 30.

Heartfelt, Handmade Gifts
Have you used digital tools and techniques to make special, memorable gifts for family members or friends? We'd love to see what you've created. From mini albums to photo mugs, share your creative gift ideas with us. Submit low-resolution photos of the project (no more than 100K each) no later than June 30.

Are You Cover Material?
We're looking for simply amazing reader layouts to feature on our cover. For consideration, layout should have the following:

• a single large, well-composed photo of one (or, at the most, two) subjects, preferably making eye contact with the camera
• "only with digital" techniques combined with a clean overall design
  
• legible title and minimal journaling
  
• seasonal focus—for this issue, we'll be looking for outdoor winter shots, featuring winter clothing and activities.
  

Please submit no more than three layouts to this call. Submissions are due no later than June 30.

Submission deadline extended to May 5

We've heard from several readers that they'd like a few more days to get their submissions for our October/November issue in. Since we always like to have as many top-quality submissions as possible to choose from, we've decided to go ahead and extend the deadline to Monday, May 5.

So put the finishing touches on those family-, food- and fall-related projects and get them to us via our Web submission form by next Monday. We can't wait to see what you've got to share!

ACD Systems: Help us build better scrapbooking software

ACD Systems, makers of popular Photo Editor software, is looking for feedback from photographers and scrapbookers on their newest edition, ACDSee Photo Editor 2008.

This new edition includes scrapper-friendly upgrades such as templates from popular digital designers, a "trim to shape" feature that makes it quick and easy to add photos to templates, easier loading of brushes and brush sets and more.

Download the beta software today... give it a try... and let ACDSee know what you think. (And send us some of your creations, too! We're always excited to see work created with a variety of software programs.)

To get started, check out ACD System's site or the vibrant community of ACDSee-using digital scrapbookers at digiscrapinfo.com.

Think Fall! Submission call for October/November issue

A rainy, gray spring has finally sprung here in Portland, Oregon. The tulips have gone from zero to sixty seemingly overnight, and today my husband's getting into the first real ritual of the season: mowing the grass.

But at the Digital Scrapbooking office, we're already looking ahead to fall. And now you, too, can relive those memories of crackling leaf piles and bounteous Thanksgiving dinners. That's right: we're looking for your eye-poppingly awesome digital layouts for possible publication in our October/November issue.

Plus, we want to hear about the digital scrapbooking communities you participate in... and all about your own super-cool blog. And we're always looking for stunning cover layouts. Check out the details of what we're looking for, and get ready to send us your work!

T3: Tips, Techniques and Tutorials
Our hands-on how-to column, "T3," features both cutting-edge techniques from our Creative Team and tips and tutorials from our talented readers. For this issue, we'll give special consideration to submissions featuring fall themes and memories of food and family togetherness. We're also looking for special time-saving tricks to shave steps off of any aspect of digital scrapbooking.

Here's what we're looking for:

Tips. Have you found a great way to use layer blending modes? A quick fix for less-than-perfect photos? Send us your tips of 50 words or fewer on any digital scrapbooking subject, along with a layout or project that illustrates the tip in action.

Techniques. Busy scrapbookers are always looking for ways to make scrapbooking quicker and easier. Send us your time- and stress-saving tricks, along with a layout or project that shows how you've used them to create.

Tutorials. Send us your projects featuring intermediate- to advanced-level techniques, along with complete instructions for achieving the look. (Check out the step-by-step tutorials in our February/March "Kick It Up" column for an idea of what we're looking for.)

Show Off Your Blog!
Have you used digital papers, brushes or other scrapbooking elements to jazz up your blog or website? Show us how you've applied scrapbooking products or techniques to enhance your online presence. We'd like to see a screen shot of your work (100K or less) and a URL where we can check out your creation for ourselves. Please also include the name and store information of any purchased items you've used. (For this call, please choose the "General Submission" category on our online form.)

Share Your Community Story
Digital scrapbookers participate in a huge variety of online communities, from Facebook groups to store-associated forums. We're looking for stories of how digital communities have made a difference in the lives of their participants. Have you been inspired to scrapbook by a special contest or challenge? Made friends with a like-minded group of scrappers? Stepped up to the plate to support a charitable cause? Share your stories and your layouts (saved at 100K or smaller) with us. (For this call, please choose the "General Submission" category on our online form.)

Are You Cover Material?
We're looking for simply amazing reader layouts to feature on our cover. For consideration, layout should have the following:

• a single large, well-composed photo of one (or, at the most, two) subjects, preferably making eye contact with the camera
• "only with digital" techniques combined with a clean overall design
• legible title and minimal journaling
• seasonal focus--for this issue, we'll be looking for fall holiday and family get-together themes
  

Please submit no more than three layouts to this call.

Submit your work via our online submission form. The deadline for all submissions is April 30... so put down that gardening trowel and start thinking Fall!

Anna Aspnes' gorgeous "A Tribute" album now available on Shutterfly

What's as beautiful as a traditional scrapbook, yet as quick and easy to create as a photo book? It's contributing editor Anna Aspnes' new "A Tribute" album, available starting today at Shutterfly.

Available in both 8x8 and 12x12 sizes, this album offers drag-and-drop convenience paired with Anna's signature elegant style. Simple instructions guide you through the process of adding photos and journaling to each page, finalizing your project and ordering a top-quality printed version for delivery. Plus, her how-to articles on creating a tribute book offer inspiration for any project.

Whether you want to share the fun of digital scrapbooking with a friend or family member, or simply looking for a quick and easy way to celebrate a special person's life, check out Anna's photo book today.

Scrapbook for the kitties!

(And the doggies!)

Digital Scrapbooking alumni board member Holly McCaig has teamed up with six other top digital designers to create an all-new kit for a great cause. The ASPCA Volume 2 kit is perfect for pet owners, animal lovers and even those without critter friends at home. It includes alphas, papers, frames, adorable accents and more in a warm and snuggly range of colors. Or, for quick-and-dirty scrapbooking jobs, check out the 10-page album designed by Kathy Wagner that's ready for you to just add photos.

The ASPCA Volume 2 kit and album cost $7.99 each. All proceeds will be donated to the ASPCA to help find homes for homeless pets and raise awareness of animal welfare issues. But they're only available through April 30, so go check them out quickly!

Call for submissions for August/September issue

It's that time again: we're once again turning to our readers for the best, freshest examples of digital scrapbooking available today. These calls are for the August/September 2008 issue, so we're especially interested in projects with a late summer/early fall focus--though of course we welcome stellar work on any theme.

We give preference to work that has not been posted or shared elsewhere, though work that has been previously posted in online galleries is OK to submit as well. (Thanks to commenter teddyprayer for asking!)

Submissions for all calls are due February 29 and should be submitted through our Web site (www.digitalscrapbooking.com/submit_your_work).

Thanks for sharing your work with us! We can't wait to see what you have to show us.

T3: Tips, Techniques and Tutorials
Our hands-on how-to column, "T3," features both cutting-edge techniques from our team and tips and tutorials from our talented readers. Here's what we're looking for:

Tips. Have you found a great way to use layer blending modes? A quick fix for less-than-perfect photos? Send us your tips of 50 words or fewer on any digital scrapbooking subject, along with a layout or project that illustrates the tip in action.

Techniques. Busy scrapbookers are always looking for ways to make scrapbooking quicker and easier. Send us your time- and stress-saving tricks, along with a layout or project that shows how you've used them to create.

Tutorials. Send us your projects featuring intermediate- to advanced-level techniques, along with complete instructions for achieving the look. (Check out the step-by-step tutorials in our February/March "Kick It Up" column for an idea of what we're looking for.)

Are You Cover Material?
We're looking for simply amazing reader layouts to feature on our cover. For consideration, layout should have the following:

• a single large, well-composed and crisply focused photo of one (or, at the most, two) subjects, preferably making eye contact with the camera
• "only with digital" techniques combined with a clean overall design
• legible title and minimal journaling
• seasonal focus: For this issue, we'll be looking for late-summer and family reunion themes. A child enjoying the last days of summer or spending time with a parent or grandparent would be great.

Please submit no more than three layouts to this call.

The Art of Words
Word art is one of the most popular embellishments for digital scrapbook pages today. We're looking for layouts that feature word art—either from digital kits or your own design—used in fresh, eye-catching ways. Show us how you've used artful type compositions to enliven your projects and pages. If you're using a piece of word art from a commercial kit, be sure to include information on the kit source and designer name. Submissions are due no later than February 29, 2008 and should be sent to www.digitalscrapbooking.com/submit.

The PMA show... WOW!

Just got back last night from four days at PMA/MemoryTrends. It was the first time the Digital Scrapbooking crew has been to this show, and it was a huge eye-opener! All those lovely cameras, software, gadgets... in short, more of the delicious stuff that's balm to a digital scrapbooker's geeky little heart.

Though it's hard to pick just a few favorites from the huge range of cool stuff we saw, here are a few items that stood out for me personally:

• Sigma DP1. Though small enough to fit perfectly in my hand, this compact camera packs a 14MP, APS-sized sensor that produces great, low-noise shots at up to 800 ISO. Plus, it's got a super-sharp 28mm-equivalent fixed lens, full manual exposure and focus controls and QVGA video capability. It even offers the option of shooting in RAW format--a rarity among non-SLR cameras. If you don't want to tote around a heavy D-SLR with you, or if you're just interested in a high-quality compact camera, this is definitely one to check out. Look for it in stores around April at an estimated $800 price. (Also on my list: Sigma's 18-50mm 2.8 macro lens for my Nikon D200.)
  
• MemoryVue's NuTouch NT-700 digital photo frame. There were a lot of digital frames at the show. A LOT. What sets the NT-700 apart from the rest is its iPhone-like touchscreen interface... no fumbling with buttons on the back of the frame! Just swipe your finger along the base of the screen to bring up easy-to-navigate touch menus. Oh, and it plays MP3 audio files, too. Cool.
  
• Clickfree's ultra-user-friendly backup system. I admit it... I don't back up my computer files nearly as often (errrr, ever) as I ought to. (I think the last time I did a full backup was about six months ago when I was switching to a new computer.) But Clickfree's products don't require you to install any software or configure any options. Just plug the palm-sized hard drive into your USB port and it'll take care of backing up photos, music, documents, e-mails and everything else you don't want to lose. (Or, if you're like me and don't really want to back up every file on your system, you can specify which file extensions to ignore.)
  

Were you at PMA? What did you see that you liked? Any stories to tell? Please feel free to share in the comments.

I'm going to ask the other team members to chime in on their impressions of the show, too. Keep an eye out for their picks later this week!

Take a stroll down the red carpet with our layout contest!

Looking for a touch of excitement in your life to relieve those post-holiday blahs? Get ready for awards season (though not the Golden Globes this year...) by entering Digital Scrapbooking's Red Carpet Layout Contest. One winner in each category will take home a goodie basket worthy of any Oscar presenter.

We're looking for layouts in the following categories:

• Drama
• Comedy
• Documentary
• Romance
• Family-Friendly

You may enter as many layouts as you wish in any category you like. Here's how to enter:

• Join the Digital Scrapbooking Magazine group at Flickr.com. You'll need to register with Flickr--it's free.
• Upload your layout to Flickr. Give it a title including the name of the category you're entering. Use the Caption area to include any special information you'd like us to know about your layout.
  
• After uploading the photo, click "Send to Group" in the menu just above the photo and choose "Digital Scrapbooking Magazine."
• We're accepting entries from now through March 31. Thanks for playing--and break a leg!

Want more information? Read the official rules or check out the complete prize list.

Call for submissions for June/July issue

Brrr! If it's anywhere near as cold and dreary where you live as it is in my Portland office, you'll love the chance to "think sunny" for our new call for submissions.

Here are the details. As always, we appreciate seeing seasonally appropriate photos, lively designs and thoughtful journaling.

Also, please feel free to repost this information on your own blog and to share it with others. The more submissions we get, the happier we are--and the more awesome work we can share with you in the magazine.

T3: Tips, Techniques and Tutorials
Our info-packed new column, "T3," features cutting-edge techniques, tips and tutorials from our talented readers and regular contributors.

Here's what we're looking for:
Tips. Have you found a great way to use layer blending modes? A quick fix for less-than-perfect photos? Send us your tips of 50 words or fewer on any digital scrapbooking subject, along with a layout or project that illustrates the tip in action.

Techniques. Busy scrapbookers are always looking for ways to make scrapbooking quicker and easier. Send us your time- and stress-saving techniques, along with a layout or project that shows how you've used them to create.

Tutorials. Send us your projects featuring intermediate- to advanced-level techniques, along with complete instructions for achieving the look. (Check out the step-by-step tutorials in our December/January "Kick It Up" column for an idea of what we're looking for.)

Send us your submission with complete contact information and materials list via e-mail. Your submission should be a JPEG file, 100K or less. Deadline is January 7.

Reality Scrapbooking: Scrapbook Your Real Life
Life isn't all rosebuds and sugar plums--though you'd never know it by looking through the average scrapbook. Rough spots and tough times shape our families' lives as much as (or more than) holidays and celebrations. Tell your true story by sharing the details of the less-than-perfect moments you've experienced. Whether they led you to make a positive change, taught you a valuable lesson or simply helped you develop a sense of humor about yourself, difficult times deserve to be scrapbooked too.

Send us your layouts sharing the details of your real life. We're looking for strong and meaningful journaling and photos that capture emotion. We'd also like to hear your stories about how scrapbooking challenging times has helped you to cope with them in a positive way.

Send us your submission with complete contact information and materials list via e-mail. Your submission should be a JPEG file, 100K or less. Deadline is January 7.

Bonus: Want to improve your submission's chance of success? Check out our preparation guidelines.

Meet the Creative Team: Becky Pogatchnik

Today, we'd like you to meet the fifth member of our Creative Team: Becky Pogatchnik. Becky's strongly graphic layouts, infused by a sense of whimsy, are regularly featured in Digital Scrapbooking. She's known for her blending of journaling, design and photographs with a strong focus on the meaning behind each picture. She lives in Minnesota with Jamie, her husband of eleven years, and Sam, her six-year-old daughter.

How did you get into digital scrapbooking?

I have been scrapping digitally for a year and a half. It was supposed to have been “just one layout.” And that one turned into another. And another. And I never looked back. My once prized and hoarded paper supplies are now play things for my six-year-old.

Can you share a little about your scrapbooking philosophy with Digital Scrapbooking's readers?

Digital is such an ideal medium for my ultra-simple style. Some days, I barely consider myself a scrapper—I see myself as more of a biographer of sorts. My goal is to document my daughter’s life through words and photos (in that order). I want her to know who she was. Who I was. Who we were together. I create lots of “sans photo” layouts. No photos. Just words. I think it’s perfectly acceptable to just write. Don’t over-think it. Just say it. Don’t worry about complete sentences. Write like you talk. And write it while you still remember. My daughter says classic things on a daily basis, and it's usually while I'm driving. Whenever she does, I discreetly pick up my cell phone and call my voice mail, repeating what she just said.

What's something most people don't know about you?

A surprising fact about me? There aren’t many. I tend to wear my heart on my sleeve. I’m passionate about life. I’m passionate about living it. Okay, here’s one. I’m addicted to America’s Next Top Model. But only so I can learn from the photo shoots.

Meet the Creative Team: Cassie Jones

Today, we'd like to introduce a fourth member of our Creative Team: Cassie Jones. Her bright, cheerful pages and attention-grabbing techniques have been featured regularly in the pages of Digital Scrapbooking since the magazine's launch. She lives in Texas with her husband Jeffry and their five-year-old son Jack, the star of many of Cassie's layouts.

How did you get started in digital scrapbooking?
I have been scrapbooking digitally since the fall of 2006. I tried really hard to be a paper scrapper, but I just wasn't producing much. I've always been comfortable at a computer, and when I became a stay-at-home mom, I decided to pick up a book and learn the Adobe Creative Suite. I was hooked by the second chapter, but never finished the book. I just learned enough to get myself addicted, and took it from there.

Do you have a tip you'd like to share with Digital Scrapbooking's readers?
The main photography tip I would give scrapbookers is to keep an eye out for unusual perspectives. Take your shots from unexpected angles, and the results will make fabulous pages!

What's something most people don't know about you?
I think the thing that most surprises people (who don't know me well) is that I have some sort of subconscious fear of completing things (other than scrapbooking). I do pretty much everything to about 96% completion, then I walk away and start something else. If the kitchen is clean and I come across a spoon that got missed, I just put it in the sink and walk away. It's a strange sort of comfort. Crazy? I think so.

Meet the Creative Team: Deena Wuest

Today, we'll meet a third member of our new Creative Team: Kansas resident and regular Digital Scrapbooking contributor Deena Wuest.

Clean, crisp and uncluttered, Deena's scrapbooking style is one that could only be achieved with digital tools and techniques. Married for thirteen years to her husband Joe, she's also a mom of three: seven-year-old daughter Savanna, six-year-old son Skyler and baby girl Brooklyn (the star of the layout below). "I've always had a passion for graphic design," Deena says. "Digital scrapbooking has given me the perfect outlet to combine this passion with my first love: my family."

How did you get started in digital scrapbooking?
I started paper scrapbooking seven years ago when my daughter was born and made the leap to digital about two years ago. I actually agonized over the decision to switch from paper, and I'll never fully understand why. My favorite part of paper scrapping was designing my text and layouts in Microsoft Word, so going digital should have been a no-brainer. When I finally got a copy of Photoshop Elements, I was in absolute heaven--I kicked myself for not trying it sooner. These fingers haven't touched paper since!

Do you have a tip you'd like to share with Digital Scrapbooking's readers?
When I download a kit, I make a copy of the preview file included in the ZIP file and save it in a separate folder titled "Previews - Kits." That way, when I want to look through my supplies, I can open this folder in Windows Explorer, change the View option to "Filmstrip," and see at a glance a large photo of everything in the kit. Since I don't have to open each kit folder separately, it saves a lot of time. It's also very inspiring to look through all the gorgeous kits. (I also make separate preview directories for my accents, alphas, and templates.)

Sneak peek layout:

Meet the Creative Team: Melinda Alexander

Today, we'd like to introduce you to another new member of our Creative Team: Melinda Alexander. You may recognize Melinda's name--and you'll definitely recognize her photos of her son--from previous issues of Digital Scrapbooking. Melinda lives along the Murray River in Australia with her husband Joel and four-year-old son Jordan.

Her location makes her a perfect photographer for our magazine. Since Australia's seasons are reversed from the Northern Hemisphere, Melinda can look forward to getting frantic calls in February asking for summery-looking shots... and vice versa!

How long have you been scrapbooking digitally?
I've been working digitally for three years. I was never a paper scrapper.

How did you get into digital?
I stumbled into digital while trying to find a way to make a personalized baby album for my son and knew right away it was for me. I had long loved playing around with photos and editing software!

What's something most people don't know about you?
I stay up late at night--I mean ridiculously late--to get scrapping done. It's the only chance I have for some time to myself.

Do you have a tip you'd like to share with Digital Scrapbooking's readers?
To get great photos of kids, let your shooting be spontaneous. Interact with them while they are doing their own thing... sing silly songs or play fun games to get their attention.

Get crafty for the holidays with Renee Pearson

It's time to deck the halls... digitally! Our own Renee Pearson is teaming up with Adobe for a fun, free class on creating holiday-themed projects using Adobe Photoshop Elements 6.0 and Photoshop CS3 (though of course, it's OK if you have an older version).

Here are the details:

Fun Holiday Projects with Photoshop Elements 6 and Photoshop CS3
Tuesday, December 11, 2007 11:00 A.M. PST

See how easy it is to make exciting holiday-themed projects with Renee Pearson, Associate Editor of Digital Scrapbooking magazine. She'll demonstrate time-saving step-by-step editing and design techniques for each project. Have fun and be creative!

You'll need an Adobe ID to register--it takes just a couple of minutes to get one, and then just a second to sign up for the class.

Hope to see you there... I'll be the one in the back humming "Santa Baby."

Meet the Creative Team: Kayla Lamoreaux

Today, we're introducing the first of our five Creative Team members for 2008: Kayla Lamoreaux. Kayla's work, both in paper and digital formats, has been featured in magazines for years. She's a mom of five kids: a daughter, two sons and twin little girls. Luckily, she's married to "a wonderful and patient man who helps out with dinner," giving her time to work on her creative projects.

How long have you been scrapbooking digitally?
That depends on your definition of "digitally!" I'd been using my computer as a scrapbooking tool for a long time. Then, in 2002, I took a Photoshop class and was soon creating 100%-digital layouts.

How did you get into digital?
In late 2001 I was working on a scrapbook about my husband’s late father. I put it together in traditional format – all 63 pages! For Christmas we created 13 copies of the book – one for each of my husband’s immediate family and his aunts, uncles and grandparents. I scanned each individual page into my computer and printed them with my inkjet printer. 819 pages later (I think it took me a week to get done), I was convinced there must be a better way…which led me to taking my first Photoshop class.

What's something most people don't know about you?
I am a nationally certified Parent to Parent trainer for CHADD. I teach other parents about ADHD and really enjoy making a difference in my community.

Do you have a tip you'd like to share with Digital Scrapbooking's readers?

For this layout, I wanted to show different steps of the action on a single page. I lined up the four successive photos and then merged the layers together over a transparent background. I then duplicated the new merged image by selecting Image > Duplicate and then converted the duplicated image to black and white.

While holding the Shift key, I dragged the black and white image back to the original photo (so the pixels lined up perfectly). I then added a layer mask to the black and white photo layer, and with my brush tool and foreground color set to black, I painted everything back in color except the bright blue slide top that would have distracted from my layout.

Look for Kayla's work in upcoming issues of Digital Scrapbooking!

Congratulations to our new Creative Team!

With Digital Scrapbooking's April/May 2008 issue, we'll be celebrating our first anniversary--and we'll also welcome aboard five new members of our Creative Team.

You'll recognize these women's names from their work featured in previous issues of Digital Scrapbooking. Their skills in design, photography and digital techniques are sure to inspire you.

Congratulations to these new members of the Creative Team!

• Melinda Alexander
• Kayla Lamoreaux
• Becky Pogatchnik
• Deena Wuest
• Cassie Jones

Over the next couple of weeks, we'll introduce you to each team member individually and give you a special sneak peek at their recent work. Please join us in welcoming them to the Digital Scrapbooking family.

In Review: Adobe Photoshop Elements 6.0

For several years now, Adobe Photoshop Elements has been the software of choice for a huge percentage of digital scrapbookers, as the submissions we receive at Digital Scrapbooking make clear. With the release of Photoshop Elements 6.0, it's apparent once again why this program is so popular with digi-scrappers of every level of experience and ability. Several cool new features make it easier than ever to use, and a color-scheme makeover gives it a fresh dash of style.

I've had the chance to play with this new version for a few weeks now, and here are some of my favorite updates:

• Sleek new space. As soon as you launch Elements 6.0, you'll be greeted by a sleek new workspace with a charcoal-gray background similar to Adobe's Photoshop, Bridge and Lightroom professional-level programs. This darker color helps photos stand out against the screen and gives a less cluttered appearance.

• Easy organization. In the Organizer workspace, star icons below each photo make it easy to quickly rate each image (so you can start assembling a collection of five-star photos for a book project!) and a new keyword sidebar gives you instant access to descriptive tags for every photo.

• Kit control. If, like most digital scrapbookers, you have a hard drive crammed with kits and elements, you'll love the new Smart Album feature. This feature allows you to create new albums, or collections of images, based on specific criteria that you suggest—and they'll automatically update as you add new content! For example, you can create a Smart Album for all files whose name contains “paper,” or one with the name of a favorite designer set as a keyword.
  

• Menu options. The Organizer workspace includes four menus in the right sidebar: Organize, Fix, Create and Share. Each gives access to a range of common tasks and creative options, from “Auto Red Eye Fix” to “Create Photo Book.” Whether you're a brand-new digital scrapbooker or have been scrapping digitally for years, you'll appreciate the convenience of having these most-requested features at your fingertips.

• Professional guidance. The new Guided Edit mode takes you step-by-step through a series of the most common photo editing tasks, from fixing lighting and contrast problems to repairing tears and scratches in a scanned image. It's like having a Photoshop tutor standing at your elbow.

• Better black and white. Although Photoshop Elements 5.0 included some new black-and-white conversion options, version 6.0 goes a step further and gives you more precise control over your results. In addition to a menu of options such as “Infrared” and “Scenic Landscape,” a series of sliders allow you to fine-tune the effect of each preset option for a truly custom look.
  
  

• Perfect group shots. This one might be worth the price of the upgrade all on its own! New Photomerge technology allows you to select individals from different shots from a group photo session and combine them into a single image where all members look their best. Check out what I did with these less-than-perfect images from a recent family photo shoot.
  Here are the original pictures:
  
  
  
  And the final result:
  
  

Adobe Photoshop Elements 6.0 sells for a suggested price of $99 for the full version or $79 for an upgrade. Try it for free by downloading a trial version at adobe.com.

Happy Digital Scrapbooking Day!

How are you celebrating this first-of-its-kind occasion? I hope you're making time to go through photos... pick out the perfect digital kits and elements to complement them (you should buy a kit or two in honor of the holiday, right?)... and most importantly, pair them with your own creativity and memories to preserve them for the future.

Don't forget! Today's the last day to enter our "Why I Love Digital Scrapbooking" layout contest. We've got prizes to give away (maybe even including a spot in the magazine!) and we can't wait to see what you've got to share.

(How am I celebrating, you ask? Why, by working on an article for the next issue of Digital Scrapbooking, of course. How else?)

Reader Survey Link Broken

It has come to our attention that the link to fill out the reader survey on the survey page is not working. We will fix it as soon as possible, but in the meantime please use the link below to fill it out:

http://www.zoomerang.com/recipient/survey-intro.zgi?p=WEB226VHCNNM7D



You will be entered in a drawing for prizes so fill it out today!


Thank you.