when good pages go bad
Steer newer students toward lower contrast patterns. High
contrast patterns (such as black and white) are trickier to use
because they naturally draw the eye. Low contrast patterns
(such as tone on tone) are easier to use in a supporting role.
Help your students choose patterns with a scale smaller than the subject of
their photos. If the pattern scale is larger than the subject, the reader’s eye
will naturally travel to the patterned paper and not the photo. A smaller
scale pattern will allow the photo to shine.
Shape
Problem: Looking back through my older pages, it’s easy to see that I was
enamored with shaped photos: Stars, ovals, hearts, and circles peppered my
pages. Shape creates movement, but too much movement can be dizzying
to the eye. Multiple shaped photos can result in the reader not knowing
where to look first.
Many beginners are tempted to cut photos into shapes. In my experience,
however, those who use anything other than a circle or oval often regret it
later. Cutting photos into other shapes tends to draw attention to the shape
rather than the photo.
Solution: Suggest that students choose (at most) one photo per page to
shape into an oval or circle. Because the reader’s eye will naturally gravitate
first to the shaped photo, it should be the most significant photo on the
page. Suggest to students that they use other shapes (stars, hearts, etc.) as
decorative elements.
Line
Problem: Because of its versatility, line is one of the most effective tools a
scrapbooker can employ. A line can be curved, straight, horizontal, vertical,
or diagonal, and each type creates a different mood on the page. Horizontal
and vertical lines can be combined to create an implied “grid” which helps
a scrapbooker organize a layout. Lack of line on a page can result in a
layout that feels ungrounded.
I recently taught an all-day class in which we discussed a few design
concepts, notably line. A woman who had been scrapbooking for many
years pulled out some pages she had recently completed. “That’s the
problem!” she exclaimed. Photos and embellishments floated on her page
without anchor, alignment, or order. She had never been satisfied with the
pages but couldn’t figure out why. Her pages lacked line.
scrapbook business 41
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