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- Mar 7, 2010
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We've come to the final week of Summer School. This is your spot for the week to post anything and everything related to page design, color theory, templates, calculations, symmetry, etc. etc. These are ALL the things related to page composition and design - the BIG picture of your pages!
Here is a great overall basics post about page design, by the way...
I must admit I'm a huge fan of templates and use them as a starting point for nearly every page. I think this started when I joined a template artist's creative team probably like 15 yrs ago, but I love how the work of planning my page is done for me. I've had friends ask if I feel limited by the template. But friends, that is quitters talk! Templates are not set in stone. You can flip them, rotate then, shrink them and place them on a new background (print or solid!), strip them down eliminating elements or photo spots, or layer them up with more elements or photos. You are really only limited by your imagination, because the good design is already built in! Additionally, those templates can be used time and time again - a rather economic purchase. Don't agree? Let's see if I can change your mind. Check out this post from the blog where Stefanie @StefanieS shows three different layouts using the same template which are so diverse, and this is prior to any size or orientation change options.
And I know I've shown this one before, but it's worth the reminder... Check out Monica's @dailydwelling post showing the same template four ways - Template Fun: Making it Uniquely Yours
Spoiler: She used the SAME template in all four of those pages... see how unique they can be when you use your own twist on them. You can use them over and over as a great launching point to save you time too!
Another tip for page design is planning double pages. I like to print my pages into books. So placing the pages in an appealing way without completely clashing colors pleases my eye. Sometimes if I end up with an odd empty page in my album flow, I will elements from the template on the opposing page with multiple photos, and then plan a large feature photo on the opposing page with the same coordinating background colors. I'll drag over a finished element cluster from the first page, rotate and tweak it a bit. Maybe I'll create a layered border edge or matting using the matting or scallop from the template - resizing as needed. And presto! Double page spread done.
Alternatively, Stefanie @StefanieS suggests picking two coordinating templates and making a spread. She has a series on the blog showing just this!
Template Tuesday : Make it a double
and see part 1 HERE
Chime in below with your tips or tricks - template or any page design topic.
Here is a great overall basics post about page design, by the way...
I must admit I'm a huge fan of templates and use them as a starting point for nearly every page. I think this started when I joined a template artist's creative team probably like 15 yrs ago, but I love how the work of planning my page is done for me. I've had friends ask if I feel limited by the template. But friends, that is quitters talk! Templates are not set in stone. You can flip them, rotate then, shrink them and place them on a new background (print or solid!), strip them down eliminating elements or photo spots, or layer them up with more elements or photos. You are really only limited by your imagination, because the good design is already built in! Additionally, those templates can be used time and time again - a rather economic purchase. Don't agree? Let's see if I can change your mind. Check out this post from the blog where Stefanie @StefanieS shows three different layouts using the same template which are so diverse, and this is prior to any size or orientation change options.
And I know I've shown this one before, but it's worth the reminder... Check out Monica's @dailydwelling post showing the same template four ways - Template Fun: Making it Uniquely Yours
Spoiler: She used the SAME template in all four of those pages... see how unique they can be when you use your own twist on them. You can use them over and over as a great launching point to save you time too!
Another tip for page design is planning double pages. I like to print my pages into books. So placing the pages in an appealing way without completely clashing colors pleases my eye. Sometimes if I end up with an odd empty page in my album flow, I will elements from the template on the opposing page with multiple photos, and then plan a large feature photo on the opposing page with the same coordinating background colors. I'll drag over a finished element cluster from the first page, rotate and tweak it a bit. Maybe I'll create a layered border edge or matting using the matting or scallop from the template - resizing as needed. And presto! Double page spread done.
Alternatively, Stefanie @StefanieS suggests picking two coordinating templates and making a spread. She has a series on the blog showing just this!
Template Tuesday : Make it a double
and see part 1 HERE
Chime in below with your tips or tricks - template or any page design topic.
