Heidi Dillon

Organizing Digital Photos - Part Six: Finding Your Photos

Once you've gone through and tagged all your photos, how do you go about finding the ones you want? I'll give you specifics for the Windows 7 Explorer. All software is pretty similar, so poke around and see what you can find. Plus, the more you explore in your software on your own, the more comfortable you'll get and the more you'll figure out!

Let's get started.

Step Five: Finding Your Photos

In Windows 7, open your Explorer window (Window+E). On the left side of this window near the top will be a folder called "Libraries." Double-click on that and then choose "Pictures." Now, on the right side, some folders should show, and we want to add our Digital Pictures folder to this library. Do that by clicking right underneath the "Pictures Library" title where there is a link that shows how many locations there are.

When the new box comes up, click "Add" and browse to your Digital Pictures folder. We're not actually moving any files here; we're just telling Windows where to look for pictures. So if you have more than one photo folder, add them at this time, too. When you're finished adding picture folders (you should only need to add the top folder in your list, not all the folders underneath also), click "OK."

Now, highlight your Digital Pictures folder in this Pictures Library. There is a search box in the upper right-hand corner. Click in it and look at the bottom of the box that drops down. There should be an option there for Tags. Click on it. Any tags that Windows can read in your pictures in that folder set will show up. You can search for a tag by clicking on it.

If you'd like to search for a photo with more than one tag attached to it, click on your first tag, then type "AND" in the search box, then type your second tag, and click the magnifying glass to search. If you want to find a photo with either one tag or the other attached to it, substitute "OR" for "AND." For instance, type "Tag: XXX OR XXX" in the search box (where the XXX is replaced with your tag names).

I've been having so much fun experimenting with tagging and playing with searches for my photos! I hope you've been enjoying this process, too. It's been fun to explore and come up with solutions to organizing problems you may be having.

For those of you who may have missed any of this six-part series, here are the links so you may read them all:

Organizing Digital Photos - Part One: Structure
http://www.scrapgirls.com/NL/Chit_Chat_110120_Thurs_Organize.htm

Organizing Digital Photos - Part Two: Importing
http://www.scrapgirls.com/NL/Chit_Chat_110127_Thurs_Import.htm

Organizing Digital Photos - Part Three: Creating Tags
http://www.scrapgirls.com/NL/Chit_Chat_110203_Thurs_Tags.htm

Organizing Digital Photos - Part Four: Sorting and Tagging
http://www.scrapgirls.com/NL/Chit_Chat_110210_Thurs_Delete.htm

Organizing Digital Photos - Part Five: Tagging and Deleting
http://www.scrapgirls.com/NL/Chit_Chat_110217_Thurs_Sort.htm

- Heidi

Scrap Girls, Etc. is a weekly column pulling bits and pieces from all over Scrap Girls. Stay tuned each week as Scrap Girls' Jane-of-All-Trades Heidi Dillon brings you tutorials, musings, recipes, interviews, design/software tips and tricks, layout walk-throughs, and who knows what else!

SCRAP GIRLS CLUB

Join the Scrap Girls Monthly Club and you can have fun with the newest traditional digital and printable scrapbooking looks while saving! (A $27.94 value for $9.99 or less!)

The Scrap Girls Club contents are released on the 1st day of the month (or the closest business day to the 1st).

With the Scrap Girls Club, you will receive:

1 Collection Biggie
1 Paper Super Mini
1 8.5x11 Sheet of Word Art
1 Embellishment Set
1 Assemble Your Own Zoom Page Set
1 Designer's Choice Item

Layout by Brandy Murry using February's Scrap Girls Club
larger view

Created for you by Kim Meeder

If you prefer not to join a club, the Scrap Girls Club contents are available at regular prices in the Boutique. You can easily find them right now by checking the What's New? section of the Boutique.

Note: The Scrap Girls Club contents are always available for sale elsewhere in the Boutique at their regular prices once the associated club month is released. But all club contents are totally brand new, never-seen-before product releases for each month!

SCRAPSIMPLE CLUB

Join the ScrapSimple Monthly Club and you can enjoy the newest ScrapSimple looks while saving! (A $13.95 value for $6.99 or less!)

The new ScrapSimple Club contents are released on the 15th day of the month (or the closest business day to the 15th).

With the ScrapSimple Club, you will receive:

1 ScrapSimple Paper Template Set
1 ScrapSimple Embellishment Template
1 Brush Set
2 Designer's Choice Item

A commercially licensed version of the ScrapSimple Club is also available here.

Layout by Brandy Murry using February's ScrapSimple Club
larger view

Created for you by Brandy Murry and Sara Beth Peterson

If you prefer not to join a club, the ScrapSimple Club contents are available at regular prices in the Boutique. You can easily find them right now by checking the What's New? section of the Boutique.

Note: The ScrapSimple Club contents are always available for sale in the Boutique at regular prices once the associated club month is released. But all club contents are totally brand new, never-seen-before product releases for each month!

Dynamic Brushes

Have you discovered all the magical things that can happen when you use Dynamic Brushes?

When you use Dynamic Brushes, they change direction as they follow your cursor across the page, automatically scatter, and some will even change color! And if you have a tablet, they will respond to the pen pressure, as if you were using a real brush or a calligraphy pen.

You can see here that I've used brushes in my layout. My photo is clipped to a mask made from a brush, and I've got some heart and splotch brushes. It's a good start, but I want to kick it up a notch and really pull things together. I'm going to show you how I did that using Dynamic Brushes.

Take a look at the layout now after I've added a couple of Dynamic Bushes:

To anchor the rick-rack, I've added two lines of Dynamic Brush Set: Baroque Borders 1 Biggie. To keep a straight line as you brush, hold down your Shift key. Holding my Shift key, I made a line across my entire page (to make sure I had enough). I duplicated it and flipped it vertically, then I positioned them on either side of the rick-rack. To enhance my photo, I've added some subtle hearts using Dynamic Brush Set: Bokeh 1501. This brush will automatically scatter translucent shapes, so I just clicked in a few strategic places around my photo. To color them, I created a gradient fill layer and clipped it to the bokeh layer. With a gradient, I was able to easily get a range of colors for the hearts.

It's really come together, but I'd seen a paper-scrapped layout where the artist created a paper-pierced, doodle-y swirl, and I wanted to see if I could do that digitally on this layout. After several tries with my pen tablet to create a doodle-y swirl, I became frustrated. It didn't flow smoothly for me.

Having little patience for such things, I remembered that ScrapSimple Tools - Actions: Edge It 5001 could do the work for me if I found the right shape. I chose a string from ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Just Strings and used it as a base to run the action with Dynamic Brush Set: Paper Piercing 8201. Simply running the action with the "exact" selection put the holes on the edges of the string on a separate layer, giving me the paper-pierced swirl that I had in mind. I moved the paper-pierced brush layer onto my layout.

While I had my pen tablet out, I thought I'd add a touch of my own handwriting to the layout, which is the reason I got the tablet in the first place. Dynamic Brush Set: Drawing 5701 is a great brush for this! I like to use the selection called "pen" for writing, because it responds to pressure as if I'm using a calligrapher's pen. If you don't have a tablet, you can get great results with a mouse as well. Here's my final layout:

Layout by Elisha Barnett
larger view

Commercial license versions of Dynamic Brush Set: Baroque Borders 1 Biggie, Dynamic Brush Set: Bokeh 1501, Dynamic Brush Set: Drawing 5701, Dynamic Brush Set: Paper Piercing 8201, ScrapSimple Tools - Actions: Edge It PSE 5001, ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Just Strings, ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Off The Wall - Torn, Brush Set: Splotches, Brush Set: Patterned Fragments and Well Loved Collection Biggie are also available.

Article written by Elisha Barnett

FREE STARTER KIT

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This dynamite eBook is 65 pages - packed full of the information, ideas, and help people need when they are about to dive into this great hobby. It answers all of the important questions new digital scrapbookers have. They are all here for you - in one easy to use eBook!

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Would you like a chance to try digital scrapbooking yourself?

Scrap Girls' Refresh Collection Biggie offers you free samples of some of our most popular product types. Try making a layout, your own paper with a ScrapSimple Paper Template, a fast layout with a ScrapSimple Digital Layout Template, or experiment with a brush.

We know you'll love digital scrapbooking as much as we do, and we have thousands of products to feed your new addiction!

Ready to Take Off? In-depth Tutorials Help You Become a Great Digital Scrapbooker

Scrapbook Software Secrets Revealed!

NEWLY UPDATED! Scrapbook Software Secrets Revealed for Photoshop
NEWLY UPDATED! Scrapbook Software Secrets Revealed for Photoshop Elements
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Find out what tens of thousands of people have already learned: Scrapbook Software Secrets Revealed is the fastest way to learn how to create digital scrapbooking layouts. And because this series covers so many topics with one purchase, it is a bargain!

In the tutorials, you'll see Ro working on her computer and hear her talking about why she is doing what she is doing. It's like having Ro come to your home and give you private scrapbooking lessons. You can create digital scrapbooking layouts today!

Download and CD versions available.

Photoshop and Photoshop Elements users receive:

30-33 movie tutorials
Companion eBook(s)
Collections
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Paint Shop Pro users receive 31 movie tutorials.

MORE Scrapbook Software Secrets Revealed!

MORE Scrapbook Software Secrets Revealed! for Adobe Photoshop
MORE Scrapbook Software Secrets Revealed! for Adobe Photoshop Elements

Now that you've learned the basics of digital scrapbooking with Scrapbook Software Secrets Revealed for Photoshop and Photoshop Elements, you are ready to learn advanced skills for having even more fun while you create digital scrapbooking layouts!

Get a big boost learning how to use ScrapSimple products to make your own backgrounds, embellishments, and alphas with the MORE Scrapbook Software Secrets Revealed for Photoshop Elements movie tutorial series. You'll learn so much that your digital scrapbooking layouts will never be the same!

eBooks

Scrap Girls offers a large catalog of eBooks covering topics that will expand your digital scrapbooking abilities to new heights. Here are just a few samples:

Scrapbook Quotes: The right quote for your scrapbook layouts

Looking for scrapbooking quotes or quotes to use for greeting cards? Here's your solution. This packed eBook contains hundreds of quotes, collected over many years by Rozanne Paxman specifically for use on scrapbooking layouts.

Scrapbooking 911 - 2-page Sketches
to Revitalize Your Digital Scrapbooking eBook

Are you stuck in a creative corner? Need a jumpstart to your layouts? Want more ideas how to go from a blank page to a digital masterpiece? With a fresh collection of original sketches, all the hard design decisions (such as balance, composition, and rule of thirds) have already been made for you.

Scrap Girls Tutorials & Way Cool Stuff eBook Set - 2010 1st Quarter

Subscribers to the Scrap Girls Newsletter have one thing in common: they love to learn new techniques! Each issue shares ideas, tutorials, and new ways to use Scrap Girls quality digital scrapbooking products. Now you can have all those past tutorials and Way Cool Stuff articles of the 1st Quarter of 2010 in one convenient PDF format. It's easy to find those helpful hints with just the click of your mouse. You get two eBooks for the price of one!

Ten Beginner Tips on Type eBook

If you're creating a digital scrapbooking layout, it's almost guaranteed that you'll be using type on your pages somewhere. But did you know that type can make or break your page? What typeface will you use? What size font? Where will you place it on your page? If you want to take some beginner steps towards improving the type on your layouts, and thereby improving the overall look of your layouts, then this eBook is perfect for you.

See more titles

Layout by Brandy Murry
larger view

Designer Freebie by Brandy Murry coordinates with her ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Floribunda,
part of this month's ScrapSimple Club offering!

Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Floribunda, Brush Set: So Tatty, ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Ribbon Embroidery, ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Quilted Fabric, Brush Set: Swirlicious Biggie, Brush Set: Junk in the Trunk, ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Background Blenders II Biggie and ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Bokeh Blur are also available.

* There is a "free download" button on the details page for each gift. You don't need to put them in your shopping cart unless you are shopping for other items. Also note that if you are slow reading your newsletter, you may find this freebie has already been retired, as the freebies are only available as gifts for about two newsletter cycles.

CROPS AND CHATS

What's New in the Scrap Girls Boutique Chat
Friday, February 25th - 9:00AM MT

Join April (April Showers) at 9am MT on Friday mornings to chat about all the wonderful new products in the Scrap Girls Boutique! What are your favorite new items? Is your shopping basket full? What did you kaboodle? Have you already done layouts or other projects with your new goodies? Come tell the designers how much you love their work. You never know who will show up. There's a thread every Thursday and now there's a chat too!

Speed Scrap Crop
Friday, February 25th - 6:00PM MT

Looking for a challenge? Then join Angela (angelaNussbaum) and Carla (CRS) on Friday, February 25th at 6pm MT for a Speed Scrap Crop! We'll give you six items - spread out over an hour - for you to include on your layout. Time is limited and a lot of the guess work is done for you, but it's up to you to put it all together!

Swap Crop Chat
Saturday, February 26th - 6:00PM MT

It's time for the Swap Crop Chat! We've done the swapping and created the layouts, now it's time to chat about all the gorgeous layouts! I don't know what it is, but these swaps bring out the best in everyone. This is the time to chat about the theme, the beautiful layouts and learn about the swap crop if you haven't participated before. We'll brainstorm a theme for next month, too! Join Carla (CRS) and Angela (angelaNussbaum) for a fun chat at 6pm MT on Saturday, February 26th!

ScrapSimple Club Chat
Monday, February 28th - 5:00PM MT

Join April (April Showers) and Angela (angelaNussbaum) on Monday, February 28th at 5pm MT for a chat and challenge using this month's ScrapSimple Club. Did you know that every time you create a layout with the ScrapSimple Club and upload it into the ScrapSimple Club Gallery that you could be chosen to be featured in the Newsletter and receive a prize? Well, join us for the chat so we can encourage and inspire you and help with any questions that you may have. Let's get those ScrapSimple Club layouts done and uploaded!

Life Moments Chat
Tuesday, March 1st - 6:00PM MT

Our Life Moments Challenge and Chat are all about YOU! We are usually so busy scrapping others in our lives that it's good to take time to work on a life album about ourselves. A challenge for this chat will be posted early in the day and we hope you will take the opportunity to add to your on-going album or to start one if you haven't yet. Join Pat (PBarnes) in the Chat Room Lobby at 6pm MT on Tuesday, March 1st!

Creative Cards Chat
Tuesday, March 1st - 7:00PM MT

Do you use your digi-supplies to make cards? Do you want to? Instead of going to the store every time you need a card, you can save money and have fun making cards with your digital stash! Make a note of any cards you might need for the upcoming month and join Shannon (tinkerbell11) and Theresa (tiza126) for the once-a-month Creative Card Chat on the first Tuesday of each month at 7pm MT. Can't wait to see you there!

East Coast High Noon Crop
Wednesday, March 2nd - 10:00AM MT

Join guest hostess Carla (CRS) this Wednesday at 10am MT for the East Coast High Noon Crop. All coasts and time zones are welcome! These crops are designed to allow you to work on your own photos and themes simply giving participants a one hour goal and a fun, new challenge each week. On March 2nd, we'll do a Details Challenge. Create a layout showing a unique detail. It can be a close-up photo or a layout focusing on a narrow subject. It is up to you. Have fun with it! Create your layout and upload it to the special High Noon Crop Gallery. You'll be amazed what you can get done in just one hour, but there is no High Noon Sheriff timing you! Hope to see you in the chat room!

ATC Swap Crop and Chat
Wednesday, March 2nd - 6:00PM MT

Please join Lei (Bride) & Elisha (elibar) in the chatroom for our ATC (Artist Trading Card) Swap Crop/Chat on the first Wednesday of each month at 6pm MT. Come see what everyone has created and we'll talk about next month's topic. We're looking forward to seeing you there.

FEBRUARY EVENTS

February Message Board Game: Posting Contest!

It's that time again - Posting Contest time! This is where you are rewarded for your flying fingers and chattiness. The contest will run from February 1st when we post the thread to February 28th at 12:00 Midnight (MST). We are doing things a little differently this time and there are two ways to participate - the Message Board and the Gallery, so here are the rules:

1) To enter the Message Board Posting Challenge, reply in the game thread with your CURRENT post count. This is the number under your Avatar that shows when you post. Do not post the number found on your profile; it is a different number that is calculated differently. During the month, chat your fingers off! On February 28th, BEFORE Midnight (MST), go back to your original post in the game thread (the one with your starting post count) and take a screenshot of it. Send the screenshot to [email protected]. The screenshot is your contest entry! We will calculate your post count based on the numbers on the screenshot. (Directions for taking screenshots will be posted in the game thread.)

2) To enter the Gallery Posting Challenge, take a screenshot of your Gallery comment number and send it to [email protected] BEFORE February 1st, Midnight (MST). To get to your Gallery Stats, click the arrow beside your Profile photo and go down to Gallery. Your total comments number is under Stats on the left-hand side - this is what we need a screenshot of to know where you are starting. Then BEFORE Midnight (MST) on February 28th, take another screenshot of your Gallery Stats and send it to [email protected], this will give us your ending number and enter you in the contest!

PRIZES: You may enter both contests. Members with Message Board posts over 50 will be put in a drawing for a $5 Scrap Girls Gift Certificate. Members with Message Board posts over 200 will be put in a drawing for both the $5 Scrap Girls Gift Certificate and a $10 Scrap Girls Gift Certificate. Members with Message Board posts over 400 will be put in a drawing for a $15 Scrap Girls Gift Certificate, as well as the $5 and $10 Gift Certificates. Members with Gallery comments over 25 will be put in a drawing for $10 Scrap Girls Gift Certificate.

For complete details, visit the Monthly Message Board Games folder on the Scrap Girls Message Board.

Layout Contests:

February Monthly Layout Contest: In the spirit of Mardi Gras, let's scrap about parties!! For the February Layout Contest, we'd love to see your layouts featuring people or things that make a party special to you! It can be a party you hosted or one you attended. So put your party hats on and post your layouts in the February Monthly Layout Gallery before Midnight MT on February 28th. Be sure to list your credits in the description or under the EXIF Properties. If your layout is one of the two chosen, you will win a $10 gift certificate to the Scrap Girls Boutique!

Club Concepts Layout Contest: Post your new layout using the current club selection (either the Scrap Girls Club or the ScrapSimple Club) in our Scrap Girls Club Members Gallery or the ScrapSimple Club Members' Gallery. Be sure to list all of the Scrap Girls products you used. If your layout is chosen, it will be showcased as a Club Concepts layout winner, and you will win a $5 Gift Certificate to the Scrap Girls Boutique!

Check our message board calendar if you have any questions about what is happening at Scrap Girls. All event times are given in Mountain Time Zone unless otherwise noted. Need help converting time zones? Check out the World Clock - Time Zone Converter. (Use 'USA-Utah-Salt Lake City' as the location for the Mountain time zone.)

Haven't received your prize as a contest winner? Please send an email to [email protected] and we'll get it out to you right away!