How do I create the collages on this blog?

Many people have emailed me to ask about the program I use to create the collages on this blog.  I'm using the standard version (downloadable for a very reasonable price) of Fotofusion Version 4.

The most interesting digital scrapbook pages have many layers of backgrounds, images, frames and elements and Fotofusion is an excellent tool for working with those layers.  I've never found anything better!   Keep in mind that it doesn't really do anything other than work with layers though.  If you want to alter your photos (fix flaws, etc), you'll need a good photo editing program.  My favorite is PaintShop Pro.  I use this every single day and couldn't live without it!  I like it because it's much cheaper than Photoshop but seems to do everything I want it to do and it's much more user friendly.   

I get my digital scrapbooking backgrounds and elements from many places.  Sometimes I even make them myself but usually I find them for free by subscribing to blogs that advertise "freebies".    Here are my favorite freebie blogs:

• Ikea Goddess (daily links to the best freebies)
• DigiFree (daily links to ALL the freebies)
• Kubivet (she creates wonderful things and gives them away!)
• Artistic Musings (freebies on fridays only)
• Shabby Princess (everything at this link is FREE.  It's the perfect place to start your collection!

Every now and then, I splurge and actually pay for something.   I love frames and my favorite frame designer is Katie Pertiet.  Here's a link to a little set of frames that I use all the time.  This set was under $4 and I use it constantly: http://www.designerdigitals.com/ecom/product_info.php/products_id/3006.  Be sure to look at all the other stuff she offers.  It's awesome!

Finally, here are some inspiration pages to get your creative juices flowing.  Sometimes, I need to see what someone else has done before I can start to see a fun possibility with some of my own photos.  I hope these inspire you as much as they do me!

• Mary Fran Gallery
• Gallery Standouts

Here are some of my favorite collages that I created over the last year or two:

You'll probably notice that I don't scrap in traditional 12x12 sizes.  I picked a rectangular size because I thought I might want to print the pages on my home printer.  Then I found www.blurb.com and started creating yearly family albums in their 13 x 11 size.  I love the results and I'm so happy that our family photos and the text from this blog is preserved in printed form each year.  If you're not doing this, I strongly recommend it!  It's one of the best investments of time and money that we've ever spent (other than our adotions, of course!).

Let me know if you have problems or questions.  I'm very happy to help if I can

Comments

[Stephanie]

HI, I HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING YOUR BLOG AND HAVE EVEN TRIED USING THE FREE VERSION OF FOTOFUSION. IS THE PAID VERSION MUCH BETTER? I CAN'T SEEM TO GET MY COLLAGES TO POST AT A REASONABLE SIZE. MY COLLAGE KEEPS COMING UP PRETTY SMALL ON MY BLOG. ANY SUGGESTIONS? ALSO, I WANTED TO SWITCH TO TYPEPAD, ANY TIPS ON HOW TO TRANSFER MY BLOG WITHOUT STARTING ALL OVER? THANK YOU SO MUCH...I'M A LITTLE SLOW AT TIMES.

THANKS I HAVE LOVED FOLLOWING YOUR BLOG DURING THE LONG WAIT. LID PF 2/28/06

STEPHANIE CHINAMOM@COMCAST.NET

[Donna]

I can't speak too much about the trial version. I think the only difference is that all of your photos are stamped with their logo until you pay. After that, the standard version (what I have) allows you to create collages that print beautifully at 8.5 x 11 inches (or smaller). The images are so large that I always have to manually reduce them by 50% to post them on my blog here.

Keep in mind that the size of your images on your blog isn't always dictated by the original image size. Many times, your blog settings force the image to be much smaller. For example, my standard image size on this blog is only 300 pixels wide. I have to override that to post an image larger (easy to do).

Transferring from Blogspot to Typepad couldn't be easier. Typepad is very user friendly but you have to just relax and plan to spend several hours clicking around and figuring things out. They'll give you step by step instructions for changing the template on your blogspot blog so you can import it into your typepad blog. Your images and your comments won't transfer though. That means you'll have to systematically go through your old posts and replace your images. Initially, they will show up but after a couple of days, blogger will block them. I started with the most current posts and I'm working backwards. I have a large blog so it'll take a little while to transfer everything but it's not a big deal since not many people go back and look at my archive messages.

:)

Donna

[Leah]

It's fun to play with FotoFusion. You know you can get around that stamp... :)

[Bridget]

I saw the link on the side of your site where it says "how do I make my collages" so I downloaded that program about a month ago and just love it. I've been using it a lot too. Much more fun than Photoshop in a lot of ways. :)

[Ann]

Hey thanks, I'm gonna try it out

[Amy]

love it I actually bought the version today. You should be their spokeswoman!!!
You are truely blessed on how you arrange your photos....

Amy

[Donna]

Honestly, I've responded to at least 100 email asking about the program I use for my collages so I finally decided to be an affiliate so I could get a little kick back when I refer someone to them. I've been doing this since May and 370 people have clicked on the link I've given them but only two have purchased. So I've earned $19! Hee hee... I think that works out to about 13 cents per day.

I'm not doing this for the money (thank goodness, huh!). I'm actually doing this because I love this program and like to share cool stuff. "Advertising" it on my blog saves me a bunch of time since I don't have to respond individually to emails about it. I can just point people at this discussion. :)

Donna

[Amy]

you should get the "pro" program for FREE!! I just referred someone to your site to take a look at your beautiful pictures. I had no idea you get a little milk milk here and there...lol

Amy

[Shelley M.]

I have the basics of FotoFusion down, but I think I need to go in and do a tutorial because I'm not able to do some of the things you do with yours. For instance, where you get some of your backgrounds. FF has the standard backgrounds. I realize that you use actual photos sometimes for your backgrounds, but it looks like you found others. Also, the unique lettering. Oy, much to learn.

Technorati is the link to the forum you were talking about, right? This is where you get a lot of ideas/pointers?

You're so good at this stuff. Thanks for sharing Donna.

Shell

[Stephani]

Hi Donna!

I love your blog. It's one of my favorites. Best to your girls and the rest of your family waiting in the wings for their moment in the spotlight! :-)

I purchsed from your link, but found out it was outdated and 3.7 isn't available anymore. I upgraded to 4, but I wanted to let you know in case you want to change your link to their new download page.

Keep up the great work! I aspire to be as artsy as you someday!

Take care!

Steph

[enjoysunshinelife]

It's a really wonderful photo collage I have ever seen.How happy the family is! I am so envious!^~^?

I have rich experience with many collage softwares such as Wondershare Photo Collage Studio, Scrapbook Max,Photo Mix,Collage maker, of course including Lumapix:FotoFusion!

collage maker is too simple,many request not supplied like templates and embellishments.

FotoFusion is a powerful and gorgeous software,but it's so hard to use without tutorial.

Photo collage studio is easy to use with its intuitive interface, clear workflow and various predesigned templates and layouts.
But it doesn't have flashshow function!