What is the story?

Behind every album is a story.  Whether the story is shown in text in the album depends totally on the circumstances.  However a story is a must – and it is as well to have it roughed out in writing.   This will ensure that the essentials of the subject are covered, and will aid in the next phase.

If the story is an essential part of the final document it will be as well to write it, or at least the first part of it now.  Divide the story into the sections and sub-sections as the pictures and other material.

Remember it is the story line that matters – this does not have to be chronological. 

There are templates which are designed round the verbal side being more important.  The example here is using Nova Scrapbook Factory rather than Fotoslate 4.

This is even more important if you are doing a proper story book.  The story – not the pictures or the words is the most important thing.   But the pictures and the words have to bring out the story. 

Planning the page contents

Now is the time to decide how many pages to allocate to each section.  The number of pages is limited by:

·        The intended length of the album

·        The amount of material

·        The number of sections

Just because a single event (such as a fiesta whilst on vacation) produced a lot of vivid, action-packed and colourful material, too many pages allocated to this one subject will make the overall document boring.

Having decided the number of pages get an idea of what is on each page.  One page should reflect a specific view of the subject – maybe a meal, a scene from several angles.  All of the pictures on the page should relate simply to one another – and blend in with one another too.

Don’t jump from topic to topic on a page.  It’s messy!

With single sided pages, such as the OPUS Print & Bind – if you have a subject which runs over two pages consider reversing one page in the binding so as to have a left hand and a right hand visible.  Of course you will have to punch two holes yourself and have two redundant holes, but that should not detract from the album.

The beauty of electronic production is that the layout can be changed as many times as you like!  So do not try and get everything laid out first.

The title page

In designing the title page you are doing a number of things.

Give the album a title – interesting and relevant. 

Select a template for the album – the software package gives you pre-designed layouts.  Until you are adept at production – or have your own style it is best to use one of these.

Select an image which will be an anchor for the whole album.  It should identify the main subject and create an atmosphere.

For the text items – titles and story use a typeface which reflects the mood of the album.  But don’t overdo it or make it difficult to read. 

At this stage do not worry too much about embellishments.  These can come later.  Also do not worry about getting it 100% right.  You can change it.  (Aren’t you thankful that you are printing it – and not having second thoughts after you have sent the file off to an expensive outside bureau).

Creating the balance

The album has to look right.  We have spoken about how much space to allocate to each subject – now it is a question of laying out the subject.

Generally you will have a template set – 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 photos to a page.  The photos do not have to be large.  Four or six pictures on an A4 page can still look good.  In fact a smaller photo is easier – defects do not show up so much!

Some pictures are more important and/or more interesting or attractive than others – why not enlarge these on the centre of the page on and space the others round it. 

Put your text in a consistently sized and presented area.  If you have a lot consider a text-only or mostly-text sheet.

Ensure that the colour scheme is consistent.  This is easy if all of the pictures on a page are people at an event, or pictures of the same game, party, beach scene or townscape.  Try and keep the same proportions of sky in each (crop your pictures if necessary).

Ensure consistency of lighting levels. If one picture is dark relative to the others then brighten it up.  Just use the lighting controls on FotoSlate 4  - or your editor.

Bring in the added material judiciously.  You don’t have to use it all.  You don’t have to use every picture that you take.  That belonged to the pre-digital age!

This especially applies if you are mixing your own (amateur) pictures and those from guide or souvenir books (taken under ideal weather conditions, digitally enhanced and taken by professionals).  If you introduce too many alongside your own you will make your own look weak.