If you already have Microsoft Word 2007, try using it for more than word processing.
The JPEG is a common
digital format that we can easily share. This is not necessarily true for the
scrapbook page. Usually one will need the software that created the scrapbook
file, before we can do any printing. Therefore, if I include a file of the
scrapbook page on the CD, it will be pretty useless, unless the recipient has
the software, and knows how to use it.
This is one
reason I have shifted to Word 2007 when creating my scrapbook pages. I don’t
think Microsoft is going anywhere soon. So far, newer versions of Word have been
able to open older versions. When Word 2007 becomes obsolete, there is a
good chance we will still be able to open the files it created.
Convert your Scrapbook
into a Professionally Bound Book
There is another reason for creating scrapbook pages in Word 2007 –
and that is the ability to take the file to a print on demand printer (such as
lulu.com) and reproduce your scrapbook as a softback or hardback, professionally
bound book.
For example, our family has a family reunion every 3 years, for the
last 25 years. That’s a lot of photographs accumulating over time. I
wanted to combine all the reunions into a book, and make three copies. The
book ended up being 300 pages. So printing out three copies was going to
cost me over $1,000, not to mention all that time at the printer!
Instead of
printing out the pages, I converted the file to a PDF, and downloaded the file
at lulu.com, which does “print on demand” printing. The books cost me less
than $70 each, and with full color, hardback, perfect bound books, they were
rather impressive.
As I mentioned previously, using an earlier version of Word was not
really practical for scrapbook pages. Yet, Word 2007 has entirely new
possibilities. Of course, if you don’t already have the program, you might want
to consider purchasing scrapbook software, for a fraction of the price.
For those that already use Word 2007, or are planning to upgrade to
Word 2007, then I heartily suggest trying it for digital scrapbooking. One
big plus, while enjoying this fulfilling hobby, you will be learning much more
about Word 2007, which will enable you to get more out of the program when you
are at work. (More)