The basics of digital scrapbooking, adapted from Digital Scrapbook Place:

Step 1: Get your photos on your computer, by downloading them from a digital camera or scanning prints.

Step 2: Obtain software. Inexpensive template-based programs such as Broderbund’s Creating Keepsakes Scrapbook Designer Deluxe or Hewlett-Packard Co.’s Creative Scrapbook Assistant often are easier to use. But they don’t offer the flexibility and options found in more expensive photo-editing programs such as Adobe Systems Inc.’s Photoshop or Corel Corp.’s Paint Shop Pro.

Step 3: Create scrapbook pages. Create a new document at a resolution of 300 dpi if you plan to print your pages. Popular sizes include 8 by 10 inches, 8.5 by 11 inches and 12 by 12 inches. Consider how you will print your pages when deciding on a size, as standard inkjet printers can’t accommodate the largest size. Add your photos; create or add a background; add a title, journaling and embellishments. Web sites abound with tutorials to walk beginners through the basics, and many sites also have galleries where others post their work for feedback and inspiration.

Step 4: Save pages. Use the format native to your software program so you can make changes later, if necessary. Save a high-resolution version in JPEG format for printing and another at low resolution for sharing online or e-mailing.

Step 5: Share pages. E-mail them to friends and family, print them on your home printer, have them professionally printed on photo paper or bound into a book, or burn them to CD.