MEComposing

JRA and I are loving the TV series Grey's Anatomy. At first, I couldn't get past Sandra Oh's face (sorry, but it's just so weird for me to watch someone who seemed to be lacking eyelids) but now could see why she won a Golden Globe for her role there. And i've always loved Katherine Heigl's face (from Valentine and 100 Girls) :) Am actually bothered by how Ellen Pompeo looks so much like Renee Zelwegger, and how weird her laugh is.

Anyway, last night's episode saw the interns dealing with patients who had possibilities of erection loss and memory loss (while one was brought into the hospital to die because nothing could be done for her). So I turned to hubby and asked, "Erection or Memory?"

He couldn't answer me.

I can imagine the devastation of memory loss, especially to your loved ones... but cannot quite fathom the implications of lost erection (or in a woman's case, libido?). And maybe because am a woman that I can quickly say that i'd rather have my memories than my sexuality, but indeed, what if I were a man at my prime?

Then of course, hubby had to joke... he can't get an erection if he cannot remember how, or what it's for... :)

*~*

DIGISCRAPPING NOTES

Some friends have taken up the challenge to digiscrap. I guess if you're a beginner like me, and intimidated by Photoshop like me, here are a few pointers that could prove very useful:

1) You only need internet really to download kits, and maybe upload your pictures. And since kits are usually big files, dial-up connections would suck.

2) But when you're obssessed about getting better, learning more, or getting a kit for free, you can also join chat sessions (they usually announce the date and time in their message boards and newsletters).

3) If you're just starting out and not yet an addict, get the most out of FREEBIE offerings. ShabbyPrincess.Com is a great site because it offers these biggie kits complete with alphas (letters in .png format), elements, papers, etc. already. Go through the top Digital Freebie Sites if you have to so you can also check out TUTORIALS and actual LAYOUTS as well as register for the FORUMS.

4) If you don't know sh!t about Photoshop, do what I did... I printed tutorials. Of course, some tutorials prefer certain PS versions. And yes, you can also use Paint Shop Pro or Corel and some sites offer tutorials for them too.

5) When I say you're downloading big files, think HUGE. Usual paper size is more than 1 mb. That's because you want to preserve the quality of every element. Best to use pictures of the same size too (even if you're going to resize them).

6) Have them printed if you want. That was my main motivation to learn it, and i've had several printed and they're all cute. Unfortunately, there are some minor discrepancies between a digital 5x7 to a picture of the same size (5R) but it's ok, you'll learn your lesson soon enough.

7) Consider fancy fonts to embellish your layout. Think Dings but only install those you think you can really use (sooner or later, you'll be confident enough to transform the dings into PNG format and then delete the font from your font folder).

8) Installing so many fonts can be fun, but it will reduce loading time for fonts. In time, you may have to download and install a font manager. Or maybe you can just limit your font options to fonts you know you'd use time and again (I love Lainie Day, beautiful, jane austen and calvin n hobbes), and just install-delete special fonts you;d only use for a time.

9) You'd need a lot of space. Freebie kits and embellishments alone can already take up 1-2 gigs, what more your own layouts. Kits burned in CDs should still be saved in your hard drive, otherwise it will delay your PC's processing time.

10) Don't be scared of making mistakes. The good thing about Photoshop is it has this History column at your right where you can easily return to where you were before you committed the mistake. Do try the different filters. There's no other way to make you feel less intimidated.

11) Have and take lots of pictures. But when modifying your pictures, do not save changes when you're closing the file so you perserve the original (or save modified versions as a different file).

12) Have fun. Be honest with your sentiments (journalling). Feel free to fuss and be mushy. Feel free to be wacky.