Digital Designer Tips

When it comes to digital scrapbooking, digital designer Jackie Eckles is kind of a veteran.

“I started designing my own digital products in 2006,” she says.

Wow, that was eons ago! Technology changes quickly, but products and trends change quicker, so Jackie’s products show her growth as an artist as well as a techno designer.

In celebration of the release of Cantata’s latest book, Scrapbooking Digitally, we sat down with Jackie to discuss her qualities as a digital designer. Jackie designed one of four custom digital scrapbooking kits that is packaged on a DVD with the book. For more information on the book or to order it, please click here.

Q: Jackie, what was it about digital designing that initially hooked you?
A: Since I started with traditional scrapbooking, the discovery of digital was like discovering a new cutter tool with every extension imaginable – I can create almost anything I can dream up.

Q: What is your favorite digital tool?
A: I work with Adobe® Photoshop®, and my favorite tools are the brush tools. They offer a great way to add extra dimension to a digital layout or craft. I love to experiment with the Opacity and Scatter settings. I also love fonts! I love to add color and texture to them.

Q: What are you working on currently?
A: I love bright colors and my newest kits like Arbot and Happy Love (available at Little Dreamer Designs) reflect that. I am currently working on themes that have more of a teenage appeal – both fun and cool, I hope.

Q: Can you offer any design advice to our readers?
A: Fight the urge to add more. When I design a layout, if something doesn’t seem to fit, try subtracting elements. Many times, a project, whether it is a scrapbook page or another craft project, will benefit from simplifying the design.

Q: What advice do you have for those who have never done digital?
A: Get involved in the digital community! It’s such a welcoming environment, and it will, without a doubt, help you improve your design skills. There is always a challenge to inspire and push you to your creative limits.

Q: Challenge? What do you mean by that?
A: Once you become a member of a digital community, such as Two Peas in a Bucket or The Digi Chick, you will notice members or forum moderators posting art challenges, such as a photography challenge that requires you to explore a certain digital photography technique or a color challenge that will have you seeking original ways to use a certain color.