Scrapbook layout ideas
Use a large photo for one important moment, equal boxes for a group of pictures, or a strip for an action sequence. Reserve space for keepsakes before choosing photo sizes.
Photo count is only part of the decision. A panorama, a close portrait and a long ticket need different shapes even when each page has two items.
Sketch with blank rectangles first. If you cannot see an obvious reading order, move the rectangles before adding colour or decoration.
Try this in your own scrapbook
Arrange your photos on the pages of a digital scrapbook in your browser.
Choose the largest photograph first
Use size or position to choose where the reader starts. An important photograph should not have to compete with a large patterned paper shape.
Equal-size grids suit photos of equal importance. A large image with smaller neighbours suits an overview and its details.
Match the arrangement to the material
Keep complete faces and recognisable landmarks inside photo crops. Rotate the layout rather than forcing a photograph into an unsuitable box.
- Use a grid for photographs of equal importance.
- Put stages of an action in a horizontal strip.
- Place small details in a column beside the main photograph.
- Give a postcard or long ticket room beside its related picture.
Set margins before filling the page
On a 12-inch square, a suggested 0.75-inch outer margin leaves a 10.5-inch working width. Place text and keepsakes within that area before filling gaps.
Keep faces and writing clear of the binding. Check the page in the open album so you can see how much the inner edge hides.
Steps
One main picture
Place a 6 by 8-inch portrait on a 12-inch square with space beside it for a small object. Keep both inside the planned outer margin.
Equal group
Use four 4-inch square images in a grid with a 0.5-inch gap. The block is 8.5 inches wide and high, leaving room around it.
Action strip
Put three 3-inch square images in one horizontal row with two 0.5-inch gaps. Place the related ticket or your own text below.
Mixed keepsakes
Position a 4 by 6-inch photograph on one side and a postcard on the other. Align their top edges, then use the remaining space beneath the smaller item.
Questions
How do I choose a layout when photos have different shapes?
Keep the most important photo's shape first. Stack smaller portraits beside a landscape or use a second page rather than cropping every image to match.
Do scrapbook pages need to be symmetrical?
No. You can put a large photograph on one side and several smaller items on the other. Align edges and repeat gaps so related material stays together.
How much space should I leave between photos?
Choose one gap and repeat it within a block. For the suggested 12-inch examples, a 0.5-inch gap makes the geometry easy to plan.