Tapestry Adoption Story Digital

Adobe Photoshop Elements 5.0

We have sifted through the many reviews to put together a brief overview for those relatively new to the Adobe Elements upgrade (Photoshop Elements 5.0) that was released late 2006. This product is the "best" software for organizing your photos, editing and enhancing, and sharing them we have seen. Though for less money (retail price $35.99 vs $89.95) products like ScrapbookMax and Scrapbook Factory Deluxe offer basic scrapbooking tools, you will appreciate how thorough Adobe has been in including tools for the workflow actually at hand. This product excels at organizing, image editing, and yet perhaps the most signifigant feature in this version of Photoshop Elements, for us, is the ability to create photo albums with the flexability of a digital layout.

There are videos to watch, user articles to read, and please visit both the Photoshop Elements Technique website for additional tutorials, and The Tapestry Digital store for books or to purchase the software.

I. ADOBE®

Photoshop® Elements 5.0 software and Adobe Premiere® Elements 3.0 software allow you to show off your photos and home videos in creative, entertaining ways. Even use them together to take your photos and videos to new heights.

Take a quick video tour of Photoshop Elements 5.0

Outline of video:

Easy downloading of photos

Photo organization

Editing photos - quick fix, full edit

Convert to black and white

Spot healing brush

Correct camera distortion

Creations: Layouts, album pages, slide shows

Sharing: Photo galleries, Mapping

Video review interview: Play here

— Linda Sattgast,
digital scrapbooking instructor

Take a quick video tour of Photoshop & Premiere Elements

Outline of video:

Common interface - Ease of use

Downloader - camera to computer

Slide shows - animate photo slide shows

Freeze frame - video capture, edit, print

Web sharing (flash)

II. PHOTOSHOP ELEMENTS TECHNIQUES®

With Adobe's release of Photoshop Elements 5.0 and Premiere Elements 3.0, "Photoshop Elements Techniques" newsletter and website has created two free online Learning Centers highlighting new features and training for the new photo and video editing programs. The Learning Center includes video tutorials covering functions for editing, retouching and sharing digital photos and video; a software review by Matt Kloskowski; and Frequently Asked Questions to help photo and video enthusiasts decide whether the upgrade is right for them.

"Adobe "Photoshop Elements Techniques" newsletter and its companion web site are produced by KW Media Group, parent company of the National Association of Photoshop Professionals, Photoshop User magazine, Layers magazine and the new Adobe Illustrator Techniques newsletter. KW Media Group is one of the largest and most respected educational and training organizations in the graphics and digital imaging industry worldwide.

PSE 5.0 Preview (PDF file)

Digital Photo Layouts (sample video: These video clips require the free Quicktime player / plugin.) New ways to make your layouts even better ! This is a great example of how to create album layouts with Photoshop.

III. USER REVIEWS:

A Software Review - PSE 5.0
by Nancy Dennis
Member of the Sarasota Personal Computer Users Group, Inc.

A Software Review - PSE 5.0
by Graham Wing, Editor
PC Improvement News

Transitions to digital albums.

If you are like so many recreational photographers, the thought of switching from 35m film to a digital camera may seem more trouble than it is worth. On the other hand, if you are like most of us you are already taking photographs with a digital camera or camcorder, and are still trying to figure out what to do with those images. Especially if you want to be creative and use the photographs in an album or digital scrapbook, making sure that the images are organized, cleaned up and that pages are assembled using other elements and text, is getting a lot easier. At the heart of the process is the digital editing software that makes it possible to share photos with customized and themed layouts. For example, Photoshop Elements 5.0 now includes flexible layout options as a starting point for your creations (a blank slate, basic frameworks, or professionally designed themes).

Going digital has opened up the creative possibilities for "art to imitate life". Scrapbooking has moved quite seamlessly into the digital age. "It's indicative not of the ubiquity of computers in modern life, but also of the way tradition evolves." It’s true that many who scrapbook are mostly female, and obviously they know or learn how to use computers and aren’t afraid of the medium. Documenting adoption memories in Lifebooks or albums is a process that you will find yourself doing over a long period of time, and using digital media enables the natural flow of experience and creation.

Lifebook workshop

This weekend I attended a Workshop, How to Make an Adoption Lifebook, sponsored by the Infertility and Adoption Counseling Center (IACCenter). The workshop offered a combination of practical hands on training about scrapbooking (presented by Betsy Schrel), and the more psychological discussion of how a Lifebook can be used as a tool to facilitate a dialog between parent and child about adoption (led by Joni Mantell MSW). The informal "support group" atmosphere of the Counseling Center, attendees that were the Center's clients, and the guidance provided by Ms Mantell, encouraged a revealing discussion between group members about parenting adopted children, and how Lifebooks were one way to give your child a connection to their heritage that encouraged the development of positive self-esteem.

As the only adoptive dad in attendance, no surprise, hearing the "woman's view" on issues such as how they viewed what to tell their children, and when, made me realize the value of this type of setting to share and process something that many might take for granted. There was a helpful distinction made by Mrs. Schrel about the creative storytelling process and the different types of albums that might be created such as Lifebooks, Baby Books, Family Albums, and Travel Journals.

Lifebooks apparently are best created, whether digitally or as traditional scrapbooks, with removable pages, added onto as the child's age or readiness for information develops. Lifebooks are a work in progress, to be used to open a dialog with your child and help them process their feelings about their adoption experience. Even in a domestic adoption, Ms. Mantell makes the point that, parents can set the tone or timing for when information is made available. It is really about how to talk to your child about adoption. It is your child, and it is their adoption story. Privacy of information and how it is shared is a question of parenting, and a choice each parent needs to make.

The thought that occurred to me is why not create two Lifebook albums, one story. One album give to your child and one keep as a work in progress. Only put those pages into your child's album that are developmentally/age appropriate. Each page illustrates and contains different information.

If you take photos, Mrs. Scherl advises, "get started organizing those photos sooner rather than later".  She has a wealth of practical tips such as:

• take existing photos and organize chronologically
• use photo-safe paper that will not loose its color with age
• when making albums, make color copies of original documents, and store the original safely
• always back up your images on disk

There are many ways to tell an adoption story, and the process of doing it will help parents think through those later conversations.

Outline for planning an Adoption Story

Telling a story with photos or video requires a certain amount of planning or organization. At a minimum your digital photos, elements, or video should be organized chronologically or tagged descriptively for later reference. Pulling this material together and adding comments then depends on whether you are creating a Travel Journal, an Adoption Memory Book, or a Traditional Lifebook. The primary goal of most Adoption Lifebooks are to communicate to the child his story, to build his self-esteem, to reinforce to the child a sense of heritage and family culture, and begin your family history together. In most cases, unlike the stories passed on from generation to generation by grandparents and siblings, the parents in an adoption are the only ones able to share information about the child's past. A Lifebook type story provides you with the opportunity to communicate with your child about their adoption, their heritage, and their biological adoptive family. As you create your childs Lifebook you will have the opportunity to think about your feelings about the adoption and your child's history. This will be a step in preparing yourself to talk to your child about adoption. Below are some suggested "Scenes" or "Pages" in the story you may want to build for the child, and yourself.

Introduction - "This is (child's name)  story"
Referral picture
Pictures of the first year, highlight favorite pictures
Dedication letter to the child

My Parents
Who they are as individuals, a couple
Thoughts on becoming a parent

My Parents Story of their adoption decision
Adoption process
Preparing the child's nursery/room
Letter to your child explaining your decision to adopt

The Rituals My Family Shares Together
Family history, gatherings (holidays celebrated)
Pictures and names of extended family members

Important People Who Cared for Me before My Family
The Special People Who Took Care of Me Before I Came 
Names and addresses of. ( if available)
Include pictures of caregivers, foster parents, etc with your child (if possible)
Picture of where your child lived (orphanage, foster home, other children)

Then there was me
Child's name, how it was chosen, and the meaning of it
Statistics received (height, weight, date of birth, etc.)

They're Coming To Bring Me Home
Pictures of packing and suitcase
Pictures at airport(s), inside the plane(s)
Pictures on arrival in child's birth country or state
Copies of flight itinerary, tickets, boarding passes

Here I Am
Include as many pictures as possible
Include adoption announcement
Include welcome note from the President of the United States

Events In the Country (International) of the Child's Birth
Any Country specific news
Official Adoption Interviews/Ceremonies
Agency Events/Parties 
Obtaining US Visa at Consulate

Events In the State (Domestic) of the Child's Birth
Any State specific news
The hospital
The doctor, nurses
Baby bracelet, footprint

Images from the Land/State Where I was Born
As many pictures as possible of EVERYTHING.

Coming Home
Picture at the airport(s)
Child in car heading home
Pictures of the homecoming
Pictures entering new home

My New Home
What you did that first day/night home
People who may have visited that day
First meeting with siblings/pets
Picture of child in nursery or bedroom asleep
Picture of child playing with toys or investigating the house

My First Visitors
Pictures of all visitors.  This can range from the first day to the first few weeks

Telling a story with photos or video requires a certain amount of planning or organization. At a minimum your digital photos, elements, or video should be organized chronologically or tagged descriptively for later reference. Pulling this material together and adding comments then depends on whether you are creating a Travel Journal, an Adoption Memory Book, or a Traditional Lifebook. The primary goal of most Adoption Lifebooks are to communicate to the child his story, to build his self-esteem, to reinforce to the child a sense of heritage and family culture, and begin your family history together. In most cases, unlike the stories passed on from generation to generation by grandparents and siblings, the parents in an adoption are the only ones able to share information about the child's past. A Lifebook type story provides you with the opportunity to communicate with your child about their adoption, their heritage, and their biological adoptive family. As you create your childs Lifebook you will have the opportunity to think about your feelings about the adoption and your child's history. This will be a step in preparing yourself to talk to your child about adoption. Below are some suggested "Scenes" or "Pages" in the story you may want to build for the child, and yourself.

Introduction - "This is (child's name)  story"
Referral picture
Pictures of the first year, highlight favorite pictures
Dedication letter to the child

My Parents
Who they are as individuals, a couple
Thoughts on becoming a parent

My Parents Story of their adoption decision
Adoption process
Preparing the child's nursery/room
Letter to your child explaining your decision to adopt

The Rituals My Family Shares Together
Family history, gatherings (holidays celebrated)
Pictures and names of extended family members

Important People Who Cared for Me before My Family
The Special People Who Took Care of Me Before I Came 
Names and addresses of. ( if available)
Include pictures of caregivers, foster parents, etc with your child (if possible)
Picture of where your child lived (orphanage, foster home, other children)

Then there was me
Child's name, how it was chosen, and the meaning of it
Statistics received (height, weight, date of birth, etc.)

They're Coming To Bring Me Home
Pictures of packing and suitcase
Pictures at airport(s), inside the plane(s)
Pictures on arrival in child's birth country or state
Copies of flight itinerary, tickets, boarding passes

Here I Am
Include as many pictures as possible
Include adoption announcement
Include welcome note from the President of the United States

Events In the Country (International) of the Child's Birth
Any Country specific news
Official Adoption Interviews/Ceremonies
Agency Events/Parties 
Obtaining US Visa at Consulate

Events In the State (Domestic) of the Child's Birth
Any State specific news
The hospital
The doctor, nurses
Baby bracelet, footprint

Images from the Land/State Where I was Born
As many pictures as possible of EVERYTHING.

Coming Home
Picture at the airport(s)
Child in car heading home
Pictures of the homecoming
Pictures entering new home

My New Home
What you did that first day/night home
People who may have visited that day
First meeting with siblings/pets
Picture of child in nursery or bedroom asleep
Picture of child playing with toys or investigating the house

My First Visitors
Pictures of all visitors.  This can range from the first day to the first few weeks

Digital Slide shows - Web: photos, videos

Digital Slide Shows are a great way to create a photo essay, to tell your adoption story with photos adding movement/transition and perhaps music. Here is an example of several "video journals" using photos, music and video.

As you watch these adoption stories think about the digital elements (photos, video, text) that were used to tell the story. The first video is a particularly interesting composition in that the step by step journaling of the experience, adopting from China, has footage that walks us through the family interacting with Chinese agents at the orphanage and getting their baby.

Digital Scrapbooks - Printing: albums, photos

The article below provides a good resource list of online printers. We have our favorites, and in future posts will discuss several. If you have had experience working with any please share your thoughts.

Online digital photo and sharing

By Eamon Hickey and Aimee Baldridge
(June 15, 2005; updated October 6, 2005 CNET reviews)

"Snapping a huge number of photos with a digital camera is easy, but finding a practical way to print your pictures and show them to friends and family can be a hassle. Fortunately, there are many Web sites that allow you to upload your photos to online albums and other sharing tools and to order prints of them to be mailed to your home...... We tried out more than 40 of them to give you a snapshot of your options. Most sites offer both sharing and printing, but to make it easier to get a handle on a large amount of information, we've put the details on sharing and printing in separate sections..... " CNET Reviews

One scrapbooker's views on online photo developers can be seen at the Scrapjazz.com web site. Andrea Steed is the co-founder of the learning resources of Scrapjazz.com and the Scrap Tutor CD-ROM series.

Sharing digital stories with family & friends

Telling stories digitally opens up the possibility of editing/enhancing your photos or video, organizing them into scenes, embellishing with images or music, and making them viewable in ways that suit you, and eventually your child. Even though there are some recurring themes in adoption stories, the moments, people, or places that make your child's story unique need to be remembered. These can take the form of things such as the weather, clothing you were wearing, or the architecture of a city visited. What carries the most memorable and succinct statement about an experience captured on film will always be people expressing emotions. Tell your story by surrounding the most expressive shots of people with other images.

Through desktop publishing, web based printing services, and digital editing of photographs and video, it is now possible to both create and share your adoption story as never before. There are various options from burning on DVD, creating  slide shows, emails, to uploading to online photo services for printing. There are many options for printing out your digital scrapbook pages. There are many inks and printers that are very affordable for home use. You also have the options of creating and printing a bound album/book to display your scrapbook pages in a beautiful way.

Digital Scrapbooks - Printing: albums, announcements, photos

Digital Slide shows - Web: photos, videos

Video Journals - Web: videos

Essential planned photos

Portraits are more planned than many shots you will capture. They provide the opportunity to capture people looking their best, to accentuate a scene by including a background that is memorable in a foreign country, or of simply getting both partners in a photo by asking someone to help take a picture.

The couple, the individual parents, the child

Family: grandparents, siblings and family groups (holidays, events)

Birthparents, Early Caregivers (from Orphanages or Foster Care)

"Style" in creating an Adoption story

There are several ways of thinking about creating an adoption story with photographs or video; documentary or photojournalism on the one hand, and a combination of portraits and essays on the other. Try both styles and see which "works" for your personality, and the story you want to tell. Look, anticipate, pre-visualize, shoot, and then continue to look some more. Try to capture the emotion of the moment, not just the picture in the camera.

Formal vs. informal
Photojournalistic versus portraiture. Documentary versus posed. Telling an adoption story will involve many "in the moment" shots because it is a moving process, one that you are both an emotional participant in, and trying to be an objective reporter of. Balance this dilemma with planning what you want to accomplish, and the opportunities to capture more formal "posed" shots.

The natural look
To capture natural-looking images it is important to be accepted, to be prepared to capture those moments you see. At times, such as first arriving at an orphanage, or meeting a birthmother, it helps to introduce yourself, enjoy your own experience, and then as you become part of, or in tune with the moment, try to capture it.

Capturing the moment
Be unobtrusive and sense what is going on around you. Have a sense of who the players are, and what their relationships have been, or will be to you or your child. Focus on faces because faces reveal emotions.

Get in Close
Getting in close has the photographic importance of framing images and isolating significant items. It carries the psychological act of getting close to your subject, and it is best accomplished as the subject becomes comfortable. A soothing voice and a calm manner will make your taking these shots more comfortable for all. It emphasizes emotion, or the moment to the viewer of your finished album or video.

Action Shots
The best photographs capture the peak of emotion, as the best video captures the moments before, during, and after that peak.  Especially because so many shots you will be taking will involve your child, be anticipating reactions, and be prepared for unpredictable opportunities. With the advent of autofocus cameras with high speed motor drives, and video capture, the technical act of capturing peak action is easier than ever.

Background and Surroundings
Be aware of backgrounds and how they relate to your subject. As you look through the viewfinder your eye needs to scan the whole frame to ensure the backgrounds are not distracting. Particularly true with portraits where you have more choice, select backgrounds with graphic elements that enhance the image you are trying to capture.

Color and Mood
The elements of light and color are two of the main ingredients for great photography. In a foreign country be aware of colors unique to that country in clothing, a national flag, or the buildings around you. The time of year or prevailing weather can be captured as part of the color of the memory. Be aware of time of day, and as light changes in both intensity and color in the late day, consider using a flash to highlight images and bring out the warm light of late afternoon.

Capturing/shooting for post-production
With digital imaging you are not only the photographer. You can be the lab, and add emphasis or interpretation to photographs and video in the "editing" process. Photographs can now be modified and used as an artful design element, or altered by cropping and changing the lighting with a post-production filter. The world of album design has been revolutionized by layouts incorporating scanned elements, "adjusted" photographs, artistic text, and customized layouts. Magazine style montage pages allow you to tell your story by bringing in elements and emphasis after the events. Digital video can be edited, adding text, transitions, photographs and music or voice over.

Digital Adoption LifeBook in 4 steps

Step 1: You need photos or video on your computer.
If you have a digital camera this is easy. You can download your photos from your camera to your computer. If you don’t have a camera, you will need a scanner to scan them in.

Step 2: Choose your software.
There are two types of programs available to digital scrapbookers: layout programs (Nova Scrapbook Factory Deluxe, ScrapBookMax) with minor tools for photo editing, and digital image/video editing software that can also be used to create montages/collages, album pages, digital slide shows or flash video. At Tapestry we recommend either the free online services such as Google's Picasa, Yahoo's Flickr, Photosite or making the commitment to learn software such as Adobe Photoshop Elements, and Premiere Elements. Our preference is for having software we can do a wide range of tasks with, and keeping the photos on our desktop while we are working on them. The Adobe's "Elements" products are scaled down enough to be consumer friendly for those already exposed to working with software like Office Powerpoint or Publisher, or even anyone that has used simple online photo sites for their digital pictures. The advantage to the Adobe products is they offer strong tools for improving the digital content, excellent output options for sharing and creating printed albums or slide shows, plus a large user support base.

Step 3: Create your scrapbook pages.
Many websites offer inexpensive "Kits" and "Elements", which are packages of high resolution images that can be used to help design pages. Some sites focus exclusively on adoption themes and offer images, kits, layouts, and text that are adoption oriented such as a country specific Kits. Page Kits can be downloaded or ordered on CD that will work with your program and teach you about layers and how a basic page is put together. Gather ideas for your pages and see the work of other scrapbookers from the many available general scrapbooking websites.

Step 4: Share your pages
There are many ways to share your pages from printing them and putting them in albums, to uploading them to the internet. Internet services such as Kodak EasyShare, Picaboo enable you to upload pages and order bound photo albums. Blogging software such as TypePad, Vox, Nokia's LifeBlog, or YouTube are additional ways to share your photos and video online. The web is one of the easiest ways to share your Adoption moments. Usually free, quick and easy, photo sharing websites let you post images or video to galleries that friends and family can view wherever they are. Photoshop Elements 5.0 comes with a slideshow feature built in. It allows you to use multiple music selections, transitions between your photos, and the ability to sync your photos to the music. You can make both slideshows for your computer or output to media that can play on most DVD players.