Paperclipping: The Video Podcast | Design Your Story

Opening: I had a request for an episode on enlarged photos. A lot of my favorite layouts are the ones with over-sized 8×12 pictures.

A. Two questions often come up regarding this:
1. How do you chose the photos that you want to enlarge?
2. Do you come up with the design before print the photos so you know what size to make them?

B. My method is so easy, I think you’ll feel better about enlarging photos if you don’t already do it: No, I don’t plan ahead. If I especially love a photo, I enlarge it. Plain and simple.

C. Layout “First Timer” – 1 pg. layout
1. Enlarging this photo allows me to show off details that aren’t as obvious in a 4×6, like the look of surprise on my son’s face.
2. On a 1-page layout, the 8×12 photo doesn’t give you much room to play. I recommend overlapping your design elements with the photo and paper. By doing that you’ll tie the two together into one design and it won’t just look like a photo on a piece of paper.

D. Layout “Cool Dude” – 2 pg. layout
1. A principle to make this type of layout easy is using contrast–or opposition–in terms of size and shape.
2. Large photo contrasts with grouping of smaller photos.
3. Vertical rectangle of large photo contrasts with the horizontal rectangle of grouping.
4. Just be sure to carry colors on one side over to the other side for balance.

E. Layout “Bubble” – 2 pg. layout
1. Contrast large rectangular photo with small circular ones. I added circles to the page with the enlarged photo to connect the two pages as one design.

Closing: Request from audience: Please go to the iTunes store, do a search for Paperclipping, and leave a comment on my show page. It will help the audience to continue to grow. Thanks!