Tidbit Thursday - Layout Credits

Happy New Year (okay....not quite yet but close enough)!!!! Helen, aka LifeScraps, here to bring you the last post of 2-0-0-9, woo-hoo! Jennifer....thank you for the chance to guest for you this month. You are such a sweetheart, truly :)

This Thursday tidbit is something I need desperately to work on for 2010! I don't know about you but I am HORRIBLE about keeping track of my credits as I scrap. For me, it isn't so much that I don't know how or can't find a way that works for me....it's simply that I forget. But, for many, they DON'T know how or CAN'T find that certain way that works for them. So, that is today's tidbit.....layout credits! FYI: I am just copying this from Simple Scrapper (one of my mostest favorite blogs to follow).

3 Easy Ways To Keep Track Of Your Layout Credits

Have you ever been all set to upload a layout and realize you’ve used papers from 2 designers, elements from another and an alpha from yet another… and you don’t remember which 4 designers it was? I think we’ll all been there at some point, even when we know that keeping track of product credits is so important.

There are many ways to do keep it all organized, but its up to you to find one that fits your routine. Simple Scrapper offers three options that just might work for YOU.

1. Use a Table of Contents – Create a new Word document and drag your web-ready images into it. Under each image, list the credits as well as where you’ve uploaded the layout.

2. Use Layers – In your PSD or other graphics file, label each layer with the designer and kit name.

3. Tag It – Use an image organization program, like ACDSee to tag your final layouts with the designer and kit name.

What we don’t recommend is relying solely on one gallery to store your layout “metadata”. While big sites do have backups, nothing is foolproof. Make sure YOU have a backup.

It only takes an extra minute for each layout to keep your records up to date. No excuses!

I would like to add ONE more. It is the one I use (when I remember to do it, that is). I use PSE 6.0 and under FILE is a tab called File Info. I like to list my credits in the Copyright section so when it comes time to post in a gallery I can copy/paste the information as needed. I do not save my .psd layouts once I am completely done with a layout so it is nice to know this information is saved even in the .jpeg format. You just have to open your layout in your PSE program and you can get to the credits.

So, how do YOU keep track?? Leave a comment and let us know. Happy Scrapping :)