Using a Focal Point Photo in Your Scrapbooking Layouts

Have you ever tried making a scrapbook layout with photos

If you have been scrapbooking very long, you're familiar with the four elements of design: color, layout, accents, and journaling. Following these basic principles helps you create beautiful, eye appealing scrapbook pages. Using a focal point to create some pop in your layouts is easy and gives your eye a natural place to start off a page and allows the viewer's eye to flow through the layout.

A focal point is the place on your scrapbook page where you eye falls naturally at first glance. A clear focal point gives your pages an uncluttered appearance, makes them enjoyable to view. It also helps you understand when enough is enough and to hold back from adding anything more to your page. The purpose of focal point is not to neglect the other photos on your page, but to enhance the overall effect of the photos by giving the eye a place to start and flow on the page.

There are many ways to create a focal point. Gather your photos and choose which picture you want to be the main focus of the page. Here are a few basic ways to help you decide. If your photos are of people, are they in the center of the picture? Can the photo be cropped to center on their faces and expressions? Is one person wearing a special smile or that look you know so well? Do the actions of the people define what the layout is about? Your might select a picture of the kids with their Easter baskets or just one child's expression as they find their first egg. Use the focal point to set the mood of the page.

There is no rule that says that a photograph has to be the focal point of your page. You can use a heading, journaling or even a keepsake from an event, like a report card or a theater program with the subject highlighted. You might choose this option if there is not special picture or a clever title to your page.

Avoid using all white backgrounds on your pages and use color on color instead. This adds another dimension without being overpowering or competing with the focal picture for attention. White can be used to accent if the picture warrant. I prefer to use white sparingly anyway. Choose 3 colors from the color wheel and stick with them.

Using a focal point gives your scrapbooks a nice, natural flow that makes them enjoyable to look at year after year.

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