Thinking outside the box -- of photos, that is

Bay Area scrapbooking authors to visit Copperfield's

May 3, 2006

By DANE GOLDEN
ARGUS-COURIER STAFF

Now that so many people have digital cameras, you might be led to believe that the era of paper photos is over.

But you'd be wrong.

In fact, the ease of digital photography and the sophistication of photo printers have led to the explosion of scrapbooking, where people take images of the ones they love and turn them into masterpieces of creative expression. Scrapbooking is now a multi-billion dollar industry.

Enter "Photocraft: Cool Things to Do with the Pictures You Love," a book by San Francisco and Marin County collaborators Laurie Frankel, Caroline Herter and Laura Lovett. The book demonstrates more than 40 unique craft ideas for those looking to add a bit of their own panache to their photo displays and gifts.

The three authors of "Photocraft" will hold a combination book signing and show-and-tell at Copperfield's on Thursday, May 4 at 7 p.m. Also on hand will be two Petalumans who worked on the book, craft consultant Julie Feldman and photography consultant Joe McDonald.

Feldman is an artist who advised on techniques and material resources.

McDonald is a photographer for the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco and teaches a digital photography class at the Santa Rosa Junior College Petaluma campus. He wrote the section of the book that gives tips on using the various tools of digital photography, including cameras, computers, software and printers.

"What used to take a dark room can now be done with an inkjet printer on your kitchen table," McDonald said.

"Photocraft" demonstrates methods for creating and embellishing wall displays, folding screens, holiday cards, pop art, wrapping paper, T-shirts and coasters. It includes an overview of photography and craft terms, photo-editing techniques, and an extensive resource list, as well as color photographs and line illustrations accompanying straightforward instructions for each project.

The craft book features stylish ideas for preserving, manipulating and displaying those favorite photographs. Also included are methods for designing murals, mobiles, lampshades, pillows, quilts and invitations.

There are two sections to the book. "Photo Play: Learn While You Create" provides simple projects such as votive candles, photo bracelets, and a mirror frame.

"Expanding Your Repertoire: Taking It to the Next Level" offers more advanced projects, such as a jewel-case display, a silk scarf, vellum lampshades and a kitchen clock.

Photographer Laurie Frankel was responsible for the stylizing of the photos and the book's design. She has created four previous photo books, including "The Beauty Workbook," "Baby Gifts," "Holiday Cocktails" and "Funny Bunnies." Frankel has also done commercial photography for Pottery Barn Kids and Williams-Sonoma.

"She made everything happen," said co-author Laura Lovett.

Co-author Caroline Herter is a 30-year publishing professional who was publishing director of Chronicle Books for nine years, overseeing the company's publishing program. She also founded its gift, distribution, and custom publishing businesses.

Five years ago she founded Herter Studio, an independent publishing studio specializing in the development of unusual visual books and ancillary paper products, of which the book is one. Before this, Herter helped bring to life a wide variety of projects, including Jeff Bridges' "Pictures."

Co-author Laura Lovett said she has been creating things for as long as she can remember. The former senior designer at Chronicle Books was in charge of developing the steps for each craft, a process consisting of a lot of trial and error.

"We'd try and fail and try again to figure out what worked and what didn't," she said, adding that while a project might have looked great after step one, it would sometimes get damaged during subsequent steps. As she was refining the steps, the photos sometimes became blurry, or the glues wouldn't work right.

But after a while, things started to get a lot easier.

"We got really good at it," she said.

And now that she's done all the dirty work, the steps are easy for you to follow. You'll be creating your own slide-mount pins project in no time.

(Contact Dane Golden at dgolden@arguscourier.com)

PHOTOCRAFT: COOL THINGS TO DO WITH THE PICTURES YOU LOVE

Authors: Caroline Herter, Laurie Frankel, and Laura Lovett

Photo consultant: Joe McDonald

Craft consultant: Julie Feldman

Bulfinch Press

160 pages

$19.95

BOOK SIGNING

Copperfield's Books

140 Kentucky St.

When: Thursday, May 4, 7 p.m.

More info: 762-0563