Making your own album 02

Scroll down for previous entries...

2      Introduction module : Basic skills for programming

2.1     Album Easy 4.2.1 on the computer

The program Album Easy is freeware and is downloadable for various operating systems:

https://www.thestampweb.com/albumeasy/download

Once the program is on the computer, an icon will appear on your screen:

2.2     Open Album Easy 4.2.1

By clicking the icon, the program will open, you'll see an empty page and a pop-up window, giving you the tip of the day. 

 

 

You can click on 'next tip' to get another one, or click 'close', to close it.
If you don't want to see those tips whenever you open the program, you can deselect the option : 'show tips at startup'.

You need to close the 'tip of the day' anyhow, in order to start the program.

2.3     A new programming page

On the top line with possibilities, we see a grey arrow, and an 'open' folder. Both icons are in colo(u)r, and clickable. The next two are in grey, and not usable as long as we haven't created anything.

When we click the grey arrow, we see a list of recently added pages. By clicking the 'open' folder, we can search in our computer to find all pages we made or saved.

It is useful to make a subfolder with all pages belonging to one theme or country. Also pictures, backgrounds, drawings, .... can be put together. This will be easier for us to find items back, and the program will run much smoother too.

to be continued ...

previous part : https://rainbowstampsandcoins.blogspot.com/2021/04/making-your-own-album-01.html
next part : https://rainbowstampsandcoins.blogspot.com/2021/04/making-your-own-album-03.html

Making your own album 01

Scroll down for previous entries...

1      How this course is made up

You can see this course as a darts board, in the middle is module 0 (the center), in the first cirkel or module I explain the basics of the program, using 4 themes.
Moving along outwards, you can choose to go deeper in into one specific theme, or you can finish all 4 themes in one module before continuing to the next level. You don't necessarily have to do all themes in one module before moving to a higher level, although it is recommended.

1.1     Basic module

In the basic module, all basic elements of programming with AlbumEasy 4.2.1 is explained.
Basic knowledge about programming is explained based on some existing examples.

1.2     4 Modules

There are 4 modules, from basic skills to extended tips and tricks. Within each module there are 4 themes.

After finishing module 1A, you can continue within the same theme, in level 2A, or start exploring a new theme in module 1B

This way, you can work per module and upgrade your basic knowledge of the program step-by-step, or work per theme, to develop a broad knowlegde of one subjet and then move on to another theme.

Learning by module makes it possible to start making you own album already after finishing the first module.

·       Mod 1 Basic skills

o   Making a title and insert text (1 A)

o   Adjusting texts (1 B)

o   Adding page deviders(1 C)

o   Making pages (1 D)

·         Mod 2 Extending basic skills

o   A front page and album pages (2 A)

o   More text adjusting possibilities (2 B)

o   Making personalized deviders (2 C)

o   Placing boxes on a line and using headers(2 D)

·         Mod 3 Extended module

o   Cascade sceme (3 A)

o   Making columns (3 B)

o   Give your album a personalized border frame (3 C)

o   Differently shaped boxes (3 D)

·         Mod 4 Extention +

o   Dynamic cascade sceme(4 A)

o   Use of colors and lettertypes (4 B)

o   Putting text outside the frame (4 C)

o   Colors and backgronds in the boxes (4 D)

Making your own album 00

No matter how long you've been collecting, or what you've been collecting, you will always need some kind of album, binders, ... or your 'collection' will remain a pile of shoe boxes with hidden treasures.

All (flat) collectibles that fit into an album (notes, stamps, cigar bands, wine labels, pokemon cards, postcards, stickers, .....) don't demand much effort to make a great album.
Collecting coins require more specific albums / boxes, due to the thickness and weight of the objects.

Most people start with stock albums to put away their collectibles. That's not collecting, that's hoarding.

Hoarding collectibles...

It becomes collecting, once you make it a collection. Start sorting out items, order by country, theme, year, ... make it visible.

Changing boxes into stock books, isn't collecting either, it's stocking...

Stocking collectibles...

A collection needs more respect.
For that you need to prove you know at least something about your collection:
Year of emission - subject depicted - ruler or issuer - appearance - ...

Basic collection - basic information

Starters will be happy to know country and year of the items they want to show.

Advanced collection

More advanced collectors will add perforation, theme, catalog numbers, size, ....
Specialists will add a short history to each item, colour variations, plate numbers, possible errors ...

Specialized collection

For this reason, a stock book is easy, as you swap items from one page to another when new items are added, or new information requires more space.  But it is so impersonal, and to show off, you cannot use an album for a presentation, or exhibition....

Preprinted albums, are very good, but often very expenive too.
They follow one type of catalog, and may not be suitable for use in countries that use other catalogs.
Besides, they offer little space for personal imput, and you are obliged to follow the layout of the producer of the album.

Self made album

But the last image, gives a glimp of wat we can do ourselves, making our own pages.
Only requirements are a computer (laptop, or desktop), solid quality paper, a printer and a binder (presentation folder).
And a free program to develop your own pages, adjustable to your needs.

Oh and a free course to work with the program too :-)

Because my blog celebrates its 10th anniversary, I present a fully usable self made tutorial to use a program like AlbumEasy, to start making your own albums, presentation sheets, exhibition sheets, ....
It's freeware, and it will lift your collection to the next level and beyond.

to be continued ...
next part : https://rainbowstampsandcoins.blogspot.com/2021/04/making-your-own-album-01.html