Reduce regular sized fabric: I just scan as I usually do and then insert the scan into a Publisher document, grab the corner and shrink it to about 1/4 the size so you can still see the detail. Then copy and paste it 3 more times to fill up the page. Print on paper or computer printer fabric or fabric lined with freezer paper or a full page label.

Roz

Warning! - Inkjet printing on fabric - Just wanted to let everyone know that when inkjet printing on fabric to be careful of the thickness of your fabric. I tried to use the medium weight cotton-like duck that I usually use to have mini rugs color copied and printed at the copy center and my printer groaned and grunted and sounded like it was falling apart. It was obviously too thick for my printer (I had set it for heavy paper, too). I let it run through but it only printed on part of the fabric and that was in black and white. Afterwards I was unable to get my printer to print in color; it had clogged the print heads. Luckily I was able to clear the blockage out by running a cleaning cycle.

Barbara

Printing on fabric: I used a clear contact paper, I stuck it on fabric, scanned the wall paper and printed a marvelous fabric, MORE THAN THAT, I reused the contact paper for print on the other side of the same fabric, so you can use this if for example, you want to make a curtain and see from outside window the same design as from inside. Contact paper really works.

Maria

Grouping Pictures: I use both Paint Shop Pro and Corel Draw.

In version 5 PSP you can create a new file, and give it a size of 8 x 10.5 inches. Then open the pictures one at a time and do edit copy, edit paste "AS NEW LAYER" to the new file and arrange as desired. Then save the new file...really don't forget this! Then do a print preview and then print.

In the PSP version 6 or 7

Open the files you want to print

Choose "Print Multiple Images"

Now just drag and drop and arrange the images on the page.

Be sure to save this page and then print.

In Corel version 3 just open a new file and then do a file import and arrange each pic on the page.

Be sure to save your "big page" with the multiple images. And be sure to do a test print on paper to get the colors as good as can be before printing to canvas. The print to canvas will resemble the paper output more than the "monitor colors"

If you have any more questions feel free to email me too. wkinder@dialnet.net

I've learned a lot about color adjustment/correcting "tweaking" to get good printed output on specialty items and am happy to share it if I can answer your questions.

I absolutely love using my computer to design and print to fabric, canvas and specialty papers. Combining minis and computer technology is such fun!

Wilma Kinder

Hutches: If you take one of those little inexpensive hutches you are bashing and drill a quarter inch hole in it, one of the light bulb, cord and plug units sold by Houseworks (#2215, "Screw-Base Bulbs" - two to a package) fits the hole exactly. You take off the plug, put it through the hole, and replace the plug. A little touch of glue (not sensitive to heat) will hold it in there - actually, it will stay in without it. I've drilled the hole in the top, and in the back of them. The model of hutch I work with has a design piece mounted on the top which hides the cord coming out of the top; the doors have no "glass" in them at all. I put "stained glass" in the hutches I make - the light behind the glass makes a lighted hutch with stained glass doors. I've seen some very pretty ones done with tiny print fabric or lace mounted in the cabinet doors, gathered on wooden toothpicks and glued to the inside.

Terry

Printable Mini Doll: I've created a mini printable doll--print on fabric, stitch and stuff. She's Violet, in Vaguely Victorian garb. She's at http://wingsnthings.tripod.com/violet.htm

Lee

Scale: The best tip that I ever saw for seeing if the scale was good, was here on this list, I'm pretty sure. :)? It was regarding the question of seeing if prints on fabrics and wallpaper were right. You cut out a one inch square from a piece of card and lay the square over the print.

I took this tip one step further. I hold up the same piece of card and hold it like a picture frame to actual items and view them with it. It works!

Leslie Peters

Screens: If you are making screens, this is how I do it. Cut out your cardboard shapes, i.e. if you are making a 3-fold screen, then you cut out 6 pieces of cardboard. You cover each piece of cardboard with the fabric you desire, silk, small print, etc. stretching the fabric over the cardboard, ensuring you cover the corners correctly, and glue in place. You then actually glue the covered pieces together ensuring that the overlapped sections face each other. I always used paper clips to hold it in place and even press them between heavy books. Then using a fine braid, glue braid around the edge.

To join the 3 screen together, I find the best way to do this is to actually sew it in place. Like 3 imitation hinges. Don't sew all the way down, do about 4 oversewing stitches, in 3 sections. Don’t pull the threads tightly otherwise it won't bend. You will end up with a lovely screen this way.

Make sure you create your master template first, and also when you have done 3 panels, ensure that you flip your template over and then do the other 3, otherwise you wont have them fitting each other. This is much better way than wood, unless you are decoupaging.

Pauline Mackenzie

How I photograph my minis:

1. If I am photographing a house, or roombox it goes right outside and sits on the beauty bark. The scenes in the yard are slightly fuzzy thus not too distracting but allow for good light and a Puget sound/mountain backdrop.

2. if I am photographing a set of room furniture, There is this little spot right off the yard... it is a raccoon trail (I am sure you have those in Puyallup) and the ground is solid. The indentation they made in the greens gives a gentle shading of direct sun and looks just like those adds for Ethan Allen furniture (you know the ones... beautiful bedroom suites in the woods)

3. Individual pieces can also be shown this way, or If the weather is icky (like it is today) I put it on a piece of fabric (I never worry about wrinkles) or paper. That velveteen paper from the scrapbooking store would be great. I am guilty of making sure the backdrop compliments the piece I am doing. White painted wood gets a dark forest/sage green backdrop... stained woods get pinks, lt blues, or peach depending on the finish color/upholstery... the other thing I do is use scaled wallpaper (on artist board from target) and a penny.

Do those things help? You can even head to your local state park and photograph there, they have great maintained trails and old forest that makes for great back drops.

The other thing that is a godsend is a digital camera. I would have spent thousands on film if I had actually had to print out before I knew what I was doing. Now I preview on the LCD panel and trash what I don’t like right off, and it stores 300 pix (1280res) per smart card.

Sudie Parker

Photo background: The nice thing is you have seen the best examples in miniature magazines and Photo albums. Which types of photos did you like best? The ones in a setting with a story line or the items on their own with penny to show size? Each has it's own reason to be photographed that way....what are you trying to tell people by taking this photo?

I want to give you an idea of the size because it is so small and perfect....use an item everyone can relate to easily. I want people to see how I made all the pieces work together....setting details.

Backgrounds: Fabric has a nap and even ironed out wrinkles often show....Best results from fabric...the back of my husband's wrinkle free light blue dress shirt. (no, I didn't cut it out, I left it on the hanger, draped out the tail and set up on that.)

New favorite backgrounds: calendar photos that are no gloss. Even if the photo is too small you can take it to Kinko’s to get it resized. The photo I used for the Miss 4th of July doll had as many people asking about the background as the doll!

Never use small stripes, it makes the camera go nuts. Any print will detract from your detail. Black absorbs your light. Something pale, like blue is good. I also use a piece of gaterboard with dollhouse wallpaper on it to pop behind a piece to give it a finished look. I like to set up the shoot on my desk, right in front of the window for natural light. TURN OFF OTHER LIGHTS. They will turn your film green or off color.

Put your camera on a book or two to get the height right or use a tripod...never hold it with miniatures

Laurie Sisson

Mini rugs: Quick, before you toss it out - the Home Depot color ad in the 3/19 Sunday paper has pictures of eleven different Oriental rugs. Well, ten of them are Orientals and one is just plain 'different'. They look to be the right size for quarter inch houses 'as is', but if you have a scanner you can enlarge them to fit where ever they are needed. My DH gives me 'That Look' when I suggest printing on fabric, so I glue my paper rugs to unbleached muslin and then iron them, which helps bring the grain of the cloth to the surface. If I'm feeling ambitious, I cut the material about a quarter inch longer than the paper and make fringe on the ends.

Dani

Photo Tip: While trying to find a way to add photos to my daughter's dollhouse, I stumbled onto index prints at Wal-Mart.  You have to ask for them and there is a tiny cost but it is worth it. The pictures are very detailed; you just have to be aware when you take the picture that you will have to cut off about1/5 of the picture on the left side (they number the pictures so they're easy to find on the negative.) I laminate them and then cut an extra 1-4 mm around each picture. Then I fabric paint a frame around each picture with a thin tip (you can marble the frameby drawing lines on the laminate with the paint and then pulling a thin needle through it).

My daughter currently has many mini-photos of herself, family and friends. Next,we're going to set up vignettes with her dolls and take pictures!!

Nancy