First of all . . . wow.  This issue is amazing.  It's not often I think the world of an entire special issue.  Ususally there are a few things I like, a few things I could do without.  But this one?  Awesome.

The layouts are all eye-candy, the format is awesome, the instructions are clear, the techniques are actually useful . . . this is honestly the first special issue I can honestly say is a must have for both the paper and digital scrapbooker.

You'll notice the title of this issue is "Computer Tricks," not "Digital Scrapbooking."  Because this book doesn't teach you how to be a digi-scrapper.  The goal is not to convert you to digital scrapbooking in favor of giving up paper.  This issue is about how you can use Photoshop Elements to make you paper layouts really awesome.

In fact, Jessica lets you know in the "getting started" intro that she assumes you have a capable printer at home and will be using it to put together your creations.  (Most of us digi girls?  We do our WHOLE page in Photoshop and upload the final product so someone else can print it and send it to us.)

To double check that these layouts are all paper, I thumbed through the issue, looking at the supply lists: Bazzil cardstock is listed in almost every layout.  If that doesn't say "dude this is a paper layout," I don't know what does.

This issue is arranged by chapters.  The chapter titles are:
1. Photography
2. Titles
3. Journaling
4. Embellishments
5. Patterns

There are 67 techniques demonstrated, each with a 2 page spread.  The layout or project fills most of the 1st page (with a "why this is cool" paragraph underneath), and on the facing page are instructions.  Some examples of techniques: create an artistic look with a less-than-perfect-photo, fade a photo for a clever journaling spot, make a statement with oversized type, create a cool typographic title block, wrap journaling around your photos, and (my personal favorite) design a mini album using a simple grid system.

Each instruction page has 3 steps of instruction, and sometimes a tip, additional idea, or hint.  (The steps, which are clear and easy to understand, each consist of several sentences, and each has an accompanying screen shot image.)

Directions are written for Photoshop Elements, which has noticible differences from the full versions of Photoshop; if you have a full version there might be a bit of extra deduction needed on your part to figure it out.  But you're smart.  You can do it.

Regarding layouts, the issue is square heavy (about 74% of the layouts are square versus rectangle), but I can overlook that -- I think more people these days make square layouts anyway.  Jessica contributed 30 great layouts and projects (seriously, how did she create so many original and beautiful layouts all together?  I lose mojo after like 5) and the following artists have 3 to 5 layouts each: Joanna Bolick, Kendra McCracken, Sheri Reguly, Tiffany Tillman, Jennifer Perks, C.D. Muckosky, Nisa Fiin, Sara Winnick, Linda Harrison, and Dagmar Nuemann.

Long story short?  This issue can help you really take your paper pages to the next level.  And as a bonus for us digi people, we will benefit from the great lessons and ideas for our program laid out so plainly and beautifully.  Win win.

For more from Jessica:
-- Stop by her blog and sign up for Photoshop Friday -- a newsletter delivered to your inbox every week!
-- Visit her new site, JessicaSprague.com for video courses, tutorials, and forums.