Visualization in scrapbooking

I can visualize and am probably 1 maybe a 2.

When scrapping I can have an idea but usually my ratios are off on how something will fit in reality. So it's not perfect and I still have to take it step by step.



My DH can not visualize. Which is shocking when I found this out cuz he is a structural engineer (residential homes) and has amazing spacial awareness. An architect that he works with told me DH has the best spacial awareness of anyone he has ever worked with. Yet he doesn't visualize/see a picture in his brain at all. He says he can make a picture if he really tries but it disappears quickly.

I have complete aphantasia. It is just a black void in my head.
I think that is one of the reasons I enjoy scrapbooking and photography though. I can't picture my grandparents in my mind. I can't picture my pets in my mind. I can't picture my husband in my mind. I can't hear his voice or anything like that so I love photographs and I love scrapbooking. I imagine that is why, it is a way for me to hold on to images.
When I scrapbook I have to start with a sketch. I never end up following the sketch exactly but it gives me a starting point to on how to lay down my photos and how many papers to choose. I also have to actually put the papers down in the area. I think I'm going to like them and I'm constantly moving them and auditioning different papers.

That article was very interesting. It never occurred to me until I read that that people with imaginary friends could actually see the person. I am able to understand a little bit of the rest of it, but the thought of actually seeing an imaginary friend is bizarre to me.
That ball on the table question was fascinating as well because when I read it I'm like well duh. It's going to fall off the table. How was this going to tell if anyone has a different thinking process. I mean what other answer is there? Then when they revealed some people would know what the ball looked like and who pushed it, how big it was etc. that just is astonishing to me.
I just found out about anphantasia a year or so ago and it just blows my mind that people can see things in their head.

Like caangel, I'm probably a 1-2 on the Imagination Scale in the linked article. However, I'm left-brained/creatively-challenged & have perfectionist tendencies that make me an indecisive & painstakingly S-L-O-W scrapper who will rework/quit & restart as much as necessary to be completely satisfied with each step in the process. Papercrafters are a diverse group of preferences/skills/abilities/etc. 

I’m a strong 1. The Apple in my mind is the same as seeing an Apple In person. I’m also good with figuring out design concepts in my head - for home decor and scrapping etc. I like to go for walks and come back and have a whole new room design planned down to mini details just doing In my head and switching pieces and colors out.

I’m so sorry that you ever had to employ that coping mechanism, and glad to hear it’s in the past.

I'd say I'm a 1 or 2 in that I can pretty clearly visualise things. With my layouts I sort of have an idea of where I'm going, but I don't know exactly what it will look like when I'm done. So sometimes I'll have a clear idea of what paper/s I want to use or how the finished page might look, but other times I need to go through all my supplies considering options before I know what direction the layout is going in.

I'm a 1, which does not surprise me. I often had to visualize in 3D from 2D drawings for my job as a project engineer. I was pretty good at drafting and sketching views for others.

I did a lot of sketching of piping layouts for our jobsite engineers. I'm weird, because it was fun!

A couple of things about my ability to visualize a scrapbooking project:

I have no problem visualizing colours, and if I am in a store completely away from my stash and photos, I can usually pick out papers or extras that will match with the ones I have at home &/or the pic I want to scrap. The "apple test" in the article brought to mind a red delicious apple complete with shape, variations of colour, even an imagined injury spot.

Elsabelle, I can usually visualize pretty well. However I don't think I do it too much in scrapbooking. When I used to sew I could visualize what I wanted to make - the hard part was making that vision come true.
grammadee, I'm jealous of your ability to remember and match colors. I have to have colors side by side to choose.
wordyphotogbabe, so glad you're in a better situation now.

I'm a 3. I can see in my mind but it's not a vivid color, more muted.

I can plan layouts or decorating in my mind but I struggle with size. I'm always having to resize and recut on my silhouette.

If I am visualizing something that I am familiar with, such as an apple or orange, I’m a 1. For visualizing a layout, I would probably say that I am closer to a 2. My first ideas for a page, although I can visualize them, aren’t necessarily going to be the same when finished.

I prepare all of my layout elements, place them as I first planned/pictured, then shift them around until I am thoroughly satisfied as to what will be the best arrangement. I don’t glue anything down until then because what I visualize first in my head may not be the best final result. Like artbabe, my layout evolves.

I think that being able to picture an item that you are familiar with (such as an apple), and trying to visualize and create a layout may be two different applications of visualization.