The Albumeasy Examples Thread With Code

For this example, I will design a simple, full-color album page. The size will be 8.5x11. The page will be centered for page protector use. It also features an old coat of arms at the top of the page.

Here is the commented AlbumEasy source code:

#Example of full color album page, 8.5x11, with a coat of arms.
ALBUM_PAGES_SIZE (215.9 279.4) #set the page to 8.5x11
ALBUM_PAGES_MARGINS  (15.0 15.0 15.0 15.0) #centered for page protector
ALBUM_PAGES_BORDER   (0.7 0.15 0.0 0.55) #makes Steiner Border Clone
ALBUM_PAGES_SPACING  (6.0 6.0)
# The stamp boxes in this album are sized 4mm larger than the actual stamps giving a 2mm border
# To have the boxes drawn the actual stamp size use STAMP_BOXES_SIZE_ADJUST(-4.0)
# To increase the border, e.g by 1mm use STAMP_BOXES_SIZE_ADJUST(2.0)
STAMP_BOXES_SIZE_ADJUST(0)#see above 3 comments
COLOR_ALBUM_BORDER(brown)#use to control color of border
PAGE_START
PAGE_TEXT_CENTRE(HN 4 "") # some vertical spacing
ALBUM_STAMP_IMG_SETTING (0 0 false) # image will be drawn with no space between the frame and the image
ROW_START_FS (HN 6 0.1 0.0)
STAMP_ADD_IMG (36.25 27.25 "images/hungary_pre-1918.jpg" "" "" "" NO_FRAME) #the coat of arms image, in the "images" folder
COLOUR_PAGE_TEXT(green)#change color of next text to green 
PAGE_TEXT_CENTRE(HB 14 "HUNGARY")
COLOUR_PAGE_TEXT(black)#change color of text to black again
PAGE_VSPACE(0.2)
COLOUR_STAMP_BORDER(black)#outer stamp border
COLOUR_STAMP_INNER_BORDER(lightgray)#inside stamp border
STAMP_INNER_BORDER (0.5 0.5)
PAGE_TEXT_CENTRE (HB 12 "1914");
PAGE_TEXT_CENTRE (HN 12 "Semi-Postal Stamps of 1913\nSurcharged in Red, Green, or Brown");
ROW_START_FS (CB 8  0.1 5.0)
STAMP_ADD (26 37 "1f + 2f\n\n\n\n\n\nB18" "" "" "")#the [\n] command inserts a space
STAMP_ADD (26 37 "2f + 2f\n\n\n\n\n\nB19" "" "" "")
STAMP_ADD (26 37 "3f + 2f\n\n\n\n\n\nB20" "" "" "")
STAMP_ADD (26 37 "5f + 2f\n\n\n\n\n\nB21" "" "" "")
STAMP_ADD (26 37 "6f + 2f\n\n\n\n\n\nB22" "" "" "")
ROW_START_FS (CB 8  0.1 5.0)
STAMP_ADD (26 37 "10f + 2f\n\n\n\n\n\nB23" "" "" "")
STAMP_ADD (26 37 "12f + 2f\n\n\n\n\n\nB24" "" "" "")
STAMP_ADD (26 37 "16f + 2f\n\n\n\n\n\nB25" "" "" "")
STAMP_ADD (26 37 "20f + 2f\n\n\n\n\n\nB26" "" "" "")
STAMP_ADD (26 37 "25f + 2f\n\n\n\n\n\nB27" "" "" "")
ROW_START_FS (CB 8  0.1 5.0)
STAMP_ADD (26 37 "30f + 2f\n\n\n\n\n\nB28" "" "" "")
STAMP_ADD (26 37 "35f + 2f\n\n\n\n\n\nB29" "" "" "")
STAMP_ADD (26 37 "50f + 2f\n\n\n\n\n\nB30" "" "" "")
STAMP_ADD (26 37 "60f + 2f\n\n\n\n\n\nB31" "" "" "")
STAMP_ADD (26 37 "1k + 2f\n\n\n\n\n\nB32" "" "" "")
ROW_START_FS (CB 8  0.1 5.0)
STAMP_ADD (26 37 "2k + 2f\n\n\n\n\n\nB33" "" "" "")
STAMP_ADD (26 37 "5k + 2f\n\n\n\n\n\nB34" "" "" "")

After AE program generation, the following PDF is created (click on the image for a larger version:



John

Great thread! Some good designs to play with when I get back to my French colony pages.

~Greg

This test page was evaluating how a quadrille pattern would overlay over stamp spaces.

I noticed the grid pattern always looked bolder in the PDF than when it was actually printed on paper with my setup. This example defines a grid with gray color and you can choose other colors to make it lighter or darker. This prints light.

To achieve the overly result, you define the grid (grid fills to bottom marginand then use VSPACE with a negative number to move the subsequent elements back up the page rather than to be inline.

I usually save tests for future reference.

ALBUM_DEFINE_FONT(BA "Palatino Linotype")
ALBUM_DEFINE_FONT(BB "Palatino Linotype Bold")
ALBUM_DEFINE_FONT(BI "Palatino Linotype Italic")
#ALBUM_PAGES_BORDER (0.7 0.15 0.0 0.55) #Steiner clone
ALBUM_PAGES_SIZE (215.9 279.4) #Set the album page size to US Letter (8.5 x 11)
ALBUM_PAGES_MARGINS (25.0 15.0 15.0 15.0) #left, right, top and bottom page margins
ALBUM_PAGES_SPACING (1.0 5.0) #set horizontal & vertical spacing for elements on a page



# ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
# The first page of the album
#
PAGE_START

PAGE_TEXT_CENTER (BB 18 "Afghanistan")
PAGE_VSPACE (-3)
PAGE_RULE_H (0.3 0 0)
PAGE_COLUMN_START (5)
ROW_START_FS (BA 6 0.1 1.0)
STAMP_ADD_IMG (55.8 60.2 "afghanistan_map.png" "" "" "" NO_FRAME)
PAGE_TEXT_PARAGRAPH_START(HN 10 LEFT)
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. A diam maecenas sed enim ut sem.
PAGE_TEXT_PARAGRAPH_END

PAGE_COLUMN_NEXT
ROW_START_FS (BA 6 0.1 1.0)

PAGE_TEXT_PARAGRAPH_START(HN 10 LEFT)
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. A diam maecenas sed enim ut sem. Ut ornare lectus sit amet est placerat in egestas. \n\nIn nisl nisi scelerisque eu ultrices vitae. Donec adipiscing tristique risus nec. Cras fermentum odio eu feugiat. Vel turpis nunc eget lorem dolor sed viverra ipsum. Vel pretium lectus quam id leo in. Faucibus et molestie ac feugiat sed lectus vestibulum mattis. Arcu odio ut sem nulla pharetra diam sit amet.\n\n
PAGE_TEXT_PARAGRAPH_END
#STAMP_ADD_IMG (40 25 "afghanistan.png" "" "" "" NO_FRAME)
#PAGE_TEXT_CENTER (BA 10 "Area: 652,230 square kilometers\n(251,830 square miles)")
#PAGE_TEXT_CENTER (BA 10 "Population: 38.9 million (2020)")
#PAGE_TEXT_CENTER (BA 10 "First issued stamps in 1871.")

PAGE_COLUMN_STOP

COLOUR_PAGE_QUADRILLE(grey)
PAGE_QUADRILLE(0.1 5.0 5.0 centre)

PAGE_VSPACE (-150)

ROW_START_FS (BA 8 0.1 15)
STAMP_BORDER_STYLE (SIDES B)
STAMP_ADD (30 34.0 "+" "" "Kingdom of Kabul 1871-1891" "")
STAMP_ADD (30 34.0 "+" "" "Kingdom of Afghanistan \n1891-1973" "")
STAMP_ADD (30.0 34.0 "+" "" "Republic 1973-2002 -" "")
STAMP_ADD (30.0 34.0 "+" "" "Transitional Islamic State \n of Afganistan 2002-" "")

I want to design a simple watermark informational page for my Denmark Album.

I could incorporate the images within the album itself, but I prefer a separate page

in the front of the album, which can be removed for easy reference.

Note: You can use AE for any type of informational page, for example - design studies, cover pages, or whatever.

Here is the commented AlbumEasy code:

#A stamp album "watermark" informational page, 8.5x11, for page protector.
#The images folder is "watermarks" and the images are named by Scott type.
ALBUM_PAGES_SIZE     (215.9 279.4) #Set the page to 8.5x11
ALBUM_PAGES_MARGINS  (20.0 20.0 20.0 20.0) #Adjustable (of course)
ALBUM_PAGES_BORDER   (0.7 0.15 0.0 0.55) #Makes Steiner Border Clone
ALBUM_PAGES_SPACING  (18.0 6.0)
ALBUM_DEFINE_FONT(ZZ "Bohemian Typewriter") #Define Your True-Type Font
STAMP_BOXES_SIZE_ADJUST(0) #The boxes for the stamps are the exact size indicated
ROW_ALIGN_BOTTOM
PAGE_START
PAGE_TEXT_CENTRE (ZZ 16 "DENMARK\n\nWatermarks\n\n");
PAGE_TEXT_CENTRE (ZZ 12 "Watermarks appear on Danish stamps up to the year 1930.\n
After that, they are unwatermarked.\n\nThere are four types of watermarks:\n\n");
ROW_START_FS (ZZ 10  0.1 5.0)
STAMP_ADD_IMG (32 36    "watermarks\111.jpg"    ""    "Small Crown (111)"    ""    NO_FRAME) 
STAMP_ADD_IMG (32 36    "watermarks\112.jpg"    ""    "Crown (112)"    ""    NO_FRAME)
PAGE_TEXT_CENTRE (ZZ 16 "");
ROW_START_FS (ZZ 10  0.1 5.0)
STAMP_ADD_IMG (32 36    "watermarks\113.jpg"    ""    "Crown (113)"    ""    NO_FRAME)
STAMP_ADD_IMG (32 36    "watermarks\114.jpg"    ""    "Multiple Crosses (114)"    ""    NO_FRAME)

When generated by AE, the following PDF is produced (Click on image for larger version):



John

Using the Hungary example above, we will make it fully illustrated.

Note: All images are located in the "images" folder, which is in the
same directory as the AE source code text file.

Here is the commented AlbumEasy source code:

#Example of full color album page, 8.5x11, with a coat of arms. Fully illustrated.
ALBUM_PAGES_SIZE (215.9 279.4) #set the page to 8.5x11
ALBUM_PAGES_MARGINS  (15.0 15.0 15.0 15.0) #centered for page protector
ALBUM_PAGES_BORDER   (0.7 0.15 0.0 0.55) #makes Steiner Border Clone
ALBUM_PAGES_SPACING  (4.0 6.0) #packed kind of tight to fit set on page.
# The stamp boxes in this album are sized 4mm larger than the actual stamps giving a 2mm border
# To have the boxes drawn the actual stamp size use STAMP_BOXES_SIZE_ADJUST(-4.0)
# To increase the border, e.g by 1mm use STAMP_BOXES_SIZE_ADJUST(2.0)
STAMP_BOXES_SIZE_ADJUST(0)#see above 3 comments
COLOR_ALBUM_BORDER(royalblue)#use to control color of border
ALBUM_PAGES_FOOTER (HN 10 R "#B18-34") #A method to denote scott catalog numbers at bottom right of page
PAGE_START
PAGE_TEXT_CENTRE(HN 2 "") # some vertical spacing
ALBUM_STAMP_IMG_SETTING (0 0 false) # image will be drawn with no space between the frame and the image
ROW_START_FS (HN 6 0.1 0.0)
STAMP_ADD_IMG (36.25 27.25 "images/hungary_pre-1918.jpg" "" "" "" NO_FRAME) #the coat of arms image, in the "images" folder
COLOUR_PAGE_TEXT(green)#change color of next text to green 
PAGE_TEXT_CENTRE(HB 14 "HUNGARY")
COLOUR_PAGE_TEXT(black)#change color of text to black again
PAGE_VSPACE(0.2)
COLOUR_STAMP_BORDER(black)#outer stamp border
COLOUR_STAMP_INNER_BORDER(lightgray)#inside stamp border
STAMP_INNER_BORDER (0.5 0.5)
ALBUM_STAMP_IMG_NEW_SETTING (4.0 4.0 false) 
PAGE_TEXT_CENTRE (HB 12 "1914");
PAGE_TEXT_CENTRE (HN 12 "Semi-Postal Stamps of 1913\nSurcharged in Red, Green, or Brown");
ROW_START_FS (CB 4  0.1 5.0)
STAMP_ADD_IMG (26.0 37.0 "images/b18.jpg" "" "" "")
STAMP_ADD_IMG (26.0 37.0 "images/b19.jpg" "" "" "")
STAMP_ADD_IMG (26.0 37.0 "images/b20.jpg" "" "" "")
STAMP_ADD_IMG (26.0 37.0 "images/b21.jpg" "" "" "")
STAMP_ADD_IMG (26.0 37.0 "images/b22.jpg" "" "" "")
ROW_START_FS (CB 4  0.1 5.0)
STAMP_ADD_IMG (26.0 37.0 "images/b23.jpg" "" "" "")
STAMP_ADD_IMG (26.0 37.0 "images/b24.jpg" "" "" "")
STAMP_ADD_IMG (26.0 37.0 "images/b25.jpg" "" "" "")
STAMP_ADD_IMG (26.0 37.0 "images/b26.jpg" "" "" "")
STAMP_ADD_IMG (26.0 37.0 "images/b27.jpg" "" "" "")
ROW_START_FS (CB 4  0.1 5.0)
STAMP_ADD_IMG (26.0 37.0 "images/b28.jpg" "" "" "")
STAMP_ADD_IMG (26.0 37.0 "images/b29.jpg" "" "" "")
STAMP_ADD_IMG (26.0 37.0 "images/b30.jpg" "" "" "")
STAMP_ADD_IMG (26.0 37.0 "images/b31.jpg" "" "" "")
ROW_START_FS (CB 4  0.1 5.0)
STAMP_ADD_IMG (26.0 37.0 "images/b32.jpg" "" "" "")
STAMP_ADD_IMG (26.0 37.0 "images/b33.jpg" "" "" "")
STAMP_ADD_IMG (26.0 37.0 "images/b34.jpg" "" "" "")

When run through the AE program, it produces the following PDF
file (click on the image to see a larger one):



John

Using a simple switch, I can change my full-color illustrated album page to grayscale.

The switch is located in line #27 of the AE Code below:

ALBUM_STAMP_IMG_GREYSCALE_ON

To turn the switch off, and revert back to full color, I would use the command:

ALBUM_STAMP_IMG_GREYSCALE_OFF

Here is the commented AlbumEasy source code:

#Example of switching full-color images to grayscale - see line #27
ALBUM_PAGES_SIZE (215.9 279.4) #set the page to 8.5x11
ALBUM_PAGES_MARGINS  (15.0 15.0 15.0 15.0) #centered for page protector
ALBUM_PAGES_BORDER   (0.7 0.15 0.0 0.55) #makes Steiner Border Clone
ALBUM_PAGES_SPACING  (4.0 6.0) #packed kind of tight to fit set on page.
# The stamp boxes in this album are sized 4mm larger than the actual stamps giving a 2mm border
# To have the boxes drawn the actual stamp size use STAMP_BOXES_SIZE_ADJUST(-4.0)
# To increase the border, e.g by 1mm use STAMP_BOXES_SIZE_ADJUST(2.0)
STAMP_BOXES_SIZE_ADJUST(0)#see above 3 comments
COLOR_ALBUM_BORDER(royalblue)#use to control color of border
ALBUM_PAGES_FOOTER (HN 10 R "#B18-34") #A method to denote scott catalog numbers at bottom right of page
PAGE_START
PAGE_TEXT_CENTRE(HN 2 "") # some vertical spacing
ALBUM_STAMP_IMG_SETTING (0 0 false) # image will be drawn with no space between the frame and the image
ROW_START_FS (HN 6 0.1 0.0)
STAMP_ADD_IMG (36.25 27.25 "images/hungary_pre-1918.jpg" "" "" "" NO_FRAME) #the coat of arms image, in the "images" folder
COLOUR_PAGE_TEXT(green)#change color of next text to green 
PAGE_TEXT_CENTRE(HB 14 "HUNGARY")
COLOUR_PAGE_TEXT(black)#change color of text to black again
PAGE_VSPACE(0.2)
COLOUR_STAMP_BORDER(black)#outer stamp border
COLOUR_STAMP_INNER_BORDER(lightgray)#inside stamp border
STAMP_INNER_BORDER (0.5 0.5)
ALBUM_STAMP_IMG_NEW_SETTING (4.0 4.0 false) 
PAGE_TEXT_CENTRE (HB 12 "1914");
PAGE_TEXT_CENTRE (HN 12 "Semi-Postal Stamps of 1913\nSurcharged in Red, Green, or Brown");
ALBUM_STAMP_IMG_GREYSCALE_ON #This switches images from full color to grayscale.
ROW_START_FS (CB 4  0.1 5.0)
STAMP_ADD_IMG (26.0 37.0 "images/b18.jpg" "" "" "")
STAMP_ADD_IMG (26.0 37.0 "images/b19.jpg" "" "" "")
STAMP_ADD_IMG (26.0 37.0 "images/b20.jpg" "" "" "")
STAMP_ADD_IMG (26.0 37.0 "images/b21.jpg" "" "" "")
STAMP_ADD_IMG (26.0 37.0 "images/b22.jpg" "" "" "")
ROW_START_FS (CB 4  0.1 5.0)
STAMP_ADD_IMG (26.0 37.0 "images/b23.jpg" "" "" "")
STAMP_ADD_IMG (26.0 37.0 "images/b24.jpg" "" "" "")
STAMP_ADD_IMG (26.0 37.0 "images/b25.jpg" "" "" "")
STAMP_ADD_IMG (26.0 37.0 "images/b26.jpg" "" "" "")
STAMP_ADD_IMG (26.0 37.0 "images/b27.jpg" "" "" "")
ROW_START_FS (CB 4  0.1 5.0)
STAMP_ADD_IMG (26.0 37.0 "images/b28.jpg" "" "" "")
STAMP_ADD_IMG (26.0 37.0 "images/b29.jpg" "" "" "")
STAMP_ADD_IMG (26.0 37.0 "images/b30.jpg" "" "" "")
STAMP_ADD_IMG (26.0 37.0 "images/b31.jpg" "" "" "")
ROW_START_FS (CB 4  0.1 5.0)
STAMP_ADD_IMG (26.0 37.0 "images/b32.jpg" "" "" "")
STAMP_ADD_IMG (26.0 37.0 "images/b33.jpg" "" "" "")
STAMP_ADD_IMG (26.0 37.0 "images/b34.jpg" "" "" "")

When run through AE, it produces the following PDF (click on image for a larger version):



John

John,
I hadn't really been much of a fan of colour on album pages, but your Hungary examples have made me change my mind.
I particularly like the March 7, example with the red and black page borders, I think that they really complement the shield and the green country heading.
Clive

Thanks, Clive. I never use color myself, because I only have a monochrome printer... I was just making examples for this thread, as a challenge to myself. I agree that the first Hungary design is the most pleasing - took me awhile to get the color balance right.

You can do almost anything with AlbumEasy!

John

To look good, a page with stamp images for each space need to be in a consistent quality. Your Hungary page example meets that requirement.

However, they can make nice reference pages.

When you install Album Easy, there is an examples folder that has source code and PDFs of various commands. I use a dark theme so background is black,

Great thread. I've been learning some Albumeasy as a possible long term plan to expand on my Citation album. I'll definitely reference these examples.

I'm editing one of the excellent free albums from the Albumeasy website to suit my preferences and learning as I go. It gets tricky to arrange different sized stamps in an attractive way that keeps stamps together that I want together, and fulfills my preference for filling up a fair amount of the page. I need to get better at manipulating borders, spacing, columns, etc.

This example shows how to achieve a Hybrid Steiner page using an AlbumEasy shell.
I like to use Steiner pages. What I don't like is that fact that it is difficult
to have mirror-margins using Steiner alone. This is because Steiner is designed
to be printed one page at a time, and not back to back. It looks weird when you
do back to back, say - in sheet protectors. The margins of the front page and
the back page are not uniform (centered).

Note: There are other methods to achieve this - this is the method I use.
Note #2: You could use this method for ANY size page.

The first step is the following code in AlbumEasy, which produces the Steiner border
centered on a blank page.

ALBUM_PAGES_SIZE     (215.9 279.4)#Set the page to US Letter (8.5 x 11)
ALBUM_PAGES_MARGINS  (12.0 12.0 12.0 12.0)#The margins are uniform to be centered
ALBUM_PAGES_BORDER   (0.7 0.15 0.0 0.55)#Produces a Steiner-clone border
ALBUM_PAGES_SPACING  (6.0 4.0)
ROW_ALIGN_BOTTOM
PAGE_START

which, when run through the AE program, produces a blank page PDF which looks like this:



The second step is to convert the Steiner pages PDF to JPG images. I do this by using an
online conversion tool (search for "PDF to JPG conversion"). Once I download the file
that has converted the Steiner PDF file to JPG images, I go to the next step.

Using my draw program (I use LibreOffice Draw), I open the blank Steiner clone PDF
produced in the first step. I duplicate the slides as necessary. I then minimize this
file on my desktop.

Using my graphics program (I use IrfanView 64), I upload the particular Steiner page
JPG image I am working on and cut (as in cut and paste) out the "meat" of the Steiner
page - that is, the content of the page INSIDE of the border.

Then I go back to DRAW and paste that which I have cut out into the slide. I may have
to adjust the cutting image I have pasted in for the top and left/right margins. Then
I repeat the process for each Steiner page I have converted - pasting the meat of
Steiner into each slide. Then I save the draw project.

The last step is to export the draw file into a PDF file.

Here is a before picture:




Here is an after picture:



Notice that the Steiner border is centered (as well as the content). It is ready to
print out back to back, or on single pages back to back, and afterwards inserted
into a page protector.

This sounds like more work than it really is. It only took me about 20-30 minutes
to convert the entire Steiner "Denmark Classic" file (27 pages).

John

Did you try just changing margins in Draw?

Al,

How 'bout a step-by-step instruction on how to do that with a Steiner PDF uploaded to LibreOffice Draw?!

I would love to know how to do that!

John

OK. I have a post somewhere here on my experiences with PDF and Draw but will do tomorrow.