My daughter wants to start doing digital scrapbooking. She is looking at two software programs she saw in a local shop.

Hallmark Scrapbook Studio Deluxe (www.hallmark.com)
and
Scrapbook Factory Deluxe 3.0 (www.novadevelopment.com)

Does anyone know anything about these programs? Would either be good for a beginner? My daughter does not work with PhotoShop or PSP and was looking at these to be convienent. Someday I'll get her to use PhotoShop but it won't be soon.

Thanks in advance.

Lucian

In all honesty, you would be better off going with a program like PhotoShop Elements or even an older version of PSP. Elements is easy enough that my now 12 year old daughter has been able to easily create layouts in it without much assistance. (All I showed her was how to do a layer for each item, and how to use the "undo" command to fix mistakes). Both of these programs are around the $100 price, but they are extremely versatile and well supported by the digiscrapping community. SBB provides new tutorials monthly in the tutorial section as well as in the ezine.

Another alternative program is fotofusion, which is less expensive and designed for people to create layouts. I haven't tried out this one myself, but i have heard good things about it from other users. There is a fotofusion forum here at SBB if you need assistance as well.

I am not going to say "no" to the programs that you listed, as they seem to be what is available to you in your area. Whatever you chose, you want it to be capable of importing jpgs and png files which are found in digital kit downloads. I have tried the Hallmark program, as well as the CK Scrapbooking Software, PrintShop and PrintArtist, but always come back to using my adobe programs.

__________________
Colleen in Friendly Manitoba...
Proudly selling digital designs at SBB
(Come take a peek at my Gallery or check my BLOG to see what I'm up to)

Thanks for the reply. I prefer to use PhotoShop and/or Elements. I sometimes get a creative block. The idea behind the software was to have some templates already made up - get an idea of what scrapbooking is like - and go from there. Work has been very busy over the past year so I get less time than I would like for photography and being creative.

Daughter #1 called a few minutes ago and I discussed this with her. She mentioned Creative Memories. Well they have a "digital page" and a software download (free) and templates (free) that work with the download.

So I downloaded the software to a jump drive and will set it up tomorrow on a stand alone Compaq. It's definitely a good price.

Here's the link should anyone be interested. At least it's a start for daughter #2.

http://www.creativememories.com/

I have used both of those programs and prefer the Scrapbook Factory Deluxe 3.0. For easy scrapbooking this is a great program. The program supports png files, so you can import and use downloaded kits with it. The only thing I couldn't do easily was create drop shadows, but I have found a way to do it. I would highly recommend this program for it's ease of use, and low learning curve. You can crop pictures and edit them in the program also. I use PSE 3 and Digital image pro also, but go back to this program when I want to scrap alot. I have not used the templates (I start from a blank), but they do have a lot of them to choose from. Hope this helps a little.

How old is your daughter?

__________________
My Photo Site

Shh. Don't say I said this: 33 & 34.

I thought I posted this earlier but apparantly not.

Also I tried downloading and installing the Creative Memories free download but no success. So I got the Scrapbook Factory Deluxe 3.0.

I'll give it a go.

remember too that Photoshop elements and Digital Image Pro (which is what I would recommend for a beginner that PSE intimadates - because it is made by microsoft it "feels" famliar because it looks like other microsoft programs) both have trial versions... have them try them out... if they really like scrapbooking you will find both the hallmark and Scrapbook Factory programs are quickly outgrown... I had scrapbook factory... I did 1 layout in it and switched to Digital Image pro - a year later I went to PSE and now am using PSCS2.

__________________

I concur with the others.. try using a "real" photo editing program and go from there.. they offer tons more flexibility than just scrapping programs and you'll be able to use them for other things (photo fix up) as well.. They look intimidating. but just grab a good book along with the software and take it from there.. Good Luck!