Total Beginner Here

[Petersonclan]

I have a total beginner question. I am a homeschool Mama of 7 children. I would like to start scrapbooking... I love some of the papers and mattes you can download, then just plop a photo inside, and you have a great page, quickly. Can you use them with Jasc Paint Shop Pro Studio? I download our photos into Jasc Paint Shop Photo Album 5, in case that matters.

I have also heard good things about FotoFusion, but was not sure if you could download the papers and things for that one.

So- if you could recommend one program for a busy Mama who has to scrap in 5 minutes or less at a shot, what would you recommend for versatility and ease of use?

Thanks,

Carri Peterson

[valeri]

Hi Carri, welcome to DSP. I am not familiar with the PSP Studio, but I believe it is just a slimmed down version of PSP, which is what I use. I know people use Photo Fusion for scrapping with good results. Have you checked out Digiscrapping 101? There is great information to help you choose your software. Basically it depends on your needs. Using premade graphics does not require a heavy duty program, anything basic that will support transparent PNG files will work. Hopefully someone who is a bit more familiar with the other programs can chime in here! :)

[Emma]

FotoFusion will allow you to use downloaded graphics, it's what we refer to as an "assembly" program where you make simple pages or use premade graphics, but can't make graphics from scratch. Has little customizing power, but make super fast pages. Also, HP Creative Scrapbook Assistant is awesome for assembling, very easy to use. MS Digital Image Pro is very easy, but has some more power.

Paint Shop Studio is a light version of Paint Shop Pro: do you know for sure which one you have? PSStudio can also use downloaded graphics, and has a fair ability to customize things and create a little from scratch. Many of the Paint Shop Pro tutorials will work with Studio if you're creative about adapting them. It'll get easier to adapt them the better you learn Studio.

If you already have Paint Shop Pro or Studio, then USE it 'cause right now it's free. If you find yourself getting really lost, ask a millioin questions. If you really hate it you can investigate purchasing something. Many make the mistake of buying all the software they can, and never really make the time to learn any of it, then feel they spent all this money on digi scrapping that was a waste. So focus and create a few pages. We're all here to help!

Glad to have you!

[Petersonclan]

I haven't bought the Photo Shop studio yet... I am wondering which would be the fastest, easiest to learn, and most flexible for my needs. Maybe the HP one?

[Emma]

if you want fast, easy, very simple layouts or using premade graphics, then either FotoFusion or HP CSA would work well for you. I personally prefer HP, I don't know why exactly. It just seems easier to me than FF.

If you someday think you'll wanna tackle making your own graphics, or really customizing things, you can either buy an easy one now and buy a more complex one later when you're ready/interested to do more, or buy a more complex one now.

I would recommend buying the easy one now and using it awhile, since you're interested in very fast pages and want to use premade graphics. As a busy mom, that seems like what you'd be happiest with. Down the road you could buy a graphics program if you really take to this and want more control, and have the time to learn it.

I use both a simple assembly program AND a complex graphics program. I'll make my own graphics, and then assemble some super fast pages in HP with them. Especially for several matching pages, it's super fast! So I get good use from both categories, as could most scrappers.

Does that help?

[Petersonclan]

That helps exactly... You confirmed my thoughts. Thanks for the help! I am off to spend some Christmas money...

[ThatChickisHip]

Oh My! I read and read..and I'm still confused on what software to buy. I'm not sure how to word this..but I'll try! :) I have downloaded free layout kits..and I sit there and look at them and wonder what program I need to lift them off the page and use them on mine? Hope I'm making sense..I need help bad!!

[Emma]

I recommend to newbies to start with HP Creative Scrapbook Assistant, you'll use it no matter how advanced you become to make fast, simple, easy layouts, especially for assembly-line layouts for a matched album.

Then download a trial and play for 30 days. Here's a list:
http://www.digitalscrapbookplace.com/forum/showthread.php?t=9639

Let us know if this helps! Do you already have anything that might work, if even for a little while to get you started?

[ThatChickisHip]

No..I was going to buy something this evening..I just don't know what to buy??

[Emma]

to be honest, my fave newbie combo is HP and the PHotoshop Elements. Elements is a little easier to use than Paint Shop Pro, and can use the hefty Adobe add ons that Photoshop creates.

[Petersonclan]

Can the HP program use the Adobe add ons?

[Amanda]

No, HP can't

[Emma]

only Adobe software can use the add-ons (presets), and even old versions can't use the ones made in new versions.

Presets are things like brushes, patterns, gradients, color swatches, etc. PSE can use most of them, can't use many actions (sequences of operations recorded and to automate certain functions), it can't use some of the color profiles like loading a Hue setting, etc. But the important ones it can use!