confused and over welmed

[Texas girl]

Ok.. I'm throwing out the traditional scrapbooking and want start Ds. I got my own lap top, now what? There is so much out there on this subject , I am confused and overwelmed. I guess I need to decide on a program, which one? I think I am leaning toward Photoshop, but which one. I would like some opinions please. I am also open to PSP. Please help.

[Amanda]

Check out the link under the campus called New to Digital. It will guide you in the right direction.

where is tx are you? i'm north of dallas :)

[Emma]

I'm in Austin! I teach most of the beginner courses for DSU. If you want to use PSP, download the 30-day trial from Corel.com and do the First Page tutorial for it, asking here if you get stuck at all. Repeat it a time or few using different photos to really solidify it. Then after that trial has expired, download the Photoshop Elements trial from Adobe.com and repeat the First Page Tutorial for PSE in the same way.

I also relaly like the Pixel Magic sold here beause it's really simple to get started using the included graphics or downloaded graphics. Kind of a click and drag interface. I use it to put fast pages together when I have d/l graphics or made my own in another software and don't want to trick the page out :) It's also wonderful for making a bunch of coordinated pages quickly with the same kit for a themed album or an event with lots of photos.

Welcome to DSP!

[Texas girl]

I knew there would be some Texas girls out there.. I am in Houston.
Thanx for your suggestions.
Teresa

[untmom2003]

Welcome! I'm in Houston too. Haven't checked in in awhile because we are in the process of closing on a new house (today actually!) out in Katy. Will be moving the day before Superbowl (yes, the dh wasn't happy about that bc he'll have to immediately get the big tv stuff all hooked up!). I have a laptop (that's been in the shop almost as much as I've used it!) and I use MS Digital Image Suite 2006. I could not use Paint Shop Pro (8 I think) that we already had bc the learning curve was just too huge for my little brain! I really like DIS (referred to here as DIP usually) and I got $50 in gift certificates for DSP for my bday and Christmas that I will start buying and using in earnest once we get moved and I can get back to actually scrapping. I agree w/ Emma to download and use the free trials. MS DIS also comes with a free trial. I also have PSE 3 that came w/ my wacom tablet, but haven't really played much with it. It may be better for making my own elements and stuff--I'll have to experiment later. I am moving TONS of paper scrapping and stamping stuff (dh said we should just have a bonfire!) bc I just can't part with it all. Have a dd who is graduating college in May to be an elementary teacher and hoping she will need lots of that crafty stuff for her classroom. Best of luck and everyone here at DSP are always willing to answer any questions you have!

[Texas girl]

thanks untmom... You know I have thought about having a scrapbook garage sale... I also have a hard time parting with that stuff. Maybe I will see how I do with ds and the have that garage sale and use the money for ds stuff. I will have to get on that before all my scrapping buddies decide I have the right ideal going digital. haha

[Sandersmr]

WooHoo - We have enough for a gathering. I'm in the Houston area as well.

I use PSP although I'm taking the plunge and getting PS. All the photog forums seem to think you have to have PS. And I got a good deal. My uncle had an extra new copy of a PS upgrade so all I had to do was buy the PS6 to upgrade from.

But I have used PSP since version 4 and am using X right now. It can be really overwhelming when you first start out, but it does get easier. And the tuts on this site are really great as well as the classes. I've taken a couple of Emma's and she's really great.

[prodigal1978]

Hi!
My husband bought me PSPXI for Christmas, mainly for me to edit and play with the pictures. Now I think I've got the digi fever. LOL. Instead of downloading the program from the internet, we ordered it and got it in the mail and that version came with a training cd from lynda.com that really really helped me out. You learn all the basics from that. It also came with a user manual and a trial of painter essentials 3 (which I have not installed) and snapfire.
I am really loving pspXI and I am technically challenged. So if I can learn it, anybody can. Just takes patience and practice.