Printing

[innotek]

What a great site I happened to stumble across! I'm very new to digital scrapbooking (have been "manually" scrapping for years) and am actually not sure of what program to even use, but this site offers so much information on programs that that's not going to be a problem.

However, I like to have actual books, but don't want to print the pages myself. Can anyone recommend a "professional" printer (such as Kodak) that can print them?

Thanks!
Maryann

[carolyn d]

There is a thread here that discusses this very issue !!! If you go to the main forum page ...DIGITAL SCRAPBOOKING>THE TOOLS>SOFTWARE, HARDWARE, PRINTING>scroll down to the thread/thread starter section and the 5th thread down should be about hard bound books.
HERE (http://www.digitalscrapbookplace.com/forum/showthread.php?t=31332) is the link to the specific section. I gave the long way in case the link doesn't work.

Hopefully, this will help you.

[innotek]

Thanks Carolyn. There is just so much information on this site that your assistance is VERY much appreciated!

I know I said that finding a program to use was not going to be a problem, but I was wrong! I'm still looking for the program that would be best for me to use. One question that keeps coming to mind is why are there two different types of programs - a layout program and photo editing? What is the advantage of one over the other? I have photoshop elements 3 on my mac at work. I don't really use it, but when I've tried, it just seems really confusing. I was all ready to try and download the trial version on my laptop at home so I could have more time to work with it, but I read about Creative Memories Storybook Creator, and now I'm not so sure. Any advice you can send my way on this??

Thanks again!
Maryann

[emandlivsmom]

Hi MaryAnn...I did a free 30 trial with Photoshop Elements 6. I had absolutely no experience with anything like this before...after a couple days of fumbling through layouts, it got really pretty easy and I became much more efficient. There are still tons of things I don't know about the software but it is not getting in the way of me getting my pages done. Every now and then I try something new and add it to the list of things I DO know. (O:

Good luck!!!

[guitargirl]

Most of the layout programs only allow you to assemble pages and don't have as many options as something like Photoshop Elements. When I was choosing programs, the best advice I got was to choose something you won't "outgrow" too quickly. I actually tried Scrapbook Max first - it's one of the "layout" programs - and found that there were things that I wanted to do that it wouldn't let me. PSE takes a little learning, but if you use the tutorials and learn how to do a basic page, I think you'll like it. I would definitely do the free trial - if you don't like it, then you haven't spent anything! :) Here the link to the first page tutorial. First Page for PSE (http://www.digitalscrapbookplace.com/university/tutorials/pse_firstlayout_ag/pse_firstlayout_ag.shtml)

[carolyn d]

Any comprehensive software program will have a learning curve. No way to get around it !!! I chose PSE5 (initially) because 1) it had the capability to edit/correct photos. And seeing as I am not the best of photographers, it has been a life saver !
2) it's a popular program with plenty of tutorials and online help available. 3) after doing the 30 day free trial I found I could actually use it !!! 4) it didn't cost and arm and a leg !!! 5) I was able to do my layouts/classes and get the results I was looking for. So , that's my story and I'm sticking to it !!
PSP is another popular software program very similar in capabilities with PS. Many DSPer's use it and love it.
I think it will boil down to cost and time spent in the 'learning curve'.
Guitar girl is right in that you want to invest your $$ in something that will last and offer you flexibility and growth.
Many of the software companies offer 30 day free trials. Several people I know have used them one at a time to see which best fit their needs. And then just purchased the key code directly through the company website, as I did with PSE5. It may take some time to do it this way, but it will prevent you from spending $$$ needlessly.
HTH