Which program is better to use

[sweet_butterfly]

Hi there,

I'm new to the digital scrapbook. Have been doing paper for about 2 years. Could someone please tell me which program I should buy. Which one is better to use for all those beautiful colours and templates I see here.

Thank you :p

[Pam]

Do you have a program on your computer like Picture It or Print Shop? Some begin with those. The store here at DSP handles HP Creative Scrapbook Assistant (http://store.digitalscrapbookplace.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=38&products_id=1296) and you can create beautiful layouts with it. All of these have some backgrounds and graphics to get you started, plus you can use designer kits in them. You can not create your own elements and such.

To create your own ribbons and elements, you will need a graphics software program - there are many. I use Paint Shop Pro. Some use Photo Impact. Another reasonably priced option is Digital Image Pro. Far more expensive is Photo Shop - however there are starter versions like Photoshop Elements.

Everyone you talk to will likely have a different opinion -- mostly because of what they are used to and what they want the program to do. Go to www.corel.com and you will find a trial version of Paint Shop Pro. I believe that Adobe offers trial versions of Photo Shop, also. LumaPix also has a trial version of their software.

For just creating wonderful layouts using kits and elements created by the designers, the HP Creative Scrapbook Assistant or Broderbund Print Shop (or Broderbund CK Scrapbook Design) will be easy to learn -- and no one will know which program you are using. Plus they come bundled with lots of great backgrounds, embellishments, and templates.

[Abby]

Just for a different look .. Adobe also has a trial for Photoshop Elements which is a great program that is much easier to use than the full-fledged Photoshop (and MUCH less expensive).

[BubblyKori]

Well, I swear by PSP, but it really is more of an individual thing. Some things to consider:

**Your software skills, how quickly you pick up a new program;
**how evolved you want to eventually become; do you want to create kits, use high-end or powerful filters, do extensive photo retouching or simply have fun creating layouts with items other's have created
**how much do you want to spend? PSP X is currently $99 ($69 for an upgrade), PS CS2 is $599, (you'll have to check on the various programs to see the costs)

I would strongly suggest downloading the programs one-by-one for their trial period, testing them out yourself, then make a decision.

Oh, and yes, as noted above, look on your own computer for any free graphic program that you may already have, but aren't aware of. I found PSP 7 on my computer (when I first bought it 3 years ago), hidden in a sub-directory under "Dell Add-ons" (or it was something like that title) and later I discovered I had Paint, accessible when I right clicked on a graphic and it asked if I wanted to open it with Paint!

Good luck with making your decision!

[Emma]

I agree, download the trials one by one, and give each your full attention. When I first started I had Photoshop already and started Googling tutorials to learn more about the program. After DSP opened I got Paint Shop Pro, and learned it the same way. I just stopped opening PS, went straight to PSP, and used all the tutorials on this site and anything I could find on Google. It was far easier to learn PSP because I knew what was possible, what the software could do, what digital scrapbooking was. After that I figured Photoshop Elements would be easy, so I took my own Photoshop class using PSE and Googled lots more tutorials in addition to the ones here.

If you really give each trial a fair chance, at the end of the period you'll know which you like best! PSP has the longest trial, I htink 60 days, and the 2 Adobe have 30 day trials. Microsoft has a Digitalm Image Pro trial for 30 days as well.

Also, I moved your thread to the Choosing Your Software forum so you can read the older threads with lots of good info in them as well, here
http://www.digitalscrapbookplace.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=81

Let us know what type of pages you want to make, how creative you are, how ambitious, etc, and we can help you more. Welcome to DSP!!!

[martin99]

I had purchased HP Creative Assistant based on recommendations from this site, but I'm not happy with it. It's very very basic. If you're used to a lot of functionality from your software...this is not the one for you.

[Margie]

the CSA software is indeed very basic. that's why we recommend it. :) it's more of an assembly program for those that want quick pages. it's not for photo editing (although it does a wonderful job on black/white and sepia!) or manipulation, it's simply for fast pages. be sure to click on new to digital in the top menu for lots of info on programs and more!

[Emma]

yes, I use HP CSA for when I just need to churn out some pages, using either premade graphics or very basic color blocking graphic style (I call it slick magazine look)
If I want some more control I use PSE, if I want ultimate control I use Photoshop. I use PSP for the functions I think are better in that program, certain types of graphics I prefer making in there.

But especially for super newbies who are using their freebie stash, HP is wonderful! I tried to teach my neighbor to scrap using her PS 7, and she was so lost! Next time I'm bringing my HP to show her, I'm sure she'll like it much better. She is at the point where she just wants to use premade graphics.

[Emma]

oh, that's not to say everyone will like CSA, especially if like martin you want more control to edit photos and create your own graphics. Just for the easy/basic it's what we like. Nice combo of some simple features we must have, with ease of use