What's the easiest software?

klclark75 · 12-29-2005, 06:48 PM

I just recently started digital scrapbooking. Awesome! I love it! I use Photoshop CS. My friend saw my one and only layout (so far!) and really liked it. She is very creative and would LOVE to scrapbook this way. The problem is that she is knows very little about computers. She is learning, but Photoshop would be WAY WAY over her head. (Its over my head too, but I get along)

My question is... What is the easiest program to use? Even if it didn't have lots of options, just something to get her going.

BTW, this site is incredible. The freebies are great, thanks to everyone who creates them. The info found here is really helpful.

Thanks,
Kristi

Pam · 12-29-2005, 07:01 PM

Did her computer come with something like Picture It! or Broderbund Print Shop? These work well to create basic pages and will even import kits and photos to create layouts with. Digital Image Pro is a great program (upgraded from Picture It!) and is used by many here. There are also some scrapbook specific programs that include some backgrounds and elements.

**Abby** · 12-29-2005, 07:09 PM

Another really easy to use program is Fotofusion .. also very reasonably priced .. there are lots of people that just love it!

**Amanda** · 12-29-2005, 07:46 PM

We also sell HP CSA Software on our site which is a great program for putting together pages - but doesn't have a lot of bells and whistles.

LokiZ · 12-30-2005, 12:01 AM

I agree with pam about looking on the computer for something that will do for now.

I do have a word of warning though... You are asking seasoned users what is easy for someone who has little or no PC experience. A persons perspective on what is easy and what is not comes from past experience. So we are all guessing on what would be easy for her based on others history.

I would suggest... First you must know what she wants out of the software. Then only compare titles with those options. If you sell her short and she is not happy with the array of options she buys it will be a waste of money and she'll have to go after the wanted options via another title or and upgrade of her current title.

Sure I know she is just starting. but you said that she was both very creative and loved what your first page looked like. If she gets a title that is easy to use but missing some of what your soft can do will she be happy?

You might try letting play on yours if she has not already and also showing her as many tricks you know with your soft to pin point all her must have options.

**Tina** · 12-30-2005, 10:15 AM

Hey, I'm a designer here, and I'm program challenged! I use Digital Image Pro 10, which is reasonably priced and user friendly

If she has high speed internet, a lot of the programs are available for free trial downloads.

scrapalongsadie · 01-01-2006, 10:08 AM

Another thought for you...my family refers to me at technicologically impaired so I am no techie.... You might want to check out FxFoto....I found it pretty easy to use but I agree that easy is a relative term LOL I would suggest downloading a trial of whatever software she might want to use so she can see how easy it is or isn't!!

Sandersmr · 01-01-2006, 10:49 AM

I wouldn't sell her short. I started out with PSP with I think version 4 and was on my own to figure out what I needed to do. I just did really basic stuff for years, but slowly was able to figure out other stuff - then found this site - my knowledge of PSP has grown exponentially just from the tuts on this site.

PSP and PSE are both under $100, and yes, they have lots of bells and whistles, but you won't outgrow them anytime soon.

Emma · 01-01-2006, 11:16 AM

If she is super creative she will soon chafe with an easy program. You have to analyze someone's creative personality when choosing software for them. If she's a go getter and will want to make everything herself, then something less easy and more powerful is the way to go. If she'll get mad and quit if something's not immediately apparent, then something simpler is the way to go.
And she doesn't have to marry it, either. Start out with something, use it for a year or so, use premade graphics and create very simple layouts, and when she's ready to move on there are more complex programs.

I think a good assembly program like FotoFusion or HP Creative Scrapbook Assistant is great because you can use it even after "graduating" to something more powerful later for making fast layouts with premade graphics. I have several students in my PS, PSE, or PSP classes who just want to make their own graphics in the program, not layouts, then put everything together in FF or HP CSA.

So find out how determined and gung ho she is, if she'll eat up the challenge, or get discouraged easily. PS was way over my head when I started, but someone said it was the professional standard and I knew I'd be happy with nothing less.

Emma · 01-01-2006, 11:27 AM

trial versions

Digital Image Pro, 60 days from Install
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...displaylang=en

Adobe, 30 days from Install, Photoshop and Photoshop Elements
http://www.adobe.com/products/tryadobe/main.jsp

Lumapix FotoFusion, basic version, no time limit (puts lumapix all over the images, so can't use them, just a trial)
http://lumapix.com/pages/downloads/Download.shtml

Triscape FXFoto
http://www.triscape.com/fxdownload.htm

Corel Paint Shop Pro, 30 days from install
http://www.corel.com/servlet/Satelli...wnloads/Trials

HP Creative Scrapbook Assistant has no trial, but I recommend it to everyone because if you're using premade graphics (downloaded or made yourself) or making a simple layout or big album project, it's super fast and easy, and a great price. For assembly line layouts (Power Scrapping) it just ROCKS!

For trials, I recommend starting with the easiest one (FXFoto, FotoFusion, MS DIP, PSE, PSP, PS) and using JUST that one for the time limit. Don't download all of them at once, you'll never have time to play before time runs out. Choose a month when you're "euphoric" about scrapping and will spend a lot of time on it, then when the trial runs out download the next one. Do the First Page tutorial here for each one, or the one included in the program. Then do all the tutorials on this site and Google tutorials. Don't worry about creating a bunch of layouts, your intention is software shopping and not scrapping at this point. Figure out which one suits your needs best by doing lots of fun tutorials and a few layouts, playing around and experimenting a lot.

After each trial expires, the next time you load the program it'll ask you to buy it, so either click OK or just go to the site and purchase a download or boxed version. I like my original software boxed with the instruction manual. Use the site or a reputable dealer to purchase like Amazon. Don't be fooled by OEM software or sites and emails sayinig they can get it cheap: it's almost always pirated. Used software is a good option, but make SURE they have the original items with it, like the manual and serial number so you can activate/upgrade it later.

always ask a ton of questions as you're starting the new trial, we're all here to help. Don't get frustrated, it's supposed to be fun! If you hate something enough to be really discouraged, ditch it and move on to the next trial. Unless it's just hard, then you'll have to be patient and learn slowly. The hard ones are the most powerful. If the easy ones are too limiting, analyze if it'll be useful in conjunction with a more powerful program, or just ditch it.

have fun!

peggymcauliffe · 01-01-2006, 10:19 PM

I have a question about fotofusion -- I take thousands of pictures -- for example, took 100 tonight for my mother-in-laws bday. I would like to journal and arrange them, then have a book printed and bound. If I use fotofusion, do I have it bound and printed here? or where? What is the most economical way? And ideas?

**Amanda** · 01-02-2006, 01:01 PM

Your can print them at home or have them printed professionally. Our hardbound book service is excellent if that's the choice you decide to make.

shadow65 · 01-02-2006, 03:46 PM

I used Creating Keepsakes Scrapbook Designer Deluxe for a long time, before graduating to PSE3 and DIP. The program is easy to use. I could edit photos and add artistic edges to the photos as well as shadows to elements with this program. I was able to use the free elements and the kits I purchased online with this program. I recommend Creating Keepsakes Scrapbook Designer Deluxe to my friends and family who are just starting out in Digital Scrapbooking and I still use it on occasion to create quick pages.

layres22 · 01-05-2006, 01:18 PM

Quick question about HP Creative Assistant. Does it have a basic photo editor with it? I just need to crop and remove red-eyes -thanks

kim · 01-05-2006, 05:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by layres22

Quick question about HP Creative Assistant. Does it have a basic photo editor with it? I just need to crop and remove red-eyes -thanks

You can crop a photo by placing it inside a shape and then adding a frame to it. Resizing the photo by using the handles (blue squares). As you resize the photo, it will "crop."
There really isn't a photo editor in this program for red eyes. If you are looking for a nice photo organizer which has this feature, I would suggest Picasa 2 by Google...it is free.

Hope that helps.