Software Overview
This is where we look at programs from the users point of view rather than just tell you what it says on the box. Not that many come in a box ...
Digital Scrapbooking Programs
FREE OR PAID?
There are a few free digital scrapbooking programs. They either carry ads within the albums you make or you can only work on their own website and buy kits from that website. They can work out a tad expensive and you will soon get bored with them, although we recommend Smilebox as a fun and easy way to get started free.
WHICH PROGRAM?
So, once you realise that all hobbies cost money at some point, which program do you choose?
You will eventually want to use Photoshop Elements for all the cool things you can do with it. You DON'T need the full Photoshop for scrapbooking. Ever. You will see people saying you do and they can never give you a proper explanation as to why. Emperor's New Clothes.
BUT ....
Photoshop Elements takes time to learn. It isn't difficult but it takes time and you might want to pay for online tutorials to speed up the process. We therefore recommend you start with My Memories. It will be a very long time before you run out of fun things to do in the program and if you decide digital scrapbooking is not for you then you haven't invested too much time and money. The program comes with plenty of kits you can use and you can get $10 off and $10 to spend on extra kits.
LATEST: You can now use masks in My Memories!!
CLICK HERE to save money on My Memories.
What about Paint Shop Pro? If you have this program already - and it is the best for restoring old photos so you might - then you can do digital scrapbooking with it.
What about Craft Artist and Panstoria?
Don't waste your time. You need to buy special kits/templates OR spend time messing about in order to use kits from elsewhere. I'm horrified at how stupidly complicated these programs are compared to My Memories.
What about Studio-Scrap?
This is a great program but has a bit of a steep learning curve and you need to speak French to get the best out of it. You can get an English version but you need French to know what some of the elements are. School level French is fine, you don't need much of the language. There is a free version for you to play with on their website.
There are a few free digital scrapbooking programs. They either carry ads within the albums you make or you can only work on their own website and buy kits from that website. They can work out a tad expensive and you will soon get bored with them, although we recommend Smilebox as a fun and easy way to get started free.
WHICH PROGRAM?
So, once you realise that all hobbies cost money at some point, which program do you choose?
You will eventually want to use Photoshop Elements for all the cool things you can do with it. You DON'T need the full Photoshop for scrapbooking. Ever. You will see people saying you do and they can never give you a proper explanation as to why. Emperor's New Clothes.
BUT ....
Photoshop Elements takes time to learn. It isn't difficult but it takes time and you might want to pay for online tutorials to speed up the process. We therefore recommend you start with My Memories. It will be a very long time before you run out of fun things to do in the program and if you decide digital scrapbooking is not for you then you haven't invested too much time and money. The program comes with plenty of kits you can use and you can get $10 off and $10 to spend on extra kits.
LATEST: You can now use masks in My Memories!!
CLICK HERE to save money on My Memories.
What about Paint Shop Pro? If you have this program already - and it is the best for restoring old photos so you might - then you can do digital scrapbooking with it.
What about Craft Artist and Panstoria?
Don't waste your time. You need to buy special kits/templates OR spend time messing about in order to use kits from elsewhere. I'm horrified at how stupidly complicated these programs are compared to My Memories.
What about Studio-Scrap?
This is a great program but has a bit of a steep learning curve and you need to speak French to get the best out of it. You can get an English version but you need French to know what some of the elements are. School level French is fine, you don't need much of the language. There is a free version for you to play with on their website.
