Please take a moment & let us know what software program you use to scrap your digital layouts. As we expand our Tutorials section, this will be useful information for us. You can make up to two choices, and comments are welcome. Thank you for your time.
I usually use My Digital Studio, by Stampin’ Up. I have Photoshop Elements, but have never learned it (I’ve bought books and tutorials, but I just haven’t taken the time). I also have My Memories, which appears to be similar to MDS, but just enough different that I still use the one I know best. 🙂
I use Fotofusion v 4
I use PSE9, and I’m looking forward to getting PSE10. I used the trial version and it was great. Just waiting for Costco to put it on sale for $49.99 like they usually do and it always comes with a DVD on how to use the new version.
I use PSPX and Photoshop CS5.
I use Craft Artist (Digital Scrapbook Artist). It has been the easiest with the best features for me.
I have to agree with Katy on this.
although I have photoshop and paintshop pro I haven’t taken the time to learn them either.
I use Photoshop CS2 & CS5 . When I upgraded I kept CS2 since a lot of my actions won’t work in a higher version.
I use PSE 6, but just purchased PSE 10.
I use an old program no longer supported by Microsoft, Digital Image Pro. I love it and keep going back to it for personal comfort and its easy to use features. I also own and use, but usually not for digiscrapping, Photoshop CS5 and PaintShopPro v10 (I think). So it was hard for me to “Vote” for just one. In the 5 years or so that I have been digitally scrapping I have never found any site that supports DIP and I have survived, so I am not complaining. My perception is that most people use Photoshop or PSE and the passing impression I had of PSE, is that it is far and away more than adequate for digiscrapping. For “designing” perhaps an upgrade would be in order.
My only input is to request that you restrict your items to .psd only format. At least offer a PNG or TIFF option too. I find it annoying when I buy a template and it is only available as PSD. I own the programs to run it but it is annoying to have to open a new program just for a template! I prefer the TIFF or PNG option which works in my old DIP version. For my money, I only buy from a template designer who does this and I rarely make exceptions (currently it is for 2 designers to whom I am loyal but I still wish they would offer an option). Consumers shouldn’t be forced into Photoshop or PSE because it’s the prevalent program.
I always recommend PSE (latest version), on sale, to beginners because I know that will make their start in digital scrapping easier because of this prejudice but I still resent it in designers.
I realize that my full name is showing up and I wish that I could remove my last name. Also, in the comment it states that I request you restrict your items to PSD format. It should state NOT restrict your items to PSD format. I must have accidentally deleted the NOT!
I use Digital Image Suite, a continuation of Digital Image Pro used by Paula above. I adore it and am so sad that Microsoft are discontinuing it. It’s so easy to use, and I can do so many of the effects you can do with the “big guys”.
I have Daisy Trail, though don’t use it much, and Serif Digital Scrapbook Artist which I hardly use at all. I’ve done the ScrapbookMax thing, and one or two others, but I keep coming back to Digital Image Suite It really is great for putting pages together with .png and .tff and .jpeg files. Like Paula I get cross when I buy kits that are .psd only. I have made a few elements and papers with it, but for designing, the “big boys” do better.
I started scraping with Picture It! (the old old version of MS Digital Image Pro), and loved all the versions up to the end with Digital Image Suite.
I finally jumped on the PSE bandwagon when Microsoft discontinued DIS. Once I got past the learning curve, it’s been great, but there are still a few things I go back to DIS for. Mostly old files that I started in DIS and want to manipulate. PSE doesn’t recognize .mix files.
It’s nice to see folks still creating with DIS! 🙂
I recently graduated to Photoshop when they ran their half price sale. It was my gift to me. Before this, I have always been a PSE user and keep up with the current versions. I’m like Carol; waiting for Costco to put PSE 10 on sale.
I would love to see Photoshop tutorials since I’m a newbie but will be happy with anything you choose to use. I would like to thank all those who take their valuable time in creating tutorials for us. I appreciate every single one.
I currently used PSE8 and PSP12X. I plan on purchasing PSE12 if Adobe releases it this year through Costco at their regular discount price.
I use both Photoshop CS3 and Storybook Creator 3.0+. Storybook is Creative Memories software program and it really is quite good. It is very intuitive, but tutorials would be cool too – there is always more to learn, right? 🙂
I mostly scrap with Storybook Creator 4.0 although I am learning Photoshop Elements 10.
Photoshop CS5
I use PSE7, not thinking to update anytime soon.
I use Memory Mixer. It’s easy to use and inexpensive.
I use Photoshop elements 9
I use Photoshop Elements 10.
I use My Memories Suite and i have Paint. net, which I have not figured out yet, so i am limited to MMS.
I use Photoshop CS5.
I use the gimp. That is what I started with. I also have photoshop elements, and occasionally use it when I want to extract something. I use adobe for my photo organization. I have trouble using photos shop for layouts though.
I use Creative Memories Storybook Creator 4.0.
I use Elements 10, upgraded from Versions 3 then 6. I am very hapy with it and since I’m in my 70s, will probably stick with it til ?
I use PSE 10
I use PSE9 and don’t know yet whether I will upgrade to PSE10.
I use Storybook Creator 4.0 by Creative Memories. Used to use Photoshop Elements but found SBC much more user friendly … ☺ (I’m not a professional – just love scrapping family memories!!)
I am another MS DIP holdout. I like the ease of use, and I LOVE the shaped text tool. I have done some beginner design work with it, but nothing big.
I got PSE8 free with my scanner, but have not learned how to use it yet, That is on my TO DO IN 2012 list. I need some basic ‘How to make your first page’ tutorials. Then I would like ‘How to add the styles and brushes etc, and how to use them’
I also have My Memories, but find it restrictive, since you can’t crop or change colours with it.
PSE10
I use iscrapbook as I use a Mac.
CM Storybook Creator 3 plus. I have photoshop (and love it) but only use it to restore or edit photo’s.
I use Creative Memories Storybook Creator 3. I do have GIMP installed but don’t use it often. Creative Memories is more user friendly.
I really love the Serif programs and began with Digital Scrapbook artist, then the 2nd edition of that and now I have Craft Artist which is even better. I love the cut out tools. But I would love to be able to finally learn CS5 as my friend really says it extracts the fine hairs and so forth. I scrap for fun and as a CT.
I am finding your comments VERY interesting and informative! Keep them coming! I am a designer who uses PSE (6 and 10) on a Mac. I appreciate comments like Paula made that let me know that the time and effort it takes on my part to save templates in forms like Tiff and PNG are worth it to my fans and customers! I will come back to this post as I am writing my tutorials for this blog and see what I can do to help answer the questions you ask here! Thanks to all who took (and will take) the time to comment!
Thank you for the tutorials and I use PSE 9.
I use Storybook Creator 4.0 by Creative Memories and absolutely LOVE it! It is so, so easy to use and it does pretty much everything that Photoshop does, only it’s much easier. If you’re asking for suggestions on things, I would love to see more of the PSD files offered in PNG format.
I use Storybook Creator 4.0 by Creative Memories. It is really a great program. I have Elements but only use it for color correcting etc.
First, I have to say that this “thingy” won’t let me fill out the “Name” slot…
I use PSP9 – that’s it. I don’t know a *whole* lot about it, but know enough to make tags.. I haven’t made a LO (that’s just a bigger tag..lol) – I don’t even know what size it should be; I assume just the average paper size at 100%… That awfully big.
Name: Laurali
AFTER I hit “submit”, it said I need to fill in the name slot, and THEN it let me. Just wanted to let ‘cha know. 😉
I use PSE 7 and love it!
I used PSE 4 for a few years and then purchased PSE 7. I was comfortable using PSE 4 and put off installing PSE 7. My computer died and I purchased a new one and when I went to install PSE4 I couldn’t so I thought well I’ll install PSE 7. Neither worked on my computer so I purchased PSE 9; I currently have it installed but I’m finding there are many differences between this one and my old PSE 4. I’m enjoying this version however it takes time to teach an old dog new tricks but with tutorials I’m slowly learning. I’m happy to hear that you are expanding the tutorial section; I’ll be sure to use them. Thank you for taking the time to include tutorials on your site; I appreciate it very much!
I Photoshop Elements. Currently using 7, but have the upgrade to 10.
I use photoshop elementes 10 I would love some Tutorials thanks
Although I use PSE9, it is so simple to switch to LumaPix FotoFusion which is a great piece of software for scrapping.
I loe Adobe Photoshop I have PSE5, 7, 8 and PSCS3 and 5 I use mainly PSE5 (’cause I’m comfortable with that) and when I want to do something super duper, I used to use CS3, but now CS5 (like getting out the big guns!). I can sympathise with the ladies above about their .psd files but there are a lot of designers out there who do both .psd and .png, these are lovely careing designers !!
OK, I am so very curious if I’m the only one scrapping with Wondershare ;-))
I use Photoshop only for designing and, rarely, for template layouts, but now I’v even started doing those with Wondershare too. I need well over an hour to make a page in Photoshop (like when I’m creating my quickpages) and sometimes it takes me 20′ to make a layout with Wondershare ;-))
I use Photoshop. Hoping to upgrade to CS5.5 soon. I have My Memories Suite but rarely use it.
Although I have purchased version 6,7,8 & 9 I use PSE 5 because I like the lighter gray all around background to work on.
I use PS CS 4 and am just waiting for CS6 to be released.
I have photoshop cs4 and elements, but mostly I use Serrif Digital Scrapbook Studio. If I can’t achieve exactly what I need with the Serrif program, I’ll use Elements. It takes a while to assemble a “digikit” with the Serrif program, but once it’s done, it sure is nice and easy!!
i use cs5 and recently got pspx4 which i am still learning
I am using Storybook Creator 4.0 by Creative Memories
I use PSE9 but have PSCS which I still use occasionally.
Photoshop CS5 — Just upgraded and love it!
I use PSE7 and hope to get 10 when Costco has it on sale.
I use Photoshop Cs3 and Love it.
I use CS3 and love it.
I use Creative Memories SBC 4. I prefer png’s as well as others. I do not have to change the format to use them in my scrapbook program. I also use Corel Photoshop 10 when I need to create my own items. I prefer the ease of Storybook from Creative Memories.
I use Photoshop 7.0. I just know the very basics and have wondered if there is a better user friendly (for dummies) program out there. I have no clue what some of these other programs people are talking about, but I’d love to find a really good, easy to use, inexpensive program.
I just completed my first digital scrapbook and had it printed. My kids LOVED it but it took me 8 months to complete one 113 page book.
I have used many of the pages from these ladies that make the pages and they are just beautiful. Thank you.
I’m another MS Digital Image Suite user. I love it, and even though I have the other products like PS7 I can’t use, the learning curve is too steep! I prefer the ease and simplicity of Digital Image Suite (also called MS Digital Image Pro or DIP).
I use PowerPoint which limits me to PNG images, no PSD. I am able to do about 90% of what I want in my layouts, although I cannot create a design, I can copy, paste, and layer to my heart’s content. I can crop and enhance photos, but I cannot do cut outs or create shadows. Still, I get very professional looking layouts.
i actually have never heard of DIP program, and i haven’t known of anyone who uses it, so i’m not sure where there is a complaint about templates, but then, i don’t use templates because a template is someone else’s design and i want my pages to reflect my own scrap style. But, it would be really hard for any designer to figure out how to create templates in however many different graphics programs are pre-installed on computers and/or are on the market. Yes, PS products are the most well-known and most respected programs because they are used by professionals. i learned to use it when i was a journalist, so it is, of course in my comfort zone. i now have PS CS3, and i use Adobe Pagemaker for word processing – which i adore and hate MS-anything! When a designer uses PSP and forgets to assign jpeg or png files, but bundles them up in PSP format, they are useless to PS users. But, creating files in a bunch of different formats to accommodate scrappers who use some graphics program designed for their computer would add design time as well as use up bytes, and increase the cost of kits. So, if you know designers willing to create templates in a format you like, then stick with them for templates. It is unreasonable to expect any designer to even be aware of a graphics program not generally recognized by graphics designers, newspapers, magazines and other high rez publications. The most widely used graphics program in the world is PS – it is taught in graphics design college courses from Universities to community colleges that teach graphic design. PSD files give more flexibility than png or tiff format for templates. You may not realize this, but even tiff file templates have their limitations. But then, i don’t use templates because, as i said, that’s someone else’s idea of what a page should look like and not my style of design – but, since this hobby is about creating scrap pages that you like, there is really no “right” or “wrong” way to design a page. i’m just saying, that if someone uses a little-known graphics program, then it adds time and space to create several different formats to accommodate individual programs.
I use PowerPoint which lets me do about 90% of what I want to with my layouts, although I am limited to PNG format, no PSD. I cannot create a design, cut out a photo, or create shadows, but I can copy, paste, crop, and layer to my heart’s content.
Microsoft Digital Image Pro 9
I use Microsoft Digital Image Suite. I LOVE IT. I can do anything I need to do, however, I am not a designer. Perhaps if I was I would want something different. I have tried Photoshop Pro, but was lost…so I stick with what I know.
I use Scrapbook Max 99% of the time. I have a copy of Microsoft Digital Imgage version 2006 that I use to convert my layouts into quick pages but that is all I use it for. I own My Memories but haven’t taken the time to learn it. I agree with the others on the PSD format. I would love to buy some of the products but when you only market it to one set of users it is frustrating to say the least. I only buy templates that say PNG version in the description.
I’ve been using PhotoImpact (a few upgrades during this time) for many years. I’ve tried PSP and I don’t have the patience for that learning curve. I prefer, for layered templates of any kind, PSD files since I can open those. Personally my biggest pet peeve is to buy a hybrid template and find there is no “linework” png, the template is like a layout template only.
I began with Craft Artist & upgraded to the platinum edition when it was released & really enjoy using it. I don’t normally have a problem with clipping masks etc, but recently found a layered template I liked that didn’t include PNGs, fortunately the store’s product description was thorough – not always the case!
I use printmaster for the moment, when I have more time to learn I think that photoshop will be the one!
I learning to use PSE9.
I use Serif Scrapbook Artist 2 and have always got on really well with it. I do a lot of my pages out in 12×12 pdf and get a local printer to print them out for me and they look really professional. My 8×8’s that I make I print out myself on super smooth paper and they look nice too.
Corel Draw & Photo Paint … looks like I’m a loner there! I also use Heritage Makers Studio when making hard bound books, cards, calendars etc., but tend to stick with the art that’s offered in my premier account when I do, altho there are times I create layouts in corel then save the entire page as a jpeg to upload to my Heritage Makers account for printing.
I use Paint Shop Pro, even tho I have Photoshop Elements (an older version given to me from my SIL). I’ve found that PSP will open PS templates and that they can be used with success when open in that program. Lucky for me ~ I had 5 years experience using PSP and didn’t want to take the time to learn Photoshop when PSP already did everything I already wanted to do.
I mainly use MemoryMixer, My Memories Suite, and have recently been learning PSE 10. I have, and have used Creative Memories SBC3, but don’t care for it much. I enjoy the flexibility of PSE 10, but since I’m still learning, anything I need to do quickly I turn to MM or MMS. As always, I WHOLE HEARTEDLY appreciate any and all tutorials on how to use PS or PSE! Thanks for asking!
I use PDN (paintdotnet) . Its a handy little program that I stumbled upon a few years back and have been using ever since. The best part about it is that it is free.I have a friend who uses Photoshop (not sure which version) and has tried to get me to convert however I find it a little difficult to learn.Perhaps I just don’t have the patience for learning a new program . With PDN all of my files need to be in png format or I cannot open them . When that happens I have to put them on a flash drive go to my friends house open with her Photoshop and save them as png files .That can get a bit tedious and time consuming .On the other hand it does give me an excuse to go visit .LOL.
I have one of the PSE programs, but have never even put it on my computer. I use an even older program than DIP. I use Picture it 9. It is the easiest scrapbooking program to use. You can load multiple elements to the screen all at one time, then simply move them around where you want them. No having to deal with many layers.
I use Coral Paint Shop Pro Photo X2. It came with my camera. And I use FotoFusion 4. I would love to know how I can cut something out of a picture to insert into another or a page.
I use Creative Memories StoryBook Creator Software. It does a lot of the things that Photoshop can do, but in a much simpler package. Creative Memories has a lot of tutorials on YouTube and their Customer Service line is great when you need them.
I too use Microsoft Digital Image Suite 9 and like the others who’ve posted that they use it, you can’t beat the simplicity of use. IMHO, it does everything you need to create gorgeous layouts and it’s so uncomplicated! I have PSE7, have had it since it first came out, but am only now trying to follow tutorials (thank you)! I like the options in PS and definitely wish to learn as much as I can with simple tutorials like the ones Snickerdoodle created and the video by Toiny. I will be watching this forum for new tuts and hope that you continue to provide them for all of us “newbies” to PhotoShop 🙂
Hi I use Photoshop CS5 mostly (98%) of the time and Paint Shop Pro X5 when I want do do specific things in this program. Love both.
I use MS Digital Image Suite – whatever the last version was that MS issued/supported. It’s the best for so many reasons. I own Paint Shop Pro X2 and CS5 but only use them for specialized things (like being able to use PSD files – I don’t like that you get some templates ONLY in this format and then have to go to another program to “de-code” it or use it!) I got both on sale and keep meaning to learn them but whenever I need to do things in a hurry, but still well, I click into MS DIP and mostly it does the job.
I use Scrapbook Factory Deluxe. It is easy. I have Adobe Photoshop but it seems complicated and I haven’t had time to sit down and figure it out.
Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom CC2015. Sometimes I wish that Photoshop had that project organizer that’s in PSE.