How Do You Choose A Good Digital Scrapbooking Software Program?
Using digital scrapbooking software for your scrapbook projects has many advantages over traditional paper scrapbooking
. There's a huge cost savings since you've eliminated the need for all those expensive tools and supplies, and you no longer have to pay for costly papers and embellishments that you use only once. Plus, there's the potential to save time as well. It takes more than just a few minutes to set up and prepare your paper scrapbooking workspace. With a digital scrapbooking software program, you boot up your computer, and you're ready to go.
However, not all digital scrapbooking software programs are created equal!
Some programs look great in their marketing material, but are ultimately disappointing. On the one hand, some digital programs are extremely confusing to use with cluttered interfaces and an overwhelming array of tools. You quickly learn that such programs aren't really tailored for scrapbooking; they are often merely re-branded general purpose image editors.
On the other side of the spectrum are digital scrapbooking software programs that are very easy to use, but are incredibly restrictive. You find that you are limited to using a handful of templates and have little if any creative control over how your pages look. Though probably most digital scrapbooking software programs are less expensive than what many spend on paper scrapbooking, there are even some digital scrapbooking software programs that are prohibitively expensive for many scrapbook enthusiasts.
So how do you know when you've come across digital scrapbooking software that's good quality, a good value, and most importantly, will work for you and your digital scrapbooking project? Here's a check list of the top five criteria to look for as you wade through the digital scrapbooking software choices:
1. Free trial. Look for a program that comes with a free trial so that you can check out exactly what the program offers. The best programs will offer a full-featured trial so that you can try everything out and not have to guess at what you might be able to do should you purchase the software. A digital scrapbooking software program that does not offer any sort of free trial should be avoided.
2. Fully-Editable Pages. A good digital scrapbooking software program should offer full creative control over your pages, so you can make exactly the page you have in mind. If it comes with a set of pre-made templates, you should be able to edit absolutely everything on your page. There's nothing worse than being locked into a design someone else has imagined - that's not why you got into scrapbooking, is it?
3. High Quality Scrapbooking Elements. Does the program come with top quality scrapbooking content, like digital papers, embellishments, backgrounds, and template pages made specifically for scrapbooking? And remember that in this case, quality is much more important than quantity. Some programs come with a ton of clipart items, but you'd never actually use any of it for scrapbooking layouts - they're not the right look for scrapbooking. Who cares if you get fifty thousands pieces of clipart that looks like generic clipart? Make sure the program you choose comes with professionally-designed items, ideally by top digital scrapbook content designers. A good digital scrapbooking software program will also show you everything that is included with your software on their website.
4. Online Community Forums and Support. In the world of software, it is almost mandatory that a program is accompanied by an online forum where customers can ask questions about the software, receive technical support from the company's staff and fellow software users, and, most importantly, post their open, honest thoughts about the software program and its capabilities. You should be cautious about any digital scrapbooking software program that doesn't offer an open forum for users to discuss the program. Look for a program that offers a free online digital scrapbooking software community forum. The best programs will have very large communities, with numbers in the tens of thousands. This alone is a testament to the product's popularity and user friendliness.
5. Tutorials and User Documentation. A top-quality program will offer free digital scrapbooking tutorials on their website that provide visual demonstrations for using the software. A great program will also include a comprehensive User's Guide and Help File so that you can always easily access answers to any questions that may come up as you scrapbook.
I'd recommend that you start your search online, doing a search for 'digital scrapbooking software'. There are a number of products to choose from, so do your research before you put down your money! Again, make sure the products you are looking at have a free trial download, have fully-editable pages, include high quality scrapbooking elements, and feature a huge online community and tons of tutorials to get you started.
by: Gracie Madsen
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