Choosing a software program is an important first step to taking up the digital scrapbooking hobby. There are many different software choices out there, and figuring out which one is best for you can be confusing. Here are some points to consider when looking for software to create digital scrapbook layouts.
Cost
How much are you willing to invest in the software you will use for digital scrapbooking? Prices can start from around $30 and go up from there. When you are evaluating cost, it’s important to weigh the feature to cost ratio. What features do you feel are most important? What features are you happy to do without in order to keep software costs low?
Ease of Use
Do you want to get scrapping pronto or are you OK with taking a little time to learn the ropes? Ease of use is a big factor to consider. Some software programs are incredibly intuitive to use and easy to learn. Others have a moderate to hefty learning curve. If you want to get right to making pages, complicated software could frustrate you. Keep in mind that sometimes software that starts out easy to use can be limiting down the road as your skills grow.
Features
What can the software do? What do you need it to do? Consider the features available in the different types of software. Which best fits your personal needs and how the features coincide with how much you’re willing to spend? Features are abound in the latest version of Adobe Photoshop (the more “advanced” version of Photoshop Elements), but so is the cost at roughly $700. For most digital scrapbookers, the availability of extra features just isn’t worth that kind of price tag. Making a list of “must-have” features may be beneficial.
Flexibility
Does the software allow you to import kits downloaded from other sources or are you limited to using the supplies that came with the software and only shopping their stores? Are you able to export your layouts to common file types for uploading to galleries, emailing to friends and family, or sending to a printer? Make sure you’re comfortable with the flexibility of the software before making your final choice.
Hardware Requirements
Ensure that the software you have your eye on is compatible with your operating system. Make sure you have enough RAM, hard disc space, and processing power (along with a large enough display) according to the system requirements listed with the software. The best digital scrapbooking software isn’t useful if it won’t run properly on your computer.
Recommendation
Nothing beats information from people who know, so software recommendations from other digital scrappers can be invaluable. If you don’t know anyone who is a digital scrapbooker, join an online digital scrapbooking community and ask for software recommendations. Ask more experienced members about the features you should look for, ask them what software they currently use and what they started out with. You’ll be surprised how helpful this information can be.