A reader recently asked which software I would recommend that she use for digital scrapbooking. She had moved recently and wasn’t able to bring all her paper scrapbook supplies with her, so she decided to consider digital scrapbooking. For any of you who may be wondering the same thing, here is the answer I emailed to her.

Hi, Amanda!
Congrats on your move to such a beautiful country! With a fairly recent major move in our past, Don and I understand about not being able to take everything with you!

Fortunately, for scrapbooking digital is a wonderful substitute for paper scrapping, and you may find you favor it in the long run! In addition, many scrappers enjoy ‘hybrid’ scrapbooking, wherein they combine the convenience of printing papers and some embellishments from digital kits, then cut them out to apply and use in paper scrapping. Whether you engage in hybrid scrapping or keep it totally digital, digital kits and supplies can be used again and again and may be combined in many ways, saving tons of money and space, not to mention the ‘do-over’ advantages. Plus you can share your finished pages in digital albums, slideshows, or any other way you might wish, including printing them for framing or to put into a physical scrapbook. As you can see, I am an avid supporter of digital scrapping!!!

Over the years I have tried several of what I call ‘self-contained’ digital scrapbooking kits, like the one you describe. I have been disappointed in all of them, for the reasons you mention, plus the limitations in photo arrangement, and the fact you can’t usually bring in outside graphics. I have concluded that it would be wisest in the long run to plunk down the money to purchase Photoshop Elements (which can be found on sale at various times, but is usually never more than $100 US without discounts). It makes money sense to me because when you factor in the cost of the programs I won’t use because I don’t like them, I could have owned Photoshop Elements!

There is a learning curve with Photoshop Elements, but the program includes tutorials and Help that can get you moving along, and there are tons of instruction books you could purchase, if desired. Because Photoshop Elements is used by so many people there are many titles and tutorials devoted to its use, something you don’t necessarily find with other programs. In addition, Photoshop Elements includes a wonderful catalog system that allows you to import your digital photos and tag and arrange them for ease in finding them when you need them.

Because Photoshop Elements allows you to keep it simple or expand your expertise and knowledge to include some pretty advanced graphics manipulations, you can grow in skills without needing to purchase any other software. Adobe, the maker of Photoshop, DOES update the software from time to time, and these updates are not free. However, they continue to support the older versions, and updates are priced lower for current owners than for new users. You don’t have to buy them to continue to enjoy the version you purchased.

I hope this has been of help! I am pretty biased towards Adobe Systems and all their products, because I have found them to be reliable and, for me, easy to use.

Happy Scrapping!!!