Scrapbook Software Reviews

Anyone interested in preserving memories in a creative and fun way will naturally be drawn to scrapbooking, but today many of them are using scrapbook software to create their layouts digitally...right on their home computers!

Some people prefer digital scrapbooking to the old fashioned paper-and-scissors methods because it doesn't require making a mess with paper scraps, but those who enjoy traditional scrapbooking are finding creative ways to incorporate scrapbook software as well.

There are a few clear-cut advantages to digital scrapbooking:

* Mistakes are easily corrected.

* No materials are wasted if a layout doesn't work out well.

* Fixing photos and adding digital effects enhances the final results.

* Ability to play with layout options, color combinations, and other aspects before committing to a given page plan.

* Advanced features that turn a scrapbook into a narrated product.

Digital scrapbooking is an entire hobby all its own today with many people creating computerized scrapbooks which they email to others or share through social networking sites such as Facebook. Yet, those who enjoy actually scrapping with paper and stickers are now playing around with scrapbook software to create their own embellishments to incorporate into their non-digital pages. This means they can create for themselves many of the things they once spent tons of money buying pre-made.

So, what is the best scrapbook software out there and what can you expect? I am presenting here my top overall pick and my top pick for beginners.

MemoryMixer Version 3

This is my top pick for digital scrapbook beginners, but it is also complex enough to keep those with more experience happy. Every step of the process from editing and uploading photos to selecting colors and putting together all aspects of the pages is simplified.

This program will give you a lot of selection as far as nice features to add onto your pages and you can create literally any color you want, matching colors perfectly and even importing your own into the program. You can use templates already laid out for you, alter those templates more to your liking, or completely create your own visions from scratch.

If you don't have a lot of time, there are tools that allow a page to be thrown together in just minutes, though that will include the program's templates just inserting your own photos without any personalized alterations.

The program is compatible with both Mac and PC and there are a few different options for sharing your pages once completed:

* Create online albums and share online as JPEG files.

* Burn albums or individual pages on a CD or DVD.

* Turn your creations into a movie suitable for TV, computer, or iPod screens.

The only thing that this program lacks that some people might want is the ability to upload pictures directly from a digital camera into the program. It is rather simple to get the pictures into the layouts or editing functions once you get it into your computer, but there is no automatic upload.

Digital Scrapbook Artist Deluxe

This is my overall top pick because it has most of the features offered by the popular MemoryMixer, plus it includes the ability to upload your pictures directly from your camera into the program. This saves a lot of time, especially when you have a lot of new photos that you are eager to start working with.

You can also bring photos from your cell phone or a scanner directly into the program, without the hassle of pulling them from somewhere else first.

This program has a lot of features for those who just enjoy digital scrapping as well as those who like to create their own pages from actual paper. The program comes stocked with a wide variety of layouts, but you can download even more offline. Some additional layouts are free, while others you have to purchase, but you never have to worry about running out of options if you scrapbook a lot.

You almost feel as if you are scrapping with actual paper, thanks to some of the more unique features of this program. For instance, you can use pattern scissors, punches, cut out specific areas of a photo, and create realistic looking embellishments.

Though it comes with an excellent guide for beginners, this is not the simplest program on the market. It may take some time getting used to if you are not accustomed to scrapping digitally, but it is a well rounded program with tons of options for adding unique and interesting features to every page you create.

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