To create scrapbooking pages on the computer you will need a computer program that lets you place and move around digital items on a page.  Classes here are taught using a program called Photoshop Elements but there are other software programs that can work too.

When I first looked into digital scrapbooking, I spent some time looking around at different programs that can be used for scrapbooking. It can be intimidating. Without knowing how to digiscrap, how can you know what you will need in a program?

As I looked through my options I found 2 categories of programs. First, there are programs that are created just for scrapbookers. These programs often have templates where you can place photos in and then other papers and elements you can add to customize your pages. These are useful if you just want to quickly create simple layouts and not go any farther than that. These programs are easy to use but very limited in scope. Examples include Picaboo, PhotoMix, My Scrapbook, and Scrapbook Factory Deluxe.

Some programs in this category require that you purchase the software, and it usually comes with a bunch of digital pages, papers, and elements.  Others are free software programs that you can download or use directly online and then you purchase the rights to use or to print the graphics.  While these programs are getting more and more powerful, most of them lack the ability to add realistic shadows or to alter pages or elements as much as you might want to.  I would recommend them for people who want to just create a simple page and who might not feel very comfortable using computers.  But if you want to get serious about digital scrapbooking I would suggest looking into the second category.

The second category of products are actual graphics programs that can be used for scrapbooking as well as other digital and graphic tasks. These programs are much more powerful than the first category and allow you to create your own custom scrapbooking page with complete freedom. They are more expensive than the first group and can be harder to learn to use, but you will not easily feel limited by them.  They let you add digital papers, pictures, and elements to a page, resize and rotate, add shadows, fix up pictures, and even create your own papers and elements. There are four main pieces of software in this category that are commonly used for scrapbooking: Adobe Photoshop CS, Adobe Photoshop Elements, Corel Paint Shop Pro, and ACDSee Photo Editor. All four of these programs have a free one month tiral download you can install and use on your computer to try it out.  If you download the trial of Adobe Photoshop Elements, you can use it while taking one of the classes here.

Adobe Photoshop CS (PSCS): This is the most powerful of these graphics programs. This is one of the programs that many graphic designers use.  It will allow you to do just about anything you can think of in digital scrapbooking.  Because it is the most powerful, it is also the most expensive, costing hundreds of dollars.  This program will have so many options, that you will be able to use it for years and still be finding new things to do with it!  Pros: most powerful, allows you to create actions, can fully customize shadows.  Cons: expensive, can be difficult for computer beginners to use.

Adobe Photoshop Elements (PSE): This is the simpler version of Photoshop CS.  It is more limited in what it can do, but is still a great program for digital scrapbookers.  Many scrapbookers use this program and love it.  It also costs a  lot less than the CS version.  In addition to all of the editing options built into the program, there are many actions and addon you can pick up to allow you to do even more with this program. Pros: has lots of effects built in, lots of addons and actions available, has mac and pc versions  Cons: cannot create your own actions, built in shadows are a bit limited although there are work arounds (they just take some time)

Corel Paint Shop Pro (PSP): This program is very comparable to Photoshop Elements in the things it can do and the price.  It will allow you to create great scrapbooking pages, has some fun effects built in, and lets you add shadows.  Because of the popularity of the Adobe programs you might find some actions and effects that you would want to pick up that are made just for Adobe programs.  Pros: shadows are on separate layers for added customization, Cons: some people have problems with it overloading their computers

ACDSee Photo Editor (ACDSee PE): The program is usually offered as the cheapest of the four.  It is also probably the most limited in scope, although is still a great program for what digital scrapbookers will be doing.  Many people find this program fairly easy to learn and understand.

At Digital Scrapbooking Classes, we currently offer classes in Adobe Photoshop Elements.  My choice in using PSE was twofold.  First it is a powerful yet affordable piece of software.  It is one of the most commonly used programs by digital scrapbookers so there are lots of tutorials written for it and many add-ons created for it.  Second, it is in the Adobe family and I figured if I ever got tired of the simpler version of PSE it might be easier to upgrade to PSCS than if I was familiar with a different program.