1 stars (lame program) - I had none of the reported loading problems [I run XP], my complaint is about the artwork and design programs.[1]There is no command to layer - "bring to front" or "send to back" - so you have to put things on your project in order [that is,if you decide that your text would look better on a colored background you have to start over]. [2] The supplied art work is the very poorest kind of clip art - just plain crappy looking - and hard to sort through. Why go to all the bother of making projects on the computer if they end up looking like they were made by a none-too-talented third-grader?
2 stars ((2.5) User-friendly but with a caveat) -
This is the most cost-effective, user friendly program I have found for designing quick logos, letterheads and brochures, this latest version made more accessible because the extra disks are compacted into one. The program offers a great variety of images on every subject, with more available online (for an additional price). However, the greatest complaint is still unanswered...there is virtually no online help available when contacting Broderbund. If a program isn't backed up by online help, the user must consider this when buying the program in the first place. Of course, when I purchased The Printshop from a discount store, I had no idea of the difficulty in using online resources. On the other hand, the program is quite simple and self-explanatory, so there is little need for extra support.
There is an advanced drawing feature that I would like to learn, but the program help does little to guide me through the steps and I cannot navigate anything without some specific direction. Program designers don't seem to be aware of such elementary design flaws, assuming a base knowledge which may not exist. I bought a simple program because of my limited knowledge, expecting a certain degree of guidance through the basics. Broderbund's Printshop offers this assistance, but only to a very limited degree.
Whatever I have designed on my computer looks great on the screen, so this is a perfect program for anything that is directed toward screen resolution. This brings me to my second reservation, and it is considerable: when I have printed out the designs, the quality of print is pixilated and jagged, regardless of the fact that I adjust my printer to the highest resolution available, 4800 DPI. I have so far been unable to address this problem, which makes my designs virtually unusable in print. (Pixels per inch determine the quality of the print; the higher the number, the better the quality, but there does not seem to be any way, at least none that I have found, to fix this problem.) What Broderbund offers in simplicity is cancelled out by the printed quality.
I would be glad to reconsider my rating if anyone has suggestions for solving this rather critical design problem. I expect there are answers, but I certainly haven't found them via the Broderbund website. More customer support would be appreciated by anyone purchasing this product. Luan Gaines/2006.
4 stars (A pleased PS user) - I have owned PS 12,15 & 20 and I like them all. I even have PrintMaster 11 and I like that as well but PS 20 made some good improvements. The improvement I like most is the optimal print resolution which makes fonts print much more smoothly. As for installation I have never had a problem with PS 20. I had a minor issue with PS 15 but every install of PS 20 went fine for me. I have done many projects with PS 20 from photos to greeting cards to brochures and many more things. I think its a great product and I use quite often |
