Printshop: Business Card Creator

Rating:
Summary: Get what you pay for!
Review: As unskilled user of computer graphics, I needed to find a program that was especially user-friendly and easy to navigate, with a low level of frustration for the unfamiliar user. This product was the most useful of the three I found, including The Business Card Factory, and Proventure Business Cards. The instructions are simple and, with some practice, easy to navigate in creating both business cards and brochures, although I did not attempt any newsletters.

It doesn't really matter how many typefaces, colors or graphics are offered, if the user can't navigate the program, and I found this program the most quickly familiar. The pre-made color layouts may be bright, but not always the best designs, in my opinion, and color should be minimized when cost is a factor. Any document prepared for commercial printing increases in expense with each color added, and the novice may be unfamiliar with this problem. That issue aside, my main concern was a simple format wherein I could create a brochure and business card using one color. So I went to blank stock and blank design, using the appropriate tools to add and edit text in the desired format. I found the brochure particularly easy, even when designing a 2-sided document for commercial printing.

I have years of design experience pre-computer, and the challenge for me (as self-taught) was to get the program to reflect my design concept in the appropriate language to create the necessary documents. After exploring some other programs, it became clear that any program is mediated by the vision of the programmer. If the program designer has a limited design range, or is restricted by the functions the program allows, the user cannot override those commands without some basic knowledge of programming. It's like taking the long road around, rather that the quickest line between two points. The programmer is assuming that the user has no design experience, and that's what the program offers: simple solutions...My need was immediate. This program offered the best timely solution, with little frustration for the unskilled user. In addition, it allows the flexibility of a variety of designs and techniques, saving each layout for further use.

Rating:
Summary: The best solution I've found
Review: As unskilled user of computer graphics, I needed to find a program that was especially user-friendly and easy to navigate, with a low level of frustration for the unfamiliar user. This product was the most useful of the three I found, including The Business Card Factory, and Proventure Business Cards. The instructions are simple and, with some practice, easy to navigate in creating both business cards and brochures, although I did not attempt any newsletters.

It doesn't really matter how many typefaces, colors or graphics are offered, if the user can't navigate the program, and I found this program the most quickly familiar. The pre-made color layouts may be bright, but not always the best designs, in my opinion, and color should be minimized when cost is a factor. Any document prepared for commercial printing increases in expense with each color added, and the novice may be unfamiliar with this problem. That issue aside, my main concern was a simple format wherein I could create a brochure and business card using one color. So I went to blank stock and blank design, using the appropriate tools to add and edit text in the desired format. I found the brochure particularly easy, even when designing a 2-sided document for commercial printing.

I have years of design experience pre-computer, and the challenge for me (as self-taught) was to get the program to reflect my design concept in the appropriate language to create the necessary documents. After exploring some other programs, it became clear that any program is mediated by the vision of the programmer. If the program designer has a limited design range, or is restricted by the functions the program allows, the user cannot override those commands without some basic knowledge of programming. It's like taking the long road around, rather that the quickest line between two points. The programmer is assuming that the user has no design experience, and that's what the program offers: simple solutions...My need was immediate. This program offered the best timely solution, with little frustration for the unskilled user. In addition, it allows the flexibility of a variety of designs and techniques, saving each layout for further use.

Rating:
Summary: Get what you pay for!
Review: If you get what you pay for, this should have been [very inexpensive] This software is NOT for making professional looking business cards. It's a toy for your kids to play with. 95% of the graphics are cartoons (poor at that)! I was very dissappointed after purchasing this product. So bad, I'll have to buy another one.