Disney's Classic Print Studio Collection

Rating:
Summary: A theme a day takes crankiness away (uh. . . . sometimes).
Review: With this delightful software, a child explores art and discovers that their imagination is only a click away. They are the creators, and this takes them into the stories and pictures of the characters they love. The graphic menu display the text of what each will create which is a good tool that helps teach associations. The help file lists all six. A bonus is the Disney interactive preschool that allows you to access disney.com with special options such as games and coloring pages for 102 Dalmatians, Aladdin, Atlantis, Beauty and the Beast, Dinosaur, Emperors New Groove, and more.

A very fun aspect of this program is that multiple pictures can be added to a single item. So, what can you make?

(1) Banners -- your printer must be able to print banner paper.
(2) Bookmarks -- you will need to cut them apart for little ones, and heavy stock gives the best quality.
(3) Calendars -- a child can make a calendar, but I could not find a way to insert text into each of the dates. You will have to help the little ones fill it in with their activities for the month. This is a learning aspect as they realize day and events correlate.
(4) Certificates -- You were good in school today, a successful potty training day, I love you, or this is good for one trip to your child's favorite place.
(5) Envelopes that also use the theme
(6) of greeting cards.
(6) Growth charts -- again, check the printer to see if you can print a five-foot banner that has been magically turned into a growth chart for your little one. With the sophistication of some youngsters, this growth chart might be how much they have accrued in their financial portfolio.
(7) Create invitations to a party, perhaps to their imaginary friends or toys.
(8) Letterhead that clearly says, "This is me!" is thrilling to the little children.
(9) Name tags for all of their toys, family, and friends.
(10) Place mats that can be coloring pages for a party.
(11) Postcards for best friends, traveling parent, or themselves.
(12) Additionally, there are surprises within each of the separate programs: disk labels, note pads, diary, calling card, photo frames, stickers, and more.

These items are typical for most graphic programs, but not generally combined into one dynamic package that also allows you to add a digital picture inside a variety of frames. This was the most exciting part to the three-year-old who was in awe as she "played" with the program. Each package contains an item (puffer fish, honey pot, etc.) that slides to the various pictures that are stored in the program. Once a photograph is selected from any of the programs, it is available to all of them.

Some of the issues that I found are:
(1) the exit from each of the six software packages is not consistent in appearance, but Exit, Photo, New, and Save are in the same location;
(2) children love the sounds. However, if I am creating a card, I turn the sound off at the system level. I have been unable to find a way to toggle this on and off within any of the six programs. Sound must be managed before loading the program because there is no way back to the Windows tool bar.
(3) each of the six programs must be individually installed, but they will be in a single folder;
(4) if switching from one to another you have to exit the current one.

I do not think any of these items are significant. I am happy with the program, and the reaction of the children. It is also one of the most incredible bargains I have ever found. It is five stars of fun!

Victoria Tarrani

Rating:
Summary: A theme a day takes crankiness away (uh. . . . sometimes).
Review: With this delightful software, a child explores art and discovers that their imagination is only a click away. They are the creators, and this takes them into the stories and pictures of the characters they love. The graphic menu display the text of what each will create which is a good tool that helps teach associations. The help file lists all six. A bonus is the Disney interactive preschool that allows you to access disney.com with special options such as games and coloring pages for 102 Dalmatians, Aladdin, Atlantis, Beauty and the Beast, Dinosaur, Emperors New Groove, and more.

A very fun aspect of this program is that multiple pictures can be added to a single item. So, what can you make?

(1) Banners -- your printer must be able to print banner paper.
(2) Bookmarks -- you will need to cut them apart for little ones, and heavy stock gives the best quality.
(3) Calendars -- a child can make a calendar, but I could not find a way to insert text into each of the dates. You will have to help the little ones fill it in with their activities for the month. This is a learning aspect as they realize day and events correlate.
(4) Certificates -- You were good in school today, a successful potty training day, I love you, or this is good for one trip to your child's favorite place.
(5) Envelopes that also use the theme
(6) of greeting cards.
(6) Growth charts -- again, check the printer to see if you can print a five-foot banner that has been magically turned into a growth chart for your little one. With the sophistication of some youngsters, this growth chart might be how much they have accrued in their financial portfolio.
(7) Create invitations to a party, perhaps to their imaginary friends or toys.
(8) Letterhead that clearly says, "This is me!" is thrilling to the little children.
(9) Name tags for all of their toys, family, and friends.
(10) Place mats that can be coloring pages for a party.
(11) Postcards for best friends, traveling parent, or themselves.
(12) Additionally, there are surprises within each of the separate programs: disk labels, note pads, diary, calling card, photo frames, stickers, and more.

These items are typical for most graphic programs, but not generally combined into one dynamic package that also allows you to add a digital picture inside a variety of frames. This was the most exciting part to the three-year-old who was in awe as she "played" with the program. Each package contains an item (puffer fish, honey pot, etc.) that slides to the various pictures that are stored in the program. Once a photograph is selected from any of the programs, it is available to all of them.

Some of the issues that I found are:
(1) the exit from each of the six software packages is not consistent in appearance, but Exit, Photo, New, and Save are in the same location;
(2) children love the sounds. However, if I am creating a card, I turn the sound off at the system level. I have been unable to find a way to toggle this on and off within any of the six programs. Sound must be managed before loading the program because there is no way back to the Windows tool bar.
(3) each of the six programs must be individually installed, but they will be in a single folder;
(4) if switching from one to another you have to exit the current one.

I do not think any of these items are significant. I am happy with the program, and the reaction of the children. It is also one of the most incredible bargains I have ever found. It is five stars of fun!

Victoria Tarrani