Who here uses CM's SBC+ for digital scrapping?

[RLccweems]

I know there are a few of us. I thought it would be nice if we knew who uses this program and maybe we could share some hints and tips for working with this particular software for digital scrapping. Anyway, I'd like to know who else is having fun playing with Creative Memories StoryBook Creator Plus! (oh yeah, I'm not a CMC, so I have no vested interest in anyone buying this software, just thought I'd put that out there)

I don't use this yet....but I would love to start. Is there a CM on this thread that lives near me? I'm in Piedmont, OK and would love to learn from a CM. I need hands on training...

 

[DisneyCruiser2008]

Christy,

This is what I did with your template - thanks again

Hey -- I just saw this -- I was on vacation and just decided to read back over the posts I missed. So glad it worked! YAY!

 

[DisneyCruiser2008]

I don't use this yet....but I would love to start. Is there a CM on this thread that lives near me? I'm in Piedmont, OK and would love to learn from a CM. I need hands on training...

If no one responds, you can go to the site here and put in your information to find the CM consultant closest to you.... You may want to ask a few questions of the consultant to make sure he/she has experience with the software -- some consultants are much more experienced than others with SBC+.

http://www.creativememories.com/Find-a-Consultant/EntryForm

 

[DisneyCruiser2008]

Ok DisneyBaby -- I have a tough one for you .... You seem to know the program tricks best.... I like to participate in the Quick Page Exchanges over at ScrapMatters.... So.... I have figured out how to make my page, convert the picture spots to a contrasting color (usually white) and then cut out the picture spots alll the way through using the magic wand... I was so excited when I got that far. BUT.... when I save the page as a .png, SBC+ seems to flatten it and then the picture spots are no longer "open".... they become solid white again and the page is not functional as a Quick Page. It's driving me nuts trying to figure this out. Do you have any ideas? No matter what I do, when I bring the page back in, the picture spots are white instead of transparent..... Help??

UPDATE::: OK -- I actually think I figured it out..... If I right click on the flattened page with the transparent spots while in SBC+ and save it from there as a .png it works!!! Yahoo!!!! But if I save as a page form the top menu (even if I choose the .png option), the transparent spots become white.... Kind of weird -- it must have something to do with the auto flatten feature they have for their pages or something.... I'm just glad I figured it out. Every time I think there is something this software "can't" do -- I find that I am wrong and there is a way tro do it!

 

[Disney Baby]

Wow! Christy - you are a fast learner I was trying to clean my house and I put my laptop down for a while and I just read your posts. You are right about the flattening part when it exports a page. I learned this by accident when I was trying to make some pre-made templates my digital customers. Now that I have quite a few digital customers - I have to come up with "gifts" for them at the crops that they can use!!

Also - thanks for the templates - I am glad that you liked the Donald page that I did with your wet rat template. I am going to try to get my templates on 4shared...

 

[cruisecrzy]

Just a reminder. Do not forget to sign up for the SBC+ Training on Thursday. Once you sign up you get the conference line phone number. I am excited to see what new tricks there might be.

Also, what do you all think of the new CM digital stuff? I like the halloween and fall, but the others I was not crazy about the "stickers" they have.

 

[DisneyCruiser2008]

Just a reminder. Do not forget to sign up for the SBC+ Training on Thursday. Once you sign up you get the conference line phone number. I am excited to see what new tricks there might be.

Also, what do you all think of the new CM digital stuff? I like the halloween and fall, but the others I was not crazy about the "stickers" they have.

Thanks for the reminder.... I just peeked at the new stuff yesterday. I think the papers are all pretty.... I appreciate what CM is doing with trying to make *everything* available in traditional, milestone, and digital kits that are basically identical... but I think they are kind of missing the mark with the digital embellishments.... The beauty of digital is that you can move beyond flat stickers into embellishments that have much more depth and dimension... I wish they would jazz up their embellishments some because I love the company and their products....

 

[cruisecrzy]

I wish they would jazz up their embellishments some because I love the company and their products....

I could not agree more in regard to embellishments.....I love their product, but it is what will stop me from buying a lot of their digital kits. And I do not know many people that are fond of their new look of stickers for traditional scrapbooking.

 

[labdogs42]

So, what new stuff are we talking about? I see they added baby digital stuff and some sewing stuff and some doodles. Is this the stuff you're talking about or is there more somewhere? I do wish they would come out with some better embellishments and BLANK templates. (like the kind everyone makes for PSE). Sure, I can make my own blank templates, but I"m lazy, I'd rather buy them!

 

[minniesota]

I've posted this in a couple of places but this seems like a more obvious place! Does anyone know if CM will release SBC+ in a Mac version? I'm wanting to get re-started in digital and love what I see created with SBC+ (and hearing that is so user-friendly is most appreciated!) I have PS on my Mac but have not used it. Seems overwhelming...

I've used CM's traditional materials for years and love the company. They are headquartered about an hour away from me - maybe I should drop in and make a suggestion!

Any other Mac users out there???

 

[quiltymom]

Hey!

I just found this thread. I'm also a CMC and I've been having fun with SBC+ for the past few months.

Once I have the chance to read through the thread, I'll be sure to add any tips that haven't been mentioned. But right now I'm playing homework monitor for my kids (yes - they started school last week!) so I need to get back to them.

See you all later...

 

[RadioNate]

I've posted this in a couple of places but this seems like a more obvious place! Does anyone know if CM will release SBC+ in a Mac version? I'm wanting to get re-started in digital and love what I see created with SBC+ (and hearing that is so user-friendly is most appreciated!) I have PS on my Mac but have not used it. Seems overwhelming...

I've used CM's traditional materials for years and love the company. They are headquartered about an hour away from me - maybe I should drop in and make a suggestion!

Any other Mac users out there???

I asked earlier on this thread. I heard about a year ago that they were considering it but haven't heard anything since. I really want a native Mac version. Apparently the Windows based SBC+ is stable in Parallels on the Intel based Macs but not officially supported. I'd love a native version that works with iPhoto. I'd buy it in a heartbeat!

Please let me know if you hear anything.

 

[minniesota]

I asked earlier on this thread. I heard about a year ago that they were considering it but haven't heard anything since. I really want a native Mac version. Apparently the Windows based SBC+ is stable in Parallels on the Intel based Macs but not officially supported. I'd love a native version that works with iPhoto. I'd buy it in a heartbeat!

Please let me know if you hear anything.

I totally agree! I sent an email to the company inquiring about it so I'll let you know if I hear anything!

 

[cruisecrzy]

Since I got my reminder email I thought I would remind all here.

The SBC+ Advanced Training Webinare is tomorrow......I cannot wait to see new tricks.

 

[labdogs42]

Since I got my reminder email I thought I would remind all here.

The SBC+ Advanced Training Webinare is tomorrow......I cannot wait to see new tricks.

oooh, I'm signed up for that one, too! 10 am, right? "See" you there! Anyone else going to that one?

 

[quiltymom]

Anyone have any tips for that magic wand tool? I have yet to use it. What is it useful for?

I've been playing around a lot with the magic wand tool, with mixed results. One of the things that I've been having fun with is isolating items from my photos to add to a layout. Here are three LOs where it worked extremely well.

Here, I used the tool on the photo in the bottom right corner to delete the sky. The sky was completely white anyway, and I thought it looked horrid. So one click with the wand and it was gone.

I hope that this gives you some ideas.
This one took me by surprise. I wanted to use the photo in the LO, but there wasn't any more room. I used the tool to isolate Bruce & the fish, then plopped them down into the LO.

Tip: Copy only one element at a time, unless you want the various elements to stay the way they are in the photograph. For example, the fish on the top right - I wanted to move the purple fish elsewhere, but since I had copied them at the same time, they are the same element - you cannot ungroup it. Even though it takes more steps, you will get more flexibility copying each element separately if you wish to move them around. (Make sense?)

Here is what the original photo looked like, to give you an idea what I did:

Now, I think that it's a rather boring photo, and I like the way I used it much better!


The last one was this:

Here I used the tool to copy Mushu's autograph from a PhotoPass pic. I didn't want it on the photo, so being able to use the tool to make it an element of its own was great.

I hope that some of these ideas help!

 

[bsquare]

Hi Everyone,
I'm coming out of lurkdom just for this thread! My CM consultant is supposed to be at my door any minute now to deliver my SBC+. I am so excited to get started. I'm going to try to get in on the webinar - if not tomorrow then next week.

Jessica, I love your layouts. And I'd love to know what camera you use to get such great night shots of the parades.

Thanks for all the great tips everyone!

 

[labdogs42]

Hi Everyone,
I'm coming out of lurkdom just for this thread! My CM consultant is supposed to be at my door any minute now to deliver my SBC+. I am so excited to get started. I'm going to try to get in on the webinar - if not tomorrow then next week.

Jessica, I love your layouts. And I'd love to know what camera you use to get such great night shots of the parades.

Thanks for all the great tips everyone!

FYI -- The current webinar is for advanced SBC+ users, so you might want to do the webinars on the Cm site to get you prepared for tomorrow's class. I'd sign up for next week to give yourself some time to learn SBC+ a little bit first.

Glad you like my LO's! I have a Canon 20D dSLR and I used my 18-55 f 2.8 lens to take most of the night shots. I'm still learning a lot about using the camera, but I'm slowly getting the hang of it! I can't wait to go back to Disney this fall and try and take some more night shots!

quiltymom-- great idea about isolating Bruce and the fishies! I will be scraplifting that for sure!

I really wish SBC+ had that stroke outline tool to make things into stickers with a white outline. Let's all suggest it to CM, so we can get it, ok?

 

[Emerson613]

Quiltymom- AWESOME!
and you did that all in SBC+ huh?

Totally awesome! I can not wait to get that good-
AND Love the LOs too----

can i can i mom please----- can i scraplift!

 

[quiltymom]

quiltymom-- great idea about isolating Bruce and the fishies! I will be scraplifting that for sure!

Quiltymom- AWESOME!
and you did that all in SBC+ huh?

Totally awesome! I can not wait to get that good-
AND Love the LOs too----

can i can i mom please----- can i scraplift!

Thanks for the compliments.

Yes - you can scraplift all you want! And yup, it's all done with SBC+ and all CM products (I'm a CMC, so that's all I use). If you want more details on what I did, let me know and I'll try to remember how I did it!