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

[labdogs42]

I also would not buy any 8 x 8 pre-designed pages because you can buy the 12 x 12 and resize to 8 x 8. I do love the Primary Power Palette and additions and the Jewel Power Palette and additions are my favorite. I also love the Starry Night Kit - although it is Christmas - the colors are dark and rich and really beautiful.

I have Starry night. So far, I have only bought 12x12 pages, too. I just don't see the point of buying the other sizes (I think CM is a little crazy selling all three separately anyway). I was also looking at the CD with the preppy, etc. album kits on it. Any thoughts on that one?

Congrats Jessica -- gotta love free stuff.... I have the swirly overlays and like them. Do you ever print your pages? CM is coming out with the awesome new slide in pages/page protectors (I think Spet. 1?) You could always go for an album and pages... I still think CMs albums can't be beat.

I have one of the non-expandable Picfolio Max albums right now. I also have quite a stash of the old coversets (I used to be a CMC) that I need to either use or sell before I buy any more albums!! I love CM albums, too!

 

[cruisecrzy]

I would buythe digital papers and sayings CD (sorry I cannot remember teh exact name right now) that comes with the coupon for $39.95. So you spend $39.95 get some great papers, kits, and sayings and you get a coupon for the amount you spend.

Also those metal embellishment kits like the sewing room are great.

Happy spending.

 

[sleepingbean]

I have a question. I am thinking of switching from JUST using photoshop to using a program like Creative Memories StoryBook creator to speed up the process. If I download this software, can I still add templates and elements I purchase from Britt and other designers? Or is it ONLY for use with CM pages/elements?

I just assume this program would speed up the process, which would make it MUCH more appealing!

 

[cruisecrzy]

You can use the other kits no problem. I do. There are plenty of us on here that can give you the directions. You need to have SBCplus to do all the fancy stuff. The free version does not give you as many options.

 

[sleepingbean]

I wonder if the free version will work with their upcoming Disney kit? And do you have to print with CM or can you print your Storybook layouts on other photobook printers that are cheaper ?

 

[DisneyCruiser2008]

I wonder if the free version will work with their upcoming Disney kit? And do you have to print with CM or can you print your Storybook layouts on other photobook printers that are cheaper ?

The free version isn't good for much, honestly... they are basically just fixed templates (QPs).... You can save your finished pages as jpegs just like in other programs and do whatever you want with them. I have a lot of my 12 x12 pages printed, and I am making a Storybook with my cruise pages..... I haven't decided if I am going to go through CM or Shutterfly for that yet.... You can use templates, but they must have the .pngs with them. I have hundreds of kits by other designers loaded into my SBC+ program..... I hardly ever use CMs kits any more..... most of their embellies are too flat looking, IMHO.... but their papers are pretty. SBC+ is super user friendly.... I think it woul speed up the process compared to what I see people going through to make a LO in PS.

 

[labdogs42]

. SBC+ is super user friendly.... I think it woul speed up the process compared to what I see people going through to make a LO in PS.

I agree with this 100%! SBC+ is SO easy to use compared to PSE. For $60, it is a steal! I also like CM's papers, but not their elements so much. I use TONS of other stuff in SBC+! I'm not a big fan of templates or quick pages anyway, so that isn't an issue for me. If I see a template that I really like, I just sort of cpy it using SBC+. I actually USED a .psd template in PSE once and it took me HOURS to do that LO! Never again! SBC+ all the way, baby!

 

[cruisecrzy]

Now that we are drying out I have more time to actually type.

Sleepingbean
I think the ladies answered all your questions. I have printed my pages elsewhere. I know I have seen a list somewhere here, but I also have one that I compiled a few months ago with places and prices to print out pages. I can post it if you need it.

There are also now 4 trainings (the most recent one was just added) available on he internet to teach you how to use SBC+. If you do purchase it and I think you will find it will speed things up, ask you consultant about them. I think it is a great tool to learn some of the tricks.

 

[DisneyCruiser2008]

I agree with this 100%! SBC+ is SO easy to use compared to PSE. For $60, it is a steal! I also like CM's papers, but not their elements so much. I use TONS of other stuff in SBC+! I'm not a big fan of templates or quick pages anyway, so that isn't an issue for me. If I see a template that I really like, I just sort of cpy it using SBC+. I actually USED a .psd template in PSE once and it took me HOURS to do that LO! Never again! SBC+ all the way, baby!

LOL! Hours in PSE to use a template --- Yikes!!! Sometimes when I am doing speed scraps over at SM I laugh because I feel like SBC+ is almost too simple.... People will be going back and forth trying to figure out how to use a paper shaper or something and will be talking about clipping maks and the contigious buttons, etc.... I'm like -- wow -- all I have to do is say "fill shape with selected paper," and voila! Maybe I am just too simple minded. And I asked a question about shadows over at SM and got all these technical answers that kind of scared me... some people say they spend 20 minutes just doing shadows in a LO..... ... I LOVE my one click shadow buttons in SBC+.... But I love that it also has different shadowing options if I want to branch out....

 

[labdogs42]

LOL! Hours in PSE to use a template --- Yikes!!!

Yeah, I was totally clueless about how to use it, following a tutorial, hitting alt this and alt that, it was a nightmare!!

Sometimes when I am doing speed scraps over at SM I laugh because I feel like SBC+ is almost too simple.... People will be going back and forth trying to figure out how to use a paper shaper or something and will be talking about clipping maks and the contigious buttons, etc.... I'm like -- wow -- all I have to do is say "fill shape with selected paper," and voila! Maybe I am just too simple minded.

Oh yeah, I totally feel like I'm cheating sometimes by using SBC+, too. Or like a second class digi-scrapping citizen, but I try not to let it bother me!

And I asked a question about shadows over at SM and got all these technical answers that kind of scared me... some people say they spend 20 minutes just doing shadows in a LO..... ... I LOVE my one click shadow buttons in SBC+.... But I love that it also has different shadowing options if I want to branch out....

Oh yeah, heavy shadow and light shadow are my friends. I'd never make it if I had to think about every shadow step by infinite step!

 

[labdogs42]

Speaking of SBC+, what features do you wish it had? I with it had that stroke outline thing to make letters have an outline like a mat or a sticker. I also wish it was easier to view two pages side by side. Any other ideas? Maybe we should make a list and we can each send it to CM, so they get a lot of the same requests! (did we already talk about this? If we did , just ignore me!)

 

[DisneyCruiser2008]

Speaking of SBC+, what features do you wish it had? I with it had that stroke outline thing to make letters have an outline like a mat or a sticker. I also wish it was easier to view two pages side by side. Any other ideas? Maybe we should make a list and we can each send it to CM, so they get a lot of the same requests! (did we already talk about this? If we did , just ignore me!)

The stroke option and some kind of simplified paper tearing option for sure. I agree-- I would love an easier way to view 2 pager LOs.... Also an easier way to "mirror" a LO to make a 2 pager LO... I always have problems with that. Text on a path would be AWESOME.... Also, wouldn't it be cool if CM came out with some more of their own 1-click "actions" for photos and embellies.... like the atomic cupcake actions.... they are moving in that direction a little with some of the surfaces and other options (like emboss and oil painting), but it would be fun to have some more.... like the glass, and the metal and the gel and the paint... I could go on and on .... Maybe someday we'll be able to make our own kits using SBC+ . I would also like to see some great templates (including 2 pagers)..... I think they need to step it up a notch with their premade pages.... I'm not wild about the composition of most of them....I would also prefer just to have gray templates instead of premade pages.... but that's probably just me......

 

[DisneyCruiser2008]

Oooh -- and an easier way to do selective coloring of photos.... basically I want to be able to do every fancy thing that you can do in PS with only one click of the mouse!! LOL!

 

[DisneyCruiser2008]

Here's a template if anyone would like it... It's one of my faves for showcasing a photo series.... I've used it a couple times....

http://www.4shared.com/file/57461427/db8b3db1/Penny_Loves_Stairs_Template.html

credits: http://www.scrapmatters.com/gallery3/showphoto.php/photo/4368/ppuser/64

credits: http://www.scrapmatters.com/gallery3/showphoto.php/photo/1548/ppuser/64

 

[Disney Baby]

Speaking of SBC+, what features do you wish it had? I with it had that stroke outline thing to make letters have an outline like a mat or a sticker. I also wish it was easier to view two pages side by side. Any other ideas? Maybe we should make a list and we can each send it to CM, so they get a lot of the same requests! (did we already talk about this? If we did , just ignore me!)

I would love an erase tool. I would also like to take any shape and turn it into a photo box. I know that we can fill the selected shape with photo -but is always uses the top right corner of the picture - it would be great it we could move it around once it fills. Does that make sense? I made this today - although I already scrapped these pics - I was experimenting with filling shapes with pictures. I ended up putting the pics where I wanted them and using the custom shape tool to cut down the pics.

In order to make this template - I had to take the jpg of the psd template (can't find original creator )- adjust the opacity to 70 and flatten it to a white piece of paper. I used the magic wand to isolate each piece and cut it up into pieces. For the middle pieces I was able to "fill selected element with this photo. The others I had to custom cut... I am sure that I have other things that I want SBC+ to do =- but the first day of 2nd grade is tomorrow and I need to get off this computer!

As soon as I get a chance to sit down and learn 4shared - I will send out a bunch of templates. Christy and Jessica - thanks for sharing your templates!!

 

[DisneyCruiser2008]

There are also now 4 trainings (the most recent one was just added) available on he internet to teach you how to use SBC+.

Hi -- You said the most recent (4th) training has been added to the CM site? I don't see it on there. I already watched it but would like to forward it to some others... Do you have the link? Thanks!

DisneyBaby -- SUPER CUTE template!!!

 

[DisneyCruiser2008]

I would also like to take any shape and turn it into a photo box. I know that we can fill the selected shape with photo -but is always uses the top right corner of the picture - it would be great it we could move it around once it fills. Does that make sense?

OH YES! That totally makes sense.... it drives me bonkers how it always fills from the top .... I hate that. Even Dawn in her webinar seemed annoyed by that... I would think that would be a fairly easy thing to change.

 

[labdogs42]

In order to make this template - I had to take the jpg of the psd template (can't find original creator )- adjust the opacity to 70 and flatten it to a white piece of paper. I used the magic wand to isolate each piece and cut it up into pieces. For the middle pieces I was able to "fill selected element with this photo. The others I had to custom cut... I am sure that I have other things that I want SBC+ to do =- but the first day of 2nd grade is tomorrow and I need to get off this computer!

As soon as I get a chance to sit down and learn 4shared - I will send out a bunch of templates. Christy and Jessica - thanks for sharing your templates!!

Wow -- what a great idea! I hadn't thought of using templates like that. Great idea! I also wish that you could move the pic around after filling something with it. Text on a path would be nice, too! Or at least some kind of journaling template (like the Journaltopia, but for digital) where you could pick some different ways to put text on the page.

 

[sleepingbean]

Thanks for the answers ladies. I am not sure I can justify spending $60, though, when I have photoshop and I know how to use it and it costs me $0...although the time I'd save is worth money, no doubt...
I'll have to think about it!

Jessica, I looked at your pages and you're right, you do use your photos as the main focus and you have quite a few pages with oodles of photos. That, I like ! And this most recent layout posted is another great one that uses a lot of photography as the focus.

I am almost convinced!

 

[labdogs42]

Thanks for the answers ladies. I am not sure I can justify spending $60, though, when I have photoshop and I know how to use it and it costs me $0...although the time I'd save is worth money, no doubt...
I'll have to think about it!

Jessica, I looked at your pages and you're right, you do use your photos as the main focus and you have quite a few pages with oodles of photos. That, I like ! And this most recent layout posted is another great one that uses a lot of photography as the focus.

I am almost convinced!

You can always ask Santa for it! That's what I do when I"m not sure I should spend the money. I let someone else spend it!!