Comparative question

[kmk_01kmk]

I came to MyPublisher by way of 1) a Creative Memories consultant who suggested I may like digital scrapbooking, and 2) a friend who knows I'm cheap who pointed me toward MyPublisher as another option.
I was wondering if anyone could compare the user-friendliness & flexibility of the Creative Memories software vs. the BookMaker software, and quality of the end product? Just wondering if it's worth it. I was surprised there were so few hits on a search for "Creative Memories" in the forums, so I'm guessing not many people who try Creative Memories switch to something else.
Thanks!
KMK

[karenschulz]

Hi,

I have not used the Creative Memories software, but I have seen it demonstrated, and it seemed user friendly. I DID see the end published product from Creative Memories and it absolutely, in no uncertain terms (I can't state this emphatically enough) does not compare favorably to the end MyPublisher Product. The CM book reminded me of the litle cardboard storybooks that I used to buy for my children... you know the kind? The MP end product is a high quality product, superbly bound, with high quality paper. I have used both the Classic and Deluxe formats. Whenever I show anyone my Deluxe book (on a trip to China), they tell me it looks like a Coffee Table book that they would buy at a book store. The MP software is extremely intuitive and easy to use. You can use their templates (super easy!) or get more creative by making pages in other software programs, savings them as JPEGs and importing them into MP.

Hope this helps,
Karen

[Marti]

I agree with Karen, kmk. I actually discovered bookmaking the same way you did, through Creative Memories. I made one pre-designed CM book and was hooked. I loved my CM book - the designs on the pages were beautiful in every style, but the price was outrageous. I paid almost $80 for a little 26-page book with no text on the spine and no option for a jacket (in fact, I made a jacket in MP for it). It took a good business week for delivery also. However, I loved the quality of the hardcover leather book and the process was easy to use.

I started looking online for something of the same quality, but cheaper, and ended up at Blurb. Purchased a book and was pleased, but the photos looked flat and lifeless. Kept looking . . . found Shutterfly, York and Picaboo. Ordered books. They were okay, but still not the quality of CM. Eventually I found MyPublisher. I was surprised at their shortage of page designs and minimum styles, but after I ordered my first Classic book, I was thrilled with the quality. It was better than the others and certainly as good as or better than CM. I've been making MP books ever since. To expand on flexibility and creativity, I started using PowerPoint to make scrapbook layouts, saved them as .jpgs and uploaded them to full-bleed templates in MP and discovered I could create nearly any page design I wanted.

There have been some recent complaints about book quality with MP. I have received two books in the last two weeks, one Classic and one Deluxe. If you are expecting the images to be photographer professional quality, you might be disappointed. I love my books as they are, but some people find the images to be too dark, too light, grainy, or blurry, etc. I could probably say the same thing about some printed images, but until I find something better for the price, I'm sticking with MP.