Purchasing SU Digital program

[nancyp76]

I am thinking of purchasing the SU Digital program. I would get the smaller one. Is this a waste of money. Which one would you suggest or not purchase one at all.

thanks

PS New at this!

[lindylou1220]

Hi Nancy, right now the is a free trial of Stampin' Up!'s My Digital Studio. Why not "order" that and check it out for 30 days before you decide.

[nancyp76]

I have ordered and I am liking it but just want to make sure this is the best choice for me. I like the fact you can order other downloads from the catalogue and also I have downloaded some FREE items and used.

thank you!!

[craftdoc]

The MDS express plus the booster pack is the same price, so it doesn't matter which way you go. And as Linda said, you can get a free 30 day trial of express. Here is a video that SU just put out explaining the difference.
My Digital Studio & My Digital Studio Express - YouTube

the link is also on my FB page if this one doesn't work.

[scrapinnut620]

To get the trusty pin up colors don't you have to send the pages to SU and is kind of expensive? That is what a SU rep told me. Anyone know differently?

[craftdoc]

Quote:

Originally Posted by scrapinnut620

To get the trusty pin up colors don't you have to send the pages to SU and is kind of expensive? That is what a SU rep told me. Anyone know differently?

Yes, but I have been happy with the books printed by other online services and pages/projects I have printed at home as well as ones done by the SU print service. I like having the flexibility of so many different options.

[scrapinnut620]

What other on-line services can you use for printing?

[margiestone]

Has anyone ever made birthday invitations with my digital studio??

[JanTInk]

Quote:

Originally Posted by scrapinnut620

To get the trusty pin up colors don't you have to send the pages to SU and is kind of expensive? That is what a SU rep told me. Anyone know differently?

I print mine at home and get good color matching...a lot depends on your printer, of course.

[Barbara Jay]

I have been on the fence for months about My Digital studio . Where can I find more info on the free 30 day trial offer?
I am not a computer geek .

My demo has told me she really doesn't use or know much abuot My Digital Studio
Thanks
Barbara Jay

[Joan B]

JanTink right above you is an expert in this program. If I were trying to learn more, I'd pm her. (not affiliated!)

[lindylou1220]

@ Barbara Jay:

You can "order" from your demo's website. If she doesn't have one, you can get it from the main Stampin' Up! webpage under PRODUCTS: digital crafting.

For support, take a look at My Digital Studio.

[craftulous]

Quote:

Originally Posted by JanTInk

I print mine at home and get good color matching...a lot depends on your printer, of course.

I love MDS! The export to full res jpeg ability is the best thing in the world!

JanTink is absolutely right,. If you have a good monitor and a good printer (and even better if your system is color calibrated), you'll always get decent to excellent results printing at home that match SU's colors and what you see on the screen.

[Karen Campbell]

Was looking at a thread dated 2009 & it talked about SU! digital software that was coming....so now its late 2012 & they are introducing their 2nd version of MDS already. I am part of a SU! club and am seriously thinking of going the digital route instead of traditional. Is it easy to use? Is it easy to use with other freebie downloads? What don't you like about it? Should I skip SU version & use something else instead??

[Makalah]

Karen, have you tried the 30 day free trial SU offers? That may be a good way to test it out before committing to it, and see how well it works with other downloads. SU is having a promotion for the month of August for 31% off print items, so you can download the program free for 30 days, and print off your first few creations at a discount!

[Karen Campbell]

I think I will try the 30 day trial soon since I have some free weekends coming up (including a 3 day weekend!!). I figure since all the pics I get are digital anyway, why not save time & $$ printing them & just use them in their original form!! Do the downloads take up much room on the computer--or where else do you put them? Should I put everything on a flash drive in case the computer crashes? Will the software run from a flash drive?? I know I have a lot of qts but this is a completely foreign idea to me...

[basketostamps]

i love MDS....definetly try it free for 30 days...nothing to lose...

i mostly use MDS for mass producing christmas cards or graduation cards...love the results of stampin' up! professional print services!

Stampin' Up! has a website with lots of helpful info My Digital Studio and is open to everyone--don't have to be a demonstator to use it...good luck!

[Karen Campbell]

Quote:

Originally Posted by basketostamps

Stampin' Up! has a website with lots of helpful info My Digital Studio and is open to everyone--don't have to be a demonstator to use it...good luck!

Great! Thanks!!

[CynCyn]

Karen, this might be a little late, but in answer to your question about whether the program & downloads take up a lot of space, they do suck up your memory, but what I do is once my creations are done I move them over to an external hard drive as well as back up on a flash drive or CD (I'm paranoid about losing my projects, so do it twice just to be safe). Apparently you can actually have the full program and all your downloads on an external hard drive, but I haven't done that so can't comment on speed & functionality. I updraded to MDS2 & SO love all the great things it can do for you. I love traditional scrapbooking too, but digi is very portable! Good Luck.

[ctab]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Karen Campbell

Was looking at a thread dated 2009 & it talked about SU! digital software that was coming....so now its late 2012 & they are introducing their 2nd version of MDS already. I am part of a SU! club and am seriously thinking of going the digital route instead of traditional. Is it easy to use? Is it easy to use with other freebie downloads? What don't you like about it? Should I skip SU version & use something else instead??

I get frustrated very easily with computer programs, and I think MDS is probably the easiest install and go program I have ever used. It is very intuitive.

[Janelli]

Does the MDS come with FONTS to personalize the inside page of cards, for example? I need to replace a card making software program and that is what I like best about it----don't know if I would use the other features as often.
thanks for any help!
Janelli

[basketballmom]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Janelli

Does the MDS come with FONTS to personalize the inside page of cards, for example? I need to replace a card making software program and that is what I like best about it----don't know if I would use the other features as often.
thanks for any help!
Janelli

It doesn't come with fonts ... you can use all the fonts that are your computer already.
When you purchase MDS2+, it comes with LOTS of downloads, which includes a punch font, and might include an alphabet stamp (I'm not sure on that - don't have my reference sheet handy). Plus, of course ... lots of stamps and such.

[Barbara Jay]

When you buy the MDS software do you get it on a Disk?


I have been on the fence about buying MDS , but I almost ready to fall off LOL

I bought one SU DP digital set and was able to drop it into my word program to shrink the size AND pattern. I was very happy with it because the pattern was smaller and now perfect for cards.

I have some SU DP that I really like but it has a large pattern and is more suitable for scrapbooking. I only make cards .

MDS DP solves that problem

[Cleone]

Doesn't ink get really expensive when you use your printer?

[ctab]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cleone

Doesn't ink get really expensive when you use your printer?

I haven't printed whole scrapbook pages on my printer, but I have printed lots of invitations. I did a 5x7 photo invite that had a colored background, picture, and colored script. I got about 100 invitations out of one pack of ink (that included a few other pictures I printed off here and there).

If you are going to print at home your biggest need is a high quality printer and ink. You don't want a printer with limited ink choices and/or ink quality that causes fading too quickly. I have an Epson Artisan 730, and it is great! They say that their ink and paper will last longer than what you can get printed at Walgreen / snapfish type places.

[basketballmom]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Barbara Jay

When you buy the MDS software do you get it on a Disk?


I have been on the fence about buying MDS , but I almost ready to fall off LOL

I bought one SU DP digital set and was able to drop it into my word program to shrink the size AND pattern. I was very happy with it because the pattern was smaller and now perfect for cards.

I have some SU DP that I really like but it has a large pattern and is more suitable for scrapbooking. I only make cards .

MDS DP solves that problem

If you buy MDS2+ (which is the preferred option if you're just starting, since it gives you sets, and accessories) right now, it's a download. You download it now, and you have access to re-download it whenever you need it (2nd home computer, computer crash, etc).

Sometime "soon" (before year end), MDS2+ will be available on a disc.

Right now SU! is still adding features to MDS2, thus the lack of a disc. So about once a month there is an upgrade download to run. That will happen in the future after the disc as well, just not as often.

So ... short version ... right now you have to download, in the future it'll be a disc also.
If you only want the 'guts' and want to choose your downloads, then MDS2 (without the '+') is a download and will remain a download.

[Barbara Jay]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cleone

Doesn't ink get really expensive when you use your printer?

In the long run I don't think the cost of the ink and paper is more than buying preprinted DP.

The SU sets of preprinted DP are $10.95 PLUS tax and shipping. There are generally sheets of paper I don't use either because they are not my favorites or the patterns are too large for cards. I discovered early in this hobby the Paper Stacks are a bigger waste of money. Use a few sheets and the rest just sits there taking up space

Digi paper solves both of these issues.

I can reduce the pattern AND size of the printed area so I don't print a full sheet of paper.

I bought 150 sheets of HP Premium Presentation paper 32# on sale for $7.

I won't need to use limited storage space to store paper I am not using. I can reduce the size of the pattern so all the designs are suitable for cards.
And if my style changes in the future and I like the patterns I formally dismissed I can print them from my files.

I won't need to buy extra packs of DP that I really like before it is discontinued because I can always print it when I want it.

I don't make multiple cards with the same pattens, but if I would do that I can print as many sheets of a design I need. With the preprinted packs it is cost prohibitive to do that.

I will always buy the plain colored card stock. That would be too costly to print.

Except in a very limited case I prefer the actual rubber stamps to digis and have no interest in "Clip Art" buttons, ribbon or embellishments .

The more I think about it for me the digi paper is a Win -Win

[Barbara Jay]

Quote:

Originally Posted by nillysilly_ol'bear

okay, hubby just treated me to the clearance Express Booster Pack DVDs. am I going to need anything else once these arrive in order to get started using the MDS system?

I'm pretty clueless about all of it and don't have much extra $$ to invest in a class of any kind to learn right now. some day I will join Jan Tink's group, as I'm sure it's as fabby as everything else she does, but for now I have to plink my way along....

thanks for any help you can offer.

my computer doesn't have any speakers right now, so I can't check out the youtube video. sorry.

Do you have the MDS software? I think the Booster pack only works with the main software, but I may be wrong. Perhaps someone else can answer this .

The other CD's that are on the Clearance Rack will work with Photoshop Elements or even with your word program. I tried one in my word program to see if it would work before I bought more. All I had to do was drag and drop it into my word program and I was able to resize and print it. I do not have the main MDS software.

I found a lot of free information on the My Digital Studio blog. You need to register .

My Digital Studio

HTH

[basketballmom]

The Booster pack items will work with Photoshop Elements as well. It's a collection of the downloads that came with the original MDS if you bought it on disc.

[basketballmom]

Quote:

Originally Posted by nillysilly_ol'bear

okay, hubby just treated me to the clearance Express Booster Pack DVDs. am I going to need anything else once these arrive in order to get started using the MDS system?

I'm pretty clueless about all of it and don't have much extra $$ to invest in a class of any kind to learn right now. some day I will join Jan Tink's group, as I'm sure it's as fabby as everything else she does, but for now I have to plink my way along....

thanks for any help you can offer.

my computer doesn't have any speakers right now, so I can't check out the youtube video. sorry.

A really good way to start is to pick something ... like creating a card.
Choose 'designer template'.
Pick one, doesn't really matter which one ... just one that you have (after you've installed the Booster Pack).

Then play. Really. Along the right side of the screen, pick a category, and try something. See what it does. If it's ugly, that's ok, because you are only playing.
Add a stamp. Change the colour.
See if you can change the size of the stamp.

Many of the procedures are pretty similar to other programs ... like resizing. Drag and drop.

Then buy a pair of really cheap earbuds for your computer ... so then you'll be able to listen to the videos.

I've found that trying the PRogressive Challenges here on SCS has really helped me learn the program ... as I've tried to follow the instructions for the new creations!

[basketballmom]

Quote:

Originally Posted by nillysilly_ol'bear

thank you so much for the help!
I have the trial version of MDS right now and have been playing around with it. lots of fun, but frustrating only because I want to add little goodies not included. grins! ;)

I'm excited for these DVDs to arrive so that I can see what is on them. hard to find an area that shows the content, since they are discontinued.

if I want to go for the basic system, I am assuming I need to get either one of the MDS 2 ones since what we bought does NOT include the basic, is that correct? just want to be sure I understand where I am in the scheme of things right now.

everyone have a great day!

That's correct. The DVDs contain content ... stamps, papers, etc. Your free trial is the 'guts' that makes it work together.

It is best/easiest if you purchase MDS2 or MDS2+ BEFORE your 30 day trial expires.

Does that help?

[MJinSpringpatach]

I have MDS2 and have made a few small pages with it and am pleased. However, I'm not super-creative and I would like to just drag and drop. I know that MDS is built on My Memories Suite software, and I have downloaded some elements from mymemories.com and used them. What I would like to know is if/how I can use "Quick Pages" from mymemories.com in MDS? I *believe* they are meant to be used like the MDS Designer Templates, where you just drop in your pictures, but I can't seem to make it work like that. Can anyone help?

[basketballmom]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MJinSpringpatach

I have MDS2 and have made a few small pages with it and am pleased. However, I'm not super-creative and I would like to just drag and drop. I know that MDS is built on My Memories Suite software, and I have downloaded some elements from mymemories.com and used them. What I would like to know is if/how I can use "Quick Pages" from mymemories.com in MDS? I *believe* they are meant to be used like the MDS Designer Templates, where you just drop in your pictures, but I can't seem to make it work like that. Can anyone help?

Yes, you can use them.
If you've already installed your template from My Memories, you're 3/4 of the way there!
You'll need to go look where your MDS files are stored.
In general, it will be under Program Files or Applications. As you move 'down' through the folders, you'll want to look at Components, then Themes. Under Themes you will see THREE folders: Memories, Designer, and Photo Only. You want to take whatever is in the Memories folder and move it to the Designer folder.
Then MDS will find it. And you can use it.

I just tried it with one of the free downloads from there.

Now that I've found a new source of downloads ... oh no!

Hope this helps you.

[MJinSpringpatach]

Quote:

Originally Posted by basketballmom

Yes, you can use them.
If you've already installed your template from My Memories, you're 3/4 of the way there!
You'll need to go look where your MDS files are stored.
In general, it will be under Program Files or Applications. As you move 'down' through the folders, you'll want to look at Components, then Themes. Under Themes you will see THREE folders: Memories, Designer, and Photo Only. You want to take whatever is in the Memories folder and move it to the Designer folder.
Then MDS will find it. And you can use it.

I just tried it with one of the free downloads from there.

Now that I've found a new source of downloads ... oh no!

Hope this helps you.

Thank you! This makes sense - although my files aren't exactly set up like that, I think I can make it work. :grin:

[Barbara Jay]

OMG I just checked out the My Memories site. It is the Mother Lode of digi stuff!! They have digi papers from 69�. Yikes it is a good thing this stuff doesn't require any storage space, or I would be featured on Horders . LOL

[MJinSpringpatach]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Barbara Jay

OMG I just checked out the My Memories site. It is the Mother Lode of digi stuff!! They have digi papers from 69�. Yikes it is a good thing this stuff doesn't require any storage space, or I would be featured on Horders . LOL

IKR? Between SU and My Memories, a girl could lose her mind (and a good chunk of change) - not that I'd know anything about that. :rolleyes: Not to mention digiscrapping just about any event possible.

A couple of months ago, I posted that I was looking for running stamps. I found a nice rubber set, but hit the jackpot on My Memories with a really cute Marathon Runner set. I LOVE it!

[basketballmom]

Quote:

Originally Posted by nillysilly_ol'bear

thought I would pop on here and post that my express booster pack DVDs from the clearance area arrived and good golly are they NEAT! I highly reccomend them to anyone! makes me really want to get the entire MDS2 program. will most certainly put it on my list for Santa! tee hee!

thank you to everyone who helped me with questions. I appreciate it!

one more quick one.....
if I get the basic MDS2 and then decide later to upgrade to MDS2+, do I have to buy the entire thing again or is there an upgrade package available?

You would have to buy the entire thing again. Really, the only difference is the downloads that are included.

So ... go to mydigitalstudio.net ... there's a list of the included downloads there ... see which ones you'd want to have. Price them out. If they cost more than the price difference between upgrade and MDS2+, go straight to MDS2+. (I didn't ... and ended up buying a bunch of those items last week when they were on sale. Really ... I should have just done 'plus' right away.) when it comes to downloads, I'm learning that "more is more"

[basketballmom]

Quote:

Originally Posted by nillysilly_ol'bear

thanks! that is very helpful!
it's more a matter of what the bank account can afford than what I would like to have.... ;) with all of my medical bills right now there isn't a lot left over for crafty stuff, but hubby is so good to me and does what he can.

I've been doing stuff with digis and papers for a while, but actually creating digi layouts and things is new to me. I still print everything out and add my own buttons, trims, and other embellies. I'm a big texture person, so I'm brand new at learning all of the other steps.

There are digital scrapbooking challenges here on Splitcoast ... give some of them a try ... they've really pushed me to learn more ...
Digital Scrapbooking - Splitcoaststampers

[Barbara Jay]

Quote:

Originally Posted by nillysilly_ol'bear

thanks! that is very helpful!
it's more a matter of what the bank account can afford than what I would like to have.... ;) with all of my medical bills right now there isn't a lot left over for crafty stuff, but hubby is so good to me and does what he can.

I've been doing stuff with digis and papers for a while, but actually creating digi layouts and things is new to me. I still print everything out and add my own buttons, trims, and other embellies. I'm a big texture person, so I'm brand new at learning all of the other steps.

I also want layers and texture, but find the digi paper is more than worth the cost of the clearance rack disks. I can reduce the patterns to use on cards . On one disk there are printed Christmas ornaments and I ordered the ornament punch to cut them.
After I contacted Patty Bennett and then ordered some digi things from her web site she sent me a lovely professional looking Thank you card. It looked like something from a store.

I prefer cards that are layered, embossed and with real embellishments, but I make each card individually for the person.
However, if a person had to make a gazillion Birth, Shower or Wedding announcements the MDS would be a blessing!

I think digi and regular stamping can be great companions . Each has it's own advantages

[Barbara Jay]

I also printed a sentiment from one of the disks and cut it out with a Nestie
Most of my family live near me. I have been writing sentiments on my computer and cutting them out with my Nesties. I can't use the same sentiment for two people's cards. With digi disks I can use a sentiment once and it didn't cost much

Does anyone know if there are just digi sentiments or greetings ?