Para la versión española es aquí
When i was kindly asked by MyMemories to write a review on MyMemories Suite v.3 software* (with an update for v.4 at the end), i wasn't sure i wanted to do it.
When i was kindly asked by MyMemories to write a review on MyMemories Suite v.3 software* (with an update for v.4 at the end), i wasn't sure i wanted to do it.
1/
My first reason was because even if i created a few digital scrapbook
layouts recently (using Photoshop), i am mostly a traditionnal
scrapbooker who actually loves a messy desk and dirty hands when
scrapbooking.
2/
and because i would define my style as "freestyle" and much closer to
what art journaling is, i was afraid the software would limit my
creativity and would not fit my style.
After a short discussion via emails, and all my doubts resolved, i accepted this task and i'm frankly happy i did it.
It happened to be a very good surprise for a scrapbooker like me!
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| layout created with MMS (all the products included in the software, yes staples!) |
Before i start my review, i will just quote part of the description you can find on MyMemories website about this product, so you can have an idea of what kind of software it is:
"[...] My Memories Suite provides a single platform where you can create
graphically from scratch, import graphics created in other applications,
perform photo-editing functions, and add journaling without ever
leaving the software! Plus, you can add in video, music, narration and
web links with a simple click of the mouse. No exporting, no up
linking, and no headaches. [...]"
Now let's start with my review, which is organized in different themes:
1/How do you start your project with MyMemories Suite?
When you start a new project, you can choose from a designer template (there are 30 album templates in this version of the software, 45 in v.4) or you can start designing your own project.
Then, you have to choose the shape and size of your album (landscape or portrait, square or not, 12'X12' or smaller...)
And after that, you properly start creating your layouts.
*You start by adding a background paper.
- You can import your purchased or created digital products, which is great! Which also means that you can actually save all your digital products in the folders already created for you so everything is well organised. When i am playing in Photoshop, everything is a mess...but i guess that's my fault!
*You can add shapes (and filled them with either a photo or a paper)
*and embellishments (brads, buttons, ribbons, flowers, even some stitching!, and more)
*You add your photos (there is an easy drag and drop function)
*And you add some text (lots of available fonts and you can use wordart)
Every one of these steps are easy and straightforward.
You just need to know a little bit what kind of design/color combo you
want for your pages, and choose from the products you have
available-either from the software (over 1,500 papers, over 1,000 page elements, and over 30 album
templates (including 10 new for v3)- or from your own stash.
2/How about the importing?
I was surprised by the ease and rapidity of the importing. You can import photos with a high resolution in seconds and then start editing it.
The very good thing is that the software supports a wide variety of format such as jpg, png and even psd. Which means you can import about anything you want!
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| with images.png i previously created in Photoshop with my handwriting, and the mat function for the smallest photos |
3/How about designing/editing your project?
- You can add various embellishments in one go (just choose and apply without leaving the application. I find it great, you save a lot of time! And they are all organized in subcategories (brads, buttons, ribbons, flowers,etc.) so it's easy to choose.
- It is also really easy to copy and paste shapes/embellishments/photo boxes, etc.
- The photo editing is easy and fast: crop, resize, alter to black and white, sepia, brighten, blur and some more in just a few clicks.
- if you are using a designer template (and there is quite a few to chose from) you can delete some elements, resize them, add some more, etc. so you can still customize it. It's a quick way to have a starting projetc, especially if you want to make an album with loads of photos.
- if you start with a blank page it is very easy to add a background paper and then create layers (see the little note below about the trick to do that), add embellishments, photos and text.
- there is a clever and useful "picker" function when you are using the color tool which allows you to pick a color from anywhere in your layout to match the color combo
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| using a photo layout (photo boxes filled with photos and paper), a background paper, a text box and a few embellishments (all included in MMS) |
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| all the products included in the software |
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| using a photo layout, a background paper, a text box and a bow (all included in MMS) |
4/ How about sharing your project?
Once you are done with your project, you can save the entire album AND each one of the pages as a separated file. So you can then select the one you want to share depending if it's for your blog, your facebook page or your family. This is absolutely great!
You can also make something interactive, like a video or add music. You can even record your voice! I didn't try though but i think it could be a great idea for a family souvenir...
You have to download and install another file to be able to do that, but this is free if you bought the software, and it's easy and fast.
This particular Christmas album has been made from a designer template and i almost didn't change anything. I added my pictures and my text, and just deleted or changed the position of some embellishments.
If you know me you will know it is not my style- at all- but i thought it was perfect for my mother. I will share it with her and i am sure she will love it.
That's another advantage of starting with templates (beside they are great time-savers): you can create something that will fit somebody else style! I would have never came up with this album myself:)
PS: you can choose the time between each page, and the final resolution of your video. Easy and straightforward.
5/ Is it easy to use?
I think that it's a user-friendly software.
If you are a scrapbooker you won't last long in understanding how
everything works. And if you are not, i think it will be easy once you
get familiar with the "scrapbooking routine" (embellishments, background
paper, creating layers, clusters, etc.)
The only point i struggled with was to create layers of papers. You can't do that with background papers (they are for the background only).
Hopefully they have great videos on their Youtube channel, and that's how I learnt i had to do it by adding "shapes" and then filling them with papers!
It's
a little trick you have to know. When you know it, you can add layers
and layers very easily, and give them the shape and size you want.
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| use of the text wrap tool- another video on Youtube |
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| background paper and borders from my personal stash (created by me) and imported in MMS |
Obviously you can create scrapbook albums and single layouts, photobooks, videos, and also calendars i beleive (i did not check it yet).
But i think it is very helpful to create cards
for a special event (Birthday,Christmas or a private party): you create
it very quickly from a template, you customize it and you share it.
Below are some examples I created from a designer template:
7/ Summary
+you can create in just about 10 minutes a single layout from a designer template or from scratch and then share it immediately!
+the choice of photo layouts is good and easily customizable: ideal to create "clean and simple" designs. One of my favourite funtions of this software!
+you can create a video from your albums in just about 5 minutes! Great for sharing memories on blogs/via emails with friends and family
+the software supports a wide variety of format such as jpg, png and even psd. Which means you can import about anything you want!
- you can't change the colors of the embellishments available in the software collection
- the edit function for the shapes was not working in my version, but i saw in one of their videos that it should be...
-if you are looking for a very "freestyle" look- including your handwriting for ex.- though it's not impossible, it is not the most appropriate software for you
8/ Conclusion
I never thought i would like working with a software specifically designed for scrapbooking before i tried MMS. So it is a very good surprise for me.
Especially now that i am a mother and that my time is limited, i think i can make a great use of this software.
I could design simple layouts where the journaling has a main place and then printing a book with them! I might reserve my messy style for "real paper" layouts and some play time with Photoshop when i have a new brush to try.
I think that if you are tempted by digital scrapbooking and don't have any other software to work with at the moment, or have one more complicated that you barely understand, MyMemories Suite can be a good option for you.
It's 39.97$-10$ if you use my personal coupon. So that's 29.97$ (22.9 euros according to today conversion rate): pretty affordable, isn't it?
And there is always new free designs and products you can download from their website and from anywhere you want.
If you already know this software and want to add a comment, please feel free to do so in the comment section below.
Hope this review has been helpful to you!
If you want to give it a try before buying it you can simply head over to the My Memories site and download the free trial!
If you know you want it: you can purchase My Memories Suite Software (you will save 10$ using my personal code)
In addition, you will receive a $10 coupon code to use towards items from the store. So that's a 20$ discount deal!
My personal code is STMMMS49299, so enter it (copy/paste) at checkout to receive your discount.
*Update for version 4:
there is a good video in youtube to present all the new features and improvements of v.4 vs v.3, but basically i will expose here the ones i prefer:
1. the paint tool ♥: you can now paint, and consequently write if you have a tablet, directly onto your layouts. You just have three different brush tip types but that's enough to add some handwriting. No more need to do it in Photoshop:) That's great! Even if the quality is not good sometimes (pixeleted)
2. the recolor tool for your photos, and consequently for all the backgrounds added as a photo. That means you can change the colour of a texture or paper with this tool. No need to have it in different color, if you have one you can have all the colors you want!
3. there is a cool ripping effect for your photos or papers added as a photo, where you can choose which edge and how much you want to rip.
4. you can group several photo boxes in one group, which will then be considered as one photo. This way it is easy to create some tiling effect within any configuration you want. The problem is that you cannot edit your photo once inserted as a tile (crop tool not available)
There are more new features but these are the most interesting ones for me at the moment. Don't forget to check the video so you don't miss anything of the new version!
note: i have been given a free copy of MMS software to review without any other compensation. Everything i have written in this review are my personal thoughts only. I am now a MyMemories affiliate member, which means that each time someone buys a software through my personal link I will receive a commission.
If you want to know more about MyMemories, you can:
visit their blog, follow them on Facebook ,or on Twitter
