Customer Reviews

The PrintShop 20

5 star:		(0)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

This is the most cost-effective, user friendly program I have found for designing quick logos, letterheads and brochures, this latest version made more accessible because the extra disks are compacted into one. The program offers a great variety of images on every subject, with more available online (for an additional price). However, the greatest complaint is still unanswered...there is virtually no online help available when contacting Broderbund. If a program isn't backed up by online help, the user must consider this when buying the program in the first place. Of course, when I purchased The Printshop from a discount store, I had no idea of the difficulty in using online resources. On the other hand, the program is quite simple and self-explanatory, so there is little need for extra support.

There is an advanced drawing feature that I would like to learn, but the program help does little to guide me through the steps and I cannot navigate anything without some specific direction. Program designers don't seem to be aware of such elementary design flaws, assuming a base knowledge which may not exist. I bought a simple program because of my limited knowledge, expecting a certain degree of guidance through the basics. Broderbund's Printshop offers this assistance, but only to a very limited degree.

Whatever I have designed on my computer looks great on the screen, so this is a perfect program for anything that is directed toward screen resolution. This brings me to my second reservation, and it is considerable: when I have printed out the designs, the quality of print is pixilated and jagged, regardless of the fact that I adjust my printer to the highest resolution available, 4800 DPI. I have so far been unable to address this problem, which makes my designs virtually unusable in print. (Pixels per inch determine the quality of the print; the higher the number, the better the quality, but there does not seem to be any way, at least none that I have found, to fix this problem.) What Broderbund offers in simplicity is cancelled out by the printed quality.

I would be glad to reconsider my rating if anyone has suggestions for solving this rather critical design problem. I expect there are answers, but I certainly haven't found them via the Broderbund website. More customer support would be appreciated by anyone purchasing this product. Luan Gaines/2004.

I have owned PS 12,15 & 20 and I like them all. I even have PrintMaster 11 and I like that as well but PS 20 made some good improvements. The improvement I like most is the optimal print resolution which makes fonts print much more smoothly. As for installation I have never had a problem with PS 20. I had a minor issue with PS 15 but every install of PS 20 went fine for me. I have done many projects with PS 20 from photos to greeting cards to brochures and many more things. I think its a great product and I use quite often

I agree with the first reviewer. I tried at least 6 or 7 times and it wouldn't install. I also have XP and more than enough space on the computer for this program. I am out $30 b/c I can't return it. I couldn't even find a tech support phone #.

I had none of the reported loading problems [I run XP], my complaint is about the artwork and design programs.[1]There is no command to layer - "bring to front" or "send to back" - so you have to put things on your project in order [that is,if you decide that your text would look better on a colored background you have to start over]. [2] The supplied art work is the very poorest kind of clip art - just plain crappy looking - and hard to sort through. Why go to all the bother of making projects on the computer if they end up looking like they were made by a none-too-talented third-grader?

Look @ the box /screens. Instead of Broderbund its now Riverdeep & with that change the program has changed as well. I installed it & have uninstalled it. The screens look "cheaper". I like using the "Fine Art". There are far less Fine Art images in newer version. More upsetting is the false advertising. Box states "310,000+ images" (deluxe) where in reality MOST of these are online & secondly if you want to use MOST of those you have to pay another $20-30 to join their Million image club to use them?? Reinstalled old version 15. Why is new not better? I also keep a special PC w/all my old classic 96/97 programs!

I, unfortunately, own PSD 20... No problems loading and using with XP, but wish I had done more research before purchasing. I used it for business cards and brochures and after a loooooonnnnng time on hold on their support line (had to call the corporate office who gave me a LD number to call), found out that the program won't print past a certain "margin" edge width unless your printer will print "full bleed" (meaning all the way to the edge). All of the art and examples on their box show everything printed all the way to the edge. Nowhere does it state that you have to have a certain printer or special printer capability to use the software. So for now (until I have time to do the research for a better alternative), my brochures and business cards are a bit lopsided.

Otherwise, it's easy enough to use. Wouldn't buy it again.

I bought this Print Shop from another retailer (not Amazon), but after installing 3 different times, it just didn't run on my PC. I have XP, enough gigabites of hardware and memory, it meets all the system requirements but the software just doesn't run. After talking to Broaderbund tech support (the number was very difficult to find) and trying fixes, it didn't work and the retailer gave me a hell when I returned it. I'd buy any future PrintShop products only if there is a policy to return, or trial first before buying.

This product has ALOT of glitches. I have ran across 16 features which do not work within the product. One example is I am designing a Calendar for my synagogue. When following the direction on how to add Blank Pages, the help instructs you to select Insert (from the toolbar) , Pages, and in the Contents Field to select the Add Blank Pages Button. Well, the button is not there. It only allows you to add Default pages (which are preceding months in the year) or to copy a already created page. This is just one of the 16 examples. I have tried to phone the Company (which although not disclosed, they charge your long distance provider a "toll charge" which shows up on your phone bill), and although I have a receipt from two weeks ago, they claim that the product is no longer supported via phone or email. They referred me to an online web page, where I can search a Knowledge Base for all the products they manufacter. Print Shop 20 is not searchable in the Knowledgebase. I have also tried to email them several times with not ONE response. Another example - when you first open up your project, you cannot go to the next page or zoom in or out. You must first view the project in Print Preview and then when you close that window, it will give you the option to see all the pages.

This is a HORRIBLE PRODUCT, and I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND ANYONE TO UTILIZE OR PURCHASE. Since I purchased the product at Best Buy, they will not let me return it.

Don't pay $30 for this, just buy older version Print Shop 11 for $9. You would expect to see more tools in newer 20 version, but everything is exactly the same as Print Shop 11, and 11 has more special effects. Does anyone have Print Shop Delux 20 ? Please write a review if it's worth buying. Only reason I use Print Shop is because it's easy, too bad they don't improve it, all reviews I see for any Print Shop are not too good. Does anyone know similar software with better performants and more tools? Please somebody recomend something(write a review under Print Shop 20).

Product is very good for cards of any kind. Gets too complex for the fast user. Does very good lables, both sending and return.
Worth the price of purchase.
JRV