Broderbund PrintMaster Version 18.1

At first bought the latest and greatest v6 version for new win 8 machine for our business. But, found out quickly that old printmaster files are not compatible with the new designed for win 7/8 v6 program. After office manager thought she would have to continue to use old computer for all the printmaster files (many times just updates date/year on signs, etc.), we bought this one so we have both. Works great in win 8 on new PC purchased 8/2013 (Dell XPS, core i7, 12gb ram). As soon as installed, all the old files come up just as they are supposed to.Update-We recently did the windows 8.1 update and Printmaster 18.1 will CEASE to work if it is installed, and it will fail to install if you try to re-install it. What seems to be the problem is that the Microsoft .NET framework 1.1 is required by the PM files and that is a really old version of .NET framework that is no longer present/supported on windows 8.1 (it really shouldn't work on windows 8 either but for some reason .NET framework 1.1 was still supported in win 8). Unfortunately the printmaster program compatible with windows 8.1 (v6 platinum) will not open older printmaster files. Maybe they will fix this at some point, but right now it is not working and I'm not about to tell our office manager/secretaries that we will be setting up a dual boot os on their computers to be able to use their old printmaster project files on the old version of printmaster on an old version of windows (that would go over like . . . ). I am going to convert the .sig files to .pdf and import back into PM v6 just so they have the actual project files accessible, but they won't be able to edit them as much as previously. I have Adobe Illustrator and MS Publisher but getting them to learn these new, more robust programs would again go over like . . . Why Broderbund didn't include a conversion program is beyond me. Rolling back the win 8.1 update is pretty complicated and not something I want to have to go through just for this . . .Update-There is a workaround available from Broderbund tech support that seems to be working, it is a multi-step process but we seem to be able to now open/use it on 8.1-hopefully all features of the program work.

Soooo glad others took the time to give detailed descriptions about this product! I purchased the newest (Platinum?) version of Print Master for a work computer and I still have not been able to figure out how to use it. I had an older version of P.M. on my home computer that I absolutely LOVE and use often so this was a huge disappointment to me!After purchasing a new home computer recently, I needed to get a new P.M. program because my old program was not transferable. I depend on this program for many different projects. Because of my bad experience with the Platinum version, I was at a loss and blaming myself for not being able to use it with ease. Thankfully, others recommended 18.1 if you were used to the older versions, and they confirmed what I was experiencing with Platinum. 18.1 is soooo user-friendly. However, 18.1 seems to be sparsely available so get it while you can, IF you can!My only real disappointment with P.M. is they do not have a good selection of photos or quality clip-art selection for projects and MOST options they offer have to be retrieved from their website. I learned how to download images from my own files or the internet and use them in my projects. Don't let this fact discourage you if you are buying this for the first time! When P.M. used to have lots of pictures, it just filled up my computer. This way, I can find what I want, download it, use it, then delete it from my picture folder if I do not want to keep it for future use.FYI: if you need good quality pictures OR a great selection of clip-art for projects, search Google Images or Bing Images. If you can find a "size" option (usually in the top left area of the screen), select "large" or "wallpaper" for the best resolution when used in your P.M. projects.Don't get Platinum! Get 18.1!!!

Yet another photo editing program that doesn't give the user control over how they choose to edit and print their own photos. I hate this one especially. I've been looking for a decent replacement for Microsoft's Picture It software. THAT software was perfect, easy to navigate, no navigation constraints just plain editing, if that's all you wanted to do. Of course it also had label and greeting card projects among other things. In other words photos were the main focus for Picture It, not arts and crafts. Wish someone would do a better software for the snapshots or just bring Picture It back as it was a great amateur photography program.The Print Master program assumes all you want to do is make posters & greeting cards, anything but simply get the red eye out of your photo before you print it. Very difficult to use. Photo editing should be in the forefront easy to find before all the projects. The program should assume you want to perfect your photo BEFORE you use it in a project. When I did FINALLY find Photo Editing, I especially hated that to edit a photo you want to change, a pop up window appears with a much SMALLER version of your selected photo. You cannot change the size of the new window, you cannot go full screen to see where you might want to edit out a flaw. This is just a bad program unless you are ok with using your photo as is just to make greeting cards or craft projects.