Pros & Cons
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- Thousands of templates, images, and other embellishments.
- Different modes for fast page production or in-depth editing.
- Many artful templates.
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- Does not create whole books.
- Only available by mail order.
- Clunky interface makes fine-tuning difficult.
- Few export options.
- No integrated printing service.
When it comes to greeting cards and other nostalgic ephemera, there is no bigger name than Hallmark. That's why my hopes were high when I began testing Hallmark Scrapbook Studio Deluxe ($29.99). This application lets you create artful pages in a number of formats, and it relies heavily on an enormous array of included templates, graphics, and even music. But Hallmark provides neither solid layout tools, nor photo editing features, nor an integrated print service. Look to our digital scrapbooking software Editors' Choice, MyMemories Suite 5 instead.
Hallmark started at a disadvantage since, unlike every other scrapbooking app I've reviewed thus far, this one could only be obtained via mail order. There's no option to download it, though you may be able to find it in a brick-and-mortar store. I installed Hallmark on my Windows 7 laptop, despite the box saying only Windows 98, ME, 2000, and XP are supported. I am surprised at how quickly the app installed, considering the sheer volume of media included on the app's two disks. The short time that I waited gave me the chance to appreciate how far jewel case technology has come since I last handled one (circa 2007).
Building Your Scrapbook
Hallmark's strength is the enormous number of premade templates and graphics that come with the app. You can browse through templates for scrapbooks, photoframes, journals, family trees, or cut-out craft projects. This review focuses on scrapbooks and journals. You can also start out by taping the ArtStudio button at the top of the screen, and start from scratch. Note that you can switch into ArtStudio mode at any point.
If you go the pre-fab route, you'll be presented with a bedecked page waiting for you to add your pictures one at a time. You can also customize any text already on the page. Hallmark, unlike most other scrapbooking apps, does not include a media browser to give you drag-and-drop access to all your photos and other page embellishments. I prefer Panstoria Artisan 4, which can show only the images that haven't been added to my scrapbook yet.
Lots of other scrapbooking apps use prefab templates; Foto.com Editor will even lay out your entire book and let you merely fine-tune the result. I concede that Hallmark's prefab mode does let you quickly churn out a finished product, but it's also uncomfortably static by comparison. You can't move images, text boxes, or other page elements. This was especially annoying in my testing when I entered too much text into a box and discovered I couldn't fix it.
Thankfully, clicking the ArtStudio button immediately lifts all restrictions. In this mode, you are free to move, resize, and even free-rotate all page elements. ArtStudio mode also lets you add text, canned quotes (a feature I've never understood), thousands of clip art graphics, shapes, and photos. Irritatingly, Hallmark doesn't update the layout in real time, so changes only take effect after you stop moving elements.
Like PhotoMix, Hallmark only lets you create one page at a time, and all pages must be saved or printed separately. You're not so much creating a scrapbook as much as individual pages that you can print and collate on your own.
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Photo Editing
With the exception of Serif CraftArtist 2, I haven't been impressed by the photo editing powers of scrapbook apps. Hallmark continues this disappointing trend.
From within the photo editor, you tap arrow buttons to make an image larger or smaller, rotate the image, or adjust an image's position within its frame. This is a very awkward way to get anything done, but especially with photo editing, which frequently needs a precise touch. MyMemories handled image placement much better.
To do any actual image editing, you'll need to click the PhotoPower button, which launches a separate application. Still, the options are limited to removing red eye and applying one of four photo effects: mosaic, oil painting, stained glass, and soft edge. Most of these effects are pretty subtle, with the exception of the frankly odd stained glass effect. See the adjacent image for an example.
Printing and Exporting
There are print and email buttons are at the bottom of every page, so you can export your project at any time. Unfortunately, you're limited to printing from a local printer or emailing your creation. Hallmark doesn't offer a service for professionally printing and binding your scrapbook for you, as many of its competitors do, which is a big omission.
I expected the email option to be a static image, and I was surprised to discover that it's actual a small .avi movie file. You add background music and canned audio from Hallmark's library of options, and the application spits out a small video greeting card. Though surprising, this isn't nearly as dynamic as MemoryMixer or PhotoOne Print, both of which can create lengthy video slideshows with more than a single page.
Start Scrapbooking
Hallmark Scrapbook Studio Deluxe started at a disadvantage since it is only available on disk and not via download. It never recovered. Though it has a truly remarkable built-in library of sounds and graphics, Hallmark is hamstrung by its awkward interface, lack of printing service, and inability to make a multipage product.
If you're looking to create a scrapbook or photobook project, start with the Foto.com website which is free and incredibly easy to use. If you're an experienced scrapbooker looking for a strong digital layout tool, your best bet is Editors' Choice winner MyMemories Suite 5.
Final Thoughts
Hallmark Scrapbook Studio Deluxe
Hallmark Scrapbook Studio has piles and piles of pre-made templates and clip art, but it's held back by an overly streamlined interface and a lack of tools.