Printmaster - Platinum Version 18 Reviews

• You'd better have internet access ...

  
  By A1IDLLRIQMZ08A on 2007-12-10
  I have Printmaster 12 and I enjoy it immensely! I wanted to upgrade since I now have the Vista Operating System. It's frustrating that you have to have internet access to be able to use many, many of the graphics. In my Printmaster 12 I physically own all the graphics -- with this version, it will give you a thumbnail pix of each of the graphics but you have to download many of them from Broderbund. I think that should be in the description of this product and I thought many others might appreciate knowing this bit of information before you jump into this one.
  
  Extra Info. About Use With Microsoft Vista ... One of the reasons I bought this is because it's suppose to work with Microsoft Vista. My experience now is that it crashes (shuts down) as does my earlier Printmaster with the Vista. I think they have some bugs to work out before they should be claiming it works with Vista. My daughter uses it on her computer (this Printmaster 18 and the Printmaster 12) which has Microsoft XP and there is no problem. She was surprised to find mine shuts down so frequently, and I was surprised it doesn't give her any trouble!
  
  

• PRINTMASTER PLATINUM VER 18

  
  By A35UXFYG8J4G57 on 2007-12-11
  you need to be connected to internet to download any clip art .There are no clip art on the DVD. You can not use this program off line. If you have dial up ,you will not be able to complete your project before you get kicked off line. Other versions of PRINTMASTER had all the clip art on CDs. If you get the free million clip art for one year ,you must sign up and get a password emailed to you, which never comes, You get no help from the company if you purchased elsewere." BUYER BEWARE "
  
  

• Printmaster 18 Somewhat Disappointing, Still Good

  
  By A2L5KHC3LX3AYY on 2008-01-29
  I, too, have worked in Printmaster for years, upgrading every time a new one was available. I have enjoyed them all, especially PM 16, which fulfilled most if not all of my modest desktop publishing needs. My new computer runs on Vista, which necessitates the new PM 18, and I find it is skimpier than 16 and lacking some of the features I have counted on and used in previous versions.I can still build my page and get done most of what I need to do, but find the program subtly (or not so subtly) pared down in various areas which had produced a more fully-rounded 16. The clip art seems oddly lacking, even with the "Million Dollar Club", which I was unprepared for. Many graphics I have used regularly for years in various versions are no longer available. Furthermore, I ordered PM 18 directly from Broderbund and paid the going price plus postage. I didn't even get a box, just a cardboard mailer containing the PM disk and the one for scrapbooks (not of interest to me). Not a word, not an insert, not a picture, not nothing. I will not buy online from Broderbund again. The boxes illustrate aspects of the program which I might use if I knew what they were. I feel just a tad cheated and disappointed, and find that I crash just as often with this Vista-compatible version as I did with the PM 16. Also I have encountered stubborn printing problems with this version that I didn't have before; i.e., the program just prints on and on and on, long past the number of copies I have asked for. It would print forever if I kept feeding it paper. I have to cancel every printing manually or turn my computer off to stop it from disgorging the same print job unto eternity. I have the feeling that PM 18 was whipped together hastily to get in on Vista as it hit the market, and that newer and better versions will address some of the problems that present Vista users encounter with it.
  
  

• Great for Cards!!!

  
  By A3EWAFHJOW0FIK on 2007-12-14
  The Printmaster program worked very well for high quality cards. I made both our family Christmas card and my husbands work (over 500 cards) holiday card with this program. It is easy to use and when saving as a pdf. you can print at a local print shop (i.e. Kinkos). Tons of graphics and clipart and great tools to assist in the editing of photos.
  
  

• I am sold on Print Master

  
  By AY3I9P4I0LGR4 on 2007-12-30
  Great product! This is my third upgrade of the popular software. This allows me to save money, by making my own cards and stationary. The kids and I enjoy the crafts that we can make with Print Master.
  
  Highly recommeded product.
  
  
• What a rip off
  By A1UR0J490AONYA on 2008-01-08
  More than half the images needed to be downloaded, a rip off.
  I upgraded from 16 to 18 (DVD) because I thought I could install all the images on my computer and work offline... not so... you need to have internet access to download most of them.
  I'm reverting back to 16 so I can put all the images back on my computer.
  
  
• It Isn't Working
  By A1WJXALCXEG8EN on 2008-02-10
  We purchased the Broderbund Printamster Platinum Version 18 since it was alleged to be compatible with our Vista operating system. Many hours of efort notwithstanding, it simply will not install. The help section speaks mainly to the Windows XP system and Version 17. I am NOT pleased.
  
  
• Card making software
  By A1NI994S6P244B on 2008-05-11
  I had previously purchased the Printmaster Platinum 8 & 16 versions. The first came with the software CD's on in a fold open card to keep them neat. The 2nd came in a hard plastic case that kept them really well organized. This current version comes with 3 CD's in the little paper sleeves in the box. Alot of the pictures are online so if you do not have access to the internet alot of the clipart is not available. Once again they get you coming back for more and then give you less. OkK but not great. Next time I will try another company.
  
  
• Print Master Version 18 -works fine
  By A3G8KCQTTP18I8 on 2007-12-18
  I had no problem installing. I have only just begun working with it. A little confusing at first but before long can have a card/creation ready in no time. I recommend this for any level. Provides a means to be creative or just whip out a quick card no problem.
  
  
  
• Broderbund out of reach
  By A2DXGZQLCSC25C on 2008-09-02
  The new Printmaster is good. I like the fact that you have the option in this one to create your own templates. It is true that most of the projects are off the internet but if you don't completely rely on the ready made projects and can create your own, it is not an issue. Broaderbund is a completely out of reach company. Yes they have some options on their site but you are completely out of luck if you need to speak to a technician. It is vertually imposible to contact anyone live. For this reason I gave the product 3 stars. The company does not concern itself with the customer whatsoever. Therefore I am moving away from products produced by Broaderbund. Once you have a problem that is out of the box you are out of luck. I purchased Calendar Creator and have never been able to use it because it has issues with IE7 and I cannot contact anyone in person to help me with this problem.
  
  
• Printmaster 18
  By A14D4XQXOBBZ8A on 2008-06-03
  I have owned many versions of Printmaster and this one is the worst by far. It use to be that the Graphics and already made cards were on the disk. Now you need to go online for many of the graphics and ready made cards. To make matters worse I spent a hour last night trying to download a card and finally gave up and made the card myself. I have more than 10 million graphics on disks and it took me less time to find somthing that would work and make a simular card. Next problem is the animated greeting cards you cannot send them because they contain harmful files. They could have put the grahics on the disk and forgot animated greeting program. Makes you wonder when you go online are they spying on you do they have spyware embedded in the program. Once the put the install files on one disk and the Graphics and work files on another disk and that worked fine. Makes you wonder
  
  
  
• This program is hard to work with
  By AP7RJF8E712I4 on 2008-01-01
  I have had a number of other card programs but this program is so convuluted that it is hard to produce anything with it. I am sending it back.
  
  
• Printmaster 18 Platinum
  By A3AGAQ3P7MW3DB on 2008-04-09
  Would not be a good review. Have used this product and featured it for more than 12 years in a Creative Graphics SIG and am DISAPOINTTED.
  Version 15 will do all that 18 can do except for two insignificant tools.
  Tools present in Parsons products you bought many ytears ago would be more worthwhile. Retriving templates and graphics may be more cost effective for you, but many senior users of your products are still on dial up and thyis is a real waste of time.
  
  
• Be warned about "Million Image Club"
  By A28ZDF4J3EGM14 on 2008-01-29
  The product is ok, although a little confusing to use if you haven't used Printmaster before. The thing I was most upset about is that you're supposed to get free one year access to the "Million Image Club". Well, I registered and followed instructiong that came w/ the program, but never did get a code to use this feature, and you get NO help at all from Broderbund. I've emailed 'till I'm blue in the face and no one will help no matter what you try.
  
  
• One happy and one customer not happy
  By A1W6HOCDT1CC6R on 2008-02-08
  I ordered two copies of PM 18 Platinum.
  One for me and one for someone else.
  Mine is fine because I have the internet and can retrieve additional clip art.
  My friend does not have the internet and her copy is not satisfactory. Without the internet, PM 18 is pretty useless if you need to use clip art for cards and etc.
  You should include enought clip art for those that don't have the internet.
  Other than that, it is a fine product.
  Thanks,
  Rawlin Jernigan
  
  
• Upgrade:
  By AWW4VS3C7LE3A on 2008-03-18
  I used to have Printmaster Platinum nr 7 for years! Worked great, also with XP. With Vista I had to use the patch from Broderbund. It still worked, even with Vista! Just to have no surprises and because I like the new Scrapbooking possibilities I wanted to order nr 18. There is no translation here in the Netherlands, no way to order the english version. Not in the rest of Europe either. So I ordered with Amazon in the States.
  Got it within a week! A great program, works without problems in Vista. I like all the possibilities and ofcourse the Scrapbooking program with Printmaster. The only thing that is not good is the endless time waiting for Printmaster to load in the pictures that are on the internet. It looks like the most pictures are online, and it takes very long to have them loaded. Sometimes the program freezes and does not load any further. Fortunately I use mostly my own collection of pictures. I use the program frequently for making cards etc.
  
  
• Not for me
  By A2REXQEEPUS6RG on 2008-06-22
  This product is the quintessence of a product released upon the public before it's time. It certainly was not done cooking. The engineers designed it, but either they or no one reviewed it. I eventually found the program able to do practically anything you want, if you want to spend hours, and I mean hours learning how to navigate. This is not my life. Unless you believe that you are really 'savy' with a variety of software programs, I would not advise this version.
  Least I forget, Amazon is very cooperative at refunding - if you want to learn the hard way. TJS
  
  
• printmaster 18
  By A2L25MHFNQRQ3O on 2008-02-05
  good product, fast delivery. the only problem i had is with broderbund, yhey gave me a hard time for product password because i bought this product on amazon and not through them.
  
  
• PrintMaster 16
  By ACXE5IRJLN13L on 2008-03-09
  Info when ordered said it worked with Windows XP. It doesn't. You need an updated version of XP. I sent it back. Somehow the USPS has supposedly
  lost it. The return label on the box I returned it in was sent to me by the post office. I am sure it was torn off and the contents inside was stolen by someone from the postal dept. Anyhow, I am out the cost of the
  software, I have nothing to show for it but a billing on my credit card.
  
  
• Problems!
  By A2RT3QABLWZ3ON on 2008-03-10
  I'm having nothing but trouble with this program. I start a project and the program shuts down or freezes. Once I seem to use a feature, that particular feature fails or freezes. Even when I close the program and reopen it the feature fails. I started importing some of my own graphics in....it froze and shut down. I started making an address label and it shut down. I have yet to recieve anything from the Million Image Club and I can't seem to get any support to fix these problems. I'm very disappointed with the whole thing.
  
  
• disapointed
  By A7RGCLY0NSTMA on 2008-05-23
  I sadly bought vista and the software I love... the printshop is not compatible so I bought this one and it is not near as fun nor does it have all the fabulous features.
  
  
• Why isn't there a beter version?
  By A131SB4BUFX8B1 on 2008-05-28
  This is a stale product that has not kept up with technology. Unfortunely, if you are in to creating banners and posters this product seems to be the only game in town. The million Image Club enrollment does not work and their is no technical support. I can not recommend this product to anyone. So save your money and do not purchase the Printmaster Platinum Ver. 18.
  
  
• outdated product that doesn't work right
  By A6F416EWAUL0A on 2008-06-21
  Cannot print on a Canon Selphy with 6x4 postcard-sized sheets.
  Text only works with English characters.
  Software overall feels outdated technology.
  
  
  
  
  
• Not especially Vista compatible
  By A12MSW24DAG58A on 2008-07-17
  The installation isn't complete and there is no one to talk with or get help from. Still haven't found a phone number and this version is not available on their drop-down menu for help.
  I like the fact that you can get all the art in the download and not have to reinsert other disks.
  
  
• Going backwards
  By A3PH7BDNN31UOH on 2008-02-08
  The program is the same as pm dvd8, but the images have degenerated since. Now you have to go online to work with images. I like ver 8 the best for images. The rest of the program is about the same.
  
  
• Version 18
  By A2IYQ7YR8YITP8 on 2008-02-10
  PrintMaster Version 18 has met my expectations. For personal cards, importing photos, church event posters, newsletters and home-school quick projects, it does the job. It is Vista-friendly, and that is saying a lot. This version of PrintMaster has more bells and whistles than older versions, but for our needs the variety of fonts, basic projects and ready-made items was well worth the investment.
  It is easy enough for novices to follow through to complete a successful project on the new version. Give yourself time to read explanations and use "Help".
  The key is to understand what your graphic needs are. At the office our trained staff uses an expensive, high-end graphics software package and love it. But for a small office or home budget, PrintMaster can give you and other family members that last minute Bake Sale poster or fast birthday card at a mere fraction of the cost. There can be a glitche now and then - so far less than I have seen in past versions - but can say the same for $1,000 software as well.
  
  
  
  
• No upgrade, pleae!
  By A388KSP1JP1XNR on 2008-06-07
  I have used Printmaster Products for years, and was excited to order their latest, #18. While numerous CDs wtih clip-art are no longer required, the program runs slow, and quits for no reason. I am thinking about going back to 17!
  
  
• Great program!
  By A2AAXCWWNUN55I on 2008-07-13
  I use Printmaster pretty much daily. I couldn't live without it. It has saved me many dollars from having to buy unpersonalized expensive cards at the store, and has many things you can do otherwise. I highly recomend it!
  
  
• PC 18
  By A2N2PB9UAPFDHP on 2008-06-19
  I have used PrintMaster for many years. I like this version the best so far. I was hoping for new graphics and once again they went beyond my expectations. Love all the new features that have been added. Easy to learn and easy to use. I will get many years of fun from this software. Crystal
  
  
• Works well with VISTA...needs better clipart
  By A23ZMLO8FLNI3Z on 2008-08-06
  The product works well with VISTA; which was my main purchase reason. It doesn't have nearly enough ready-made products that I can use, compared to the Hallmark program I own. So I just import alot of pictures and clipart from the internet and create my own stuff.
  
  

• Adobe Photoshop Elements 6 [OLD VERSION]
• Hallmark Card Studio 2008 Deluxe [OLD VERSION]
• Microsoft Office Home and Student 2007
• The Print Shop 22 Deluxe [OLD VERSION]
• Scrapbook Factory Deluxe 4.0