I know many of you are curious like I am about what differences, if any, there will be between Storybook Creator and Artisan. So, I decided to take a look for myself.
Panstoria offers free trial downloads of their software. You can't export or print projects from the free trial, but otherwise it's completely functional software.
The first thing you'll see when you install Artisan, is that it looks just like Storybook Creator. On first opening it after installation, I got a dialog box. Artisan recognized that I have Storybook Creator installed on my computer, and asked if I want to migrate my art kits, projects and settings.
Since I am not ready to leave Storybook Creator yet, I chose “Migrate later” and moved forward. But it's nice to know that when I make the change, it'll import all of the work I've done on tagging content as well as the Categories I've set up.
From this point on, it's all very similar to Storybook Creator. It asks if you want to start in Basic or Advanced mode, and then asks if you want to create a new project or open an existing one. Since I didn't import all of my content and projects into Artisan, I opted to create a new one.
Since I'm looking for something simple, I chose an ornament. I've never created one of those before.
The rest of the process is similar to any new project. It will let you pick the content templates you want to use (if applicable) and then ask if you want to add photos. I just chose one photo of my kids that I had on my computer and added it to the project.
Drag, drop, trim … it was that simple. I think I just created my first project in Artisan!
I think it's going to be fun getting ready for Christmas this year … Until the next time, Enjoy!
~ Deb
Hi Deb,
Are you still entertaining questions about moving from Storybook & MM4 to Artisian & Historian? If so, here’s my dilemma…I moved to a new Storybook & MM4 to a new computer, but now have decided on a new, new computer! I’m thinking that my best option is to purchase Artisian & Historian, install on the current computer, then after all files are transitioned over to Artisian & Historian, then move that over to the new, new computer. Does that sound like the best workable plan to you?
Thanks in advance for any assistance!
Linda Wong
Bakersfield, CA
Hi, Linda.
Linda, you have the best plan in place. Putting Artisan, especially, on the current computer that you use Storybook with is the best option because when you install Artisan, it will recognize that you have Storybook in place and offer to migrate all of your content, tags, etc. to Artisan with just one simple step. I had a computer crash and had to install Artisan on the new computer and manually transfer my old data.
The one thing you will want to do is make sure you have a full back up of everything before you move to the new, new computer. I don’t know how many versions of Storybook you have used in the past, but each new version tended to prefer keeping its files in a different location, so you could have personal art kits and other items in multiple folders.
The move from MM4 to Historian is much easier because the only “content” to access is your memory vault, and it’s as simple as pointing Historian to the right location. Very painless.
Yes, please ask any questions you like!
~ Deb