System requirements are listed for Windows 95/98/2000/Me or NT 4 and XP (Administrator). Windows 95/98/2000/ME and NT4 require a 166 Mhz or faster processor and 32 MB of RAM memory. Windows XP (Administrator) requires a PII 300 Mhz processor or faster and 128 MB RAM. In addition, 488 MB hard drive disk space is needed, 800x600 high color display, mouse, printer, CD ROM, and Internet Explorer 5.0 or higher. This edition comes boxed with three CD’s, a packet of six assorted heavyweight card papers and envelopes. The installation instructions and “manual” are printed on one side of a 4 ¼ x 5 ½ sheet of paper. As instructed, I closed all background programs with the exception of Explorer and Systray. I inserted the installation CD and the installation proceeded smoothly, easily, and without problems. I installed this program on a machine running Win 98SE. I did not install it on Win XP because all the king’s men [actually all of HP’s tech support] have been unable to clarify for me how to close all programs that are running in the background on Win XP.

The opening screen of Creatacard is organized, very colorful and very user friendly. Window colors for Creatacard are deep turquoise, purple, and bright yellow making for a very bright interface. The program is so graphic that at first I had problems – I was looking for menu bars when the working window is surrounded by icon type menus negating the necessity for menu bars. The tools are very graphic making it fun for the adult and easy for the younger set. The display in the center of the home screen has eight different categories of cards. Each category is subdivided and when you select the subject, there is an extensive display of cards. A single category of cards led to greeting cards and note cards. Selecting greeting cards provided a selection of 74 different categories such as anniversary, holidays, beer time, bar and bat mitzvah, bubblegum and a slew of other cards that had picture and verse appropriate to the theme. Note cards had several categories with pictures but no verse, so that you can add your own verse or even a short message. On either side of the display case is a tree-like turntable with three choices on each of three sides of each turntable. Among the eighteen choices are included stationery, bookmarks, banners, business cards, and others. The opening screen also has a file cabinet of work that you may have already created and a start from scratch corner.

The category of greeting cards has a total of 6,316 designs. I was initially intrigued with the category of self-mailer. This is just what it says – the card prints out on one side with the design and the greeting which also permits addition of your own thoughts. The other side is the address side with the design carried out on the “envelope”. I chose a “birthday full of hearts” for my first self-mailer. Since we have two gals in our family that were born on Valentine’s Day, I am always looking for unique birthday cards for them that encompass the heart theme and this one did just that. I added some verse on the inside and printed out a card that only needs to be folded on the pre-printed lines, stamped and mailed. When it came time to print out the card, the program printed out instructions for me also. Printing out the instructions can be un-checked and with future printings I did click off the check mark. I tried a second self-mailer that had a very pretty design and I used it to type a quick note to my sis. I had one disappointment with this mailer, though. Because I was unable to change the font style and size I had to write a very short note. However, I printed and mailed it. Many of the self-mailers are full color and so would use a lot of ink. I chose not to do any of these. 

Creatacard uses a wizard to determine how to do double sided printing. It has the potential of wasting paper if the user is not careful as it will print a direction page for each item. The user needs to be sure to uncheck the “print instruction page” in the print dialog window. One thing I especially like is that the print process has a second dialog box that tells you the project is about to be printed and to click OK to go ahead. This is a boon because it gives me an extra opportunity to get special paper in the printer. Often I get so intent on clicking the right choices that I forget to put my special paper in the printer.

My final check of this software package was to do a retirement card for a friend who has just retired. There are so many choices that I had great difficulty finding the one that I felt would be suitable. At last I found that right verse, but could not send a card with pictures of cats to a man or at least not to this man. Since he is a rancher running about 100 head of cattle, I went through my cache of cow pictures and found two that had perfect expressions on their faces. I did some photo-editing to get the pictures just right and then inserted them in place of the cats. I also changed the font style and size and personalized the card with his name. It printed out as a quarter-fold card and made the perfect final touch to a gift for a retirement celebration.

One more area that I really needed to check was the “Start from Scratch” section. This section really provides a lot of opportunity for personalized creations. There are twenty different areas so I limited myself to just a few. Many people who want their own Web site will be able to use the Web page pattern to create their own unique Web site. I checked on the newsletter from scratch and found this item to require some experimentation and practice. I think that it might be just as easy to do a newsletter in MS Word. The certificate is a fun area to work with. I found that I could use a birthdate and name to create a unique, personalized birthday card for someone special. Let’s face it – all of us are impressed when something has our very own birthdate. There is a section called easy prints which enables one to print photos on pages in an album format or in a computerized scrapbook. My favorite item though was business cards. This program has an option of initials that can be incorporated into stationery and other such items. I was able to create a business card with a single initial that has a very feminine appearance. There are many other styles of the alphabet, too. Lastly in this section I played with making calendars. This is one of the easiest tasks that I have done. I provide the year, month and size and lickety split a calendar is created. It is then possible to type in appointments, trips, and other things (like Seniorcomp classes) that need to be noted.

Pros and cons: 
Creatacard does not need a manual because with some experimentation and careful study of the window graphics, the user can easily figure out what to do to create all manner of items from cards to stationery to business cards to banners and so on. On a personal note, I would prefer fewer graphics and perhaps more menus. I also would like to have more subdued colors on the screen, but this is just a personal preference. I was disappointed that the size of the card is pre-determined. I like to use half-fold cards more than quarter-fold. I would recommend that if it is possible, the user do a full or custom installation instead of a typical installation. The program comes with three CD’s and the categories seem to be split between the CD’s. I would be looking at a single type of card and each time I wanted to see a different retirement card, it seemed I had to change the CD. This quickly became a nuisance. I would have preferred that all cards for a category were on the same CD.

American Greetings Creatacard Platinum 6 comes with a packet of sample card paper and envelopes and sells for $39.99. It is available on the Web and I also found it at Office Depot and at Best Buy. I believe that I have seen this product at Sam’s and at Wal-mart but on a visit this week to my local Wal-mart, I could not find the software. Creatacard is also available in Gold 6 for $24.99 and Office Depot had American Greetings Creatacard Silver 5 for $19.99.