Hallmark Card Studio Deluxe

Card Studios are among the most popular types of multimedia software, and it is easy to see why when you take a look at a title as well featured as this. There are over 600,000 ways to create cards, an event planner to ensure you don't forget any important events that might require a card, and an integrated e-card creator--more than enough features to keep anyone happy. And if you want to tweak a template or start with a blank canvas the Art Studio is on hand.

There are 10,000 art images on board as well as Snapshot Express software for editing digital images. You can perform useful tweaks like removing red eye and also add special effects to create the ultimate in personalised cards.

If the whole family is to share the use of Hallmark Card Studio Deluxe you might want to implement the child lock. This password protects access to card templates and other items that are rather more adult oriented in content than the main bulk of the material on board. --Sandra Vogel

Registration of the product on the Sierra site is not easy and you have to provide a 'State' of two letters for the system to accept your registration, no matter what your country. This of course is fine for the US but not outside in other countries and it takes a while to realise this and understand what the error in the form is.

Another challenge to be aware of, if you like to decide your own flexibility, is that you cannot use the Clip Art etc provided by Hallmark outside of the package ie with Word or other software and in my view this limits you, in some cases where the paper formats you require are not provided. For example, I wanted to print postcards, I had Avery, the brand that Hallmark provide for but there were only 4 possiblities and of course, just my luck, unfortunately not the Avery postcards I had in the printer, so the postcard could not print correctly and there was no way of making it work, a little frustrating.

It also looks as though in order to update the product, you have to buy the next version..already versions 2 and 3 are available but not an upgrade in sight even at a small fee at this juncture, which would be a nice move on behalf of Hallmark/Sierra and then they could add my postcard format from Avery!

It will be interesting to see how the Microsoft Greetings 2002 package lives up to the Hallmark one, if the Clip Art etc is usable everywhere and you can use some of the formats available in Microsoft, you may have more flexibility on the papers you can use and print on...this remains to be seen.

So, in summary not too bad, and great for kids, I just wanted more freedom to use what I had paid for, in the style I wanted, that unfortunately was not catered for in the pacakge.


HALLMARK CARD STUDIO DELUXE   December 3, 2001
Mrs Donna Stott
29 out of 31 found this review helpful

Within 30 minutes of receiving this excellent package I was creating and printing very professional looking cards. I found it very user friendly with easy to understand instructions, a good manual enclosed and overall one of the best card packages I have ever seen. I highly recommend this package to anyone who takes delight in designing and printing cards of a personal nature to send to friends and family.


Hallmark Card Studio Deluxe   October 11, 2001
pat-hughes@lineone,.net (United Kingdom)
22 out of 24 found this review helpful

I own several card making software packages, but I use Hallmark Card Studio Deluxe the majority of the time because of the ease of use and for the variety of choices. My only "complaint" is Sierra included quite a few of the same templates from their previous "Hallmark Card Studio". Therefore anyone considering buying a Hallmark product, should go straight for the Deluxe version.


Hallmark Card Studio Deluxe   January 3, 2002
lindamccoll@aol.com (Scotland, United Kingdom)
22 out of 25 found this review helpful

I recently purchased the Hallmark Card Studio Deluxe CDs and I am absolutely delighted with the cards I produced this Christmas. My friends and relations are also praising these cards by stating that they find them "very attractive" and "better than the store-bought cards". My niece intends keeping any cards I produce and send to her or her family as she says "they are too special to throw away".
I can honestly say that this is one of the best purchases I have made and I would certainly have no hesitation in purchasing the next edition of these CD-ROMS if there is one.


absolutely brilliant   December 1, 2001
Ms. D. Lynch (London, UK)
18 out of 19 found this review helpful

If you are fed up with paying silly prices for cards in retail outlets this product is for you. The cards on here are so fantastic, there are many different styles and types and now all of my friends and family receive personalised cards from me. It is worth spending the money on getting decent card and envelopes to compliment the software as it makes the finished product look really professional.

Well worth the money, and great fun to use!!