From Windows to Mac

[mariap]

So I made the switch from Windows to Mac when my PC died... and have basically been in a scrapbooking stump trying to figure out how to do things in the Mac world... any tips to get me up to speed faster?

Font viewers?
Organizing files? I used Acdsee before...

TIA.

Maria

[maureenreynolds]

There are a lot of us here Maria so if you have some specific questions fire away. I made the switch about 9 yrs ago so I forget what I found different.

For all your shortcut keys, just sub the Command key for the Control. At least now all the keys are labeled! For viewing fonts, you have a built in Font Book where all fonts can be stored and viewed. I also have BrushPilot, a pretty cheap or free app, to view brush previews. Of course ACDSee is now in a Mac version, so you can plan on going that route again if you choose.

I think my strongest suggestion is to utilize the Apple store's free classes, esp the one on making the transition from PC to Mac. My only gripe about that when I have actually gone is that more than half the 'students' seemed to be fairly computer illiterate to begin with. What also bugged me was that most of them were my age! and I wanted to say ...Where have you been all these years?!?? But enough of my petty gripes. Enjoy your new baby and ask all the questions you like. You will prob find a lot of hints in the other forums -PSE and CS forums/ - too.

[zannella1108]

I would like to make the switch this year.. let me know if you like the it better than the PC.. Whenever I mention to someone what I do (I have a small digital scrapbooking business) they can't believe I don't have a MAC - i guess it is supposed to make our lives easier.. but I'm just in the mood for learning something new.. but I guess I will have to make the change soon..

Oh and Maria, what software do you use? I use Adobe CS5 and I have heard they are pretty strict on licensing. were you able to transfer your software to the new MAC??

Thanks!
Kristen

[zannella1108]

I mean.. I am NOT in the mood for learning something new

[anke]

I was able to get a new version of PS when I switched over. It was quite the hassle though...I would definitely check with them first. I can't imagine that they wouldn't let you do it but you might have to be insistent.

[mariap]

I was using CS2. Right now I'm using a trial version of CS5. What I miss the most is ACDSee. I downloaded the trial but it's missing two of my favorite features: the ability to see and open individual files without decompressing them and the abr preview.

Other than that, its not too different. The hardest part for me has been finding a workflow that works for me. I've started pages but I haven't completed any just trying to figure out where everything is.

Maria

[mariap]

Well obviously it is different or I wouldn't have the issues I'm having... what I meant to say is that besides the software difference, a computer is a computer and they aren't that different (but I enjoy the challenge of learning a new system except for the time it takes me away from scrapbooking of course).

[thessh]

I'm seriously thinking about going mac too this year...
I'll follow this thread and see what you girls have to say!

[Faefester]

About three weeks ago I made the switch as well. What a different world now. I haven't scrapped anything either. Not only did I switch OS, but I upgraded to PSE9 as well so my learning curve is turning into a learning highway! I keep telling myself, "baby steps, baby steps!"

[hendon]

I changed to a mac and upgraded to PSE8 (from PSE5) about a year ago. It was a HUGE learning curve but so worth it. Baby steps is right. Also get a book from 'Mac - The Missing Manual' series Mel (Britgirl) and others suggested. The tutorials/videos on the apple site are quite good too especially to show where stuff is on the mac and where it used to be on the pc. Font Book that comes with mac is really nice for viewing your fonts, and I got Brush Pilot (that Maureen recommended) for the abr files which is really nice too (but I never used Acdsee). I remember being overwhelmed for quite a while but it was truly the best move I made. I can't stand having to use a pc now!

[mariap]

Off to buy a book and check out Brush Pilot. Thanks all!

[jennaz]

Ugghhh...I feel the pain! I just got my Mac a week ago and I am ready to pull my hair out!
I am just getting into digital scrapbooking, but have used PSE8 for quite a while. When I switched to the Mac I upgraded to version 9. I am having such an issue figuring out the IPhoto organizer and the guy at the genius bar told me not to organize my photos in PSE and only use that to edit. I'm thinking that's fine (if I can figure out the organization thing) and I will use the PSE organizer for all my digi supplies. I am still trying to figure out the best way to organize the digi supplies..but from what I read it's a lot like the traditional stuff...whatever works for you.

[maureenreynolds]

jennaz, I know what you mean. I don't think I will ever change computer/upgrade AND change my PSE at the same time again! While I have PSE9 on my Macbook, I still have PSE8 on my iMac where I really scrap. Bone idle lazy.

At first you may not even need to organize anywhere except on your hard drive or ehd - wherever you store your digital supplies. Mine are on an ehd and the zips are on another ehd. Both are backed up by my dedicated to TimeMachine ehd.

In the digital supplies ehd, a small one that's portable, I have them organized this way.
Digital supplies

Those categories that have names such as Frames, Elements etc are mostly non DD supplies. After about a year or so I knew how to recognize and remember who designed what so I dragged each designer's items to her own folder. I also added the photos of the designers for ease too. Just grabbed an avatar and used it as the image.

Here is what Katie's folder looks like, with the preview jpg used as the folder cover. Katie Pertiet's items
I have almost abandoned my iPhoto Digital Supplies library, with all its tagging and find that I really can find what I need in my own 'ehd store room'. hth in organizing your new way of life!

[jennaz]

I think part of my issue is that I'm not very 'technical' I mean I can use the computer, but when I read the threads that start talking about not being able to tag png files...I have no idea what that means! I think I need to find a basic book that tells me all the lingo etc..I also read that you are supposed to save pics and things in a tiff format. I recognize that as an option but don't know why I need to do that. I do know that everytime you save a jpg some of the original 'data' is lost, thus the push to shoot in RAW and save a copy of both.
As to an external hard drive...well I've never had one. I used Carbonite for years...that is until I decided to switch to a Mac and found out that the PC version is not transferrable to a Mac...so I had the geek squad put everything on my hard drive on a DVD and they gave me the hard drive back. So I went a bought an 'encasement' for it, which is supposed to allow me to plug that up to the Mac and I continue to pull info off it and eventually I will be able to delete stuff and use it as an external. Having said all of that I haven't even attempted all of that, because I'm afraid of getting into something I won't know how to get out of! I don't want to be a Valium addict! Just Kidding!

[Faefester]

@MaureenReynolds: I took a quick look at your KatiePertiet link and my question is....how did you get the jpg preview on top of the folder? I'm new to mac so I'm still learning this new machine!

[maureenreynolds]

Lorna, this is a standard on PCs or used to be, so here is the thread on how to do it on a Mac. Read through because the main steps, the CMD A, CMD C, CMD Qof the actual preview .jpg, are spelled out in some of the later posts. (Again, thanks to Heather for clarifying it.)
Adding previews to your Mac folders

[mariap]

Thanks Maureen. I was trying to figure that one out. I will try it out this weekend.