Serif CraftArtist Platinum Edition review

Although the creative opportunities offered by CraftArtist’s huge range of templates cater to all skill levels, depending on the amount of time and effort expended on personalising them, more creative computer users with greater DTP experience can just opt for a blank page. CraftArtist uses the same layout principles as PagePlus and other DTP applications, along with a similar set of tools for everything from creating text or image frames and drawing text paths onwards. This route still offers the chance to include suitable clipart, but a built-in (and quite comprehensive) effects editor, along with an easy-to-use tool for creating cut-outs, provides plenty of scope for imported photos, too.

Complete novices, on the other hand (including young children) can be guided through a project from start to finish with CraftArtist’s “Make And Do” option. This offers a handful of project types split into three skill levels, and gives a complete list of materials and tools required to produce the finished article. The project is then presented step-by-step style, complete with instructions for what to print, cut out and stick together — a little like having an adult on hand to supervise.

While there’s little here that can’t be achieved with a handful of different applications and some clipart CDs, the tight integration of Serif CraftArtist Platinum’s various features, diverse selection of templates and novice-friendly touches make it a great choice for hand-crafters at all computer skill levels.