Is there a PrintShop that is compatible with Mac-Catalina OS? I work for a school and do the marketing, therefore in need of an Upgraded PrintShop - if not, any idea of when there might be one coming out?
Hi Dave, I filled in an online tech request form and received the following:-
Currently, all Print Shop versions are 32-bit applications and they have not been updated for Catalina OS. We are working on it.
As soon as we have more information about the Print Shop compatibility updates for the new Mac OS, we will notify you by email.
Regards,
Pauline
The Print Shop Team
@ Software MacKiev
****@ mackiev.com
Regarding Swift Publisher 5 It works really well, it does everything that Print Shop does but it took me a while to work out how. For instance I wanted to make an image vignette there are not the easy choice options as in Print Shop. But once you know it’s easy. I watched one of their excellent online videos which explained it all really well. The other problem I had was getting the calendar week to start on Sunday as I am in the Uk it thinks I am using European weeks. I tried changing my location to USA something that has worked for me in the past, but that didn’t work. A request from tech help gave me the answer very quickly. I very much like the way they are obviously updating there app and the quick replies to questions.
Hope this helps.
[Email Edited by Moderator]
Hi Dave, I filled in an online tech request form and received the following:-
Currently, all Print Shop versions are 32-bit applications and they have not been updated for Catalina OS. We are working on it.
As soon as we have more information about the Print Shop compatibility updates for the new Mac OS, we will notify you by email.
Regards,
Pauline
The Print Shop Team
@ Software MacKiev
****@ mackiev.com
Regarding Swift Publisher 5 It works really well, it does everything that Print Shop does but it took me a while to work out how. For instance I wanted to make an image vignette there are not the easy choice options as in Print Shop. But once you know it’s easy. I watched one of their excellent online videos which explained it all really well. The other problem I had was getting the calendar week to start on Sunday as I am in the Uk it thinks I am using European weeks. I tried changing my location to USA something that has worked for me in the past, but that didn’t work. A request from tech help gave me the answer very quickly. I very much like the way they are obviously updating there app and the quick replies to questions.
Hope this helps.
[Email Edited by Moderator]
Here is one way to get a version of Print Shop for Mac to work with Catalina. Information is from Encore Software (see their contact information below). I did NOT try this as I am now using Swift Publisher. If anyone does try this please let the group know how it worked.
*************Letter From Encore Software**********
Dear Liverpool Webmaster,
The current Encore version of The Print Shop Mac download (v1.0.234) will work on Mac Catalina Operating System with Root User enabled. Unfortunately, the project files from The Print Shop 2, 3 & 4 for Mac cannot be opened in the Encore version of The Print Shop Mac.
Use the following coupon code in the shopping cart to save 10% off your order: 10DEAL
I am linking you to a support article which shows you how to enable the root account on your Mac.
Note that our developers are working on an all new version that will be released in the Spring of 2020. I have added your name and email address to our contact list for when it is released.
Sincerely,
Kathy Howe
Kathy H.
Encore Software | Customer Service
www.encore.com | www.broderbund.com
www.printshop.com | wwwprintmaster.com | www.mavisbeacon.com
Broderbund sells The PrintShop for PC, you can view it here: https://www.broderbund.com/the-print-shop. Mackiev software sells The PrintShop for Mac (not the 64-bit version yet). You can see it here: https://www.mackiev.com/store_us.html
These two companies, plus Encore Software and Houghton Mifflin Hartcourt all seem to be somehow involved with each other regarding The PrintShop and other software programs, most notably Family Tree Maker (distributed by MacKiev). IT IS IMPORTANT to note that Family Tree Maker is software that works with Ancestry.com AND that MacKiev just recently finished a major PC and Mac upgrade to Family Tree Maker. It's been out now about 2 months -- but the promised paper version of the manual is still under development. IT IS MY BELIEF that MacKiev software developers were busy for the past year making the new version of Family Tree Maker (in part because they had to make both a PC and Mac version) -- and left The Print Shop for Mac on the back burner because they didn't have to upgrade the PC version.
I'm also guessing that since the new version of Family Tree Maker has been distributed that MacKiev is devoting the necessary resources to upgrade The PrintShop for Mac. The fact is that The Print Shop for Mac has been a mainstay since 1986 (originally published by Broderbund). There are millions of Mac users of The Print Shop around the world, MacKiev isn't going to abandon that many sales.
Right NOW, those of us waiting for a 64-bit Mac version of The PrintShop have the following options:
1) Wait until the new version is completed and published.
2) Reinstall Mojave and use the 32-bit version.
3) Purchase a substitute program like Swift Publisher 5.
4) Purchase the Encore version of Print Shop Mac V. 1.0.234 and install it under the root account of your Mac (see my 2 posts above for information).
According to the email I received from Encore Customer Service, the Encore version of PrintShop will not work with the project files created with later versions of PrintShop (versions 2, 3, and 4). It will allow you to save and use PrintShop files made with 1.0.234. PrintShop v1 was a long time ago, I don't even remember what it could do (and not do) compared with v 4.0.1. How useful the Encore version is depends on each individual. I decided to try Swift Publisher 5 because it works with Catalina -- but that's just me.
The MacKiev website has the banner "Catalina Is Here" so you can mouse click on it. You will be taken to a new page where you can enter in which version of the various MacKiev packages you have and see if that particular software can run with Catalina. Entering in Mac PrintShop 4.0.1 (download) told me that it is not Catalina ready. They stated: "We are currently working on a compatibility update for your edition of The Print Shop. We will let you know by email as soon as this free update is ready." They also provided a couple of radio buttons so you can sign up for notification when PrintShop for Catalina is ready.
Running that check page for Mac Family Tree Maker 2019 told me it was optimized for Catalina.
Below is a copy of the email I receive from Encore. It contains a code where you can get a 10% discount on the Encore version of Print Shop.
+++++++++++ Encore Email +++++++++++
The current Encore version of The Print Shop Mac download (v1.0.234) will work on Mac Catalina Operating System with Root User enabled. Unfortunately, the project files from The Print Shop 2, 3 & 4 for Mac cannot be opened in the Encore version of The Print Shop Mac. (MY ADDITION: Here's the link they provided to see the Encore Version: https://www.encore.com/the-print-shop-mac-download-macintosh)
Use the following coupon code in the shopping cart to save 10% off your order: 10DEAL
I am linking you to a support article which shows you how to enable the root account on your Mac.
Note that our developers are working on an all new version that will be released in the Spring of 2020. I have added your name and email address to our contact list for when it is released.
Sincerely,
Kathy Howe
Kathy H.
Encore Software | Customer Service
www.encore.com | www.broderbund.com
www.printshop.com | wwwprintmaster.com | www.mavisbeacon.com
+++++++++++ End of Email +++++++++
I am on a list to be notified when it is available - but not heard anything. As they have known for a year that the app would not work on Catalina and did nothing about it I can't see it happening soon.
I have given up and am using Swift Publisher 5, bit of a learning curve, but it does the same thing. Dont think I will trust Print Shop again they have always been very slow with updates.
Notice that there are two different companies that sell a product called "The Print Shop"
The one you have, is the one originally sold under the Broderbund name - and is the one that you see on the App Store.
However, there is another product, also named The Print Shop, sold by Software Mackiev.
Check it out - https://www.mackiev.com/printshop4/index.html
Both provide the classic greeting cards/signs/place cards/whatever else that kind of software might do.
The two products have similar results, but I don't think they share the same UI at all.
I've been using Software Mackiev's Print Shop for probably 10 years. It's at version 4.0.1
However, despite being a "major" update, released less than 2 years ago, it remains 32-bit software. I have had some conversation with Software Mackiev support about what the future holds. All I get is "we will decide if any change is needed"
BUT, I also remember reading somewhere that "The Print Shop" name has had some legal challenges, at least two companies claim to use the name, and that is perhaps blocking update progress. I don't know what's going to happen about that.
You might also find out that "The Print Shop" from Software Mackiev may not be available for sale, except to official educational institutions. This is possibly related to the legal problems with using the name. I'm not sure about that, and I have done a bit of searching about court cases, and similar kinds of news. It's not easy to find
Bottom line: right now, The Print Shop (wherever you get it) stops working on Macs with Catalina. I like Print Shop, using it for more than 30 years, since Commodore 64 days.
Try complaining directly to the support site for whichever Print Shop you use . Maybe it only needs one more person to get things moving.
In my opinion, your best bets are:
If you have a lot of files in the proprietary Print Shop format:
1) Remain on Mojave
2) If you ignored the warnings and upgraded to Catalina anyway, backup and reinstall Mojave
If you’re like me and really don’t have any vested attachment to Print Shop or Print Shop files, and want to move to Catalina, check out an alternative that’s compatible, such as Swift Publisher.
I'm not holding my breath. Already moved on to Swift Publisher for some things and Microsoft Word for others. I didn't have much in Print Shop format that I needed to keep, but I can understand the pain for those with years of Print Shop files. I still think going back to Mojave would be the best bet for those in that situation.
I have the same issue of not being able to open .psf files after upgrading to Catalina. I did find a suitable replacement called "Orion Print and Label Studio" that is easy to use and replaces PrintShop for making cards and labels. It doesn't resolve not being able open old .psf files, but it is a good tool for future print-related projects.
I am running The Print Shop 4 because I didn't update to Catalina but just to be on the safe side I downloaded Swift Publisher 5 which in my opinion after playing about with it is nearly as good as The Print Shop. It's not as easy to use but most of what you could do is in the Swift Publisher. It also works well alongside Art text 3. It is possible to load psf across, but jPeg lose some quality.
Using Swift Publisher 5 with Art text 3 and the more I get used to it I can see it could replace The Print Shop 4
I have used as an alternative to PrintShop, which I've used since early release years, a product from Avery called Design and Print which is free, mates up to Avery products and does a number of the same projects as PS.
https://www.avery.com/software/design-and-print/
Happy New Year!
Why not use Print Shop 5 with Bootcamp/Fusion/Parallels? It's not ideal, but if you need the software, it's better than nothing. I don't know about Bootcamp or Parallels, but Fusion permits a user to exchange files between the Mac and Windows sides.
Since reading the comments on the forum I have downloaded Swift Publisher 5 along side my existing The Print Shop 4 running on my iMac with Mojave. After playing around with Swift, I found that most of the things I could do on Print Shop I can do on Swift although its not as user friendly. I can recommend Swift Publisher 5.
I would recommend you to try Swift Publisher 5
Is there a PrintShop that is compatible with Mac-Catalina OS? I work for a school and do the marketing, therefore in need of an Upgraded PrintShop - if not, any idea of when there might be one coming out?
