[Tanialoves]

Hello,

I am writing to ask native speakers if it is common to say "allow doing something". Some reference books say that this construction is possible but its meaning differs from "allow somebody to do something".

So, are these two sentences both grammatically correct and do they mean the same?
- The software allows creating 3d screensavers.
- The software allows us to create 3d screensavers.

Thank you for any ideas.