reccomendations for photo book printing

[djtowle]

Hello, We are looking to print a book (35-40 copies) of photos for some garduating 8th graders. Book may be color or B&W TBD, about 45 pages long, double sided, photos and text.

So far I have looked at laying out here, and bringing PDF to Kinko's for printing and spiral binding, iPhoto Books, and Ofoto online book service.

Laying out here gives me the most versitility for layout, but will take the longest, and I am not totaly happy with spiral binding and matte prints at Kinkos.

iPhoto, is quick and easy, but has very limited layout/text options.

I am just reviewing Ofoto layout options now.

Would appriciate and suggestions on where to look, especially if you have ordered from the company and can comment on quality, service, and speed.

Thank you in advance.

[Bodog]

Check out mypublisher.com. Excellent quality and very reasonable pricing. And layout is a snap...

[tickleddpink]

I just did a simllar project with a reunion memory book. We made 40 copies of a 37 page book. I found Kinko's prices very high, including the binding prices. Local printers may have better prices. I haven't used Ofoto, so I can't comment...

Being Mac users, we used iPhoto to compose the book (if I'd been working alone, PageMaker would have been my layout choice) and output to a .pdf file. You're right about the layout options on iPhoto - very limited, especially for the kind of project you're doing. For what we were doing, it was fine.We used the portfolio theme and locked each page once it was finished.

After pricing color copies, I ended up buying a Lexmark C510 color laser printer for under $500. The per page cost for color prints on glossy paper was far less than Kinko's or CopyMax. And the print quality is excellent! I printed the picture pages single sided and the text pages were double sided.

I am amazed at the low cost and quality of color laser printers today - and the combined high cost of the 4 toners... It's not the fastest way to go, but the results were worth it.

My neighbor's daughter's 5th grade yearbook was done by a local printer and is a combination of color and b&w. I saw it after I'd started printing mine, but realized that it might have been a good idea to check out local printers' prices for printing our book.

After making a few calls about binding prices, I found a printer who would do plastic wiring and covers for $1.60 each per book - sure beat the $4.65 price EACH that Kinko's quoted me! And it looks great.

Bottom line is that each book cost about $10.50 each (not counting the price of the printer). And I have a great new color laser printer... now what am I going to do with the 8 yr old HP 6MP?? The ink jet is staying though.

And 99% of the photos were taken by a classmate with a 10D and the other 1% were taken by me with an A70.

Good luck with your book!

Jane

[Neens_wa]

for this, i recommend mypublisher.com I printed some books as thank you gifts after shooting an event last summer. I had the medium sized book, with linen cover, and 20 pages. It was a very lovely book.

As a photographer, i did NOT like the print quality. It was color printer, not PHOTO PRINTER quality. I did NOT like the mypublisher.com dig on the last page of the book either... but that was easily covered by a nice elegant sticker with contact info. The intended recipient is the deciding factor here, and for this particular instance, the book, and photo quality were just fine. If I were making this for someone's wedding - no way... They also offer discounts for mult. printings.

Watch their site - they do have sales.. I had mine made for 20.00 each.... the binding is BEEEEAUTIFUL, and the fabric cover is FABULOUS! The price for that med. book is now 30.00.

The kids might enjoy the soft cover smaller book too... I think this is a great choice for your kiddos and their families! ;o)

neens

[Neens_wa]

sorry, trying to answer teenager questions and type that reply. What I was trying to say was - nice book, but not photo quality printing. You'll be happy with it for this particular occasion, and they offer more options than the others. Snapfish also has a book, but I've not seen it... snapfish doesn't like my firefox browser, and asks for Explorer - too bad.

[Bodog]

Neens_wa, I've only had one book done, but I thought the print was fabuous. I'm curious, what size images did you use? I've also seen a couple others done by fellow photo club members and the color and print was also great in theirs.

[Roatan4us]

I used mypublisher.com once for a book I did of pictures from our Sweden vacation.
It was sent to my family back there as a gift and they loved it. They are really fast
getting it to you, and no spiral back. Loved it.

[Neens_wa]

I had the medium sized book done - with the linen cover - 7x9 I think? The print quality on my pages just was sub par for me... It really looked like something off an old lexmark color printer.
It most definitely was NOT photo quality, or even close.

Maybe I got a bum print? Some of the photographs in that book were winners in several contests, so the print quality was definitely there. Might make another book just to see how it turns out...

I was just looking at that big coffee table book. I'd love to see the quality of that book. I have a couple of friends marrying this summer, and they've asked me to shoot the wedding (poor friends love a photographer buddy). I think the big book would be a LOVELY thing for a wedding - and quite affordable (other friends want to chip in on it as a gift).

neens

[Dante King]

Damn mac haters! (Mypublisher.com that is)

[Neens_wa]

I've been looking at ofoto - they are priced teh same as mypub - and supposedly do very nice work. I think I'll give them a twirl. Oh, Dante - they also work with Macs! ;o)

n

[Dante King]

its says on mypublisher.com site that their software does not work with macs! is there something I am missing?

[my2dramaqueens]

hey are u able to sell these as your own?

[Dante King]

why not, they are your own.