Creating a Photo Book with your own images

[ewaizel]

Hi team.
I never tried creating one of these myself. It is probably the right time to prepare something for Xmas to share with friends and family.
Do you have any recommendation about which software worked for you and also which printing company?
Any comments about Blurb?

Enrique

[Richard]

I've used blurb recently for a large square portfolio book. I went with blurb mostly for the easy of laying out and exporting direct from lightroom. (Much quicker than creating a custom layout in corelDraw or inDesign.) I was very happy with the print and binding quality. My main criticism, would be the lack of finishing options, like open flat and leather covers and boxes etc. Here's a discount they emailed me this week if it's any use to you (Might be UK only discount?)


Save 20% until 30 November. Simply enter the promo code HAPPYBOOKS (http://blurb.custhelp.com/rd?1=AvUK~woAAP8SkhmPGrMe~yL~Jvsq~yb~uzyD_Dr~&2=18063)
at checkout to get your savings.*

[ewaizel]

Thank you Richard. Very much appreciated.

I spent some time doing my homework and I found a guy that spent 6 months reviewing this topic.
This is the Photo Book Review by Jason Dunn (Digital Home Thoughts). He included 12 different options.

Digital Home Thoughts: The Great Photo Book Round-Up Review: Who Makes The Best Photo Books? (http://www.digitalhomethoughts.com/news/show/97676/)

I watched at all his Youtube videos and this is what I can summarize based on these.

Mypublisher - excellent paper, excellent print quality - very nice - $$$ (great quality)
AdoramaPix - Cover superb - paper superb - average to excellent print - limited to 50 pag. - $$$ (good)
Inkubook - average cover - excellent paper - printing excellent - $$ (good value)
Blurb - average to good cover - average paper - average print - $ (affordable)
Mpix - restricted to 50 pg - Thick excellent - non-glossy - $$
ArtsCow (Hong Kong) - poor quality - $
Kodak Gallery - average to excellent - excellent paper - print excellent - $$$
Picaboo - average print quality - $$$$
Treasure-book (Canada) - average cover - excellent paper - average print - ?
Photo-book (Canada) - average cover - superb paper - excellent printing - $$$$
Shuterfly - excellent cover - paper excellent - average print (printer may changes color balance) - $$
Snapfish - poor cover - average paper - printing average - $$