Sunday, October 19, 2008

Tips: Creating Mementos from your Digital Photos

Wondering what to do with your digital photos? Like scrapbooking? Create a photo book.

Most online print services offer a variety of printed photo books. Layouts are set up for you to make creating easy. Rather than use the standard layouts, with either Photoshop Elements or Photoshop, you can spice up your albums and produce a truly unique memento. Take inspiration from your favorite magazines - photography spreads in fashion and travel magazines as well as ads. Create a collage of images and captions in the right page size and upload the JPG into a full page spread - Voila! You have a magazine-style album.

There are a variety of printing services you can use (prices vary among the services and free books/discounts are frequently available):

  • Blurb - 80 lb. (135 gsm) coated, semi-matte paper for standard books

    • Hardcover - 7" x 7"; 8" x 10"; 10" x 8"; 13" x 11"

  • Inkubook - 100 lb. archival-quality silk paper

    • Softcover - 7” x 5” (soon); 8.5" x 8.5"; 8.5” x 11” (soon)

    • Hardcover - 7” x 5" (soon); 8.5" x 8.5" (soon); 8.5” x 11”; 11 x 8.5"; 11" x 11" (soon)

  • Lulu - 80 lb. “silk coat” finish

    • Softcover - 9” x 7”; 8.5” x 11”

    • Hardcover - 9” x 7”; 8.5” x 11”

  • MyPublisher - extra thick and heavy, archival quality, acid-free paper

    • Softcover - 7.75" x 5.75"

    • Hardcover - 11.25" x 8.75"; 15" x 11.5"

  • PhotoWorks - archival quality 100 lb. semi-gloss artistic paper

    • Softcover - 7" x 5.25"; 7" x 7"

    • Hardcover - 4.375 x 4.25"; 7" x 7"; 11.5" x 8.5"; 12" x 12"

  • Picaboo (Windows only) - 100 lb. glossy, archival quality

    • Softcover - 8" x 6"; 11" x 8.5"

    • Hardcover - 8" x 6"; 11" x 8.5"

  • Qoop - 100 lb. ultra-gloss paper

    • Softcover - 3.75" x 2.5", 5.25" x 3.5", 7" x 5"; 8" x 10"; 8.5" x 11"

    • Hardcover - 8" x 10"; 8.5" x 11"

  • Shutterfly - high quality matte paper

    • Hardcover - 4" x 4"; 5" x 7"; 8" x 8"; 8.5" x 11"; 12" x 12"

  • Snapfish

    • Softcover - 2" x 3"

    • Hardcover - 5" x 7"; 8" x 8"; 8" x 11"; 12" x 12"

References