Options for printed album creation

GeneV · 10-31-2016, 12:28 PM

Every year I shoot a dance camp. The camp then keeps the photos and makes them available to the participants in a printed album. The group has used "My Publisher" for years and been happy with the results. Their software allows the user to lay out the album and send them the file to be printed. This year, that was not the case. It seems Shutterfly acquired My Publisher, and now the quality of the printed photos has suffered. Ironically, this year the quality of my photos was especially good, mostly shot FF, and the printed book was noticeably worse.

Does anyone have a suggestion as to a better quality album printer?

Last edited by GeneV; 10-31-2016 at 12:36 PM.

**Alex645** · 10-31-2016, 02:40 PM

I've used Blurb for the last 5 years. Excellent quality but not cheap. A lot of printing quality is dependent on the paper used, and the better coated stock is more expensive. We have our yearbook (2000 copies) offset printed by Friesens in Altona, Manitoba, Canada. I know they also have a digital printer for lower volumes. You may want to inquire with them as the US Dollar is relatively strong against the Canadian.

Auzzie-Phoenix · 10-31-2016, 05:19 PM

MPIX also does photo books, but also are not cheap. I've never had an issue with the quality of prints of anything I've ordered from them yet. I would assume that their other print materials would be of similar satisfactory quality.

GeneV · 11-01-2016, 08:39 AM

Thanks. This is a very small run, and there may be few options. The cost with Shutterfly runs about $100 per copy. I don't know how that compares with these suggestions.

**Alex645** · 11-01-2016, 08:59 AM

Gene, Too many variables. You need to get quotes from other printers. We pay about $50 per copy of a 9x12" hard bound all color 376 page book with an offset printer. But that excellent price is because of the quantity of 2000 copies. With Blurb, a digital printer like Shutterfly, for a 12x12" hard bound 48 page book, Iʻve paid about $70 for 20 copies with the medium quality grade paper. For first time users, they usually offer a 15-20% discount.

GeneV · 12-19-2016, 06:56 AM

I have looked into this more, and found a great thread on DPreview discussing the various sites. Shutterfly (or other) Premium Photo Book: Printers and Printing Forum: Digital Photography Review. From my own looking, Blurb, mentioned by another poster here, has the advantage of integrating with Lightroom, which can also produce a PDF version of your book. Interestingly, in the reviews Adoramapix seems to be the hands down winner for photo quality and a reasonable price. Of course if you are doing some serious self publishing with a good many copies, the Adoramapix book prints on photo paper might not be practical.

emalvick · 12-19-2016, 10:46 AM

Blurb is a good option, but their LR integration is not as good as if you just use their tool independently (unless it has improved in the past year or two). The flexibility within Lightroom just isn't there.

I'm sorry to hear about My Publisher. They were one I liked better than Blurb (in all honesty) because they had some very professional options. I should have known something was up as I saw all sorts of Shutterfly and My Publisher coupons that looked suspiciously similar. Oh well. I'll have to go back to Blurb or check out some others.

GeneV · 12-19-2016, 06:42 PM

I was disappointed, too. The past years produced a nice product, but this year, even after we sent it back for a redo, the product was not up to the standards of the person doing the layout or mine.

normhead · 12-19-2016, 07:27 PM

Sad to hear, I've had books done by Shutterfly that came out quite nice but they were pricey.

10-31-2016, 12:28 PM	#1
GeneV Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Albuquerque NM Photos: Albums Posts: 9,830	Options for printed album creation Every year I shoot a dance camp. The camp then keeps the photos and makes them available to the participants in a printed album. The group has used "My Publisher" for years and been happy with the results. Their software allows the user to lay out the album and send them the file to be printed. This year, that was not the case. It seems Shutterfly acquired My Publisher, and now the quality of the printed photos has suffered. Ironically, this year the quality of my photos was especially good, mostly shot FF, and the printed book was noticeably worse. Does anyone have a suggestion as to a better quality album printer? Last edited by GeneV; 10-31-2016 at 12:36 PM.

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10-31-2016, 02:40 PM	#2
Alex645 Site Supporter Join Date: May 2015 Location: Kaneohe, HI Photos: Albums Posts: 3,526	I've used Blurb for the last 5 years. Excellent quality but not cheap. A lot of printing quality is dependent on the paper used, and the better coated stock is more expensive. We have our yearbook (2000 copies) offset printed by Friesens in Altona, Manitoba, Canada. I know they also have a digital printer for lower volumes. You may want to inquire with them as the US Dollar is relatively strong against the Canadian.

10-31-2016, 05:19 PM	#3
Auzzie-Phoenix Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Photos: Albums Posts: 1,020	MPIX also does photo books, but also are not cheap. I've never had an issue with the quality of prints of anything I've ordered from them yet. I would assume that their other print materials would be of similar satisfactory quality.

11-01-2016, 08:39 AM	#4
GeneV Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Albuquerque NM Photos: Albums Posts: 9,830 Original Poster	Thanks. This is a very small run, and there may be few options. The cost with Shutterfly runs about $100 per copy. I don't know how that compares with these suggestions.

11-01-2016, 08:59 AM	#5
Alex645 Site Supporter Join Date: May 2015 Location: Kaneohe, HI Photos: Albums Posts: 3,526	Gene, Too many variables. You need to get quotes from other printers. We pay about $50 per copy of a 9x12" hard bound all color 376 page book with an offset printer. But that excellent price is because of the quantity of 2000 copies. With Blurb, a digital printer like Shutterfly, for a 12x12" hard bound 48 page book, Iʻve paid about $70 for 20 copies with the medium quality grade paper. For first time users, they usually offer a 15-20% discount.

12-19-2016, 06:56 AM	#6
GeneV Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Albuquerque NM Photos: Albums Posts: 9,830 Original Poster	I have looked into this more, and found a great thread on DPreview discussing the various sites. Shutterfly (or other) Premium Photo Book: Printers and Printing Forum: Digital Photography Review. From my own looking, Blurb, mentioned by another poster here, has the advantage of integrating with Lightroom, which can also produce a PDF version of your book. Interestingly, in the reviews Adoramapix seems to be the hands down winner for photo quality and a reasonable price. Of course if you are doing some serious self publishing with a good many copies, the Adoramapix book prints on photo paper might not be practical.

12-19-2016, 10:46 AM	#7
emalvick Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Davis, CA Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,642	Blurb is a good option, but their LR integration is not as good as if you just use their tool independently (unless it has improved in the past year or two). The flexibility within Lightroom just isn't there. I'm sorry to hear about My Publisher. They were one I liked better than Blurb (in all honesty) because they had some very professional options. I should have known something was up as I saw all sorts of Shutterfly and My Publisher coupons that looked suspiciously similar. Oh well. I'll have to go back to Blurb or check out some others.

12-19-2016, 06:42 PM	#8
GeneV Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Albuquerque NM Photos: Albums Posts: 9,830 Original Poster	I was disappointed, too. The past years produced a nice product, but this year, even after we sent it back for a redo, the product was not up to the standards of the person doing the layout or mine.

12-19-2016, 07:27 PM	#9
normhead Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Near Algonquin Park Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 40,451	Sad to hear, I've had books done by Shutterfly that came out quite nice but they were pricey.