|
|
|
|
September 7, 2005 Photo Books A new program lets you make a hardbound book from your digital pictures--and gives you an easy and convenient way to preserve and share your photos and memories. We’re thrilled with the books we created from a very easy do-it-yourself kit and also from three different on-line services. One book reflects the fun of a recent family reunion; the others, a memorable trip. All are terrific. Lets look:
Epson StoryTeller Photo Book Creator (Epson, Windows, 5 x 7 inch, 10 pages, $19.99; 8 x 10, 10 or 20 pages, $24.99/$29.99) is designed for ink-jet printers and comes as a complete kit containing Creator software, glossy photo paper, a hardbound book, cover sheets and a 98-page instruction manual. You start by putting digital photos in an on-screen "Photo Bin." Then drag and drop the photos from the Bin into one of several page templates - funky, classic, travel, wedding and others. The templates provide a variety of interesting sizing and placement options for photos and also borders and page decorations.
Mixing and matching styles and re-arranging page templates is drag-and-drop easy. Re-arranging photos is slick and quick: just drag a different photo from the Bin to replace one that’s there, or drag one to another spot to switch photos. And, the ability to enlarge and/or crop your photos right on the page is a terrific feature we used many times to get the best look. The included photo editor can fix brightness and contrast, red-eye and sharpness and apply color effects such as sepia tone. Captions for photos and page titles are also easy to add; templates determine font size and type, but you can change font color. Some templates include larger text areas for notes, commentaries, descriptions and the like. View your project one or several pages at a time. Print pages on the included Epson glossy photo paper for a "Wow" set of inside pages, and then create your front and back cover. If your printer supports long page printing, you can print a full wrap-around cover that includes a printed spine and inside flaps; otherwise you print front and back covers separately. Either way, once you attach the inside pages and add the cover, your album is done, and we know you’ll be happy with the results. The reunion album we created is spectacular.
If you prefer not to print your album at home, consider one of the on-line photo album options: MyPublisher.com (www.mypublisher.com,) uses their free downloaded Bookmaker software to create an album on your computer, without being connected to the Internet.
The step-by-step process lets you drag and drop the desired photos into the album window and arrange them until they’re in the order you want. Choose from a variety of templates, lay out photos on the album pages and add captions where desired. Caption options include a choice of six fonts, or choose "Just Photos" for maximum photo size. Limited photo editing is available. The final step is to upload your layout and photos to MyPublisher. Choose either a soft cover 6 x 8 inch album ($.49/page) or a hard cover 9 x 12 inch album ($2.95/page). Both albums are perfect bound and use offset printing (not regular photographs) on heavy acid-free paper, with single or double-sided printing. Choose colors and designs for the covers, pay for your album, and within 5 - 7 days, your slick, bound, printed photo album is delivered. Clubphoto (www.clubphoto.com) has you create your album on line using photos you’ve uploaded to their site. You create a spiral bound photo book in either 4 x 6 inch, 20 pages/$8.95 or 5 x 7 inch, 20 pages/$17.95. These are actual photos, printed one side only, with captions, plastic cover and plastic spiral binder.
The web site steps you through the process--just upload your photos and select your format. Work on-line using on-screen thumbnails to choose photos you want. You can rotate, lighten or darken any photos and arrange them in the order you want. Add captions,(no choice of fonts or styles), pay for your album, and in a few days it’s delivered. SnapFish (www.snapfish.com) is similar to ClubPhoto: first, upload your photos into an album on their Web site then choose "create a flip book" (also actual photos, with plastic cover and plastic spiral binding), and you’re led through the process.
Choose a background, select and arrange photos (drag-and-drop easy), add captions and rotate photos if you want. Pay for the album (4 x 6 inch, $4.99/5 pages and $1.99 each additional 5 pages; 5 x 7, $7.99/$3.99) and your photo book is delivered in a few days. Which photo album process is best for you? Depends. The Epson StoryTeller Photo Book Creator provides at-home convenience, and we found it fun and easy to use. But online services are an option for people who prefer not to print photos at home. Whichever album creation method you choose, we know you’ll enjoy having a printed, bound photo album as a keepsake of special events, trips or whatever photos you want to keep and/or share.
|
