I have boxes and boxes of photos, how do I get started?
Work backwards, starting with your most recent photos. An event, such as a vacation, wedding, birth of a baby, etc, is also a great starting place. Your photos can be put in separate photo books, or in one big book. Working a little bit at a time will help you to get organized and eliminate guilt about those piles of photos.
We can also design pages that we can print and can be placed in a top loading album. This gives you the flexibility of adding and rearranging pages as we design them.
What resolution should my photos be?
They need to be high resolution. If you are scanning them yourself, we recommend you scan at 300 dpi, for images smaller than 4x6, 600ppi. We need the original files from your digital camera or photo CD.
I am designing my own book, how should I format my pages?
We can take image files in any format: jpg, psd, tiff, eps, pdf etc. We recommend using Adobe 1998 for your color space--it produces the best print results. Images should be 300 dpi. We have lots of tips and tricks on our blog.
What size books are available?
We can print any size book you design up to 12.25" x 17.5". For full bleed, we trim 1/8" off the edges. Don't put anything, such as text, right on the edge of the page. Give each page about a .25" buffer all the way around. Email us if you have questions about this.
What options and pricing are available?
Each book is a custom project and can be made to your specifications. We are always happy to give you a custom quote. For pricing on standard photo book sizes and options, download our order forms on our Contact Us page.
How are the books made?
We print on a digital press. The pages are trimmed for full bleed, leaving no white borders. The books are side sewn if the book is thin, and oversewn if the book is thick. We create custom covers from scratch for each book. Our cover materials are all acid neutral and archival. The cover materials are made from cotton and very strong. You can choose a cover image and foil stamping (available on spine and front) as extra features. Our books are library bound - the best in the industry.
Will my prints last?
Our paper is acid-free and will last for a very long time, especially when kept in a closed book or album. Our prints are guaranteed to last much longer than photographs.
I've had a book made from another company and been disappointed with the quality. What makes you different?
Our niche is high-end, high touch, custom made to order. We specialize in customer service. Each project is unique, we don't do anything cookie-cutter. We make sure your designs are print ready, each book is made by hand from scratch. If there is any problem with your files, we not only let you know, but we tell you how to fix it or do it for you.
There are many less expensive online options. These sites usually require you to use their software to create and submit the pages or require you to design them to their specifications. They offer a few books in a few sizes, nothing custom. The paper is not very heavy and feels very thin. To do all of this online requires the files to be a more reasonable size than the files we print and sacrifices quality for quantity. They are glued in the binding, not sewn and can fall apart.
The covers are made of paper and will tear over time. Our covers are made from cotton or leather and will not tear.
They print at 150dpi. We print at 300dpi. This means that the files we print contain twice as many pixels and information (and are huge, taking up disc space). Our prints are sharper, and the colors more vibrant and true. Low quality 150dpi prints show all of the dots left behind in the printing process. Our prints look like photographs.
How do I get my files to you?
The best way is to use http://www.yousendit.com. They are a free service that allows you to send us your files via email. If you are sending separate files, they should be zipped up and named in sequence.
You can also mail a CD or your prints to us at 315 Winterthur Way, Highlands Ranch, CO 80129.
How do the pages work?
A 20-page book holds 10 double-sided sheets. Just like any book sitting on in your bookshelf, 1 is on the right. Once you turn this page, page 2 is on the left, page 3 is on the right, etc.
How long does it take to get my book?
Each book is custom, and hand-made to order. There are no short-cuts. Once the page designs are complete, they must be printed. After printing, the pages are sewn together and joined with the custom cover. We then put it all together and ship it off to you.
Page design takes 3-8 weeks depending on scanning requirements, the number of photos, etc. Printing can take a couple of days and the binding can take up to 10 business days. The whole book production process can take anywhere from 2 to 4 weeks.
Do you ship anywhere in the world?
Yes, we will ship anywhere.
What is the quality of your books? I've had books printed from other companies and been disappointed.
We guarantee our quality. Our prints are printed on acid-free paper on a digital press using the latest technology. The pages are substantial, like what you find in an expensive coffee table book - 78lb coated cover. Our binding is of the highest quality and each book is hand-made. Our cover images, unlike others on the market, will not scratch or fade.
Do you offer a guarantee?
We will refund your money if you are not happy with your book, for any reason.