These are the common questions and issues faced by PhotoBook Press users...
- Can I design my own book?
- How do I upload images?
- How do I get prices?
- How long does it take to make my photo book?
- Why does this book cost more than other online books?
- What’s the largest book I can make?
- How many pages can I have?
- What is a sewn binding and why does it matter?
- What is perfect binding?
- How do I download the Design Tool Software?
- How do I Get Started with the Design Tool?
- Where can I get Design Tool Tips on using the application?
- Are there specific Design Tool FAQ?
Can I design my own book?
Yes, absolutely.
Download the PhotoBook Design Tool software to lay out your book and automatically submit it.
Or, use our submission guidelines to design your book in PhotoShop, InDesign or whatever design software you prefer. You can upload your completed book design to the PhotoBook Press FTP server. Call or email for login instructions.
How do I upload images?
You must have your images, in sequence, in a named folder with your name and project clearly identified.
Upload your images, or completed book design, to our FTP server. If you are using the PhotoBook Design Tool, the upload will be automatic when you click on the Submit to PhotoBook Press button.
Otherwise, you can access our FTP server by going to our FTP upload page.
How do I get prices?
There are three easy ways to get pricing for PhotoBook Press books:
- Style your book by choosing the components - book size and shape, cover materials, end leaves and design style - of the book you’d like to make. The price of your book will be calculated as you make your custom selections.
- Custom quotes are available by calling 888.333.6950 or emailing a description of your project.
- Professional Wedding Photographers can register for preferred pricing.
The price you see will be for one book. Copies of hard cover books are 10% of the cost of the first book up to 5 books and 20% for copies of books 6 to 10. More than 10 books of a single title are eligible for further discounts by individual quotation. Just ask.
How long does it take to make my photo book?
From the time that a book layout is approved, it takes about 3 weeks.
From the time we receive your photographs, it normally takes around 4 weeks. That includes design and layout, proofing, revisions, approvals, printing and binding. The total time could be longer if the design effort requires additional time.
Why does this book cost more than other online books?
PhotoBook Press books have human management at every step of the way - reviewing your design, proofing printed pages, and reviewing the final bound book quality. These books are made the way fine books have been made for centuries, with sewn signature bindings and the finest in archival book materials.
Unlike mass produced books from Internet vendors, our books are printed on 120 lb text weight archival paper using state-of-the-art Kodak digital presses. The books are sewn into signatures and bound with the highest quality materials in a way that they will look the same 100 years from now as they do today.
A PhotoBook Press book is an heirloom quality fine book – an investment in preserving memories that matter.
What’s the largest book I can make?
The maximum width for sewn binding hard cover books is 12 inches.
The maximum height for sewn binding hard cover books is 12 inches.
Large format books are available in both hard and soft cover with a perfect binding.
How many pages can I have?
Because our books are sewn in signatures, you can include a lot of pages. The minimum number of pages in a sewn signature book is 36 (3 signatures) and grows in 12-page signature increments. The maximum is virtually unlimited. Our customers regularly create books of 300 pages, or more.
Our perfect bound books (glued spine) begin with 20 pages and grow in increments of 2 pages to a maximum of 120 pages.
What is a sewn binding and why does it matter?
Sewn binding is a traditional book binding found in the finest books. The book is created from booklets called signatures which are stitched together (always with thread not staples) and then glued to the cover. This method makes a strong book that will never come apart and allows the book to open flat forever. It is generally reserved for hard cover books.
At PhotoBook Press we use linen thread to sew 12 page signatures. Our hard cover books are constructed of many 12 page signatures – which is why your hard cover sewn binding book has a page count that is a multiple of 12.
What is perfect binding?
Perfect binding is the most common type of binding used today. The pages are trimmed on all sides and then glued onto the cover, either hard or soft. This is an economical binding and all manner of books today use it, even some high quality coffee table books.
At PhotoBook Press all of our softcover books are perfect bound and our most economical hard cover books are perfect bound wrapped in a hard cover binding.
Design Tool Application Support
How do I download the Design Tool Software?
How do I Get Started with the Design Tool?
Where can I get Design Tool Tips on using the application?
Are there specific Design Tool FAQ?
