High quality photo books

[bellimages]

I would like to print a half dozen books that will showcase my best work. I am looking for a high quality product ..... similar to many photo books that I own. From what I've seen, I would not be happy with the quality that LuLu provides ..... nothing against what they do. I am just looking for the best quality available. I'm not even sure that the online book companies can provide it.

Cost is not an issue. I don't mind paying around $100/hardcover book for a 12" x 12" size.



I found a link to the top 10 photo book publishers. It looks like KoLo is the most expensive. Has anyone used them ..... or other companies?


Here is a link:

http://photo-book-review.toptenreviews.com/


And here is a company that prints on water color paper, as well as other stock:

http://www.apollo-imagizing.com/ArtisanCollection/

[Sven W]

I'm about to do the same....But it's a  worldwide jungle of producers out there.
 
I'm planning to test Blurb because that they was awarded by TIPA

Most of the offers on the net seems to favor price, easy design and upload, shipping.
Trying to find something about color management, and then you have to search very deep inside their sites.

Maybe I do it simple and print myself  and then take it to a bookbinder  

/Sven

[feppe]

third link on google for photobook comparison

[KeithR]

I received an email from Blurb yesterday about a webinar that they are having in a couple of weeks on color management for books. Just passing along info for those that might be interested.
I would imagine that there might be more info at the Blurb website.
"Greetings,
Want to make sure the color in your Blurb book rocks? Need the nitty gritty on color management for your Photography Book Now submission? Let us help.
Sign up for our Color Management Webinar on Tuesday, May 25. We’re offering two sessions, one at 1:00 p.m. EDT (10 a.m. PDT / 11:00 p.m. GMT) and another at 3:00 p.m. EDT (12 p.m. PDT / 1:00 a.m. on May 26 GMT), so grab the time that works for you and pick up some expert tips.
Led by the color wizards from X-Rite and our very own Blurb gurus, this webinar covers:
• Monitor calibration and profiling
• Color spaces and conversions
• Soft proofing in Adobe® Photoshop®
• Prepping files for Blurb books
Rest assured, whether you’re using Photoshop and Blurb BookSmart®, or Adobe® InDesign® and our PDF to Book workflow, we’ll go over the fine points of file preparation so that the color in your books is right on.
Join us and take your books to the next level. This webinar promises to be a great one and we hope to see you there.
Happy color perfecting,
The Blurberati "

[T_om]

I would like to print a half dozen books that will showcase my best work. I am looking for a high quality product ....

Then you are going to have to revise your next statement...

Cost is not an issue. I don't mind paying around $100/hardcover book for a 12" x 12" size.

I do not mean to demean your efforts or say this in a sarcastic way, but $100 for a 12x12 "high quality" product is laughable.

And I have seen the Blurb books.  Printing was crap IMHO.

Tom

[nemophoto]

I've had two editions of my book, "Vanishing Ireland" printed by Blurb. From first hand, critical experience, the quality is significantly improved with the advent of PDF submission, as well as the heavier 100# stock. I researched and saw samples of about six different print-on-demand publishers, and Blurb was the only one that met the combination of sizes, quality and cost. For me, printing via Blurb was basically about having a sample book to send to mainstream publishers, but that hasn't stopped me from selling 50 copies.

You don't say how many pages you plan to print, and that always effects the final cost. You could try Asuka, but their prices are even steeper for limited press-runs. Blurb is by no means perfect, only that it's less imperfect than many others I've found. The key is knowing how to oversee your color and print profiles and final images. (I've worked on pre-press imaging since 1992, worked with color separations since 1979, and started shooting in 1976.) Personally, I bought several books I liked from several print-on-demand printers, and that's how I made my decision.


Nemo

[neile]

There was a long thread not too long ago about Blurb vs. My Publisher. I wrote at length about my experiences using Blurb for my Antarctica book. You can read it at http://luminous-landscape.com/forum/index....showtopic=40712.

Also, as was mentioned above, my good friend Jason Dunn wrote an epic review of all the major photo book publishers. The review will give you all sorts of details.

Neil

[natas]

There was a long thread not too long ago about Blurb vs. My Publisher. I wrote at length about my experiences using Blurb for my Antarctica book. You can read it at http://luminous-landscape.com/forum/index....showtopic=40712.

Also, as was mentioned above, my good friend Jason Dunn wrote an epic review of all the major photo book publishers. The review will give you all sorts of details.

Neil

It really depends on what you are looking for. I personally use http://www.finaoonline.com/ . I do alot of weddings, so they have stuff that is perfect for that.

However, they do have some self mount albums (you do your own printing and place it in a flush mount pre-made album) these are called Element books. I made one book using this for a Yosemite trip I took. it turned out awesome.

[bellimages]

Then you are going to have to revise your next statement...


I do not mean to demean your efforts or say this in a sarcastic way, but $100 for a 12x12 "high quality" product is laughable.

And I have seen the Blurb books.  Printing was crap IMHO.

Tom

Well, quite honestly, if I'm having six of these done (at $100/book), I'm going to be spending $600. I hate to spend much more than that.

Being a graphic designer, I know what it takes to achieve quality printing. I can't afford that on such a low run. Do you have any useful suggestions, or just your "comment?"

[haefnerphoto]

Try Paperchase in LA.  I've had two books printed and have been very happy.  Their website has the ability to estimate the project also.  Here's a link.  http://www.paperchase.net/.  Jim

[Gupfold]

If you do your own printing may be worth trying one of the Hahnemuhle Leather albums, They use the Photorag Duo and I think have a nice high quality feel to them cause of the brass screws and thick paper.

http://www.hahnemuehle.com/site/us/463/ink...oto-albums.html

[T_om]

Well, quite honestly, if I'm having six of these done (at $100/book), I'm going to be spending $600. I hate to spend much more than that.

Being a graphic designer, I know what it takes to achieve quality printing. I can't afford that on such a low run. Do you have any useful suggestions, or just your "comment?"

My comment was based on your ridiculous assertion that "Cost is not an issue".  Do you even read what you post?  Seems as if cost is suddenly an issue after all, doesen't it?

If your expectations are that a 100 buck 12x12 is going to be adequate, then your definition of "quality" is different than mine.  It appears you are looking for cheap press-printed books, not bound photographs.  Good luck.

Tom

[JeffKohn]

Has anybody ever heard of Photo Book Press? They have an ad in this months Outdoor Photographer, that claims their books are high enough quality to be considered fine-art/coffee-table books. I didn't see a price list though (you may have to register for that, which I didn't take the time to do).

[tim wolcott]

I have been developing a way to make books with a very high quality printing at a low price and yes I did say low price.  So I did that and set up system to do that and the book is beautiful.  But this was for higher end runs 500 and above.  But I was able to make the book for 8 dollars at the quantity of 3500 and for 500 at 11 dollars and yes this is hard cover with a slip jacket.  By the way if you have seen this book called "Along the Water's Edge".  Forward written by Michael Reichmann.  I have been asked to do some lectures on how to make a book of this quality.

So this led to see if I could find a small run printer with high quality with all the standards that I set up on the high run.  I do believe I have found this but I do not have had the time to test this printer, but I did have an extensive conversation and lets just say they past the test which to this day no one else has.  I will inform everyone what I have figured out very soon.  Tim

I would like to print a half dozen books that will showcase my best work. I am looking for a high quality product ..... similar to many photo books that I own. From what I've seen, I would not be happy with the quality that LuLu provides ..... nothing against what they do. I am just looking for the best quality available. I'm not even sure that the online book companies can provide it.

Cost is not an issue. I don't mind paying around $100/hardcover book for a 12" x 12" size.



I found a link to the top 10 photo book publishers. It looks like KoLo is the most expensive. Has anyone used them ..... or other companies?


Here is a link:

http://photo-book-review.toptenreviews.com/


And here is a company that prints on water color paper, as well as other stock:

http://www.apollo-imagizing.com/ArtisanCollection/

[bellimages]

Has anybody ever heard of Photo Book Press? They have an ad in this months Outdoor Photographer, that claims their books are high enough quality to be considered fine-art/coffee-table books. I didn't see a price list though (you may have to register for that, which I didn't take the time to do).

Jeff, I have not heard of them. But keep in mind, advertising is all about selling a product (as I'm sure you know). If you find out more about them, or see samples, let me know. I'm going to be working on this project once I retire from the University this summer ... I can't wait to dig into it.

Jan

[bellimages]

I have been developing a way to make books with a very high quality printing at a low price and yes I did say low price.  So I did that and set up system to do that and the book is beautiful.  But this was for higher end runs 500 and above.  But I was able to make the book for 8 dollars at the quantity of 3500 and for 500 at 11 dollars and yes this is hard cover with a slip jacket.  By the way if you have seen this book called "Along the Water's Edge".  Forward written by Michael Reichmann.  I have been asked to do some lectures on how to make a book of this quality.

So this led to see if I could find a small run printer with high quality with all the standards that I set up on the high run.  I do believe I have found this but I do not have had the time to test this printer, but I did have an extensive conversation and lets just say they past the test which to this day no one else has.  I will inform everyone what I have figured out very soon.  Tim

Keep me posted Tim. I've been printing offset my entire career (in graphic design). Historically, to get good prices/unit, you have to print a lot of units (in this case, books) .... just as you've said. At this point in time, I don't have a market for thousands of books, or even 500 (not even 250).

Jan

[DarkPenguin]

Have you considered doing a Lenswork style folio instead?

[neile]

Have you considered doing a Lenswork style folio instead?

If you do, I know a good source for covers

Neil

[bellimages]

Have you considered doing a Lenswork style folio instead?

I've toyed with that idea. But he problem is that images that are printed on fine art mat paper are v-e-r-y  susceptible to scratches (even when a finger nail is ran across the print). Suggestions?

[neile]

I've toyed with that idea. But he problem is that images that are printed on fine art mat paper are v-e-r-y susceptible to scratches (even when a finger nail is ran across the print). Suggestions?

It really depends on the paper you use. Ilford GFS is much more likely to show this than, say, Hahnemuhle FineArt Baryta. Honestly though, when I've watched people interact with folios, they handle them carefully and only by the edges. That's not to say scratches won't happen, but they don't get handled the same way a book does.

Neil