Online places that do albums/photobooks

[Simpo Two]

I'm compiling a list of companies that make photobooks/albums - ie you upload photos, design what you want (either online or with downloadable software) - then they make and post it to you.

I already know Photobox, Bobbooks, Blurb, MyPublisher, Lulu and Kiss - are they any more that you could recommend?

Cheers folks!

[VxDuncan]

Fotobook (.co.uk) - do a really good wedding album type cover (sort of crushed white stuff). Image quality fairly good, and very good offline software.

Blurb have added an option for higher quality paper and print recently. Have one being delivered this week and will report back. Still takes several ice ages for then to turn something around though.

[Simpo Two]

Good work Duncan, looks nice

[DogChilliBilly]

VxDuncan said:

Fotobook (.co.uk) - do a really good wedding album type cover (sort of crushed white stuff). Image quality fairly good, and very good offline software.

Blurb have added an option for higher quality paper and print recently. Have one being delivered this week and will report back. Still takes several ice ages for then to turn something around though.

I'd be interested to know also - Fotobook is almost twice the cost of Blurb, i put an order into Blurb earlier today with the high qual paper.
I can see the Fotobook paper is 200gm vs Blurbs 100gm, but is it worth the additional cost?

[VxDuncan]

DogChilliBilly said:

VxDuncan said:

Fotobook (.co.uk) - do a really good wedding album type cover (sort of crushed white stuff). Image quality fairly good, and very good offline software.

Blurb have added an option for higher quality paper and print recently. Have one being delivered this week and will report back. Still takes several ice ages for then to turn something around though.

I'd be interested to know also - Fotobook is almost twice the cost of Blurb, i put an order into Blurb earlier today with the high qual paper.
I can see the Fotobook paper is 200gm vs Blurbs 100gm, but is it worth the additional cost?

Well in my experience (3 or 4 large books) the Fotobook product is well made, and the "shimmer white" cover is great for weddings. Turn-around isn't too bad either. Paper's good, but the print quality could be higher res, it's screened fairly low. Also, watch the colour as they can get "a little funky" so watch your colour profile so as not to over saturate. Software is the best I've used (out of photobox, yophoto, blurb and fotobook).

Blurb is cheap, and the hardback with slip cover is nice touch. Only things that let them down is the print quality and paper, but I'm hoping the high quality option sorts this. They are VERY slow though. I ordered mine a fortnight ago to the day (economy delivery) and it's not here yet (been shipped though). Can't vouch for colour, last two with them were all sepia! Software no way as flexible as yophotos though (as you've probably found out) - the fixed layouts are a pain. You may be able to add text and image boxes, but I haven't found a way.

[GetCarter]

Blurb also do a 'pro' service (though they don't advertise it). e mail them for details

[DIW35]

Have only done one book, and I used Fotobook. I don't think it's the cheapest out there, but the software was fairly straightforward to use, with enough options and flexibility to get the result I wanted, and I am happy with the book itself.

[Bee_Jay]

myphotobook.co.uk - used them a few times, software is getting better and finished product is good.

Tictacphoto also do an excellent product, but their software is like wading through treacle...

[DogChilliBilly]

VxDuncan said:

Blurb is cheap, and the hardback with slip cover is nice touch. Only things that let them down is the print quality and paper, but I'm hoping the high quality option sorts this. They are VERY slow though. I ordered mine a fortnight ago to the day (economy delivery) and it's not here yet (been shipped though).

Did you high quality Blurb arrive? Better than the standard offering?

[Famous Graham]

Snapfish do. Not tried them though, to be fair. Although their product shots do look suspiciously similar to Photobox...

[Simpo Two]

Bee_Jay said:

myphotobook.co.uk - used them a few times, software is getting better and finished product is good.

Tictacphoto also do an excellent product, but their software is like wading through treacle...

Ta! Have added the first to my collection but think I'll pass on the treacly one.

[Manners]

Also try Graphi Studio and Sims2000. Seen a few Graphi Studio albums and they appear to be very good quality.

[Simpo Two]

Manners said:

Also try Graphi Studio and Sims2000. Seen a few Graphi Studio albums and they appear to be very good quality.

Thanks Manners but Sims2000 is trade only and I suspect Graphi Studio is too. I'm after links for my customers to use directly, as I'm not a graphic designer and wouldn't want to get bogged down trying to design something.

[DogChilliBilly]

Simpo Two said:

Manners said:

Also try Graphi Studio and Sims2000. Seen a few Graphi Studio albums and they appear to be very good quality.

Thanks Manners but Sims2000 is trade only and I suspect Graphi Studio is too. I'm after links for my customers to use directly, as I'm not a graphic designer and wouldn't want to get bogged down trying to design something.

They are.
Our wedding photographer used them for our album.
Truely excellent product but much wonga and as you said really aimed at the pros.

[davidd]

I know you have already mentioned them but BobBooks really helped me out with a very quick turn around earlier in the year. I don't have a lot to compare them with but they were certinaly better than photobox.

D

[anonymous-user]

davidd said:

I know you have already mentioned them but BobBooks really helped me out with a very quick turn around earlier in the year. I don't have a lot to compare them with but they were certinaly better than photobox.

D

Friend of mine used my shots to make a wedding album using bobbooks, it's far better than the photobox one's I've had done in the past

[richo_i]

A wedding photographer friend of mine uses cewe and they really are the dogs dangly's

[Simpo Two]

Added

[anonymous-user]

I've just completed a cewe one, I'll give my comparison to the photobox and bobbooks when it arrives

[pauljc]

The Cewe photobooks can be seen on display in Jessops