In case anyone is interested I thought I'd just share this.

Last december I finally completed arranging my first photo book using the PictureBooks software. I received it two weeks ago and I'm pretty happy with their service. Now I've always wanted to try completing a book ever since I've seen them pop up around the malls. But at more than a grand a book I wanted to have something "worthy" of being compiled into a photo book.

Last November we left for a two and a half week trip to the USA, and having enjoyed it so much I decided that the photos were "worthy" of being made into a photo book. So instead of having several 4r photos printed and inserted in to many albums, I downloaded the PictureBooks program and decided to make one of my own.

(Mac users, iPhoto is just as good and I think Aperture even works but I'm not really that fluent with both and the PictureBooks program seemed much easier for me.)

After laying it out myself (they can do it for you too, which is included in the book charge) I exported it and brought it to one of their stalls in Glorietta.

Here's how it looks after I received it two weeks after :)

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2743/4287917241_a0c9f6efcf.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4068/4287938029_7feb4a27df.jpg
It came sleeved which was pretty cool (please forgive the title ;) )

Plus some samples of the print quality, which IMHO is good enough for the price.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4003/4288714838_137606859e.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4059/4288731388_093396f37b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2793/4288027437_c7880fcd83.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2771/4288775598_6858910bef.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4030/4288059377_516ac24388.jpg

:)

This is nice. :Grin:

Nice looking book ah!

How much did it cost you? If you don't mind me asking. =)

galing sir... :-)

Also an impressive layout you did there!

Which printshop?

The picture book software is theirs and only works for that print company?

This is nice. :Grin:

Thanks Louie! :)

Nice looking book ah!

How much did it cost you? If you don't mind me asking. =)

Thanks Christian! :) This book was 13" x 9" without any additional pages. It cost around 1,800, or close to 1,900 if I remember correctly.

What's nice is that I was able to specify the paper color behind the hardcovers and I also asked if they could remove the picturebooks logo that was placed in their samples. :)

galing sir... :-)

Thanks Warly! :)

Also an impressive layout you did there!

Which printshop?

The picture book software is theirs and only works for that print company?

Thanks Byron! :)
I used PictureBooks, the outlet I went to was the one in Glorietta across Tag Heuer.
As far as I know the software only works with them.

This is also what we used for our wedding album last May. I remember they had a promo that for every 2 albums, you get 1 free! :) I just don't know if they still have it now.

Very practical if you ask me :)

very impressive marton :)

This is also what we used for our wedding album last May. I remember they had a promo that for every 2 albums, you get 1 free! :) I just don't know if they still have it now.

Very practical if you ask me :)

Yes very practical! :) That's an awesome idea, I should use this for everything else :D I actually heard they still did that promo, looking back I wish I used it.

very impressive marton :)

Thank you Allan! :)

Those are nice albums.

I usually have Digiprint layout and print my digital storybooks.

Check these out:

http://web.me.com/misterkodaker/Jo_Avila/Blog/Entries/2008/9/29_Thanks_%26_Kudos_To_Digiprint.html

http://web.me.com/misterkodaker/Jo_Avila/Blog/Entries/2009/12/25_Making_the_Print_a_Gift.html

I used my Digiprint Pro card to get a 25% discount :D

Cheers!

Jo Avila

Those are nice albums.

I usually have Digiprint layout and print my digital storybooks.

Check these out:

http://web.me.com/misterkodaker/Jo_Avila/Blog/Entries/2008/9/29_Thanks_%26_Kudos_To_Digiprint.html

http://web.me.com/misterkodaker/Jo_Avila/Blog/Entries/2009/12/25_Making_the_Print_a_Gift.html

I used my Digiprint Pro card to get a 25% discount :D

Cheers!

Jo Avila

Hey Jo! :)
Thanks for sharing those! They look lovely and I have to agree with your brother in law, "Iba talaga basta na print na."

I really feel for the couple that lost their negatives to fire. I have several friends that lost their cherished things because of last year's flood. I am sure that the couple deeply appreciate what you've done.

Thanks again Jo!

Hi FlyLo.. ..ikaw pala yun..:)

I been using Picture books for more than 2 years now and I'm happy with the output. I started with Digiprint but when the magazine type photo book was discontinued, I tried Picturebooks. Now, I have a collection of photobooks from most of my travel from them. I'm using iPhoto and have not tried their software. Using iPhoto is just "drag and drop", kinda good for lazy people like me :D I think their software is also good based on your album.... I LIKE IT! I'll try that software soon. BTW, they have a promo until the 31st of January buy 2 and get 1 free. You can also get 10% discount if you're a Philmugger.:)

and BTW, Im just sending my PDF file through yousendit and have the finished product delivered in our house...cool di ba! No hazzle of looking for a parking space and paying the fee. The last one I did, just this January, is about 100 pages......:) yes..that thick!!

I also ordered one for my Daughters 1st birthday. Cant wait!

Hi FlyLo.. ..ikaw pala yun..:)

I been using Picture books for more than 2 years now and I'm happy with the output. I started with Digiprint but when the magazine type photo book was discontinued, I tried Picturebooks. Now, I have a collection of photobooks from most of my travel from them. I'm using iPhoto and have not tried their software. Using iPhoto is just "drag and drop", kinda good for lazy people like me :D I think their software is also good based on your album.... I LIKE IT! I'll try that software soon. BTW, they have a promo until the 31st of January buy 2 and get 1 free. You can also get 10% discount if you're a Philmugger.:)

Yes that's me! :D I wish I found out about that 2 for 1 before I had mine made. Next trip for sure! :)
People keep telling me its really easy to use the iPhoto Album maker and I should use that instead since it catalogs the photos in order so it'll be easier. I will try it for my Valentine's day gift :D

Thanks Dan!

and BTW, Im just sending my PDF file through yousendit and have the finished product delivered in our house...cool di ba! No hazzle of looking for a parking space and paying the fee. The last one I did, just this January, is about 100 pages......:) yes..that thick!!

That's THICK! :D I'll try sending my next one through the net too. Thanks! I really don't like parking and going through traffic just to drop a file off :) How do you pay for it though?

I also ordered one for my Daughters 1st birthday. Cant wait!

Great Ace! :D Share some samples when you get it! :)

I'm paying through their BPI account. Deposit the amount and email your copy of deposit slip...

We had our first family photobook for the year 2008 from Picturebooks and we plan do it every year. I have our 2009 photobook almost ready for printing, my wife and I are just waiting for the new family member due March. :)

I used iPhoto for the first book which is pretty straight forward. For the next book, I am using Aperture which gives me a lot more flexibility in terms of layout and design.

Hello fellows, just would like to share with you my recently finished photobook by picturebooks, quality is excellent, very satisfied here, here it is, hope you enjoy..!!

More picturebook photos for you guys..!!

is this the one i saw on tv? the host are amy and bobby yan?? negosyo something..

the book looks very nice, how many is the minimum count of pictures??:Thinking::Thinking::Thinking:

thanks:D

is this the one i saw on tv? the host are amy and bobby yan?? negosyo something..

the book looks very nice, how many is the minimum count of pictures??:Thinking::Thinking::Thinking:

thanks:D

It really depends on the layout you choose or like. But with picturebooks' minimum requirement of 20 pages per book and let's say with an average of 3 photos per page, you'll need about 60 photos. :)


Andrew

i'v tried picture books. i love the way they print. but they don't print book jackets lang pala. if i wanted book jackets, i'd have to get everything including the book done by them. otherwise, no book jacket for me. :(

Nice one Sir, looks pretty neat!..

Here's my share. I have 2 books already for my family. :-)

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_lGN5OoM1AuE/TEmThzBZIrI/AAAAAAAAC0E/9bpWusPts54/s400/_DSC5617.jpghttp://lh4.ggpht.com/_lGN5OoM1AuE/TEmTiP6uMJI/AAAAAAAAC0I/jyiPU_hLU_o/s400/_DSC5618.jpg

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_lGN5OoM1AuE/TEmTioauncI/AAAAAAAAC0Q/ydbzWXSCUOg/s400/_DSC5620.jpghttp://lh5.ggpht.com/_lGN5OoM1AuE/TEmTi8EU5mI/AAAAAAAAC0U/hHcgU6FfrDc/s400/_DSC5621.jpg

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_lGN5OoM1AuE/TEmTia681oI/AAAAAAAAC0M/hmxh0ebgGVY/s400/_DSC5619.jpg

Both from Picturesbooks. The 2008 book is laid out with iPhoto 09 while the We Heart You book is designed with Aperture 3. :)

Cheers,

this is very nice. always wanted to have my photos be in one of these. but my family pics grew from a couple hundreds to a couple of thousand. guess i better start little by little.

love the NEW YORK photo book. great layout

does it have to be a PDF file? there are album maker softwares that i think output in PSD or TIFF or even JPEG. Can picturebooks use those? of course i should just email em.....but im trying to post pad to 50,000 posts....LOL

Anyone who does book printing here? I need another source to do albums in a book style.. Currently I am taking Picturebooks printing, but maybe for some reasons, I noticed that their prints are getting a little not-so good now unlike before...

www.mvpiscaderophotography.webs.com

this is very nice. always wanted to have my photos be in one of these. but my family pics grew from a couple hundreds to a couple of thousand. guess i better start little by little.

Have the same problem myself. I'm trying to work backwards, but new shoots keep coming in. :D

Marton/Jo your examples are insipiring. :)

Have the same problem myself. I'm trying to work backwards, but new shoots keep coming in. :D

Marton/Jo your examples are insipiring. :)

@ Pat

I discovered that the way to make things go faster was to use Adobe Bridge to label my good shots per set (i.e. family vacation photos, kiddie parties, etc.) right after I would download them.

We actually get overwhelmed with the amount of shots we have to sort just to pick out our best images.

Post processing is our best shots actually takes less time compared to sorting and picking them.

Choose your best shots right after you download them. Post processing can be done in a short amount of time when you're ready to get them printed. :D

Cheers!

Jo Avila

@ Pat
Post processing is our best shots actually takes less time compared to sorting and picking them.

Choose your best shots right after you download them. Post processing can be done in a short amount of time when you're ready to get them printed. :D

Cheers!

Jo Avila

I agree. The hardest part is the choosing. Especially with family pics, I find it hard to discard even the bad ones. There's a part of me that tells me to include and preserve all the shots. :D

I agree. The hardest part is the choosing. Especially with family pics, I find it hard to discard even the bad ones. There's a part of me that tells me to include and preserve all the shots. :D

Preserve the bad family shots. Don't delete them.

But ask yourself if it's worth the time and effort to post process and print them :D

Cheers!

Jo Avila

Sorry, what I meant by "discard" was not choosing them for the PP and printing. :D

Thanks for the info... I will try PictureBooks Photobook now!!!