Publishing Coffee Table Books -- Again - SBB Digital Scrapbooking Forums | Scrapbook-Bytes

debraKin · #1 (**permalink**) 09-11-2005

I know this thread is old; however, it's been awhile since anyone has updated it.
As we head into Christmas I know I want to pull some of my layouts together and have them bound for Christmas presents. Cost is a factor. Quality, too. I'm leaning toward SharedInk.com and MyPublisher.com for gifts. Are there any new kids on the block in this arena? I'd love to have 10x10, 11x11, or perhaps 12x12 options. The 8x8s are fine, but I'd love to see them a bit larger with affordable prices for the gift options.

I've got so many photos and layouts that the Bound2Remember prices aren't feasible for me right now, not as gifts.

Does anyone have any recent experience or comments?

Thanks!
Debra

Photojenics · #2 (**permalink**) 09-11-2005

I've had experience with SharedInk, although not with MyPublisher or Bound2Remember. One reason I picked SharedInk was because it had such good reviews. B2R seemed a bit expensive, and MyPublisher seemed to be experiencing a lot of customer service issues.

I created a 40th Birthday scrapbook for DH and had it printed & bound by SharedInk. Overall I give the company an A++. The book has a yummy linen cover, and I was able to get a personalized gold imprint on the cover. Inside, it has end papers that look handmade. The layouts are printed on a heavy weight paper that is neither glossy nor flat...but more of a luster. The printing is fabulous and the colors excellent! I was really amazed at how great they looked because many of the LO's had pix that were only 72ppi.

The only negatives were that it took a little longer to get the book than I anticipated. The shipping times were spot on...it's just that the turn around time was about two weeks, and I hadn't planned for it, so the book came after his birthday.

Now that I've printed my first book, I think that I'll have regular "yearly" book LOs printed at Costco and place in a regular top-loading album. But for special books (baby albums, tributes, presents, etc.) I will most definetly use SharedInk. If you join their Photographer's Program ($150 approx) you get more sizes, like 12x12, 8x8 and 10x10. Plus you get more choices of book covers, like leather.

HTH!

frankcassiesmom · #3 (**permalink**) 09-11-2005

There is heritagemakers too

Lil_Button_99 · #4 (**permalink**) 09-11-2005

What is the cost per page? Can I ask what your overall cost was? I am new to digital scrapbooking so could you fill me in. What exactly are you having done? Do they print all your pages and bind them in an album (book)??

CGEssentials · #5 (**permalink**) 09-11-2005

I had mine published with Heritage Makers. Cost $60 for 26 pages. They have pre-done templates, or you can choose to do an 8x8 storybook and upload your layouts for a full bleed book. You can see my book here:
http://www.threescrapateers.com/gall...&imageuser=404

andyapc · #6 (**permalink**) 09-11-2005

Kim - were you really pleased with the quality of the book? Was it easy to assemble/order the book?

CGEssentials · #7 (**permalink**) 09-11-2005

It was a little hard to figure out how to use the upload process, but the rep walked me through it over the phone. Then I was off and running. You do need to leave a substantial amount of room around the edges for "cutting" when they bind the book. For instance, the spine/stitched area needs a little more than 1/2" of room. The rest of the edges need about 1/4". The page quality is nice and the cover is hard. Overall, I am very satisfied. Spending $60 on a book made me stop and pause for a minute. But I plan to hold it for him and give it as a gift when he is an adult with children of his own. And if you compare the pricing to other places, I think it is more than worth it.

andyapc · #8 (**permalink**) 09-11-2005

That border thing is what makes me nervous. I've already completed all of my layouts and there are quite a few that don't have that extra space at the border - so I don't know how to "fix" the layout so that nothing will get cropped off and yet still have it be full bleed, KWIM??