Topic: Print on demand - Self publishing photo books question

[Susan B.]

Hi all,

Wondering if any of you have used any of the print on demand companies to publish your photos in a book dummy.

If so, has anyone used any of the companies below?

http://asukabook.com/
http://www.blurb.com/
http://www.apple.com/ilife/iphoto/features/books.html

Were you pleased with the results?
What was the quality of the printing and what type of paper do they use?

Do you have any other companies to suggest (other than lulu)?

Many thanks!
Susan

[This-is-damion]

can be also add www.qoop.com to that list

ta

[Susan B.]

can be also add www.qoop.com to that list

ta

Thanks D. Good price, but they don't give detailed info about types of papers, covers....etc.

Has anyone used them?

[chricela]

Hi Susan,
I personally haven't. But a friend of mine did a few iphoto books. The paper was glossy. Not flimsy. & they looked nice.
Hope this helps 
Chricel

[JOhn Reeves]

Asuka may have a sample book to send your way. I think they were doing that awhile ago when I was a shooter. They willa lso send samples on different paper stock.

[Susan B.]

Asuka may have a sample book to send your way. I think they were doing that awhile ago when I was a shooter. They willa lso send samples on different paper stock.

Just got paper samples from Asuka yesterday and they are impressive.
Might be worth the extra cost for me, as they did a wonderful job on Hiroshi Watanabe's self published books.
Leaning toward them.

Thanks John--really appreciate it.

[Ed Wenn]

...and just to jump ahead of the queue, Susan, put me down for one of whatever it is you're thinking of.

[gary m]

...and just to jump ahead of the queue, Susan, put me down for one of whatever it is you're thinking of.

Agreed, Ive been waiting for a compilation of Susans work that I can hold in my hot little hand!

[Susan B.]

...and just to jump ahead of the queue, Susan, put me down for one of whatever it is you're thinking of.

Agreed, Ive been waiting for a compilation of Susans work that I can hold in my hot little hand!

Shucks guys. Thanks.

[outofcontxt]

Count me in too!

[nicnichols]

I downloaded the layouts from lulu.com.. and was starting to work on
a book using them- they did a nice job with the toycamera book and
lightleaks mag...

Anyone tried them?

[JOhn Reeves]

I had a difficult time letting go of the control of the printing at lulu. Maybe they now offer the printing profiles now, but last year they were not available. I printed 5 or 6 subtle variations of my book before I was satisfied enough to let it go. I'm still not excited about it, but I needed to complete the project.

[outofcontxt]

Susan, I would avoid qoop.com. I did a small sample of some toy cam work and all the highlights were blown out.

[Susan B.]

Susan, I would avoid qoop.com. I did a small sample of some toy cam work and all the highlights were blown out.

Thanks Bill--I'll skip em then.

[This-is-damion]

ive just got my qoop book!   i opted for the mini book, small and cheap as i was unsure of quality, worked out at $7 per book for 30 photos,  and i reckon it was worth the money,  clearly not good enough for susans purpose, or indeed anyone if your thinking of getting some proper work done, BUT for a neat/cheap little book, maybe a unique gift etc,  was worth it,  didnt have an issue with blown out bits either

if it didnt cost another $25 to get them shipped to Uk would be a geat service!

[Aline]

Hey Susan:
Just published an ilife book and thought it was pretty crappy--nothing like Hiroshi's books.  The paper looks sort of cheap and I've heard the binding doesn't last too long-- the paperback books I've seen are OK, but it wasn't my work and I wasn't as critical.  But I don't think this is the road you want to go down.  Count me in too if you get any good info. 
Aline
PS  Just saw the Bending Light issue--great images AND writing.  Is there anything you don't do well!

[Susan B.]

Hey Susan:
Just published an ilife book and thought it was pretty crappy--nothing like Hiroshi's books.  The paper looks sort of cheap and I've heard the binding doesn't last too long-- the paperback books I've seen are OK, but it wasn't my work and I wasn't as critical.  But I don't think this is the road you want to go down.  Count me in too if you get any good info. 
Aline
PS  Just saw the Bending Light issue--great images AND writing.  Is there anything you don't do well!

Blushing...Thanks Aline.
And yep--I can't cook worth a damn. Actually, I think I can. I just hate cooking more than going to the dentist.

Thank you so much for the ilife info. Sorry to hear your book didn't turn out as hoped.
I have seen a couple of published ilife books a was unimpressed. Good to know about the paper--- that's key.
I've seen paper samples from Asuka (which Hiroshi used) and they are by far the best...and most expensive. But you get what you pay for.

[Francois]

This might be of some interest to some, so I'm reviving this thread.
While looking through our weekly ad bag, I noticed in the Wal M*rt flyer that they now offer, through their website, a book publishing service. (For single or low volume printing).

Prices are 29$can for Hardcover, 19$can for paperback.

Haven't tried their service nor have I checked out the website so I can't say if they're worth it (though I really doubt any decent quality can come from this).

Just thought it might be of some interest for someone...