Kristoes

Hi, I'm helping my wife with a long term photography project and want to "reverse engineer" the book publishing process so that I can color match the photos to our computer monitor from the get-go. Since we're only going to make 20 copies, I need a company that can do a very small run of a "coffee table" book of 30-40 color pictures of trees.

Thanks for any help.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

I've used shutterfly although there's probably better choices for this size order.

lighthouse Loc: No Fixed Abode

How much do you know about converting RGB to CYMK?

Maybe do a cheap one-off soft cover draft from Blurb or similar and see if the colours transfer truly before going for the proper print run?

Nick K Loc: Long Beach CA

I have used My Publisher, the books turn out great but may be a little pricey for 20.

Kristoes

I really don't know anything about RGB or CYMK, where should I start?

Your suggestion about doing a draft with a company like Blurb is kind of what I was thinking when I'm closer to publishing it, but for getting ahead of the curve I thought I would print one page to check their printing colors against my monitor colors. Maybe there is an easier way to calibrate this.

Thanks for your suggestions

Don L G

I au's
http://lp.blurb.com/mbrand?ce=msn_brand&utm_source=msn&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Brand&utm_term=blurb

Kristoes

I've just checked out Blurb's cover page and if it really is $50 for a book that would fit my budget. So it looks like this is a good place to start. I'll register and learn more tomorrow morning.

For those of you that have used Blurb publishing before, how were the colors compared to your computer monitor? I can't help but think there is some dance I need to do to get it right.

Was the experience a good one, or were there lots of surprises?

Again, thanks for sharing

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

K, Blurb books can be done directly from your Lightroom, if it makes it easier. Assuming they all come out the same, can't you just order one, and if satisfied, order the rest?
I would assume their printers are calibrated, and if your monitor and printer are also calibrated, if you print samples, one would think that what you see is what you'll get. No? ;-)
SS

Kristoes

Yes, ordering one "test" book followed by the rest makes sense, and the LightRoom direct publishing direct connection sounds really nice. We need a new quality printer and monitor, but I just purchased a new camera, polarizing filter, monopod, cards, computer, etc. so I'm currently tapped out. In the meantime, while she starts taking RAW photos and editing them in LightRoom, I'm hoping to use our new 15" MacBook Pro laptop Retina screen to do our editing (needs to be portable).

This way we can take advantage of the Retina screen's excellent resolution to allow us to do detailed dodging and burning with the RAW photo files. I was hoping to set up a system to where we wouldn't need to go back in and reshift all of the colors when it comes to publishing.

I guess in retrospect my question has a lot to do with calibrating my screen on the MacBook to the publishers color calibrations. So there must be some standard way to do that; I assume there is a common chart somewhere.

35 years ago I would have needed to make many trial and error attempts to get my color slides to have the proper color calibration to properly reveal my hand colored renderings in an accurate way. Times have changed so much, which is a good thing!

Sorry I'm so new to all of this, thanks for your patience and advice.

bobzeller Loc: San Angelo, Texas

I have used Blurb for many years. Excellent reproduction of photos. The best in my opinion. Also quantity discounts.

Kristoes

Thanks for that! Most helpful!

missletoe Loc: Tujunga, CA

Go to a local printer, I'm publishing a 44 page book with lots of color pictures for a vacation ownership place called The R-Ranch in the Sequoias. Talk to the printer and see what format will be best. Also remember they go in 4 page increments. In other words if you have 37 pages you will have 3 blank pages.

Kristoes

Very helpful. I'm strongly considering using iBooks for pre-calibrated Apple computer publishing, but I do have a local printer friend. Hadn't thought of that.
Thanks

lighthouse Loc: No Fixed Abode

I am sorry.
It is not an area that I know the answers to.
I just know it can be a problem.
I have read that some photos convert truly and some convert untruly depending on the colours and tones.
I can't remember if this is a garish or a flat problem. Possibly both, depending on the colours concerned.

bdk Loc: Sanibel Fl.

I think you would need to start with an18% gray card. Then see if your monitor can match that color. If not it would be REALLY tough to set it up correctly. Then google monitor calibration , there are lots of sites that will help you, There is also a machine professional photographers have to calibrate their equipment. Maybe you can find one in your area and he could help you. The machine im told runs about $700.00 and up for a better one.