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Recommendations for online publisher
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Sep 25, 2021 08:12:10   #
Bruce Hudson Loc: Delaware
 
Interested in doing a hardback of my photos and would appreciate suggestions for best value for quality and price.
Many thanks.
Bruce

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Sep 25, 2021 08:37:13   #
Brian S. Loc: Oak Park, MI
 
Shutterfly is great for both quality and price.

We have done over 15 different books of vacations for ourselves and as gifts.

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Sep 25, 2021 11:54:35   #
via the lens Loc: Northern California, near Yosemite NP
 
Blurb is a nice book publisher, they do all kinds of books and have many options. I've done over 15 large coffee-table size books with them. I use LrC and set up the book in the Book Module but Blurk has it's own book design software called Book Wright and you can use that from their website. Good luck.

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Sep 26, 2021 06:52:06   #
Fstop12 Loc: Kentucky
 
I have done several books with Blurb. Right now they are running specials. I have also printed 1 Magazine that turned out really nice and it's a whole lot less expensive.

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Sep 26, 2021 07:08:08   #
billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont
 
Bruce Hudson wrote:
Interested in doing a hardback of my photos and would appreciate suggestions for best value for quality and price.
Many thanks.
Bruce


I use and trust Shutterfly. But, after I put my book together exactly the way I want it, I put it in My Projects. You will need to register yourself for this (free) and establish a user name and password.
Then I wait for them to give 50% off, free extra pages, and free shipping. They do this a couple of times a year.
I would order from them without the discount, they are that good.
And, if you get lost putting the book together the first time, they have a very friendly and helpful staff that will get you out of any problem your having.
Good luck and keep on shooting until the end.
PS. They have printed all three of my books on Florida Birds. They have sold well and have been well received. They have even won some awards.

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Sep 26, 2021 09:37:36   #
stuparr935 Loc: Dallas, Texas area
 
If you want to be in control of your book’s photo colors, beware for Shutterfly changes your color balance in 2 ways. One is a global a auto color adjustment that can be turned OFF. The second one must be turned OFF on each photo you put into the book. I could not find a way to turn off this second auto color adjustment globally. They messed up my book and had to reprint it due to their automatic color adjustment and the second reprint was better, but not acceptable. If you like what they do to your color balance, then that is OK for you. Just a warning to those who are critical with your photo’s color balance. I have gone to Mixbook as they cover all my book printing needs without messing with the photos I place in their books. Blurb is another book printer that I would recommend. Just a thought and my experience with many of those who produce a quality product at a reasonable price. If you need/want any further info please contact me at: stuparr@stusplace.com……..

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Sep 26, 2021 10:25:26   #
DebAnn Loc: Toronto
 
Bruce Hudson wrote:
Interested in doing a hardback of my photos and would appreciate suggestions for best value for quality and price.
Many thanks.
Bruce


Blurb is my book producer of choice.

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Sep 26, 2021 12:24:21   #
billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont
 
stuparr935 wrote:
If you want to be in control of your book’s photo colors, beware for Shutterfly changes your color balance in 2 ways. One is a global a auto color adjustment that can be turned OFF. The second one must be turned OFF on each photo you put into the book. I could not find a way to turn off this second auto color adjustment globally. They messed up my book and had to reprint it due to their automatic color adjustment and the second reprint was better, but not acceptable. If you like what they do to your color balance, then that is OK for you. Just a warning to those who are critical with your photo’s color balance. I have gone to Mixbook as they cover all my book printing needs without messing with the photos I place in their books. Blurb is another book printer that I would recommend. Just a thought and my experience with many of those who produce a quality product at a reasonable price. If you need/want any further info please contact me at: stuparr@stusplace.com……..
If you want to be in control of your book’s photo ... (show quote)


I have done business with Shutterfly for years and never had an issue with color match. I do spend a little extra and get their better printing.

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Sep 26, 2021 12:54:42   #
Tom22 Loc: Annapolis, Maryland
 
Fstop12 wrote:
I have done several books with Blurb. Right now they are running specials. I have also printed 1 Magazine that turned out really nice and it's a whole lot less expensive.


I agree. I have done about 10 full size hard back books with Blurb and am working on one now

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Sep 26, 2021 14:08:36   #
stuparr935 Loc: Dallas, Texas area
 
billnikon wrote:
I have done business with Shutterfly for years and never had an issue with color match. I do spend a little extra and get their better printing.



If Shutterfly works for you, that is OK. I am very particular and calibrate my post processing equipment and adjust the color balance on my photo book images as necessary, but have had problems with their auto color adjustments. I just wanted to warn those who might have this problem, also. Other than that Shutterfly does a rather good job and has for a long time.

They did, however buy, a while ago 'MyPublisher' Photo Book Printer and then put them out of business as, I guess, 'MyPublisher'was doing as good or better job at printing Photo Books and offered a few more options....! Who really knows? Sincerely, Stu Parr...

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Sep 26, 2021 14:25:14   #
stevefrankel
 
I've published several camera guides through Amazon that offers hardback and paperback editions. It's essentially "print on demand" when you purchase the books. The most cost-effective way is to print a supply of books that you know you can sell to friends and relatives, or at your website, at a quantity price; and then allow Amazon to sell to others at their "single book price." An example of their work is "The Compleat Olympus Stylus 1s" (Steve Frankel, Amazon) that sells for $29.95 (close to my cost) in paperback and $4.99 online. I didn't opt for publishing it in hardback because I didn't have a ready-audience for what's essential a trade book -- not a work of art. Nevertheless, the photos are nearly as good as the originals that were taken with Olympus Stylus 1s -- many at about 600mm -- with a camera whose sensor is not much larger than a iPhone 12 or 13 Pro Max. I was thoroughly delighted with how the photos were reproduced. You can see what I mean by going to the Amazon listing and clicking on the "Sample Pages."

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Sep 26, 2021 14:41:28   #
rdgreenwood Loc: Kennett Square, Pennsylvania
 
We just went through this about two weeks ago. Blurb, Blurb, and Blurb…

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Sep 26, 2021 14:44:23   #
rdgreenwood Loc: Kennett Square, Pennsylvania
 
If you’re in northern Delaware, PM me and we can get together so I can show you a couple of books.

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Sep 26, 2021 19:06:30   #
Dennis833 Loc: Australia
 
I recently produced three books with Blurb via there PDF download. The colours and printing was very accurate. I used their ICC profile and soft proofed the images before converting them to the Blurb profile. I use this technique every year to produce commercial calendars because it's the best way to control how images are going to print with ink on paper.

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Sep 28, 2021 09:27:15   #
Bruce Hudson Loc: Delaware
 
Thank you to all who replied. Very useful suggestions. Looks like Blurb and Shutterfly are leading the pack.

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