mizzee Loc: Boston,Ma

I’m looking to you for help and advice. I’m putting together a book from a recent photo safari using Shutterfly. I’m having a lot of issues with the process mostly stemming from, I think, the size and quality of my images and I can’t get a clear answer from their chat. I’m using Lightroom Classic for the photos. When I convert from raw to jpeg (the only format they accept) what should the quality % be? My images are already cropped, some a lot, which I know means a smaller “window” on the page. My aspect ratio is 4/3. Do I need to change that? Is there a step by step guide for Shutterfly or some other service that will walk me through the process from sizing to assembly? What would you recommend? Many, many thanks in advance for any advice!

Rick0747

I use Shutterfly for all my personal books. You can upload any jpeg and any size to Shutterfly. You should upload the best quality you can. Shutterfly changes the quality to fit their process but I don't know to what. Select the Advanced Editing (upper right corner) to get the most flexibility. If you chose a Shutterfly per-determined layout, the photo may be cropped to fit the space. But I almost always make my own layout and then crop or expand the photos as I see fit to do. You can spread photos over 2 pages (especially great for panoramic landscapes). Then I add backgrounds (sometimes using a photo) and captions and away I go.

M3Studios

Ditto on Rick0747's suggestions. I don't have the problems you (mizzee) describe. Also, FYI, sometimes the site locks up on displayed images. You need to log out and go back in to pick up where you were. They have 50% off sales on photo books all the time so don't miss that.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

If you upload a full size original image (or, if you use raw capture, a JPEG post-processed from it), the software on most lab sites will let you crop and scale an image to fit a particular print size or layout. Quality of 85% or better is usable. The larger the reproduction, the higher the quality I save. 90% is my standard. Over 8x10 or so, I'll go to 95% or 100%.

I'm using Lightroom Classic, which I set not to scale the image up or down. The lab gets "original," un-interpolated pixels.

If your images bleed off a page edge, allow a little extra room on that edge for paper trimming.

mizzee Loc: Boston,Ma

Thank you

Hip Coyote

Set jpeg at 100% and upload. No need to resize or change aspect ratios.

And a word to the wise. I, literally two nights ago, taught a class on making photo books for my photo club. I typically use MixBook but am going to switch to using the book module on LR which is Blurb. The integration of LR features and the Book module are amazing…such as being able to make a collection in LR, arrange it as desired and drag into the book template. And here’s the kicker: you can automatically imprint select meta data on photos using this system . Imagine being able to put a title into the meta data field for title and when you put it in a book it puts the title on the pic! Such as, “Grandma Lucy Smith with grandson Bobby Smith.” Think that might be of interest 20 years from now?

I think you can put title and date as well. Or nothing at all!

The biggie is that Blurb uses Mohawk paper which you can get a sample of. Super high quality.

The module is a bit different to use but it’s do-able. Look no further the Julie Ann Kost for expert instructions on YouTube I think she works for Adobe.

I think you do this once and you’ll never go back.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

Julieanne Kost is golden. I had the pleasure of introducing her at the Photo Marketing Association's Digital Imaging Marketing Association conference in the late 2000s. I've heard her training sessions three times over the years. She is among my favorite COMMUNICATORS, and just an all-around great person who really cares about her craft. http://www.jkost.com is her blog site.

Hip Coyote

👍 Does she work for Adobe? Her stuff is masterfully done. It seems like a big money production. Lesson plans are super tight. and finely edited video.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

Apparently so. https://jkost.com/blog/artists-statement

She spoke at a LifeTouch winter sales meeting in 2012, the last time I saw her. She is a gold mine of information about Adobe apps.

mizzee Loc: Boston,Ma

I’ve used Blurb in the past and struggled with text. I couldn’t figure out how to make the text big enough in the draft stage to accurately proofread. I will say that aside from that the books were stunning. I’ll take a look at the you tube you suggested.

Hip Coyote

With her free, extensive and excellent tutorials I do not know how all the other YouTubers even make a dime.
👍

Hip Coyote

Blurb also has a web based way of making a book which is easier to deal with.