Posted by dean hebert on April 18, 2011 at 6:47 PM
I just got a photo book from Kodak and I'm not overly happy with the quality of the printing. There seems to be a reduced dynamic range and some banding in the sky.Does anyone have any experience with Kodak? Should I be using a different printer?
Posted by Scott Fricke on April 18, 2011 at 9:03 PM
I've done several books using iPhoto and moved up to doing them using the Aperture program (more options). The photos have an excellent color match and they can do both soft and hard cover with cover jacket. They are very easy to produce as well. Prices are competitive and they turn them around pretty quickly.
Posted by Joe Rogers on April 18, 2011 at 10:34 PM
It's pretty much get what you pay for in the book printing world..there are many quickie book printers out there including Kodak.
Top of the line printers are Ausuka books but they are not cheap. Major photographic labs like Millers and ACI are also good and I have use both for portrait work but you have to apply for an account to have access to them. I have seen a company called Blurb {I think it is called) that has an excellent reputation and is in the lower end of the cost range. I have seen their books at conventions and liked them. Joe Rogers
Posted by Bill Maile on April 19, 2011 at 12:12 AM
Dean, I have done several books using Kodak... and am about to finish my last one. Ever. I totally dislike their book creation setup/software, amateurish or archaic I'm not sure what you'd call it. And I haven't been thrilled with the final products, especially with the larger, more expensive Kodak books that I've had done. For the price, not worth it, will never use them again--I just have one more that needs to ordered from there at a customer's request. Have had to ship a couple back.
I have also heard good things about Blurb as well from my friend who is a Graphics Design professor and artist herself--many of her tech-savvy young students love Blurb I guess.
Posted by Jim Bullard on April 19, 2011 at 9:22 AM
I have used My Publisher, MPIX and Blurb. My Publisher print quality is good (I like their linen covers) but they can expensive. If you use them watch for their (frequent) sales before ordering. MPIX was okay but had far fewer options than others I looked at, at least when I last ordered from them a couple of years ago. Blurb is good but you don't often see discounts from them. They do have a POD marketing setup, something neither My Publisher or MPIX has.
If anyone knows of a POD publisher that has print quality equivalent to LENSWORK magazine I'd love to hear about it.
I, too, like My Publisher. The colors and turn around time cannot be beaten.IMO. The OFTEN have sales up to 70%, so put yourself on their mailing list.
I published my first book recently. The font's they have are waaay too small. You cannot tell it from the program. I called....they re-published all my copies for free, with my corrections....when I called to say I was dissatisfied!
Discussion
5 repliesTop of the line printers are Ausuka books but they are not cheap. Major photographic labs like Millers and ACI are also good and I have use both for portrait work but you have to apply for an account to have access to them. I have seen a company called Blurb {I think it is called) that has an excellent reputation and is in the lower end of the cost range. I have seen their books at conventions and liked them. Joe Rogers
I have also heard good things about Blurb as well from my friend who is a Graphics Design professor and artist herself--many of her tech-savvy young students love Blurb I guess.
If anyone knows of a POD publisher that has print quality equivalent to LENSWORK magazine I'd love to hear about it.
I published my first book recently. The font's they have are waaay too small. You cannot tell it from the program. I called....they re-published all my copies for free, with my corrections....when I called to say I was dissatisfied!