Second Wedding Album

[KellyL]

You might not find this link if you are not following the thread on album design software, so I thought I would go ahead and put it into another thread for comments and critique. I used the You Select It album design software, after creating other books tediously in photoshop. It was a great experience...the software was well worth the $500.00. And since I have several weddings booked for the upcoming year, I thought it would be a worthwhile investment which will pay for itself in time.

I know there are things that could make this book better, but here is my second attempt at a wedding album:

Anthony and Kristine Brent

Not real thrilled with the music, but since I don't have a broadcast license I am limited to the collecton of royalty free music I have purchased from The Music Bakery.

[GertS]

Hi Kelly,

Just had a look at the album. I like the design of your album and the images. Really well done.

At the beginning of the slide show I wondered about the size of the book you used for displaying the pages. Was there no chance to get a book with square pages similar you used for the design?
For the preview it might be a bit confusing at the beginning.

Just wondering why nobody else has not written a comment.

If you do several weddings with albums, it is surely a good investment purchasing an application which reduces your time with such good results.
What about the printed results?

[Brewyet]

Kelly, Nice job on the book. Jut wondering, how bad is the crease in the book going to affect the pictures? I guess that would depend on what book maker you were using. I know blurb and mpix have a BAD crease in the center. Kiss books have none! So, I guess the book maker would determine how I would lay my book out. I am going to be getting into this soon, so keep posting ideas and such, I'll learn from your mistakes.....I mean....your experiences! ...Chris

BTW,,I think everyone is too busy with the Holiday weekend to post.

[KellyL]

Thanks Gerts. You are right, I need to repost the book to avoid the confusion. I have a SQSQ option, but forgot to choose it. Only a matter of minutes to recreate the album, so I think I had better do it.

Chris...thanks. I haven't heard of Kiss books?? I was planning on going with ASUKA, which I have been told is the best for coffee table books. They offer a large variety of sizes and everybody says that I will be blown away. Since they are one of the best, I made the assumption that they would also be the best for the gutter in the middle. I'll see!

[jachurch]

Hi Kelly,

That's a nice looking album design; I'm sure your clients will love it. I haven't used Mpix, but I use Blurb for my engagement / guest books and Asukabook for all of my albums - Book Bound EX Glossy Laminate.

My clients love the Asukabooks, but you do have to watch out for the crease; the guides in their template are a pretty good indicator of where you might lose bits of the image. Only a couple of layouts concern me based on my experience with the product.

image #19 - groom's face is very close to the centre crease. If possible I would move the image to the right allowing some of the 'dead space' between b&g to fall over the crease.

image #26 - the 6th groomsman from the left is in danger of being lost. I would move the image left or right allowing the crease to fall between two of the groomsmen if possible.

Great job and thanks for posting. Let us know how the final book turns out.

Cheers,
James.

[KellyL]

James! Thank you so much for taking the time to comment. I have yet to order a book from ASUKA. I have used Blurb and U-Build-A-Book and have one Willowbook in my sample case...from my Pictage days. U-Build is low end and was great for a yearbook I did for my daughter's marching band. I have not looked at the ASUKA templates, which would have probably been a good place to start. I hope I don't have to rework a bunch of pages, as it would be very, very tedious work. But then, I am learning.

Thanks again for taking the time to look and comment!

[jachurch]

Hi Kelly,

No problem. Happy to help.

I should say that when I say "Asukabook templates", it is overselling them a little; you will this find out when you download them! They are basically just a bunch of white backgrounds of the correct size and resolution - but since Asukabook is very picky about size, resolution and colour space you should definitely download them. More info here https://asukabook.com/gs-templates2.html and here https://asukabook.com/gs-templates.html.

Looking at the album again, you might need to design another couple of double page spreads or drop a few. Asukabooks are only available in 20, 40,60 or 80 sides and I think you have 76 sides.

I don't think you should need to rework the pages too much IF the page design software can output at the size that Asukabooks need, which are 5612 x 2838 for the double pages and 2838 x 2838 for the singles if you use their book-bound EX 10x10 product.

The process of getting the book ready is pretty precise and it took me a couple of goes before I was really comfortable with it. If you need some help outside of the forum, please feel free to contact me directly.

Also - I meant to say thanks for bringing You Select It to my attention. I am still hand-crafting these in Photoshop, but I will be looking closely at YSI.

Cheers,
James.

[jachurch]

Correction - I should have said "20, 30, 40, 60 or 80 sides" are available for Asukabook's book-bound products.

[KellyL]

James, I wondered what would happen if I didn't have a full 80 pages. Does Asuka take double page spreads or are they submitted as singles? I need to go over there and check out the directions. I am also waiting to compare the pricing for KISS wedding ablums. They have no gutter. So...I need to create just a few more pages, because I really don't want to do any deleting! Of course, that final decision will be up to the bride.

[jachurch]

Originally Posted by KellyL

James, I wondered what would happen if I didn't have a full 80 pages. Does Asuka take double page spreads or are they submitted as singles?

Asukabook is set at 20, 30, 40, 60, 80 sides. A side is what would be called a page in a regular book like a novel. Another way of looking at it is that a 30 side album comprises a single front page, 14 double page spreads and a single closing page.

From what I have seen, the layouts you have should work OK with Asukabook, with the provisos mentioned in earlier posts.

Originally Posted by KellyL

I need to go over there and check out the directions.

Yep - you should definitely check them out. Let me know if U need a hand.

Originally Posted by KellyL

I am also waiting to compare the pricing for KISS wedding ablums. They have no gutter.

So...I need to create just a few more pages, because I really don't want to do any deleting! Of course, that final decision will be up to the bride.

Quite - the customer is always right

[KellyL]

checked out your website, James. Nice stuff there.

[Brewyet]

Kelly, did you check out Kiss Books? They are pricey, but I like them. If I ever get a bride rich enough to pay for one, I'm there. later...Chris

edit...should have read your other post first. He did send me an email. (I wish it would have had a big coupon in it!!!) Thanks....Chris

[Worm324]

Great stuff Kelly!! You did a really nice job if you ask me

Best,
Jay

[KellyL]

Thanks Jay! I need to get started on another wedding album. Why can't I find the time?

[KellyL]

Chris...the guy at KISS was very nice, but I can't pay that for a book. Maybe when I sell and $8.000 album like HE does!