Review: Creating a good looking photobook with Blurb

With a good provider, nearly anybody can create a photobook these days. And – believe me - there are a lot of book printing providers out there.

The trick is to find the one that is right for you. The right style, layout, price and quality of the end-product are important points, as well the ability to create the book in an easy way.

As a first provider, I reviewed the service and quality of Blurb.com. Here is my opinion.

Print photo business cards from your Facebook Timeline


DIY business card specialists Moo.com have just come up with their latest photo-based offering -- Facebook Timeline cards.

The innovative cards take their design from the recently launched Facebook Timeline which puts images big and central. Just as we like it.

Moo.com have translated the Cover Photo concept by mirroring the fonts, layout and iconography of the page -- including profile picture and contact details.

Turn your photos into custom advent calendars


We like our photographs, and we like chocolate, so combine the two and we are always going to be interested.

Well FotoInsight have announced they will this year give photographers the chance to have their images turned into chocolate advent calendars.

Images can be used as the front of a 23.5 x 17.8 x 2.5cm advent calendar with the usual 24 doors concealing 24 Christmas wrapped milk chocolate balls.

Is Printing Photos On Aluminium The Next Big Thing?

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There was a time, when if you wanted to display your photographs, you had them printed and popped them into a frame. But then came along canvas prints, acrylic prints and even custom printed wallpaper.

Now artistic-minded photographers who want something different are said to be opting for printing their images on aluminium.

While the technique will obviously not suit all images, bosses at printlounge.co.uk say it is "great for those wanting an experimental edge to their photography."

High-resolution images are printed directly onto brushed aluminium which is mitre grooved and fabricated to create an 'AlloyBox' -- giving the effect of a chunk of metal hanging on your wall.

AlloyBoxes can be produced in sizes up to 3m x 1.6m and are 2.5cm deep. They have concealed keyhole fixings.

Blurb Release Bookify Online Photo Bookmaking Tool


Self-publishing firm Blurb has announced the release of 'Bookify' a new online bookmaking tool which is said to make putting photo-books together even easier.

 

While Blurb users have traditionally downloaded dedicated bookmaking software to their computer - before uploading the final product to Blurb to be printed - the entire process can now take place online. 

 

Blurb say Bookify features a curated collection of their most popular photo-book layouts, fonts, and design elements which can be activated using a drag and drop interface.

Photo Card Creations Review and Giveaway

There are a bunch of different ways that you can cards done for your wedding, party, baby, thank yous and...well what else is there? Maybe you're letting everyone know you're off to break a free-fall skydiving record. Whatever it is there are companies that cater for it. One such company is Photo Card Creations and they've kindly send me some samples so I can have a look and let everyone at Cool Photo know what I think.

Photo Books using iPhoto : Your View?

iPhoto has been a popular piece of software for Apple users for many years. I've always been tempted by their photo books but have never got round to ordering one. I'd like to create one to sample the quality and service and will feature the results on Cool Photo. If you've never used the software, its actually very straight forward to use. Simply select the photos you want to include in the book (select more than you need as you can always narrow down your selection) and click on "Book" at the bottom of iPhoto.

The following photos came bundled with my MacBook Pro under a Tibet photo project, so I selected all of them:

AllPopArt - Pop Art Giveaway

Congratulations to Robin Fulton the winner in our Pop Art giveaway!

One of our FAVE sponsors, AllPopArt has generously offered another great giveaway for our readers! If you are on the hunt for one awesome gift, then you can probably find it at AllPopArt!

AllPopArt is generously giving one lucky Cool Photo Ideas reader a 16x20 (1) face (4) panel Warhol style portrait on gallery wrap canvas .




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Best Blurb Books Contest

Finding a company that will print your images into a hard cover book at an affordable price and with great quality? No way!

Remember those days where it was virtually impossible to do this - it really wasn't that long ago! I remember as a photographer I began offering photo books years ago, but the cost was high and the process was lengthy in getting an order uploaded. But not anymore! Now there are many companies that offer this one-off printing - some good, some not so good.

But one I have found that seems to offer great quality, pricing and even sense of community is Blurb.


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LifePhoto Printing Services - Eco Friendly Too!

CONGRATULATIONS TO Michelle P #14 who was our random winner!

GIVEAWAY BELOW! We know there is an overwhelming amount of printing services out there!  But this one stood out because of there Eco-Friendly product line.

Lifephoto offers a full array of products and services, but I think it is their eco-friendly product line that sets them apart from the rest.

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Win A Little Pop From All Pop Art

CONGRATULATIONS # 116, Susan C. - the winner of our All Pop Art giveaway!

Love Warhol? Love Unique? Love Photos?

Then All Pop Art is a must see site! A leader in the Photo Art world, All Pop Art features a wide selection of unique options for being creative with your photos!

From Warhol to Manga, from Lichstyle to Silhouettes they have everything you need to create a dramatic display of images in your home.

Right now I am totally digging the Superhero Style they have going on and really think EVERY mom needs one of these!!

 

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Shutterfly Wants to Welcome You!

So apparently there was a deadline made by Kodak Photo Gallery that if you did not meet a certain minimum qualifying purchase from your hosted photo galleries, then your images would be deleted! Now, I get that everyone needs to make money, but to me that is just poor customer service.

So if you are one of the unfortunate people that have been evicted, then take a look at what Shutterfly would like to offer you to ease the burden of moving!

Our friends at Shutterfly have put together a special "Welcome" program to welcome any Kodak Gallery users into the Shutterfly family.

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