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Viovio Premium 12 x 12 photo books: the results
Table of contents for Viovio 12 x 12 Premium Process
I returned from a trip to find my 12 x 12 Viovio photo book on the doorstep. The book turned just like I hoped it would.
- The photos are good quality.
- The paper is good quality.
- The binding is done really nice.
- The cover is gorgeous! That’s the part I love the most about these books is putting your images on the cover and creating one of a kind book. No plain linen cloth.
- Shipping was very reasonable. I chose the inexpensive method that comes media mail, the slow postal rate. I knew it had gone to a printer on a Monday (they informed me via email) and I received it the following Thursday. So it probably spent a week in media mail shipping. Definitely a way to go if you aren’t under a deadline!
- The whole process was quite easy from start to finish.
I also like that I can share my photo book with a link so others can view it. I have friends in another country that I wanted to show. So instead of showing them the printed book, I gave them the link and they could view it.
I would encourage you to Viovio. They are making photobooks easier and easier to create!
Subscribe to the comments for this postViovio Premium 12 x 12 photo books, The process: creating & laying out book
Table of contents for Viovio 12 x 12 Premium Process
- Viovio Premium 12 x 12 photo books, The process: uploading images
- Viovio Premium 12 x 12 photo books, The process: the cover
- Viovio Premium 12 x 12 photo books, The process: creating & laying out book
- Viovio Premium 12 x 12 photo books: the results
Now that we have our images uploaded and the cover created, lets create the book!
Begin by going to Books & Products | Book Designer
This will start Viovio’s Book Designer program.
- Give your photo album a title.
- Choose Product type. I am creating the 12 x 12 square book so I choose Square 1:1.
- You can choose number of pages but I left it as default of 20. You can add or remove pages later.
- Then click Create
Note: For digital scrapbookers that are uploading full 12 x 12 pages (or other size) you do not need to do anything with templates on the right side.
You will be presented with an empty album:
The next step is to add your images to each page. I like the Auto-fill pages. If your pictures are already ordered, they will be placed ordered into the book. (When I get ready to print a book I will rename all my jpgs with the page number and filename.) This isn’t necessary though because Viovio Book Designer provides an easy way to order your pages. Auto-fill will also add the correct number of pages to match the number of images you uploaded. So for now, click on the Auto-fill and you will have to wait a bit. I had 46 pages it put into the book and it took a few minutes.
Once the book is auto-filled, you will see images on each page:
If you want to order any pages click on the second icon to Reorder your pages. Drag & drop the pages around to order them and when done click on Save.
Note: When you look at individual pages, you might see image1 in the upper left hand corner of the images. When you look at the previews that image1 text will not print.
Once you have images on their pages and ordered correctly, you can go on to step 2, Design Cover. Click on it on the upper-right hand corner.
I am doing a full-wrap cover and we already created the cover in a previous post so we are ready to go:
- Since I don’t put text on the cover, the top 5 choices, don’t apply. If you do want to add text on the spine, this is where you should do – in the Spine Text field.
- I click the Full Wrap Cover box since my cover is one large image. Then I choose where that is file is located.
- Viovio Logo Alignment. By default it is in the bottom center. I changed my setting to bottom right since I have my logo in the bottom center.
- I also deleted the Product URL. This is a private album and don’t want or expect others to purchase so I don’t want the Product URL on the bottom.
Once done, click on Update Cover
Once the cover updates, you will see a preview of the cover and since I used their template, it is just as I expected:
If everything, looks ok, click on Next. You will be presented with your photo book previews, pricing, settings.
- The first thing you want to do is set your security on the bottom right and click on Save to save your book so you don’t lose what you have done.
- Next you want to click on Generate Pageflip and Generate PDF views right underneath your cover and it will create what your book will look like. (Each step takes a little while.)
- You can click on PDF Preview and proof all your pages. Make sure there are no typos! If there is correct your page, delete the page that is wrong in your photo album, reupload the image, and go back to Step 1 and make sure that page gets updated with your changes. You do not need to do whole process again.
- The Page flip allows you to make sure all pages are ordered correctly and you got the left & right paired correctly. It also allows you to show the crop guides so you make sure nothing is being cut-off.
- If all is correct you can click on Buy Now! select the type of book you want and go through the checkout process.
You’ll notice that I am printing a 2007 book! I am really not that far behind in my digital scrapbooking. I am working on mid – 2009 right now so a little less than year behind. I am a chronological scrapper for my family albums. In addition, I create project albums. I about to send an album of to my parent about a cabin they built in the early 1970’s. Just that far behind in my printing.
I did the cheaper slower shipping method, so when I receive the book I will let you know what it looks like. I found the process of uploading my images, creating the book and buying the book from Viovio fairly easy and straightforward!
Viovio Premium 12 x 12 photo books, The process: the cover
Table of contents for Viovio 12 x 12 Premium Process
- Viovio Premium 12 x 12 photo books, The process: uploading images
- Viovio Premium 12 x 12 photo books, The process: the cover
- Viovio Premium 12 x 12 photo books, The process: creating & laying out book
- Viovio Premium 12 x 12 photo books: the results
I love the full-wrap covers on my photos books. They make them look like elegant coffee table books!
Creating them correctly is important! Viovio provides some templates and highly recommend you use them. The information can be found here: Book Cover Specifications.
I download the 12 x 12 full-wrap guide from Viovio to start creating my cover.
Some hints:
- Don’t expect the spine to hit exactly where the template says. The number of pages in your book affect your spine and spine placement. I don’t try do anything special to the spine (such as label the spine with text.)
- Don’t put anything close to the edges, especially text so it doesn’t get cut-off.
I open up the guide in my editor and and then design my cover using the template.
When I have it as I want, I hide the Viovio template and save the image as a jpg.
You don’t need to upload the cover to Viovio just yet. During the photobook process, it will ask you to upload the cover and do it then! We’ll start creating the photobook next!
Viovio Premium 12 x 12 photo books, The process: uploading images
Table of contents for Viovio 12 x 12 Premium Process
- Viovio Premium 12 x 12 photo books, The process: uploading images
- Viovio Premium 12 x 12 photo books, The process: the cover
- Viovio Premium 12 x 12 photo books, The process: creating & laying out book
- Viovio Premium 12 x 12 photo books: the results
Since I last tried Viovio, they have added some new products. Namely their 12 x 12 premium photo books that come in softcover, hardcover, die-cut or just loose pages.
Premium photo books means they are using Commercial-Quality, Acid-free, 100# Futura coated photo book paper with a 7-color electroink process. They describe it as more colors mean more detail and accuracy. Thicker paper givers you heavier weight paper with more professional feel. To most users that doesn’t mean much until you see the printed quality of the book. So when I receive the book, I will let you know!
In addition, they have added a new online tool called the Viovio Book Designer. This allows you to easily drag and drop your images into the book and order your pages and get it exactly like you want.
Let’s start from the beginning to see the process…
One of the things I love about Viovio is the ease of getting my pictures to my account.
After you login, you will have a menu from your dashboard. That’s the quickest way to navigate.
Begin by choosing Photos | Create Gallery
In Gallery, give it name and description if you wish. I leave all the other settings as is except for the last one. The last one controls the security level of the album. I like my images to be private (not visible to public) so I change the last option. When done click on Save Gallery.
Once the gallery is created you can click on upload pictures!
You can upload pictures one by one, but that is not the way that I recommend. I recommend you gather all your images for your book and put them all in one zip file. Then choose the zip file to upload. That is the quick way! A few words of caution: The zip file cannot be larger than 500 MB. The file I uploaded was 441MB zip file (46 12 x 12 pages at 300 DPI.) In addition, your account can only hold 500MB. If your book is larger, email support and they will help you with account size limit. Make sure that Don’t Resize is selected. The last thing you also should check in the security level again, make sure its set to what you want. Then click on Upload Files and go have a cup of coffee or a nap!
Once done, you will see your photos in your gallery on your account:
The photos are now ready to be created into a book! We’ll see how in the next few posts.
A new photobook printing company, Hoorray.com
There is a new photobook printing company
Save 30% on Photobooks at Hoorray.com
Photobook prices & sizes start at:
some facts:
- Min. 20 pages. Max 80 pages. Paper: High Quality, Elite silk 100lb/140g/m2
Each additional page (front and back side) is $1.00 - Shipping is $5.99 for each book plus $2.99 additional books (USPS)
They also print photo cards and prints (8 x 10, 5 x 7, & 4×6).
Save 20% on Cards and Prints at Hoorray.com
They are working digital scrapbookers to help create book covers and photo cards. Here’s the list of designers.
Thinking about holiday gifts yet? try photostamps
Use your own photos or buy some of their stamps.
With PhotoStamps you can turn your own digital photos into real US postage! Create yours today.
They have some really cute Anne Geddes postage. They also have NFL & Collegiate stamps.
How much do they cost?
A sheet of 20 PhotoStamps is just $5-$10 plus postage.
Yes! PhotoStamps is officially authorized by the US Postal Service.
Use them like regular postage!
Some Current Shutterfly Sales
Save 20% off gift tags. See site for more details. Offer valid from 08.20.09 to 09.01.09
Create a youth sports share site, get a free 11×14 collage poster. See site for more details. Offer valid from 8.11.09 to 9.30.09.
Some Good Shutterfly sales are on!
20% PhotoBooks
30% 18 month calendars
20% Stationary Notepads
Print Sales
4th of July Print Sale: Save up to 30% on prints: Save 10% when you buy 50 prints, 20% when you buy 75, and 30% when you buy 100 prints. Use Code: SAVEPRINTS. Offer valid from 07.01.09 to 09.01.09. Limited Time prepaid photo plan offer – 200 prints for $20. See site for details. Offer valid from 07.01.09 to 07.08.09.
Buy a PhotoBook and get free prints!
Get free prints when you create a share site
Spend $30 and get a free poster OR $5 off your next order
very, very disappointed with Inkubook service
Table of contents for Inkubook book experience
- Creating a book at Inkubook
- Inkubook photo book is printed and on its way…
- My Inkubook order has arrived and its really cute!
- very, very disappointed with Inkubook service
I like to save up my printing services and print multiple books to save on shipping and handling. DON”T try this with Inkubook!
It turns out that if you order different books that you are forced to pay shipping and handling on each different book order. I ordered and then talked to customer service. They said that is the way it is and it is something that they would like to change in the future but can’t be done now.
Their help statement:
7. If I’ve made more than one book can I order copies of each of them at the same time?
If you’ve made more than one book with Inkubook, you’ll need to order each book separately. Because each book is printed at the time it is ordered instead of being plucked off a shelf of pre-printed books, each book must be prepared and tracked separately. It’s like getting a made-to-order outfit instead of buying something off the rack.
They told me if I would have talked to them beforehand, they would have given me a coupon code for shipping and handling.. No where does it state in that help, the offer to talk to them first for shipping and handling discounts.
Anyway, extremely disappointed in Inkubook and customer service. They seemed unable to do much or offer to help.