Can I design my own book?

Yes, absolutely.

Download the PhotoBook Design Tool software to lay out your book and automatically submit it.

Or, use our submission guidelines to design your book in PhotoShop, InDesign or whatever design software you prefer. You can upload your completed book design to the PhotoBook Press FTP server. Call or email for login instructions.

How do I upload images?

Upload your images, or completed book design, to our FTP server. If you are using the PhotoBook Design Tool, the upload will be automatic when you click on the Submit to PhotoBook Press button.

Otherwise, you can access our FTP server by going to our FTP upload page.

How do I get prices?

There are three easy ways to get pricing for PhotoBook Press books:

1. Register on the site to receive a price list.

2. Style your book by choosing the components - book size and shape, cover materials, end leaves and design style - of the book you’d like to make. The price of your book will be calculated as you make your custom selections.

The price you see will be for one book. Copies of hard cover books are 60% of the cost of the first book and more than 10 copies are eligible for further discounts.

3. Custom quotes are available by calling 888.333.6950 or emailing a description of your project.

How long does it take to make my photo book?

From the time we receive your photographs, it normally takes around 4 weeks. That includes design and layout, proofing, revisions, approvals, printing and binding.

If you are submitting your own book layout it takes about 3 weeks.

Why does this book cost more than other online books?

Unlike mass produced books from Internet vendors, our books are printed on 115 lb text weight archival paper using state-of-the-art Kodak digital presses. We offer a clear coat to each individual image to protect it and make it more “photographic” than other digital printing. The books are sewn into signatures and bound with the highest quality materials in a way that they will look the same 100 years from now as they do today.

A PhotoBook Press book is an heirloom quality fine book – an investment in preserving memories that matter.

What’s the largest book I can make?

The maximum width for sewn binding hard cover books is 10 inches.

The maximum height for sewn binding hard cover books is 12 inches.

Large format books are available in both hard and soft cover with a perfect binding.

What is perfect binding?

Perfect binding is the most common type of binding used today. The pages are trimmed on all sides and then glued onto the cover, either hard or soft. This is an economical binding and all manner of books today use it, even some high quality coffee table books.

At PhotoBook Press all of our softcover books are perfect bound and our most economical hard cover books are perfect bound wrapped in a hard cover binding.

What is a sewn binding and why does it matter?

Sewn binding is a traditional book binding found in the finest books. The book is created from booklets called signatures which are stitched together (always with thread not staples) and then glued to the cover. This method makes a strong book that will never come apart and allows the book to open flat forever. It is generally reserved for hard cover books.

At PhotoBook Press we use linen thread to sew 12 page signatures. Our hard cover books are constructed of many 12 page signatures – which is why your hard cover sewn binding book has a page count that is a multiple of 12.

Photobook Design Tool

Aligning Pictures

You can assure that your pictures will be properly aligned with each other, as well as relative to the page, by using the Show Grid & Snap to Grid controls located under the View menu. To adjust grid spacing, use the Setup Grid control.

How can I edit my PhotoBook Design Tool book after I have saved it?

The preferred method of designing a book is to create a folder (with the same name as your book title) of selected images on your computer. Keep this folder of images on your computer as long as you will want to return to a saved book for editing, or to use as a template for another book.

Any images on an external device (external hard drive, server, etc.) that is disconnected from your computer will result in a “de-linking” of those images. Your saved book will not be recoverable.

Any book that has already been sent to PhotoBook Press will be saved – but in PDF form.