PhotoInPress.ca

INSPIRATION: Layout design #1

2012-01-28T22:50:00.001-05:00

Today, I'd like to share this great design idea that I've used in my last photo album. It's an elegant layout that fits all kind of photobook themes: birth, wedding, trip, birthday, etc. As you can see, the result is as good in black than in white... but perhaps you have your favorite?

Here are the steps to follow:

Go in BookDesigner's «Layouts» menu and select the one that has 9 squared photos.
Erase the picture box in the middle by clicking on the trash can.
Go in «Custom» mode and click on «Add text».
Resize your new text box so it fits in the space left (between the other 8 photos).
Click on «Apply» to save those last modifications.
Enter your text and select the right colour.
Ta-dah!!!

So let's recap:

You can even apply this layout to a Custom Photo Cover in order to get an original and classy photo book. Enjoy the creation!

Laurence

Choosing the right colour...

2012-01-27T16:06:00.000-05:00

When you choose the color of a Classic suede-like cover for your Photobook, numerous factors must be considered : theperson to whom it’ll be offered, the theme of your album, your personalpreferences and the front page photo’s color and brightness. Here's a tip toguide you in the selection of a Classic Cover with window.

First, identify the dominent colour of yourfirst page photo. Then, determine what visual atmosphere you’d like to create :

Calm Effect : Choose a neutral colour ofalbum that is similar to the main colour of the picture. Ideal for landscapes albums orpregnancy albums, for example.

Cheerful Effect : Choose a bright colourfor your cover that fits with the brightest colours of your picture. Ideal fora dynamic or childish book!

Contrasted Effect : Choose a colour ofalbum that is opposed to the main colour of the picture. This effect put theemphasis on the picture itself, ideal for portraits.

For more information about PhotoInPress’photobooks covers, please follow this link :

http://photoinpress.ca/produits-1/cover-binding

Laurence

The blog is back!

2012-01-23T14:00:00.001-05:00

After a long break, the blogis back to life. Come take a look once in a while as we will post informationcapsules every week allowing you to discover BookDesigner v5.0.5 fullpotential. We’ll also share inspiring ideas, graphic design tips, BookDesigner’stools tutorial and much more. If you haven't downloaded BookDesigner latest version yet, I invite you to discover its features by a simple click: http://www.photoinpress.ca/logiciel-gratuit/download

BOOKDESIGNER V3.0

2010-05-21T08:43:00.003-04:00

BookDesigner v3.0 is now available!

Bring a picture as background or select one of our pattern background to embellish your photo book. The only Software that make you choose the background tint for the best color fit with the pictures on the page. Also, you can now drop a shadow under your text and photos, select a bigger text for your titles (24 and 36 pts), discover the new text editor, and more.

View the v3.0 demo:
http://www.photoinpress.ca/en/software/version3.html

Dowload and install BookDesigner v3.0 to complete your existing project started using the previous version:
Download now

Creative photo ideas for your vacation

2009-11-18T16:44:00.000-05:00

There is one thing in life that makes everybody happy: Holidays. Whether you are planning a journey, an adventure or just relax; possibilities are endless. But no matter where we go and what we do, we like talking about our holidays and especially we like being on holidays!

Here are some creative ideas to embellish your photobook:

* Take pictures of the word holiday, the name of your destination or the date of your holidays: write with a chalk on asphalt or on a blackboard, write in the sand, with shells, on a page of your agenda or on a coloured "post-it" on a map;
*Take a picture of a postcard from your desination: lay down your postcard on the sand, on the edge of a swimming pool or against a glass.
*Take a picture of a map with some significant objects: plane tickets, passports, keys, wheelchair or houses of Monopoly!
* Take interesting close-up of concert tickets, theatre tickets, shows, flipflops on the edge of the swimming pool, plate of fresh fruits, feet in the grass, water or sand...

Use your imagination and come to share with us your ideas!
Have a splendid holiday!!!

Group Photomontage

2009-11-05T15:25:00.001-05:00

A user asked us recently how she could use photos taken by several people to make a collective photobook. I believe it could interest others; so here is what I suggested:

1. Choose a person responsible to edit the photobook.

2. That person can ask the others to send photos with this free service
http://www.yousendit.com
This service will allow to send very big files via internet without going through e-mail (not to block the person in charge's inbox).

3. The "co-workers" select their photos, put them in a directory which they compress in zip. Then, they go on the site of yousendit.com and transfer files. Note that to compress a directory, you just have to right-click on the directory and choose " send to - compressed (zipped) file".

4. The addressee receives automatically an e-mail indicating them that a file was dropped for them. They can then download the photos and import them in BookDesigner. Note that you can also add photos in the software directly from a CD.

Whether it is to make a family album, a book tribute, to remember a special event or a collection of recipes; I hope these advices will help you to fill your books with the most interesting mémoires.

2009-11-02T16:43:00.002-05:00

Amateurs of digiscrapbooking and Photoshop

For those who discovered the "digiscrapbooking" with Photoshop or another software of edition(publishing), know that it is possible to insert your assemblies(editings) into your book(pound) photos:

1. Make the montage for every page 3300 x on 2475 (300 dpi) in your editing software and save them in .jpg format

2. Add your .jpg files in the phototray in BookDesigner

3. Insert one .jpg file on every page and choose the " horizontal full page " layout. Note, that a part of the image will be cut out to allow us to cut pages without leaving of white border (full bleed).

4. Complete your book with our layout if needs be and order your personalised photobook.

You can have more detail for the mesurement here:

http://www.photoinpress.ca/en/software/scrapbooking.html

Here are some links for digiscrapbooking website and which are worth seeing. You will find the original material there to decorate your books.

http://www.missbonbon.com
http://www.freedigitalscrapbooking.com/
http://www.theshabbyshoppe.com/homepage.asp

Scanned or Digitized Photos

2009-11-02T16:42:00.001-05:00

Wedding anniversary, tribute book, biography or family album?
Would you like to add your old printed pictures to your photobooks?

Here are some practical advices to digitize your pictures:

*
The software accepts only the images in JPEG format.
*
Use 300 or 600 dpi during the digitalization.
*
During the editing, pay attention on the proportion of your photos: our models of page are drawn for standard digital photos 1200x1600, 2560x1920, etc. Most of the scanned pictures are 4 "x 6" and do not fill all the space. Make sure to enlarge and to reframe your photos with the magnifying glass which appears in the upper left corner of the picture, once inserted into a page.

Here is a summary of the dimensions minimum recommended (digital or scanned photos):

*
640x480 not recommended for the impression
*
800x600 or more for an impression of 4 " x 6 " on the page *
1024x768 or more for an impression of 5 " x 7 " on the page *
1600x1200 or more for an impression of 8.5" x 11 " (full page - minimum quality) *
2560x1920 for an impression of 8.5" x 11 " (full page - excellent quality)

The software accepts only photos having a minimal resolution of 800x600.

Off to your scanner!

Update

2009-10-30T15:40:00.001-04:00

The 2.7.4 version is in!

You can download and install the update from our website. You have to be patient for the release of a new version with new features and fun stuff. Our team is working day and night and it should be available in Spring 2010. To make the wait less long, we add some bit and pieces to help you using the software and they are available now.

In the mean time, feel free to send us any suggestion to help us improve the sofware and website.

http://www.photoinpress.ca/en/index.html

Creative Tip - Centre a photo on two pages

2009-10-22T14:06:00.000-04:00

As our models do not allow to centre a photo on two pages, here is a tip to get the same result:

1. Begin with two blank pages. Choose a layout that has a vertical photo up against the middle book seam for both pages. For example, the layout with 2 photos: 1Horizontal + 1Vertical;

a)
b)
Drag and drop the same horizontal photo in both vertical space. (pay attention not to choose a photo that the main detail is not in the centre, like a face, it would get lost in the seam)
Zoom in with the magnifying glass each photo (approximately 3x) and move them so that the junction between your two photos matches. Note that a grey space left without photo will stay white at printing (or of the chosen background color).

Red eye removal and other touch-up

2009-10-15T17:33:00.001-04:00

You may wish to touch-up your pictures before immortalizing them in your photobook. For those who do not feel comfortable with a software like Photoshop, I suggest Picasa. It is a free and easy to use software who will allow you to make touch-up on your pictures. Whether it is to remove red eyes, to convert your photos in black and white or sepia, to add special effects or other settings:

http://picasa.google.com

If you have other suggestions to shared, do not hesitate to tell us.

Special Photomontage

2009-10-15T17:30:00.000-04:00

For your panoramic photos, photos that are not standard or simply to spice up your project, here is crafty tip:

1. Choose a model of page with 2, 3 or 4 photos slot

2. Slide and drop the same photo in every space
* For better results, choose a photo with a good resolution.

3. Enlarge and refocus every photo to recompose your photo in a single enlarged image.

See also the article Creative Tip - Centre a photo on two pages for more details.

Here are some examples: