Anyone tried Blurb.com - DPChallenge Forums

Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM

05/09/2007 06:09:42 PM · #1

Anyone used Blurb.com to create a portfolio yet?

If so, How's the quality and such?

idnic

Canon EOS-60D

05/09/2007 06:14:50 PM · #2

I've been seeing excellent reviews about them all over. Several good posts at PPA forums. I built an album with them yesterday, but haven't ordered it yet.

escapetooz

Canon EOS-500D Rebel T1i

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6

05/09/2007 06:17:24 PM · #3

Wow that looks really cool! I'd like to hear more opinions too if anyone has them

05/09/2007 06:18:31 PM · #4

Originally posted by fotomann_forever:

Anyone used Blurb.com to create a portfolio yet?

If so, How's the quality and such?

Back in November, I used it to create a portfolio of images from my Kenya trip as a test. It came out fairly decent, but I'd probably not use it for high-profile work. Most people I show it too aren't photographers so the novelty of it gets them all googley eyed.

Some recent results:
//www.dpchallenge.com/forum.php?action=read&FORUM_THREAD_ID=516342&highlight=blurb.com
//www.dpchallenge.com/forum.php?action=read&FORUM_THREAD_ID=534612&highlight=blurb.com
//www.dpchallenge.com/forum.php?action=read&FORUM_THREAD_ID=533993&highlight=blurb.com

Message edited by author 2007-05-09 18:18:49.

Ben

Canon EOS-30D

05/09/2007 06:22:04 PM · #5

Oooo, international shipping!

Now i'm interested.
*Edit* Can someone explain, why when i goto the pricing section, it mentions that all the prices are for '4 colour printed books', is that a technique or something? All my photo's would obviously be printed accurately with all 324897234 colours? Maybe a daft question.

Message edited by author 2007-05-09 18:24:32.

05/09/2007 06:23:02 PM · #6

Originally posted by _eug:

It came out fairly decent, but I'd probably not use it for high-profile work.

Can you describe the results?

05/09/2007 06:26:47 PM · #7

Originally posted by Ben:

Oooo, international shipping!

Now i'm interested.

woot!

I'm searching for a company who can make my book for my project. Most of the time you're limited to 50 pages in a book, and I need more.

Thanks for the link, absolutely worth the try. I also like the fact that they have software for Mac :D

05/09/2007 06:28:32 PM · #8

oh, by the way, is there a link to the site ANYWHERE in or on the back of the book?

05/09/2007 06:32:13 PM · #9

Originally posted by Ben:

Four color printed books is a printing technique. It's CMYK (Cyan Magenta yellow and Black). It's the standard for printing full color reproductions.

Ben

Canon EOS-30D

05/09/2007 06:34:03 PM · #10

Thanks.

:)

05/09/2007 06:34:35 PM · #11

Originally posted by fotomann_forever:

Originally posted by Ben:
Oooo, international shipping!

Now i'm interested.
*Edit* Can someone explain, why when i goto the pricing section, it mentions that all the prices are for '4 colour printed books', is that a technique or something? All my photo's would obviously be printed accurately with all 324897234 colours? Maybe a daft question.

Four color printed books is a printing technique. It's CMYK (Cyan Magenta yellow and Black). It's the standard for printing full color reproductions.

so it's smart to check the colors in CMYK before ordering? Do you have to deliver the photos in CMYK or is RGB fine too?

edit: hmm, sorry, these questions are not only to Leroy, but it might look like that ;)

Message edited by author 2007-05-09 18:36:29.

05/09/2007 06:37:18 PM · #12

Originally posted by biteme:

so it's smart to check the colors in CMYK before ordering? Do you have to deliver the photos in CMYK or is RGB fine too?

Their FAQ says to use sRGB, but I think I would do a check in CMYK since it is a smaller gamut.

05/09/2007 06:40:15 PM · #13

Originally posted by fotomann_forever:

Originally posted by _eug:

It came out fairly decent, but I'd probably not use it for high-profile work.

Can you describe the results?

I don't have much to compare them to. The were MUCH better than Lulu IMO. Almost as good as standard prints. No issues with blocked out shadows or overblown highlights. No streaking or anything like that.

I'm happy with it, but I wouldn't use it for a wedding.

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

05/09/2007 06:41:02 PM · #14

Originally posted by biteme:

Originally posted by fotomann_forever:

Originally posted by Ben:
Oooo, international shipping!

Now i'm interested.
*Edit* Can someone explain, why when i goto the pricing section, it mentions that all the prices are for '4 colour printed books', is that a technique or something? All my photo's would obviously be printed accurately with all 324897234 colours? Maybe a daft question.

Four color printed books is a printing technique. It's CMYK (Cyan Magenta yellow and Black). It's the standard for printing full color reproductions.

so it's smart to check the colors in CMYK before ordering? Do you have to deliver the photos in CMYK or is RGB fine too?

edit: hmm, sorry, these questions are not only to Leroy, but it might look like that ;)

sRGB all the way.

Citadel

Nikon D7500

05/09/2007 06:41:30 PM · #15

My fiancee and I did our shots from Scotland and Northern Ireland using Blurb for her folks and we really like the results. I'd have to agree that I wouldn't use it for something you intend to sell but for creating a book as a gift its terrific.

*ETA - We did notice that the colors were quite a bit more saturated than what we saw on the screen. For 95% of the shots this was okay. I think we had one that looked a little weird but not bad per se.

Message edited by author 2007-05-09 18:44:01.

05/09/2007 06:42:37 PM · #16

you know the S stands for Shit, right? ;)

anyway, I hope to order one in july when my project has ended. I want to make it a "look-at-what-I-did"-book, maybe even show it to some galleries.

worth it, eug?

05/09/2007 06:43:24 PM · #17

Originally posted by biteme:

oh, by the way, is there a link to the site ANYWHERE in or on the back of the book?

The software puts a logo behind the title page which can be deleted and at the very end which cannot. The logo is 1/2"x1/2". Most people don't even notice it.

05/09/2007 06:44:27 PM · #18

Originally posted by biteme:

Emphatically, YES.

05/09/2007 06:46:34 PM · #19

Originally posted by _eug:

Originally posted by biteme:
you know the S stands for Shit, right? ;)

anyway, I hope to order one in july when my project has ended. I want to make it a "look-at-what-I-did"-book, maybe even show it to some galleries.

worth it, eug?

Emphatically, YES.

what does Emphatically mean?

05/09/2007 06:47:39 PM · #20

Yes Eug, quit it with the big words :-P

05/09/2007 06:49:20 PM · #21

Originally posted by fotomann_forever:

Yes Eug, quit it with the big words :-P

lol!

sorry, the online translation didn't recognise this word..

05/09/2007 06:51:13 PM · #22

Originally posted by biteme:

Originally posted by _eug:

Originally posted by biteme:
you know the S stands for Shit, right? ;)

anyway, I hope to order one in july when my project has ended. I want to make it a "look-at-what-I-did"-book, maybe even show it to some galleries.

worth it, eug?

Emphatically, YES.

what does Emphatically mean?

~~Without hesitation and with great excitement~~ Wait...

"Google define:Emphatically"

Definitions of Emphatically on the Web:

* decidedly: without question and beyond doubt; "it was decidedly too expensive"; "she told him off in spades"; "by all odds they should win"

Message edited by author 2007-05-09 18:51:56.

05/09/2007 07:02:10 PM · #23

ok, that will do ;)

thanks!

(but, why not use it for wedding albums?)

05/09/2007 07:09:42 PM · #24

Originally posted by biteme:

ok, that will do ;)

thanks!

(but, why not use it for wedding albums?)

The pages are thin and the book is a bit light. The cover is a black fabric (not customizable) with a glossy dust cover. Just not what I'd envision for my wedding album.