Blurb

[dave lackey]

Okay, trying a book layout on Blurb now.

Before I go any farther, can someone tell me if the books are stored on their server or is it going to be stored on my on computer a la My Publisher?😕

 

[Benjamin Marks]

The book will be on their server. You will have the "fixins" on your computer as collection of files, but once these are uploaded to Blurb, the publishing process has started and all further interaction (e.g. the commercial side, ordering, book materials (softcover, hardcover) etc.) is on their website. I have done 6 or eight small projects and have liked the product. On the largest of these (wedding photos for my brother) they messed up the color and, after a lot of back and forth, Blurb ultimately made it right.

 

[dave lackey]

The book will be on their server. You will have the "fixins" on your computer as collection of files, but once these are uploaded to Blurb, the publishing process has started and all further interaction (e.g. the commercial side, ordering, book materials (softcover, hardcover) etc.) is on their website. I have done 6 or eight small projects and have liked the product. On the largest of these (wedding photos for my brother) they messed up the color and, after a lot of back and forth, Blurb ultimately made it right.

Ben, I apologize, you mean that once the book is layed out, edited and ready to print, I then upload to Blurb the whole 1 GB file? My computer cannot handle that as My Publisher crashed on me twice in the last two months.

 

[Benjamin Marks]

You won't be using My Publisher. You will be using Blurb's own software that you download onto your computer. There are choices for layout etc.; I don't know My Publisher so I can't tell you whether the Blurb software is better or worse on the layout front. My own needs are pretty simple, though, and I have been generally happy with Blurb as a service.

But to be clear: at the end of the process, you will have a file (of whatever size) on your computer in Blurb.com format that "packages" the jpgs and layout instructions that you will upload to Blurb.com. The "book" lives there and you cannot change the pictures, text or layout without altering the file on your computer and going through the upload process again. Each time you upload a book you are promising Blurb to purchase at least one copy, so no "last minute fixes" after uploading are possible.

 

[Frank Petronio]

if you can export a PDF to Blurb's specs from My Publisher then you can simply upload a PDF rather than using Blurb's online Booksmart application.

But I don't know My Publisher, most designers use Adobe InDesign.

 

[shadowfox]

Dave, now I'm confused.

You are talking about MyPublisher as in Blurb's competitor, correct?

It's different from Microsoft Publisher (MS Publisher) the design software (which at first I thought you're using).

 

[dave lackey]

Dave, now I'm confused.

You are talking about MyPublisher as in Blurb's competitor, correct?

It's different from Microsoft Publisher (MS Publisher) the design software (which at first I thought you're using).

Will,

I used My Publisher and finished the book twice and the program crashed twice. Customer service was of zero help.

Checked out Blurb and didn't like the sizes available.

Went to Adorama and it was quite easy to use. Rebuilt the book in 8 hours. The only problem is no dust jacket and limitations on pages at higher prices.

Been working with Blurb all afternoon and it is not a good program IMO. Lots of options and cheaper printing.

Oh, well... soldiering on.:angel:

 

[erik]

I've used Blurb and found it to be pretty decent, but I did the layout in InDesign and output to PDF. You do need some computing power. In any case, once it's uploaded it lives on their servers.

 

[dave lackey]

Blurb is now out. Not only do they not have the particular size I prefer, but the software is not as easy to use. Spent a half of the day trying to get it up and running whereas on AdoramaPix, I built the whole book in less than a day.

Also, the software is showing warning signs that it will crash at some point. It is obvious that I don't have enough computer for this program so BLURB IS OUT. Just can't afford either the time involved to produce a book with Blurb or the possibility of it crashing like My Publisher did.

So, for this photographer, two out of three DIY book publishers didn't make the cut...I just can't afford to use these free publishers.🙁

 

[Spleenrippa]

Blurb is now out. Not only do they not have the particular size I prefer, but the software is not as easy to use. Spent a half of the day trying to get it up and running whereas on AdoramaPix, I built the whole book in less than a day.

Also, the software is showing warning signs that it will crash at some point. It is obvious that I don't have enough computer for this program so BLURB IS OUT. Just can't afford either the time involved to produce a book with Blurb or the possibility of it crashing like My Publisher did.

So, for this photographer, two out of three DIY book publishers didn't make the cut...I just can't afford to use these free publishers.🙁

Software for book making isn't exactly Crysis 2... Perhaps you should be putting book money towards a new PC? 😛

For a serious suggestion, try Mixbook. Their utility is entirely online, and if you wish, you can invite other mixbook users to the project for a collaborative effort.

 

[Lumix]

Dave
Bit surprised at your experience and reaction to BLURB. I've a pretty old limited computer and have seemed to manage OK. I think you download the basic program, do you own thing and eventually when you are satisfied upload the final result to HQ. If you order a book within 15 days the result remains with BLURB. Don't order and they delete your efforts at their end. You still have yours on your computer, and you can always delete their copy and replace it with a modified one of yours - a feature I've used.
I've had one or two odd things happen when introducing pics to the program but in general a quick close and reopen has solved the issue.
However, software is always a personal matter - if you don't like it fair enough. Blurb does take a bit of time to get to grips with and it isn't completely intuitive. However the online and the email help have been superb as far as I am concerned.
I suggest you might have another look when the pressure is off.
Best wishes
LUMIX

 

[fuji645]

I've had 2 experiences with Blurb, both for weddings. Rather than load their software on my machine, I preferred to use theirs online and upload to their site. The first book was ok, the 2nd was terrible--color balance way off from original. Took a while via e mail to their customer service site (no telephone interface) and they corrected it. Won't use them again for critical work. I'll probably be trying Mpix pro or similar site.

 

[Leigh Youdale]

Just been and counted, and I've recently done two projects with them. One of 63 pages and one of 100 pages. Each one is Black & White, page size 11x11 with a single image per page and I chose their premium paper grade.
Perfectly happy with the result. And turnaround time to Australia was excellent.

The other eight books were colour and done through Apple's book printing service. Most were of travel or holidays or the like.

I'll agree the Blurb software is a little bit clunky at times when you want to do something different to the "standard" layout templates but there are work-arounds.
I run a Mac with plenty of memory and a broadband connection and have never had a problem with either of those aspects.
Have you tried Asuka? A pro friend of mine uses them quite a lot but I never have so can't really comment. <http://www.asukabook.com.au>

I don't know what you're trying to do, Dave, or what quality you're trying to achieve but it sounds like your computer might be the main stumbling block. I can't recall the last time my Mac crashed or even if it ever has! Not so when I had to use Windows for work. Retirement has it's compensations!

 

[dave lackey]

Just been and counted, and I've recently done two projects with them. One of 63 pages and one of 100 pages. Each one is Black & White, page size 11x11 with a single image per page and I chose their premium paper grade.
Perfectly happy with the result. And turnaround time to Australia was excellent.

The other eight books were colour and done through Apple's book printing service. Most were of travel or holidays or the like.

I'll agree the Blurb software is a little bit clunky at times when you want to do something different to the "standard" layout templates but there are work-arounds.
I run a Mac with plenty of memory and a broadband connection and have never had a problem with either of those aspects.
Have you tried Asuka? A pro friend of mine uses them quite a lot but I never have so can't really comment. <http://www.asukabook.com.au>

I don't know what you're trying to do, Dave, or what quality you're trying to achieve but it sounds like your computer might be the main stumbling block. I can't recall the last time my Mac crashed or even if it ever has! Not so when I had to use Windows for work. Retirement has it's compensations!

Yes, well, if I had funds to buy a computer, I would have but that is impossible. So we work with what we have. I went with Adoramapix and the final project has been completed and sold.

The upshot is that the final products from Adorama that I received have been a solid 10! I have copies of other folks' Blurb books and find that Adorama is so far ahead in quality that I am happy enough to continue my series of documentaries with Adorama.

http://www.adoramapix.com/davegt/book/meanwhile-in-grantville-georgia-1

 

[Bob Michaels]

I must say that I saw a Blurb book with extraordinary reproduction quality last week. Previously everything I had seen from Blurb was a quality level that I would not accept. The author, Lee Dunkel, is a recognized landscape photographer who only shoots with a Hasselblad and incredible darkroom printer. I have seen many of her 16x20 prints and will say the Blurb book does them justice considering the size. She is a total film / wet darkroom person so did have help with the digital parts.

She says that she did go through a complete proof and had to change the digitization of a number of images. I do not know if this is the reason for the quality difference or not. I just know that Lee is a anal perfectionist and if she can be happy with their quality, anyone can be.

I have certainly changed my mind about the potential Blurb quality.