First Blurb Book - disappointed with printing

Bob Michaels

Bob Michaels

nobody special
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Nov 30, 2004
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I just received my first Blurb book and am disappointed with the printing. They had a first order 50% off coupon for Cyber Monday. Their cheapest book is softcover 7" x 7" 20 pages for $15 so with the coupon all I had to lose with $7.50 but I question if I got my money's worth.

Their layout software is worth only slightly more than it costs (free). I know a little about desktop publishing but found for a single function software that it was not intuitive. Took many hours to lay out the book in spite of the fact that I had finished images and text.

But the printing of color photos is dismal. The book looks like what you get trying to print a photo on plain paper, unsaturated colors and low contrast. It is not me as I am quite confident in my printing. I use a total color managed workflow so anyone with the correct profiles for their paper should make a good print. I create digital files that went sent to my printer make prints that look exactly as I wanted, first time. I did pay $6 extra for a PDF of the book and the colors look perfect. Just the actual printing is bad.

I do know that Blurb subcontracts the actual printing to a number of print shops. Hopefully others are better than mine. I just can't understand a print shop that prints good files on the same paper over and over not being able to print a decent print.

My primary reason for the book was to use it to discuss an exhibit of the photos in a few galleries. But the print quality is so bad, I would not use for that purpose.

I suspect if I returned the book and complained that I would get my $7.50 back but I won't bother.
 
Bob,

:( Yikes.

I wish I had seen this 48 hours ago. I've never ordered books from anyone before and just placed an order yesterday for 2 different books, total of 6 copies at around $200 after the discount from Blurb. Out of all the options out there, Blurb was just luck of the draw this time.
Timing is everything:)

I'll know in a couple of weeks, I guess.

Thanks for the heads up; might save some others some heartache.

Larry
 
I've had pretty good experiences with Blurb so far. The resolution of the images can't quite match the output of my own printer at home but the colours are usually pretty accurate to what I want them to be.
 
I would contact Blurb. It sounds like something went wrong.
I've had 3 issues of my photozine (2 are color), and an 85 page hardcover book printed by Blurb, and the colors have been very close to what I expected from viewing prints I have made and viewing the images on my screen.
 
I have had two photo books done by Blurb and have been quite happy with results. Feel reproduction compares well with other published photographic reproductions I have seen. I used the 8" X 10" format and semi-gloss paper. The Tenax book used a slightly less glossy stock and the reproductions are not quite as good, but since they are illustrations, rather than art work, I am satisfied. I have also published two trade books with them. Covers have come out excellent and inside line artwork and text good. I find their publishing program to be moderately difficult to use, but with practice it gets easier. I would not hesitate to recommend the company to others, particularly since there are no upfront costs.
 
I find it wise with all my publishing to upload a book first, then order one copy to check for typos and layout mistakes. When I have all the corrections done, I load a corrected copy, and that is what I order further copies from. The company can deliver quickly. I had my latest book in hand in four days, and the additional copies took less than a week. Photo albums may take longer.
 
Long time user of blurb. I've made photobooks in nearly every format with all the different paper types. Never been disappointed. Is your monitor calibrated? Also, did you use the regular paper as opposed to the premium paper? I've always found color images look much better on the premium. In any case contact blurb. They will reprint and send you another one for free. Hope JSRockit sees this and comments. He's used blurb for at least 5+ years straight.
 
Maybe I expected too much. Maybe that is all you get from Blurb for what you pay. Maybe I should have paid for premium paper. Maybe I got spoiled by the books I got from Edition One. I just know that the book I got from Blurb is not the quality printing that I want to represent my work.
 
When I did my Blurb book, I used their premium paper and went through two rounds of press-check printings to get the colors and such right as they would print it. It came out looking great.

IMO, you can't just send off a book design and photos for the least expensive paper and expect it to be fantastic on the first printing. Without paper profiles and a fully color managed workflow, the only way to get the best quality is through press-check printing.

G
 
yea...its no Steidl but worked ok for my book...I guess it probably does have a lot to with with your expectations/level of experience.
 
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