Information

[JillinIN]

Has anyone ever had a digital book printed from places like snapfish or anywhere?
Can you design the pages as 12X12 layouts or do you need to make allowances for the binding? I know most companies have programs that you can design on their sites, but can you just drop in your own page?
Some of the pages I've made I go right up to the edge with my design. Will I lose part of my page turning it into a printed book?
I've decided I want to do my daughters wedding album from Sept 2012 as a digital book so I can just print 2 & give her one without doing twice the work. I've been using CM storybook creator and always thought if I made a book I'd just use CM, but since they are changing I don't know if that will be an option.
Any recommendations for companies to print a book?

[letumom]

I used to be a Heritage Makers member.

You have the option to either upload your layouts, or use their elements and pre-designed pages to make your book. I found that if I uploaded my layouts, I had to make sure that I kept about an inch border around my layouts, as yes, the edges will be cut. But their quality is absolutely awesome. They guarantee that the books WILL NOT come apart. And you can design in several different sizes.

Here is the website: http://www.heritagemakers.com/332305

And if you decide to sign up, Leisa is absolutely awesome with helping you navigate the ropes. I met her at a CKC event here in Houston about 4 years ago.


FYI, once I got my cinch binder though, I've been printing 8x8 on 8.5x11 paper, and then binding myself.

[JillinIN]

I used to be a Heritage Makers member.

You have the option to either upload your layouts, or use their elements and pre-designed pages to make your book. I found that if I uploaded my layouts, I had to make sure that I kept about an inch border around my layouts, as yes, the edges will be cut. But their quality is absolutely awesome. They guarantee that the books WILL NOT come apart. And you can design in several different sizes.

Here is the website: http://www.heritagemakers.com/332305

And if you decide to sign up, Leisa is absolutely awesome with helping you navigate the ropes. I met her at a CKC event here in Houston about 4 years ago.


FYI, once I got my cinch binder though, I've been printing 8x8 on 8.5x11 paper, and then binding myself.

Thanks. I checked out Heritage makers. It looks like a great site.

[PezKat]

CM ones are awesome quality and definitely the easiest since you use SBC. There are no messages in their Digital Center (compared to lots on the paper scrapping site, both on the main page and individual product pages) and from what I've heard there are no changes there at least at this point. So I think you're fine still planning to do that. I have made one through Shutterfly but I just dropped my own pics into their page templates.

[JillinIN]

CM ones are awesome quality and definitely the easiest since you use SBC. There are no messages in their Digital Center (compared to lots on the paper scrapping site, both on the main page and individual product pages) and from what I've heard there are no changes there at least at this point. So I think you're fine still planning to do that. I have made one through Shutterfly but I just dropped my own pics into their page templates.

Thanks for letting me know. I appreciate it.

[ScrapSis]

I use Shutterfly. I do my own digital pages in whatever size I plan to print them then I save them in a separate folder as JPEGs in the size I want them to be. Then I upload them to Snapfish and make sure that every page has a full page photo (or whatever size you want it to be if you prefer that there is margin around them) and drop them in in the order I want. Shutterfly often has specials, free shipping etc so I rarely pay full price. I do all my journaling on the pages before I save them as JPEGs so just drop and print when I get to Shutterfly.

[sherelm]

I've used Shutterfly, and they do have a template that you can use to put your page where you want it, and they show you how to size it so some of it won't be in the binding.

[gonecamping]

CM ones are awesome quality and definitely the easiest since you use SBC. There are no messages in their Digital Center (compared to lots on the paper scrapping site, both on the main page and individual product pages) and from what I've heard there are no changes there at least at this point. So I think you're fine still planning to do that. I have made one through Shutterfly but I just dropped my own pics into their page templates.

Thanks for letting me know. I appreciate it.

I have always done mine with CM as well. When I spoke to the main office a couple weeks ago about another digital order I had placed, they told me as of middle of august, they will no longer do the digital storybook printing. Mine concern as well would be if you did one before the cutoff date, they will be so backlogged with orders it may take a really long time to get it. He told me that they were looking at the makers of the software to take over on the digital end of things but as of 2 weeks ago, nothing was set yet. I have heard snapfisha and winkflash do a great job on their books. Good luck!

[AmyTeets]

I've used Shutterfly in the past, but I hate their builder right now! I've been using MiDesign@Michaels because you can upload your layouts and it does show the bleed line. Not sure what I'm going to do when they shut down that part of the company

[sarahwhithers]

I use artscow.com to print my pages to books. I do always shrink it down a bit, to fit in the whole page properly, but they give you guidelines when you do plop a picture in there, just keep it out of the grey area. I've liked the books I've gotten from there, and they often had good specials/promotions as well. I always get 8x8 books though, not the full size 12x12.

[JillinIN]

Thank you everyone!! This is so helpful!!!