Autograph Photobook - 12x12 too large? (& Picaboo Question)

[jjk3]

Hello everyone! I have been working on an autograph book for my two daughters for our upcoming trip to WDW. It is the first time I have done this and thanks to the many talented and generous people here who have helped me I think I am about ready. I am really looking forward to giving the book to my girls. I think they will love it (in the past we always used the disney books with the photo pocket on one side and blank sheet on other).

I do have a few questions I was hoping some folks here might be able to shed some light on:

1.) Size of book - I have prepared a square book. I originally thought I would do an 8x8 book. However, I am considering doing a 12x12 book. The reason is that I need to get this to Picaboo for printing by the end of the week in order to get the book in time and the current promotion is 25% off 11x14 or 12x12 books until 9/14 (and I don't know what promotion they would run after that). With the 25% off it is almost the same cost for the 12x12 book as the regular-price 8x8 book.
1a.) Would a 12x12 book be too large and unwieldy (have not heard of any one hear doing one that large)? (one advantage of the 12x12 is more room to place some pictures of character interactions in the book after we return)
1b.) Do you think most graphics made by folks here for 8x8 would transfer alright as far as resolution goes?


2.) Can any Picaboo X users shed some light on the yellow borders it places on the exterior edge of the picture indicating that is the area that might get cropped during printing? I choose the "full-page" photo option (which spreads picture over entire page) but then Picaboo X tells me that my exterior edge might get cropped. Should I reduce the picture to get inside the yellow border? Or might that result in a white border around every picture? I have searched Picaboo but cannot find the answer to this.

Thanks to anyone who can offer their opinion on is a 12x12 book will be too big. And if anyone can explain the yellow border on Picaboo X.

Thanks!

Jeff

 

[jjk3]

Alright - I finally got my answer from Picaboo about the cropping issue. I won't bore you all here with the details but if anyone else is using Picaboo and has the same concerns/issues let me know and I will be happy to explain what I have learned.

So, I guess my only question then is if anyone has an opinion on making a 12x12 autograph book (as opposed to a 8x8 one). Is it too bulky or a pain to haul around the parks all day? I am pretty sure we will have a stroller so that should help.

Thanks!

 

[DVC_Princess]

I personally would find a 12x12 book to be too big - both for my stroller and they never fit that well on my bookshelves. However it's not that huge of a deal and if it's the same price as an 8x8, I might be convinced. I guess the other question is are you set on using Picaboo. I think shutterfly is currently doing a promotion (1 8x8 for $15 but I think you can only get 1 at that price). Other websites might have better deals too.

Also I don't know for sure, but I think some disigns would start to blur at that size. On artscow, the 8x8 size always gives me an image resolution warning, but so far, has printed ok. IDK what would happen with a 12x12.

HTH a little... Have a great trip!

 

[jjk3]

I personally would find a 12x12 book to be too big - both for my stroller and they never fit that well on my bookshelves. However it's not that huge of a deal and if it's the same price as an 8x8, I might be convinced. I guess the other question is are you set on using Picaboo. I think shutterfly is currently doing a promotion (1 8x8 for $15 but I think you can only get 1 at that price). Other websites might have better deals too.

Also I don't know for sure, but I think some disigns would start to blur at that size. On artscow, the 8x8 size always gives me an image resolution warning, but so far, has printed ok. IDK what would happen with a 12x12.

HTH a little... Have a great trip!

Thanks a lot for your feedback.

I am pretty much locked into Picaboo as I bought a Groupon there. It does not expire until later in the year so theoretically I could use it for something else.

The resolution is another concern of mine. I do have the low-res warning on some of the pages on Picaboo. I am really starting to get concerned about the resolution issue. I will have to go home tonight and see how many low res warnings I have.

Do you need a coupon code for Shutterfly's 8x8 deal? I will have to check it out and see how many pages it includes.

Thanks! Jeff

 

[sher92]

Personally, that size would be too large too to carry in the stroller and my park bag. For the past few years, I printed the autograph books as 4x6 and by the time I had them spiral bound with covers they probably ended up being 5x7 which world perfectly. Last year I had a free coupon book from artscow and made one as an 8x8 and I kind of regretted doing it. It was so big that it got in they way and even ended up testing on some pages, si I was pretty upset. This time, I think I'll go back to the old way.

Hope that helps, good luck!

 

[DVC_Princess]

Do you need a coupon code for Shutterfly's 8x8 deal? I will have to check it out and see how many pages it includes.

Thanks! Jeff

The code is Photobookdeal and it's good until wed. (20 pg book). I used an 8x8 book last time and it worked for me. It fits in a 1 gallon ziplock so that protected it from rain and spills. I made another for our trip in Oct. and look forward to using it.

If you want smaller, artscow makes 6x6 books for $3.99 Shipped with code (I used code 6x6books last week and it worked). I haven't used this size but printed it for a friend. It's a little small for me but def more portable. Last note is that artscow takes forever to ship. I usually get my order in 3 weeks but hear it can take up to 6 weeks for delivery.

 

[jjk3]

The code is Photobookdeal and it's good until wed. (20 pg book). I used an 8x8 book last time and it worked for me. It fits in a 1 gallon ziplock so that protected it from rain and spills. I made another for our trip in Oct. and look forward to using it.

If you want smaller, artscow makes 6x6 books for $3.99 Shipped with code (I used code 6x6books last week and it worked). I haven't used this size but printed it for a friend. It's a little small for me but def more portable. Last note is that artscow takes forever to ship. I usually get my order in 3 weeks but hear it can take up to 6 weeks for delivery.

Thankls! I am definitely leaning towards 8x8 now. I made two example pages (8x8 and 12x12) and am worried 12x12 would be too much to lug around and also a pain for my girls (and poss. characters) to handle.

I will see what deals I can work out tonight.

Thanks.