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September 27, 2007
[ REVIEW—SNAPFISH PHOTO BOOK ]
Price: $40 for 20 pages and a hardcover
Gorgeous
The low-down: Hewlett Packard’s curiously named on-line photo printing service Snapfish now includes photo books. Books come in different sizes and with either hard or soft covers. Creating a book is done by logging in to the site and completing the sign-up procedure, then going to the gifts page and choosing photobook. Specify the size and number of pages and have photos ready for uploading. Photos should be in reasonably high resolution form – at least 240dpi – and they can be sized before uploading. There are choices of different coloured backgrounds and layouts. It is all easy enough to understand and master. Think carefully about selecting the photo to go on page one, because it also appears on the cover – well, not exactly on the cover. There is a square cut-out through which the first picture can be seen. When the layout is finished and the pictures uploaded the order is completed with credit card payment and delivery address. Delivery normally takes 10 days from placing the order, using standard Australia Post mailing.
Like: The reproduction quality is excellent, fine grained laser printing on good quality paper. The paper is not as heavy as that used in shops that have installed the HP Photosmart photo book making service, but it is akin to really good magazine stock and picture quality.
Dislike: You are buying a pig in a poke, because you can’t see the immediate results of reproduction. We found that the pictures were slightly darker than we had intended, but there is no way of trying one and making an adjustment. Perhaps the first book has to be regarded as a trial run.
Verdict: The Snapfish photo book is a classy way to present photos of an occasion like a wedding or birthday. Our advice is that you don’t crowd the pages. One photo per page looks good – three or more looks fussy. 20 of the best photos beats 60 so-so pictures any day.
Posted by terry at September 27, 2007 02:27 AM
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