I QUIT

[rizaloren]

and I haven't even started yet. I've been lurking here for at least two or three weeks agonizing over whether I should choose mypublisher or blurb for my photo book. But finally, after trying over and again to manipulate my photos into mypublisher templates, I've decided to go with blurb.

It's really too bad too because I genuinely like this community and all of my painstaking research over the last few weeks strongly suggests that mypublisher makes the better quality books and with faster shipping.

BUT I refuse to spend hour upon hour trying to figure out which software (powerpoint or photoshop, or both or more), what kind of format, and how many inches need to be accounted for when doing a full bleed page.

All just because there aren't enough templates! Who knows? I may try blurb and come running back but from what I've seen and experienced with their software, I wil not need a blow by blow crash course in adobe to create an interesting book. Though I have heard they have other problems.

I'm not posting this to be rude but to make you aware that I am certain that you are losing many would-be customers with the same issues. Photobook discussions all over the net seem to be asking the same question. Mypublisher or Blurb? From what I can tell mypublisher would be in the lead were it not for this dern template issue.

Anyhoo

[akelly10]

Hi there,

I just read your post, and I posted one of my own just now.

I, like you, am throwing my hands up in the air. I feel completely frustrated and angry by this software program.

I lost more than an entire week of my life playing around with the Storyteller template that -- in the end -- was a complete disappointment and waste of my time and money (yes, I got sucked in and ordered an expensive book after making my album... because I was led to believe that I could then share a high-res version of my album with friends).

Well, the Storyteller template doesn't allow me to tell a story -- go figure! MyPublisher apparently thinks it is more valuable to serve their own revenue needs by wasting the entire top half of the screen with their buttons to have people order additional books from them -- God forbid that real estate actually be used to show, I don't know, their customers' pictures and captions that they spent hours creating??

I'm sorry, I'm using your Post space to vent. I'm just so annoyed... I can't even believe this.

Tell me -- is this "blurb" you mention another publishing website? If so, do you have the url? I need to create another album that my friends wil actually be able to view without needing ultra-strong bifocals to read the captions.

Thanks. ~Ann

[rizaloren]

Hi Ann,

Blurb is another consumer book publisher and their website is blurb.com. But be warned, their customers seem to have a fair amount of complaints too (late shipping, damaged books, etc.) On the other hand, they also seem to have a quite a few happy customers. Overall, they have way more templates to choose from though I'm not sure what they offer in the way of storytelling because I used the strictly photo option. Also, in my experience, their software moves a little faster than mypublisher.

But from what I researched, mypublisher might be of better quality. Although, even that info is suspect. When I look for reviews on the internet I tend to type in a search (i.e. "blurb sucks" or "blurb is great") to find out what people are saying about the product. This doesn't work so well with my publisher I usuallyjust get authors blogging about actual publishers (as in the people not the product).

I guess the only way to really tell is to fork over the cash and try both. I've already ordered my blurb book and I will post back with the results. If it doesn't work out, I think I'll try mp again but with powerpoint templates instead of theirs. I'm just worried that the pp photos won't look as good in print.

Btw, there's also shutterfly (lower quality), iphoto (apples only, I think), smilebooks (German company...couldn't find anyone whose actually used is), sharedink (linen covers, cheesy website), Lulu (quality lacking) and a ton of website that are more catered to professional photographers' skill and wallets. So far, Blurb and Mypublisher seem to be the best out there at the moment when it comes to cost, quality and usability for the average person or small scale artist/photographer/business person.

Hope that helps.

[joanr]

I did the same book in MyPublisher and Blurb. Blurb book was smaller, photos muddy, paper thinner. Yuck!!!!!!

[dibbkd]

> I lost more than an entire week of my life playing
> around with the Storyteller template that -- in the
> end -- was a complete disappointment and waste of my
> time and money (yes, I got sucked in and ordered an
> expensive book after making my album... because I
> was led to believe that I could then share a high-res
> version of my album with friends).
>
>
> Thanks. ~Ann


I'll agree that MP has some quirks, but who led you to believe you could share high res copies of your books online? Did you look at some of the example shares that people have done? That's what yours would look like too.

[sehkmet22]

akelly:

It looks as if you are most concerned with the online preview of the book that you can share with your friends and family, one that allows you to look at the whole book on the computer.

Blurb will not help you with this. Their preview is also small and only allows you to look at the first 15 pages.

Try to keep in mind that the primary purpose of both companies is to make money printing books. They are not in the business of online storage.

Best of luck!
-A.

[debbiehilz]

I have finished my book and proofed it, but the "Purchase" button is grayed out and I can't find a way to order my book without the ability to click the "Purchase" button. Can anyone help me with this issue?

Debbie

[PhotoGeek1]

The button that is selected is greyed out. Are you sure you are not in the correct place?