album software question [Archive]

sforaci

06-29-2010, 05:48 AM

I hope I am not repeating a thread that's already run. I am currently using pictage for my events. They don't have Vision Art Books on their list of binders yet..so until I can convince them...I'm going to have to go outside of their site for the album design. what software/companies does anyone use to get a Vision Art Book designed? I know a simple Photoshop file can be done..but I'm interested in a site that will allow me to show my client a digital copy online before ordering (with ease.) Any suggestions?
thanks Sandi

JaNae Yagi

07-03-2010, 12:18 PM

Hi Sandi~
I use a combination of photoshop and indesign for my albums now. I used to spend hours, if not days, designing albums in photoshop alone and I was getting really frustrated with it and thinking about outsourcing – but I liked having the control myself and didn’t want to go that route. I found another photog on the OSP forum, Ben Harrison, who created indesign templates a while ago, and having never used indesign I was worried, but I watched the tutorial videos he had and it looked so easy that I was sold. I bought the templates and took a little time watching the tutorial videos and playing around and now I can design an album within minutes (hours if it’s a little more complicated or requires additional design elements). The templates are very contemporary but sometimes my clients want more textures or elements, and the greatest thing is that I can easily add them to the templates and make a new custom template. It has cut down my album design time by probably 90%.

After I design the album layouts I export them as jpeg files and upload the files to my client’s proofing gallery online so they can proof the album before I send the files to VA for printing. (I use instaproofs for my proofing, I thought about pictage but I like having the control on the back-end).

You can check out Ben’s indesign templates here: http://h2o-creative.net/

If you really want to outsource design, maybe check out Doodle Do. I haven’t used them but their work looks impressive: http://wedoodledo.com/

Good luck!
~JaNae