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Blurb boooks vs Apple books

I want to make some books. I shoot with a Canaon 30D only in RAW. I use Aperture, Apple’s software which also allows you to make books. HAs anyone compared the books from Blurb and Apple. What are the differences in quality and what are the limitations of either choice . I mainly shoot fashion and clothing so I really need the details to show. Looking to make some coffee table style books, collection books and small giveaway book for clients.

Thanks.Phil.

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Posted by
bahnyc
Jul 28, 2007 3:20pm PDT
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bahnyc
 

Hi Phil,

Have you consider to look into “How to Make Your Own Book” by purchase it and see it for yourself?

The difference between Apple iPhoto or Apple Aperture and Blurb self-publishing books are obvious. For one, flap cover the hard cover books, and you could create, as I understand that, for up to 400 pages, I believe. Once you create your book and published your book with Blurb self-publishing book, you can also promote your book(s) through your own bookstore.

Does that help, no, Phil?

Cheers, Brian
Posted by
brianbonitz
Jul 28, 2007 6:35pm PDT
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brianbonitz
 

I have rady about those items oyu mentioned byt was more concerned with the quality of paper, color and other materials. Maybe someone here has used both services and can compare?

Thanks, Phil.
Posted by
bahnyc
Jul 30, 2007 8:33am PDT
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bahnyc
 

I have used MyPublisher to do 5 books before doing 2 with Blurb. My understanding is that Apple books are identical to mypublisher since they use mypublisher. In comparison, I found Blurb to be superior in most respects. However, the last book I did with mypublisher was october 2005, so if they have improved since then I wouldn’t know. I found more posterization in some of the images with mypublisher than the same shot printed in Blurb. Quality of paper is probably slightly better with mypublisher (thicker, glossier), but the overall package in blurb is superior (modulo the highly irritating Booksmart 1.8 which is the most unstable and crapiest software I have used to date).
Posted by
pmurthy
Jul 30, 2007 4:29pm PDT
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pmurthy
 

I’ve used Apple, MyPublisher and ShutterFly pretty extensively. I use these books to promote my fine art photography and for the galleries that sell my work to use as giveaways and show catalogs.

So far my personal impression of the blurb books is that the paper weight and level of gloss vs matte on the blurb books is more appealing than any of the others.

Apple and MyPublisher are not identical – MyPublisher customer service is horrific (it’s always the customer’s fault), and every book I printed with them had serious problems. Most of these services use the same hardware, so it often comes down to customer service. While I have had issues with some blurb books, the customer service so far has been excellent in resolving the issues.

One warning, BookSmart has serious font issues with Mac fonts that do not show up in preview mode. If you can do your design and layout in something like InDesign or Photoshop and simply place the jpeg files, this seems to be more reliable.
Posted by
tahuya
Aug 10, 2007 3:46pm PDT
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tahuya
 

Tahuya, thanks for the warning on Mac fonts. I’m on a Mac and just beginning to put a Blurb book together… I hope the first of many.

Ann
Posted by
AnnBrooks
Aug 10, 2007 4:07pm PDT
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AnnBrooks
 

Hi Phil, I have had books printed by Apple, MyPublisher and Blurb so can comment on all 3. The first books i had printed were by MyPublisher and the quality was very good. I started using Aperture and had a book published by Apple at Christmas, the quality of the paper or the colours of the photos were not as good as MyPublisher. I know people say that Mypublisher prints Apples books but the quality of the books is not the same in my experience. They also say that customer service is poor from MyPublisher but my experience has been the opposite, any questions or queries answered promptly. However, about 3 months ago I made a large hardback book with Booksmart and it was a revelation! it is a true coffee table book. I have made a 2nd book since and am equally pleased with it. I can heartily recommend Booksmart as the best of the 3. Hope you enjoy your books!
Rgds Ritch
Posted by
ritch
Aug 12, 2007 10:15am PDT
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ritch
 

Hello Phil, 

I was interested in the difference myself. So I dropped the same set of photos into an iPhoto book and a Blurb book.

Here’s the final score:

Apple iPhoto book has better page layouts with boxes that naturally fit the aspect of photos, and the page layouts mix and match better to make for much nicer spreads.  Paper quality is a little thicker than Blurb’s too. But… the cover looks amateurish as it is just a piece of paper stuck to the front. The limit of 100 pages is not helplful.

Blurb book looks more pro. I ordered the hardback with dust jacket and this makes for a much more convincing, coffee table book finish. Throughout, the colours and print quality are better. And I got a 140 page book for less than half the price of Apple’s inferior 100-page effort.

As an iBook/iPod/iPhoto fan, I was sure the Apple book would deliver. Blurb won hands down

My only tip – up the contrast and intensity of all your pics no matter which company you decide to go with.

Will take some pics of both books when I get a chance and post them for all to see.

Good luck! Ben

 
Posted by
benjamlee
Aug 12, 2007 2:23pm PDT
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benjamlee

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