larios's Posts

Greetings dmyli!

Regi is right! I would also like to add that page 1 is really important cause it’s the first impression. You can either use it as a title page, or (if you are making a photobook) write a short introdudction there. An alternative that I am also considering is to leave it white blank, so that you can handwrite something to the recipient first and then send it / give it as a present.

Hope this is helpful.

Regards,

Yannis (http://www.larios.gr)

Thanks babiigirl and Brian,

Indeed, it has been a hectic year in my real-life job! I did not have time even to put together my Venice portfolio in a book! During the year I was also holding back, waiting for the latest version of Booksmart which would allow me to save wherever in my HD drivers. Now all these are here!

And I think it’s time to Blurb again…..

 Regards,

Yannis (http://www.larios.gr)

Since I am one of the "weird guys" asking for this feature for soooo long, I feel it’s proper right now to say a big thank you for that!

Regards,

Yannis (http://www.larios.gr)

Since some Blurb friends are asking about the book’s content, except from the inside-peek that Blurb provides (see here), I have also setup a Slideshow with music with some of my photos contained in the book.

It lasts for about 3-min and it is very relaxing. Download it from here..... (sorry, PC only!)

Would appreciate your comments at the guestbook if you liked it!

Regards, Yannis

Steve, thanks for explaining our (joint!) point…. The book data  (NOT the program) directory is put in C:\ no questions asked!

Ben, now that the issue is fully explained, could we hope for a resolution to the problem? (so…. the multiple choice question still remains unanswered..)

After 5+ days, still not an answer….. a yes or a no, or a whatever….

So, let me make it a bit easier for the Blurb techies. .... I will put it in a multiple choice type of question, so they don’t have to spend time with writing an elaborate answer! Just give me the just the letter…..(a) to (e)

Do you Blurb people intend to make Booksmart 1.9 save books at any user-selectable folder and not just C:\ by default?

a) yes, definately when Booksmart 1.9 glitches are sorted out, within the next 2 weeks or so…

b) we are thinking about it, but it’s not a priority. Probably in Booksmart 4.5. Probably..

c) why the heck would you want that? C:\ is fine… We have enough problems already

d) buy a larger C:\ hard disk, re-install Windows, re-install everything, and your problem is solved.

e) you are a pn in the a... Don’t expect an answer. Let the question drown in the thread

So?

Hi! And thanks for your efforts and Booksmart 1.9 which look really good.

I installed it, no problems! However, my question that I placed a month earlier still remains: does it still save on C:\ the book by default? How can I change that? I have not found something in an probable Options menu.

Please guide me..

Cannot see anything at my home page/ dashboard (yet!).

Is there a button for Booksmart at the first page actually?

Marta,

The trick is (as I also learned in this forum!) to change the currency from € to $... Then the discount is applicable. 

Regards, Yannis (Greece)

Ilias, please check the following postings for answers on this….

http://forums.blurb.com/forums/3/topics/759

http://forums.blurb.com/forums/3/topics/307

http://forums.blurb.com/forums/3/topics/452

Also check the FAQs.

Kind regards, Yannis

I have followed the "Set your price" issue for those of us in Europe. As you know Europeans do not have such an option available.

I do understand the statements made by Blurb, about having to examine European tax systems etc. for making it possible without any problems. Also, If I remember correctly, they say they have to state profits per country which makes it complicated etc. In such a case I bet that not all countries will be listed as eligible!

Other friends in this forum have proposed to use paypal for incurring profits, which to me seems logical but Blurb says it’s already being examined within the above framework.

So I would like to ask: Why not seek the following intermediary solution?

Everybody can set his/her price. Profits can be redeemed the normal way (if in the US). For the rest of us, why not use the redeemed profits as a gift-coupon for our next printing? No tax-issues are related to such an option, since all financial transactions are recorded within the same country (ie US or the Netherlands).

I guess not all people will be happy with this solution, but for some of us that publish books less frequently, it feels good if you can finance your next small book production with profits from the last one. Such an option, after all, may prove much better than nothing!

So, how about that?

Well done Alexander! A very well thought-out book from the cover to the end-page. Congrats for your photos also and thanks for sharing looks of the photobook!

Regards, Yannis

@dohlsen

Dave I checked your photo gallery and your Blurb book. I think your photos are very striking and you have a "different" view. I really appreciate it that you shared it here! Very nice photos…

As for the way I sell my Paros book through my website, you are indeed right. I have now pruchased a number of copies which I intend to keep stored.  Visitors can only buy my photobook directly from my website, by using Paypal or a credit card (like you do with your photos).

You see, since I am from Greece/ Europe I cannot use the "Set your own price" option.

However, after careful consideration I decided NOT to use the "Set your price option" even if it becomes available!

The reasons are:

- I prefer to always keep the visitor inside my photo website and fully control the process so as to keep him/ her happy. Any redirection may increase frustration, especially for the less computer-literate who gets easily-lost.

- I prefer to have a small number of copies on my own BEFORE selling them, so as to thoroughly check the quality/ binding issues. 

- Mailing costs are better controlled, since volume ordering minimises the per unit cost shipment. This helps decrease the cost of the photobook.

The downside is that you (as the photographer) make an upfront cash payment and you run the risk of never selling those books. But you can keep the numbers small (e.g. keep 10 copies) and if you "fail" to sell them, give the photobooks to friends as presents!

However, I prefer to put some of my own cash upfront (not much!) and keep those interested in my photography work very happy. Just think for a moment, the alternative scenario:

e.g. you enter my site, you click for the book and your are re-directed to Blurb (some frustration here…) and then you order it. It’s a bit more expensive due to the single shipment. And then imagine if you get it at your hands and something is not right (possible binding issue, possible colour faults, possible whatever else). Who would you blame? Blurb or the photographer? Surely the photographer (i.e. me!) and his crappy work!

So, I prefer to keep clients happy, even if it means more work and upfront cash for me!

Hope this helps, Yannis