Shutterfly, MyPublisher & Viovio comparison

[Dawneephay]

I have purchased books from Shutterfly, My Publisher and recently Viovio. Just thought I'd share my comparison observations.

Shutterfly: Very nice cover. Quality of print is awesome. Paper is nice and thick. Priced right in the middle.

My Publisher: Very nice cover. Quality of print is a not quite as good as Shutterfly. Paper is nice and thick. Highest priced.

Viovio: Very nice cover. Quality of print is comparative to Shutterfly. Paper is thinner than paper from Shutterfly and My Publisher. The price was quite a bit cheaper than both of the others. But am pleased with product.

[annawhocropsalot]

I'm making an 85 page book at Shutterfly. I'm nervous because there was a post somewhere saying that Shutterfly prints a tiny bit too dark. Did you find this to be the case?

[ValerieP]

And there are a couple of more to add to the mix-Blurb-they say they use the same paper as Viovio and then a higher quality paper. They look like they are priced between Shutterfly and Viovio and then ScrappingSimply will be making photo books soon. I am putting one together to try them out-they look like they will be more in line with Viovio pricing- So many choices!

[tylertooo]

Love the input. I have yet to make the leap, but hope to soon.

[flyingbinker]

Anna, I printed an 80 pg book recently, and I haven't found that to be true (about the colors), but you must remember to turn off the vivid pics in shutterfly on all your pictures after you upload, but before you put them into your photobook. Otherwise, they do alter the printed quality of the pages. If you've already put the pages in your album, you have to open each pic/page and uncheck it in effects. it's a pain, but necessary to get your colors to be accurate.

[annawhocropsalot]

Thank you, Angela! I have another question. When I look at the preview in Shutterfly, my title on the spine looks right from the front cover view, but in the back cover view it looks like the bottom of the title will go right to the edge, uncentered. (Top and bottom-the vertical edge) Now I'm not sure what to go with.

[dugarner]

Anna,

In the past, I have heard that Shutterfly sometimes prints a little on the dark side---I have, occasionally, upped the saturation on my finished pages by 5-10, but it's not necessary I think unless you're printing an unusually dark page (maybe with dark paper background and less contrast than usual). I've never had trouble with Shutterfly color.

I ordered from viovio in December and was so upset with the final product I will never order from them again. The paper was not nearly as high-quality as Shutterfly, and the colors were so far off, I was almost in tears. DH didn't think they looked funny until the re-print came from Shutterfly, and was shocked. Everything in the viovio book was a horrible green-yellow shade, so much that my kids literally looked jaundiced. The paper was thin and the binding cracked and pages came loose the first time I opened it. All that and it was only $5 less (shipping and everything included) than an 8X8 Shutterfly book, it wasn't worth it to me. Some people don't like that Shutterfly doesn't offer a stitched binding, but my books (though the thickest was only 70 pages) have never cracked or had a loose binding, even with DD manhandling (or girl-handling) them all the time.

I haven't used anyone else because I love the square formats---MyPublisher is expensive, but high quality, if you like the oblong/non-standard scrapbook dimensions. I love the jackets you can have done on the hardback books. They really look snazzy. (I have a photog friend who uses them for her clients, that's my only experience with them.)

Anyway, the decision about the saturation issue is one you can make on your own, but I've printed 12 books or so with Shutterfly and never had a color complaint about any of them. But I second Angela's advice, I've never forgotten to turn off Vivid Pics, but some folks have, and said they noticed a difference on some layouts, but not necessarily all.

For the spine problem, the preview is true to how it will print. Are you using the Shutterfly spine template with the guide presets turned on, so you can see how it should center? My first few books, I didn't really understand how the casewrap worked, and messed up some centering on the covers.

If you get it right on the preview and it winds up wrong, they will do everything they can to help. I have never had anything but exemplary customer service, which is why I'm never nervous printing a book.

In the end, go with what works for you---if you want quality and price isn't an issue, or if you know you're on a budget and maybe can re-print down the road, or if you want a certain size and that's more important than exact-ness of color . . . all those things are personal choices.

HTH!

Sarah

[kathleen.summers]

Sarah, that is awesome input and SUPER helpful! Thanks for taking the time to share that!

[justmp]

Thanks for sharing your observations and opinions!

[Sweet D]

Hi All,

I just ordered a 12 x 12 book from Shutterfly and realized I forgot to turn off vivid pics. About two hours after I ordered, I realized my mistake and contacted customer service to try to correct it. Customer service replied that "vivid pics can only improve image exposure"; I don't think the person realized that they suggest on their website to turn off vivid pics if you're uploading layouts. Anyway, I've ordered another book with vivid pics turned off and will compare the two when I receive them, then I'll let you all know my results.

[hulseyfam]

I've read so many different reviews and honestly I'm scared to put my money into printing a book. lol

[MIDA78466]

I've only used shutterfly and am very pleased. It's so nice to see your work printed in a book.

[ValerieP]

I love my Shutterfly books and cant wait to see what my recently ordered Inkubook will be like-I sure do wish Shutterfly would offer a 10x10 or 11x11 and turn off Vivid Pics for scrappers and then I wouldnt have to shop around!

[arimacias]

i really like the results from the ONE book i have order from shutterfly. i have 2 more on the way so we will see i'll let you know when i see them.

[muddygirl]

I LOVE my shutterfly books!

One thing I would suggest about vivid pics is that it is best to turn it off after you have put your pages into your book, page by page, because some people (including me) have had cropping problems when you turn off vivid pic first.

[blkcow]

I have only done 2 shutterfly books and they wee tremendous. I remembered to turn off vivid pics and everything was good. I had a friend that forgot to turn off vivid pics on 2 pages.....and actually she liked those pages better.....but the solid background paper (lime greenish) was VERY bold.

[DonnaNJ]

Just a mention for those of you who are not aware of it.. If you call Shutterfly they will turn off vivid pictures for your account. This will only apply to photos uploaded after it is turned off.. Pictures already up there need to be turned off manually

[Julie DeGuia]

Originally Posted by hulseyfam

I've read so many different reviews and honestly I'm scared to put my money into printing a book. lol

I'm with you on this one Jaime! I printed one 8x8 with a free coupon through Shutterfly and I think they printed a little dark but the thing I can get around is the cutting off in the binding. Even if I got the margins under control on the other three sides you still lose some in the middle so I have decided to print individual 12x12 pages and use a slip-in album!

[sal4gal]

Valerie, I would like to try Inkubook, please report back when you get them!

Sallie