Useful Tips
1. Can I import my own page designs into Vanilla Photobook Creator?
Can I send my artwork as PDF files?
3. Will my images on screen look exactly like they do in print?
4. How do DPI and PPI affect my book project?
1. Can I import my own page designs into Vanilla Photobook Creator?
Can I send my artwork as pdf files?
Yes you can! If you’re an experienced graphic designer, or just want to experiment, you can export a page from a layout program (like InDesign and Photoshop) as a JPG or TIF, and add it to the Pictures Library. For best results, select a full-page template from the page styles menu.
By starting your designs at the correct size outside of Vanilla Photobook Creator and saving your pages as images, you can preserve your custom layouts from your design software of choice: Adobe InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator, among others.
Once you save them per the tips below, you can import them into Vanilla Photobook Creator full-bleed single-page image templates.
Initial Step:
Size your document within your layout software to the measurements listed below. These measurements include bleed and help you preserve your custom designed layouts.
1) Export
We have done several tests to figure out the best way to get your pages saved out properly to drop into our full-bleed image pages. From Adobe inDesign, I recommend exporting your file as a high res PDF (pdf/x-1a2001) as single pages, not spreads.
Then drag that PDF directly into Photoshop; a dialogue box will come up, asking for DPI, and color settings. Select all of your pages at once, set your DPI to 300 (preferred, but 150 DPI is okay), and set your color to sRGB. Save your files as .jpeg or .tiff files to import into Vanilla Photobook Creator.
*If exporting from Adobe Illustrator, set your export dialogue box to 300 DPI.
2) Save
All of your individual pages will be rendered and left open on your desktop, unsaved.
You will then have to save each one. *I recommend naming your files starting with 001_, 002_, … etc., to preserve your page order – page one, page two, etc. Note: You can have Photoshop auto-number your files after you save them using a custom Photoshop’s “batch” setting, but you have to set up an “action” to create this three-digit numbering.
3) Import
Numbering lets you use the Vanilla Photobook Creator Autoflow feature to flow these pages into your layout in the correct order. The Autoflow feature can be a big help – I recommend playing with it and eventually using it yourself. You can also manually add these images/pages to your layouts like any other photos.
4) Finish
You can quickly flow your pages into Vanilla Photobook Creator as mentioned above or take your time to design the perfect book. Remember, these tips work in any of our available book formats.
PDF files
Alternativley, you can supply your finished layouts to us as high resolution pdf files. We will print your photobook directly from the pdf files. Please ensure they are set up to the specifications below. Layouts supplied to us as pdf files will not have any branding or barcodes applied to them.
Please email your pdfs to contact@vanillaphotobooks with your order details. An invoice will then be issued for you to make payment by BACS to our bank.
2. Page dimensions
When importing high-resolution graphics or page designs, use the following measurements for full bleed. Please make sure your images are at 300 DPI (preferred, but 150 DPI is okay) at 100% scale.
Please note that these full-bleed page measurements include 3mm bleed on top, bottom, and outside edge; and that full-bleed cover measurements include 10mm bleed on top, bottom, and on flap edges.
Note: Don’t forget to keep all of your important content at least 3mm away from all sides of each page. If you go beyond the 3mm safety margin, which is our trim cutoff, you do so at your own risk.
All specs below are shown width by height.
12" Square Layflat Photobook
Cover - Single Page: Trim Size: 300 mm (w) x 300 mm (h)
Bleed Size: 310 mm (w) x 320 mm (h)
Spine: 8mm wide (for books up to 40 pages*)
Cover - Spread: (includes front / back covers and 8mm spine*)
Trim Size: 608 mm (w) x 300 mm (h)
Bleed Size: 628 mm (w) x 320 mm (h)
Inner - Single Page: Trim Size: 284 mm (w) x 294 mm (h)
Bleed Size: 287 mm (w) x 300 mm (h)
Inner - Spread: Trim Size: 568 mm (w) x 294 mm (h)
Bleed Size: 574 mm (w) x 300 mm (h)
12" Square Leather Layflat Photobook
Cover: N/A
Inner - Single Page: Trim Size: 284 mm (w) x 294 mm (h)
Bleed Size: 287 mm (w) x 300 mm (h)
Inner - Spread: Trim Size: 568 mm (w) x 294 mm (h)
Bleed Size: 574 mm (w) x 300 mm (h)
A4 Landscape Layflat Photobook
Cover - Single Page: Trim Size: 297 mm (w) x 210 mm (h)
Bleed Size: 307 mm (w) x 230 mm (h)
Spine: 8mm wide (for books up to 40 pages*)
Cover - Spread: (includes front / back covers and 8mm spine*)
Trim Size: 602 mm (w) x 210 mm (h)
Bleed Size: 622 mm (w) x 230 mm (h)
Inner - Single Page: Trim Size: 281 mm (w) x 204 mm (h)
Bleed Size: 284 mm (w) x 210 mm (h)
Inner - Spread: Trim Size: 562 mm (w) x 204 mm (h)
Bleed Size: 568 mm (w) x 210 mm (h)
A4 Landscape Leather Layflat Photobook
Cover: N/A
Inner - Single Page: Trim Size: 281 mm (w) x 204 mm (h)
Bleed Size: 284 mm (w) x 210 mm (h)
Inner - Spread: Trim Size: 562 mm (w) x 204 mm (h)
Bleed Size: 568 mm (w) x 210 mm (h)
A4 Portrait Layflat Photobook
Cover - Single Page: Trim Size: 210 mm (w) x 297 mm (h)
Bleed Size: 220 mm (w) x 317 mm (h)
Spine: 8mm wide (for books up to 40 pages*)
Cover - Spread: (includes front / back covers and 8mm spine*)
Trim Size: 428 mm (w) x 297 mm (h)
Bleed Size: 448 mm (w) x 317 mm (h)
Inner - Single Page: Trim Size: 194 mm (w) x 291 mm (h)
Bleed Size: 197 mm (w) x 297 mm (h)
Inner - Spread: Trim Size: 388 mm (w) x 291 mm (h)
Bleed Size: 394 mm (w) x 297 mm (h)
8" Square Layflat Photobook
Cover - Single Page: Trim Size: 200 mm (w) x 200 mm (h)
Bleed Size: 210 mm (w) x 220 mm (h)
Spine: 8mm wide (for books up to 40 pages*)
Cover - Spread: (includes front / back covers and 8mm spine*)
Trim Size: 408 mm (w) x 200 mm (h)
Bleed Size: 428 mm (w) x 220 mm (h)
Inner - Single Page: Trim Size: 184 mm (w) x 194 mm (h)
Bleed Size: 187 mm (w) x 200 mm (h)
Inner - Spread: Trim Size: 368 mm (w) x 194 mm (h)
Bleed Size: 374 mm (w) x 200 mm (h)
12" Square Photobook, Hardcover
Cover - Single Page: Trim Size: 300 mm (w) x 300 mm (h)
Bleed Size: 310 mm (w) x 320 mm (h)
Spine: 8mm wide (for books up to 40 pages*)
Cover - Spread: (includes front / back covers and 8mm spine*)
Trim Size: 608 mm (w) x 300 mm (h)
Bleed Size: 628 mm (w) x 320 mm (h)
Inner - Single Page: Trim Size: 294 mm (w) x 294 mm (h)
Bleed Size: 297 mm (w) x 300 mm (h)
Inner - Spread: Trim Size: 588 mm (w) x 294 mm (h)
Bleed Size: 594 mm (w) x 300 mm (h)
A4 Landscape Photobook, Hardcover
Cover - Single Page: Trim Size: 297 mm (w) x 210 mm (h)
Bleed Size: 307 mm (w) x 230 mm (h)
Spine: 8mm wide (for books up to 40 pages*)
Cover - Spread: (includes front / back covers and 8mm spine*)
Trim Size: 602 mm (w) x 210 mm (h)
Bleed Size: 622 mm (w) x 230 mm (h)
Inner - Single Page: Trim Size: 291 mm (w) x 204 mm (h)
Bleed Size: 294 mm (w) x 210 mm (h)
Inner - Spread: Trim Size: 582 mm (w) x 204 mm (h)
Bleed Size: 588 mm (w) x 210 mm (h)
A4 Portrait Photobook, Hardcover
Cover - Single Page: Trim Size: 210 mm (w) x 297 mm (h)
Bleed Size: 220 mm (w) x 317 mm (h)
Spine: 8mm wide (for books up to 40 pages*)
Cover - Spread: (includes front / back covers and 8mm spine*)
Trim Size: 428 mm (w) x 297 mm (h)
Bleed Size: 448 mm (w) x 317 mm (h)
Inner - Single Page: Trim Size: 204 mm (w) x 291 mm (h)
Bleed Size: 207 mm (w) x 297 mm (h)
Inner - Spread: Trim Size: 408 mm (w) x 291 mm (h)
Bleed Size: 414 mm (w) x 297 mm (h)
8" Square Photobook, Hardcover
Cover - Single Page: Trim Size: 200 mm (w) x 200 mm (h)
Bleed Size: 210 mm (w) x 220 mm (h)
Spine: 8mm wide (for books up to 40 pages*)
Cover - Spread: (includes front / back covers and 8mm spine*)
Trim Size: 408 mm (w) x 200 mm (h)
Bleed Size: 428 mm (w) x 220 mm (h)
Inner - Single Page: Trim Size: 194 mm (w) x 194 mm (h)
Bleed Size: 197 mm (w) x 200 mm (h)
Inner - Spread: Trim Size: 388 mm (w) x 194 mm (h)
Bleed Size: 394 mm (w) x 200 mm (h)
12" Square Wedding Photobook
Cover: N/A
Inner - Single Page: Trim Size: 294 mm (w) x 294 mm (h)
Bleed Size: 297 mm (w) x 300 mm (h)
Inner - Spread: Trim Size: 588 mm (w) x 294 mm (h)
Bleed Size: 594 mm (w) x 300 mm (h)
12" Square Layflat Wedding Photobook
Cover: N/A
Inner - Single Page: Trim Size: 284 mm (w) x 294 mm (h)
Bleed Size: 287 mm (w) x 300 mm (h)
Inner - Spread: Trim Size: 568 mm (w) x 294 mm (h)
Bleed Size: 574 mm (w) x 300 mm (h)
A5 Landscape Photobook, Softcover (8 or 16 Pages)
Cover - Single Page: Trim Size: 210 mm (w) x 148 mm (h)
Bleed Size: 213 mm (w) x 154 mm (h)
Cover - Spread: N/A
Inner - Single Page: Trim Size: 210 mm (w) x 148 mm (h)
Bleed Size: 213 mm (w) x 154 mm (h)
Inner - Spread: Trim Size: 420 mm (w) x 148 mm (h)
Bleed Size: 426 mm (w) x 154 mm (h)
* For books with more than 40 pages, please contact us to confirm the spine width.
3. Will my images on screen look exactly like they do in print?
Images on screen appear punchy and clean as they are backlit by your screen. Dark images on screen will appear darker when printed on the page, so keep in mind that the photos won't have light shining through them as is the case on your monitor – please adjust your photos accordingly. You may wish to adjust images using a photo-editing program such as Photoshop.
We recommend calibrating your monitor using a program similar to Coloreyes Display Pro or Spyder3.
If your image is dark on screen we recommend you either lighten it or remove it from your book.
We cannot be responsible for problems with your images as we do not and cannot adjust the fully encrypted page files you upload to us.
Image size and resolution can also contribute to a difference in what your image looks like on screen compared to when printed. Your computer's monitor most likely has a resolution of 72PPI ( pixels per inch) and images will appear sharp and clear. If you use this image in your book it will print out pixelated as the resolution is too low, so don’t be fooled by what looks good on screen.
The ideal resolution for images is 300 PPI ( pixels per inch) at 100% size.
The minimum resolution we recommend is 150PPI at 100%.
If an image is placed in your book at less than our recommended minimum resolution, a warning will appear.
You can still proceed with your order with this image, but the image may appear slightly pixilated when printed, subject to the actual resolution. In many cases an image at 100PPI will be fine but not recommended.
We understand how important your images are to you. Digital printing has advanced considerably over the last year, but still has a way go to match true offset litho and Silver Halide quality. Results can be amazing, but getting an image, from your back-lit RGB monitor to a printed photobook printed in CMYK can sometimes be a challenge.
Several variables come into play between your monitor and our global print network. In POD, books – covers and pages – are printed on different print devices, which means that even though everything is calibrated variables are a given. Controlling as many variables as possible is what colour management is all about.
A properly calibrated monitor helps you manage colour and balance more accurately. But please set your expectations appropriately. It is simply not possible for our digital presses to duplicate the finely controlled colour management that is possible with offset litho and Silver Halide printing, so some differences may appear from book to book.
Adjusting colour images
Please see this information about how to adjust your colour images using Photoshop
Adjusting black and white images
If a black and white photograph is appearing flat (lacking in contrast) – the following levels settings can be applied in Photoshop which should improve the contrast of the image.
If a B&W photograph is appearing a bit dark then applying the following settings for shadows and highlights in Photoshop may help improve it.
Please remember - every image is unique and the information above should only be used as a rough guide. Further adjustments may be required depending on the nature of the image. We would always recommend that adjustments be carried out on a calibrated screen to give the best results.
4. How do DPI and PPI affect my book project?
The terms DPI and PPI have evolved into meaning the same thing, but in actuality, the terms are as different as a printed catalog and a web page.
DPI (Dots per Inch) was the common term used in the pre-computer era of printing onto paper.
The more dots per inch (a higher DPI) the higher the printing quality.
PPI (Pixels per Inch) is the term for the new digital age of graphic reproduction. Scanners, digital cameras, and digital print devices use PPI to measure image quality. Images are measured in PPI.
Images are measured in PPI so what does this mean to you when making your book.
To understand PPI, let's try an example:
We scan a 1-inch square photo at 200 PPI and place it into Quark or InDesign (professional page layout programs) and resize it to 50%. The Pixels per Inch are now closer together when the image is at 50%, so the PPI is now 400 PPI. If we take that original 1-inch 200 PPI image and resize it to 200%, we are spreading the Pixels per Inch further apart so the PPI is now 100 PPI.
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