Making photo books

[JaneyDoll]

If I was going to make a photo book, say 12x12, but my pages were a different size. How would it look in the book? Would the pages just stretch to fit 12x12 or would there be a border around it?

What if I wanted to make different sizes of one book? Will they look the same?

So the question is, does it matter what size your pages are? Will I be able to make any size book and the pages just stretch to that size?

I'm sorry, but I'm new and am confused on how books and page sizes work together.

Thanks so much

[Leslie]

Hi - there will be a border around them. I scrap 12 x 12, but have printed six books at 8 x 10. All the pages have a border around them, but you choose the shade of the color behind, it's a very attractive look.

Here is a link to a pic (http://lesliesmyers.blogspot.com/2008/04/i-made-my-first-book.html)showing how I put one together - if you double click on the picture, it will show up large, and you can see more detail.

The two big pics show the front and back dust jacket covers, the set of small pics on the left with green ticks, are pics I have used in the book. The little row of pics at the bottom, show you the pages I have made and exactly how they will look in the book. I chose a pale purple background and you can see the border around each page.

Ask as many questions as you like - it's all good. :)

[shazzt]

All the book sites seem to have different ways of working. Like Leslie, I have had a couple of books printed 8 12" x 11", even though I am a square scrapper normally. I don't mind the border (partly because it means that hands turning the pages aren't touching my layouts) but it is a personal preference. As long as your pages are high resolution, you should have a problem with 12x12.

[JaneyDoll]

Is 300 a good resolution for 12x12?

[Leslie]

All of mine are 200, I just checked.

[Wags]

There are a variety of book sizes available - I know Viovio (http://www.viovio.com/products/bookmaker/splash.php?aff=5932) offers over a dozen different sizes.

Generally speaking you can downsize within a given ratio, but will suffer some loss of quality if you upsize. For example, 12x12 has an aspect ration of 1:1 and can be printed at 8.5x8.5. A 7x5 has an aspect ration of 3:2 and can be printed at 5.25"x3.5". An 8.5x11 has the same aspect ratio (4:3) as a 9x7, etc...