Hello,

I am creating my book and would like to do a two page spread. How much of the page should be allocated to the inside gutter (part of the page at the spine)?

Thank you,
Iain

Hi,
I am exporting from iPhoto and have 2 questions. First is that I laid the book out with facing pages and in the software the correct pages are facing each other, however when I export to PDF the first printed page seems to begin on the left page face. This means when I view the PDF the correct pages are not facing each other. I can rectify this in the PDF by adding a blank page to the beginning so that the first printed page appears properly on the right side/face. Is this necessary for me to do?
Second is I'd like to confirm that PDF will export and print in an adequate resolution and look great.

Thanks!

We do offer FTP uploading all you need to do is send a note to support@viovio requesting FTP access and we will set your account for you.

I tried uploading a zip file to my gallery last night...no go. The zip file was only about 8 MB.

Then I tried uploading 5 at a time...no go.

Then I tried uploading 2 at a time...it worked maybe 10% of the time.

Uploading 1 at a time...success.

I'm lucky I only had 30 pages to upload, but it was still a very long process having to do it one by one.

For the future, is there a faster way? I have ftp software (to upload to my personal website) but I was uploading .jpg, not pdfs.

Good point, won't really need to worry about the over lap since you won't have pages bending down into the spine

After I asked the question above, I didn't get a clear response. So I took matters into my own (impatient) hands and did a little test. I ordered two differently formatted versions of the same book; the first had full page spreads formatted with a half inch overlap in the gutter, as recommended here: http://www.viovio.com/photos/gallery/11323. The second book I ordered was formatted with no overlap in the gutter. As I suspected, the book without overlap looked correct and lined up well in its saddle stitch binding. The spreads that were formatted the way that viovio recommends were a bit wonky, as the overlapping areas showed, and created a sort of clumsy double image at the binding. Once again, this only applies to very short books, under 20 pages, that will be saddle stitched and not perfect bound. If you are making such a book, the verdict is: don't format your spreads with overlap! Which is kind of nice, since it's less work:)

We print our products on different printers and they can accommodating different size paper going through the printer. For the 11x8.5 softcover you need a printer that can accept paper that is about 25" wide for the cover. Our premium printer can accommodate that size.

Oh, okay- I thought there was another page that gave a choice... you're talking about the first page in the process where one has to pick from the list.

All of the softcover books I've had done had the satin paper option and had good color. That last softcover was landscape format, and I could ONLY buy it with premium printing, and it came out with good color also.

So that hardcover I'm sending back was actually printed too light- it wasn't just a "preference" of one kind of printing over another, because I'm holding in my hands my earlier books with both options, and they look great. That book was really washed out... the reds were orange and the blacks were gray.

Whew, I'm relieved!

So why is the 11x8.5 landscape softcover ONLY offered with the premium printing?
The portrait format in the same size is offered with satin paper.

I don't get it.

Click the "books & products" link to the left of the screen, then click the product title of the project you plan to purchase. All available products will list on that page. Anything that says Premium in the description is a premium product. The quick bound products list the paper as either satin or photo silk

I don't remember seeing any, or choosing any binding choices at checkout for the group of books I ordered.

I just now went back and pretended to buy one of my books, so I could see where this binding choice was offered, and I got all the way to the page where you pay, and hadn't seen the option yet.

I didn't want to go any further, because I was only looking for that binding option.

Where exactly, and on what page of the process is that option shown?

Nancy,

Greetings from viovio and thanks for your interest.

Use the book designer and create your pages. Follow the same guidelines you used before, we use to have white borders on our pages now we have full bleed with our Premium line :)

If you have any other questions please let us know!

viovio support

High Print Quality is generally preferred. However *do not* choose "PrePress" as that typically adds crop marks which we don't use. We actually can't print PDF's with them because the PDF media box is oversized, and thus it will not be recognized properly by the production line.

Actually, yes, the quick bound process is a toner based print process (hard or soft cover) and the premium bound process is an ink based print process (hard or soft cover). The book in question was ordered January 11th using the premium process (softcover book). It was ordered again January 15 using the quick binding process (hardcover book). Both processes are fabulous. It is just personal preference as to whether a creator prefers the quick bound process or the premium bound process.

Hope that helps.

I had loose pages printed about a year ago and followed the size requirement of 12.25 x 12.25. I added an additional 1/8 inch border around all of my 12 x 12 pages. I got back pages that had a 5/8 inch white border outside of the 1/8 inch border I had added to be cut off. I want a full bleed page with no border. For loose pages, what size should the page be that I upload?

All of the books I've had done have had excellent color quality.
But the last book's inside pages were all washed out.

Here's what the support rep told me:

"The 2nd book you ordered was printed using our quick bound process. If you are not happy with the color I would make sure you don't order the quick bound books. The hardcover book you ordered was printed using the premium process."

Now, for one thing, it was the HARDCOVER that had the washed out pages.
All my softcover books, which I guess are "quickbound" are perfect.

So is the rep just kinda confused about the process, or what?
The binding choice can't affect the print quality, can it?

Daniel,

Greetings from viovio and thanks for your interest!

If you want to create a full wrap cover — the best thing to do is upload the interior file, and move forward in the book creation process until you get to the cover creation stage of the game. On that page to the left of the screen under Cover Dimensions: we give you the exact dimensions for your full wrap cover based on the page count for your specific book.

You can then create the cover file and upload.

If you have any questions please let us know!

viovio support

Julian,

Actually, we recommend that images should be at 300 dpi and they should be .25" larger than the book you plan to create. So for an 8.5x11 book the images should be 8.75x11.25 and at 300 dpi that would be 2625x3375. So you could actually calculate the image size for any book you plan to create. That also holds true for the covers.

We also recommend that you don't have any important items within the outer 1/2" on all sides. We trim 1/8" and we ask that you allow 1/8" for safety so that is .25"

Here is a link to our book binding specs page that gives detail information on all our trim sizes (including price) http://www.viovio.com/wiki/index.php?structure_id=421

For all of our books the first page of the interior file always prints on the right. Here is a link to a picture of how this looks http://www.viovio.com/photos/image/1983/135/132/133

viovio support

Monica,

Greetings from viovio and thanks for your interest.

Still follow the same guidelines:

For all our trim sizes we recommend you make the cover images as well as the interior page images 1/4" larger than your book size. For example if you plan to create an 8.5x11 book the cover image as well as interior pages would be 8.75x11.25 (at 300 dpi).

Most importantly, keep all important items (people, heads, text,borders) away from the outer 1/2" on all sides.

Here is a page that may help
http://www.viovio.com/wiki/index.php?structure_id=303

If you have anymore questions please let us know!

viovio support

Since the cover is a single wrap around PDF, how do I calculate the spine width so I create a spine--and complete cover, that's the right size?

Hello,
the pdf style I may export my document to are:
pdf/x-1a
pdf/x-3
Press-high quality/ high resolution
which one should I use?
Thank you for your answer.

My image files come out of the camera at 3008 x 2000 pixels, 31.83 x 21.17 cm at 240 ppi. That's the size I want to print them at - I'll be putting them in InDesign layouts and exporting PDFs - but should I upsample the images to be 300 ppi at the size I want? Or will the "native" 240 ppi be just as good? And what should the PDF resolution be in either case?

And for PDFs of InDesign CS3 layouts incorporating photos? Still sRGB?

I noticed premium prints say this now...New: Premium Pages are Full Bleed Edge-to-Edge and higher print quality
DO we still need to send images as 12.25 x 12.25 or can I send them in saved size of 12 x 12? I have to resize all mine I'm sending if we do and wondered since it says full bleed now

Katie,

Greetings from viovio and thanks for your interest!

We recommend your images be at 300 dpi. Here is simple way to think about dpi and pixels — you want your images to be at 300 dpi (dots per inch — that is dots of ink per inch). 300 dpi ensures your image is printed crisp and the pictures are not blurry. If the printer puts 300 dots of color in a 1 square inch area the image will be clear.

Here is an example of how dpi and pixels are basically the same.

Say your image is 8.5x11 and you want it to be at 300 dpi so that it looks nice and clear when it prints. If you multiply 8.5x300 and 11x300 you will get 2550x3300. So your image would be at 2550 x 3300 pixels.

viovio support

We don't offer the option to collect your order at the production plant. If you select the super saver ship method it can take up to 4 weeks domestic and 8 weeks international. Also, the US Postal Service doesn't guarantee their delivery times like FedEx and UPS do. They always deliver but just don't guarantee the delivery time :)

Yes, you can order as many books as you prefer in one order.

How slow is slow? More than a month? Can I pick up the books at your office to save on shipping?

If I buy more than one book at a time, can I save on shipping costs? If so, can they be different books? I just want to know if I should save my orders until I can do 3 (or whatever many) --to save?

What resolution (pixel/inch) should a 12x12 page be for the best clarity?

Sorry for any confusion. Go with sRGB for the photos and you will be happy.

But elsewhere we're repeatedly told to use RGB, not CMYK. Which is best for a 14x11 Porfolio book?

11x8.5 softcover books are available as a binding option

I'm just wondering why in the photo book products page: http://www.viovio.com/wiki/Catalog , there is the option of the 11" x 8.5" perfect bound soft cover book, but on this page it explains that "11"x8.5" Landscape Photo Book available in Imagewrap Hardcover, Die-cut Hardcover, and Wire-O Calendar bindings." Are the softcover 11"x8.5" photobooks available?

Thanks,
Adam

Greetings from viovio and thanks for your interest.

Our min page for ordering loose pages is 24 pages.

If you have anymore questions please let us know!

viovio support

KG,

Greetings from viovio and thanks for your interest!

Our Premium paper is thicker and the upgrade is that the printing process is ink based not toner. Ink is glossy :)

Have a great day

If you have anymore questions please let us know!

viovio support

Lee,

Greetings from viovio and thanks for your interest.

We have many customers create guest books with us! They are always happy with with whatever paper they choose. All of our books feature roughly the same quality paper. If you would like a sample to see the difference send a note to support@viovio.com with your address!

viovio support

Greetings from viovio and thanks for your interest!

Our pages come without holes on the side. If your book has screws then you can always hold punch our pages and add them in :)

Have a great day and let us know if you need anything else!

viovio support

Julian,

Greetings from viovio and thanks for your interest.

The binding will fall 4/8ths of an inch into the book :)

If you have anymore questions please let us know!

viovio support

How far from the edge of the page do the holes punched for the Wire-O Layflat binding fall?

Does "richer appearance" on the Interior Premium imply it's a higher quality than the digital silk? Also, is the Interior Premium 12x12 appear make the images appear more like a glossy or matte print or is there a choice?

Hello,

I am interested in designing and purchasing loose pages to put in a handmade scrapbook cover I already have. Do the loose pages have space on the left side to allow for binding in a scrapbook with screws? If not, how can one bind them in a cover other than by slipping them in plastic page protectors?

Thanks!

Hi..
I'm interested in getting a photo book. I am planning to use it as a guest book for our wedding where people can write their messages and wishes.

I would like to know the thickness of photo silk and premium photo.
I like the result look like the travel coffee book... bright colour... does it mean i need to use interior premium?

cheers

How much would shipping be on a one sided 12x12 page?

greetings from Viovio, and thank you for your interest.

Here is a link to our page about 2-page spreads that may help: http://www.viovio.com/photos/gallery/11323

As a note, for all of our books the first interior page prints on the right, regardless of whether or not it displays on the right or left in the preview. The first interior page will always print on the right.

Thank you for choosing Viovio. If you have other questions or if I missed something let me know and I'll do my best to help.

Viovio Support
http://www.viovio.com/support/

Kim,

Greetings from viovio and thanks for your interest.

The 12.5x10 is a landscape book :) So your image should work!

Let us know if you have any other questions!

viovio support

Caridad,

You need to create the templates as PNG files :)

When you get some designs that you are ready to get up and selling, send the PNG files to designer@viovio.com and we'll convert them and get them live on your account. If you are brave, you can try to convert them yourself - see a webcast at:

http://www.viovio.com/wiki/Creating+Book+Designer+Templates

When you upload pages you can upload them as singles or in groups. You set the commission when editing your template from your Viovio.com account. The commission is added to the total cost of a book when any number of pages in your template album is used. When the book is purchased, you recieve a commission for *each* copy of the book sold.

If your template is $3, a 20 page 9"x7" book using that template will cost $4.99 + (20 * $.30) + 3 = $13.99 If two copies of the same book are purchased, you receive $6.

Payment is available in Paypal, Worldpay, Check, and Store Credit.

Let us know if you need anything else!

Hi,
I am creating a book by uploading a PDF and I'm wondering how the formatting suggestions for two page photo spreads applies to books under 20 pages, since they will be saddle stitched instead of perfect bound. Do I still want to include the 1/2 inch overlap inside the gutter?

Cheers!
Kaetlyn

Hi,

I uploaded a pdf template where do I find it? I want to test it before I post it and make it available publicly. Also, if I want to delete it after I test it and upload the complete final pdf how would I do that?

thanks

Hi,

I uploaded a pdf template file. Where do I find it?

Thanks.

Thank you for answering my last question so well and so quickly. You suggest the 12X12 image wrap or the 12.5X10 Hardcover for my bigger project (which I may opt to make 2 volumes...though I'd prefer one large single volume)
The durable binding option sounds good, and my question is that my cover shot is landscape....will those choices work with a landscape cover?
Thank you. I really like your support.

Love it Courtney. Need to try this one out.

Really nice photo. Good work.

Dane, I love the crop on this.

Wow,really nice piece of art work ,Ilove the way you have done this hun.

I like this, very nice!!!!

Suzi ,this is so awesome i feel as if i can reach out and touch the tree or walk into the photo. Excellent work.

Neat stained glass look!

Courtney

thank you Marilyn

Really cute, Judy!

Nice job; I agree with Linda ... suits this image.

Rusty

You are welcome. Suited the image well.

Thanks Judy,trying to get an effect I saw at exibition the other week,I posted the ladys site in the coffee shop,you should take a look at her work hun its really good.
min.

I love this Christell.

Min i really like the look you achieved.

This is really nice hun,I like the effect that you have got very much.

Christell, This is absolutely stunning!

The storm was still offshore; however, it was coming our way.

This is the introduction page that I just put together. I have to go over it ASAP checking for mistakes.

Thank you, Dawn, Joe and Kimi.

Rusty

Christell i really like how you did this. Very neat.

Thanks, Courtney. I don't take many pictures, so this is my way of using Photoshop. Makes me feel a little creative. LOL

I am having fun trying different things. I did SO many things to this, I would never, ever be able to recreate it. LOL

Thanks for your comment.

Looks like you are having fun creating your pieces of abstract art.

Love your result....

Very pretty colors and blending.

Courtney

Love this shot Rusty! Very nice.

Very nicely done, Rusty. I like the framing of the tree branches and the color of the building in stark contrast with the black and white of the trees and snow.

Thanks girls!

Beautiful! I can not wait for flower time in my area.

WOW!!!

So, so NICE!

Beautiful....

that was a beautiful sky and a gorgeous moment in my life homie

Love it in B&W.

Love this one. The fog gave it a peaceful mood.

Thanks for commenting.

Thanks, Carol. Yours caught my eye. Thanks for the info about it.

Thank you, Julie.

I really like that one. Nice, simple composition.

Rusty

Very nice, Christell. I like the color! Fun tutorial.