ZookBinders or Art Leather?

Getting ready to make a decision on which album to offer, would like to stay with one company, offering

flushmount and thinner page style coffee table book. Narrowed it down to Zookbinders and Art Leather.

I have personally seen neither, does one book stand out over the other?

Also, I would like to use the Print to bind function. How have people solved color accuracy issues without

seeing the prints prior to being bound. Im running on a Mac, Aperture, CS2.

 

Would like to send demo albums off this weekend to be printed, any inputs would be greatly appreciated.

 

Thanks

Bob

I've used Zookbinders and their work and turnaround is great. I've not used Art Leather mainly because I hear and read constantly about how slow they are with photographers waiting a month or more. Perhaps others on this forum who have actually used them might have more positive words.

 

For color accuracy, I stick to the ROES system with my lab, get the prints, then send them to Zook. Yes, it's another step, but I get to see and make any changes necessary before the pix get bound. With ROES, the lab can correct each picture on a page, if you have multiple pictures, and match them all.

I looooove Zookbinders. I got my sample album a few weeks ago and it's WAY nicer than any

other album I've seen. I did the print-to-bind and the color's great. They have you submit

test prints to check accuracy before you can use PTB.

 

I like the Zookbook so much I'm thinking about not offering anything but them and Asukas. I

was offering Cypress Albums, but they're WAAAAY pricey and not as impressive as I thought

they would be.

 

Good luck Bob!

Forget Art Leather. Problems with quality and service. Huge.

 

However - Art Leather offers Seldex Albums but you can order from Seldex direct. They are shipped by Art Leather so they are still a bit slow but the quality of these Australian Albums is amazing. http://www.seldex.com.au - nicole@seldec.com.au

 

Also take a look at the Library Bound Rennessance albums from http://www.michelcompany.com - They are less expensive and the service is amazing. Instead of waiting 2-3 weeks - you will get your order in 2-3 days and an actual person answers the phone within 2-3 rings when you call them! They're wonderful.

 

PS - update - you can now order Seldex albums through Finao Online - www.finaoonline.com

They both have the best reputations the zookbinders flushes nicer IMO, where the artleather kind of has a crease without a cut, both look good but require the software purchase although it is credited to a purchase. I am designing a Vision Art album now and they get raves from people on this site and the prices are great. They also have a smaller economy book that is really affordable for guys like me doing lower end weddings. Somtimes clients cash in and have more to spend after the wedding so it is nice to upgrade with the same Co. It has unique cover and the pricing is good. might want to check it out they email back within a day with questions. visionartbook.com The Asukabook is another good choice to consider, The actually call you if there is a quality or color issue which is a big deal.

Zook doesn't require any software purchases ... ?? I'm not sure what that last poster was

referring to ??

 

I've heard good things about VisionArt, too, but haven't seen anything by them yet.

Required may not have been the best word, but the Digit-Matz software makes it easier and accurate. $100.00

 

http://www.zookbinders.com/digimatz.html

FWIW, I've not used either of them (yet), but I recently attended a local bridal show here in Columbus, and about half of the photographers were offering Zookbinders albums, which were very impressive. The Art Leather albums were nice, but most of the photogs that used Art Leather commented about how difficult the company is to deal with.

 

I'm going to start offering Zookbinders for 2007, based on what I saw at the show, and other photographers' experience with them.

Thanks for all the responses, I believe I will be ordering a Zookbook demo this weekend.

Getting ready to send of the proof prints, if the color comes back close, I will send off the

album. If not, I will send it thru LabPrints to my lab.

 

Marv, I have a Rennessance Library bound album that I ordered about 6 mo ago, and never

got around to putting together. How does it stack up against a true flushmount. I guess I

will have to get some prints and put it together for a demo album.

 

I do agree that Michelscompany is a great bunch, they are always friendly, helpful and the

product is here within 3 days.

 

Thanks again

Bob

I agree that Art Leather has "issues"...HOWEVER, the design I am used to putting together is based on spreads....aka panoramas that Zookbinders only allows 3 per album? (I just read that on their site.) I can't deal with that - I design in spreads!

 

I'm VERY pleased with Art Leather's print and bind program, and the prices are a little steep but worth it, considering my time, effort (and markup).

 

Our studio is moving away from the old matted-style Renaissance library-bound albums from Michel Company.

 

Prior to Art Leather's print and bind program, we ordered our prints from our lab (and sent them to Art Leather from here) and we had our do the individual color corrections for each photo in the composites. But now that we design in a new program (FotoFusion instead of Labprints) we no longer have the option of individual photo color corrections...so we started doing ourselves as we design the albums. So far, NO PROBLEMS! Our albums have been looking as great as ever!

 

But those are Caches I'm speaking of (and occasionally a Montage). For thinner books we use Asuka, but as of '07 Capitol Filmworks, www.totalimage.net started offering "memory books" which are similar, and cheaper!

Zookbooks can have as many panoramas as you want ... it's not limited to 3. Their "Flush

Albums" are limited to 3 panoramas, but I've never ordered one of those, so I don't know

much about them.

 

FWIW, I consider a ZookBook to be a flush mount album. I tell people that's what it is and so

does the photog I used to work with.

I have used Art leather for almost all my career, but always complained about the "every single year" price increase. They have gotten way too expensive. I will have to check out Michaels and Zookbinder albums. I still use the standard Perma Bound styles with Mats, also the Prelude design. Time to look at some new stuff.

ZookBooks doesn't even offer the "Flush Album" anymore. The ZookBook is an all pano album that can be designed as any combo of half page or full page panos. The gap is 1/16 inch. That is the smallest gap anywhere. The quality couldn't be better and turn around with or without printing is 2 weeks. I have received some back in a week!

 

Art Leather is a joke. Be afraid, be very afraid!

 

Mike

I've been in photography for more than 35 years and I can never remember a time when photographers were not complaining about Art Leather's customer service. I frankly don't know how they have managed to stay in business.

 

I've been using Zookbinders for about five years. My clients love the quality, and it's hard to imagine how any company could provice better service and turnaround. I even missed the Christmas cut-off deadline with three albums and still got them before Christmas! Zookbinders rocks!!!

Hi Bob, I use Zookbinders. They can not be beat. Good product, and outstanding service. My clients love the zookbinder albums that I present to them. I hope that this is of some help to you.