Apple censoring my photo book.

<p>After ordering some more photo books, I just received a curt email from Apple that says:</p>

<p><em>"Upon carefully examining your order, we identified what we deem to be inappropriate content. As a result, your order has not been processed and you have not been charged. We're very sorry for any inconvenience."</em></p>

<p>This photo book is dramatic, yes - it is the story of some inner city drug users, which is about to be an exhibit in a major Toronto gallery. There is some nudity - nothing explicit and no porn! - and there are some needles etc. The work is in fact an upbeat anti-drugs message: upbeat and a tribute to strength, since the people concerned have been "clean" for a year. Of course I have the rights and releases etc.; of course there are no minors etc; and as said, there's nothing explicit or in any way legally, morally, or socially objectionable.</p>

<p>But it's too shocking for Apple's censors. Was it the depicion of needles or the depiction of breasts? I guess I shall be looking for a Canadian service, and will stay well clear of Apple from now on. Mmm. Are they checking my emails and my web sites for "<em>inappropriate content</em> " too?</p>

<p>Very disappointing, just as I was telling everyone how good Apple's service is. (They have printed this book for me before: I guess then they found it not so objectionable).</p>

<p>Michael</p>

<p> </p>

<p>It sucks, I know.</p>

<p>I've had colleagues get their books denied a day or two before they had to ship them to paying clients.</p>

<p>It's not actually Apple. When you send your bok to them, they have four or five print shops that they use. You could have your stuff printed by the same printer (by coincidence) 9 or 10 times and they don't have an issue. But that 11th time the book gets sent to another printer who DOES have a problem and refuses to print it.</p>

<p>And you have no way of knowing which print shop Apple will be sending it to. BTW, many of the online book publishers do this as well; it's not specifically Apple.</p>

<p>Your best bet is to use a lab that not only offers the books, but also does their own printing. Mpix, Millers, White House Custom Colour (just to name a few) all do their own printing and binding.</p>

<p>I don't think that "censor" is really the right word in this case. They're a private company providing a service, with terms of service that include them reserving the right to refuse to reproduce things that they think don't sit well with them, or which they think might cause them some indirect legal grief, etc.<br /><br />They are <em>not</em> thinking about the back story, or whether the nudity and needles and whatnot that you mention are about clean drug users or not-so-clean drug users. Your message doesn't matter. There's no government policy at work here (hence no censorship), just a private company that is turning down a piece of business. Just like a magazine can turn down an advertisement. So, take your business elsewhere - there are many photobook publishers out there. They are no more "censoring" you than you would be "stealing" from them by giving your business to another vendor.</p>

<p>i would change the cover and send it again just for fun : )</p>

<p>As Matt said, i dont think they are censoring you, but maybe they saw nudity and dont want to be associated with that. Try blurb, and if they also turning you back..well maybe it is more raw than you think!?</p>

<p>OK - thanks, that is helpful.<br>

Oh, the work is shocking and raw - that it why it will be in an art gallery during "Contact", the world's greatest photo exhibit, in May. But it is in no way objectionable: no violence, no explicit nudity, no minors, no porn. Yes, some simple nudity and some drug use - but in the context of "this is not cool".. and in the context of a happy ending (the people concerned have been "clean" for a year now).</p>

<p>I'll try to resubmit but am running into time limits... never thought I'd have <em>this</em> kind of hassle!</p>

<p>Michael</p>

<p><strong><br /> </strong></p>

<p>Try blurb.com</p>

<p>Will do.. thanks.</p>

<p>Are they also American? I would just love to know they WILL do it before I spend another two weeks designing my book... groan.. :)</p>

<p> </p>

<p>Blurb is a great choice in tems of their quality, but you should know that they, to, are a company that outsources the printing. If the particular shop that gets sent your book objects, then you'll get the same response.</p>

<p>However, I believe that if that happens, Blurb usually tries sending it to a different printer for you. In this economy, who is going to voluntarily not only lose a job, but a repeat client, too?</p>

<p>Trying Blurb now.</p>

<p>Problem: I have 2,770 photos of which I will choose 50-100. These photos are RAW files, stores in dozens of different directories. In Blurb, I need to select the ones I need to use, then export those as JPG files, then layout the book. Problem is that until I start the layout process, I will not know which pics out of the2,770 I want to use.</p>

<p>Aperture solves that for me. How do I use Blurb? Export all 2.770 pics (which will take many GBs)? Are there better ways? I can, I suppose, use iPhoto in between, but then I need to drag all pics into iPhoto.</p>

<p>Any ideas very welcome, and apologies for being slow.</p>

<p> </p>

<p>not following?</p>

<p>you already have images choose of course since you had already send a book to be made right? why dont you simply use the same image and export them as jpeg...not sure why you have to go back to square 1?</p>

<p>Hi Patrick,</p>

<p>You know, you are right, I should keep this simple. I am now exporting 2,770 pictures as JPG files so that I can import them into Blurb so that I can choose. That's how my process works - I see all of them and I drag in the ones I like on a page. With Blurb being different, that selection will be different from my previous iPhoto selection, I think.</p>

<p>While I really wish I could do this simply from Lightroom, I cannot, and so I will bite the bullet: it will take me another few hundred GB and half a day while I export. That's just the price to pay... and it's worth it if the Blurb books are good.</p>

<p>I am running out of time though: redoing book design, getting a sample or two sent to me (and shipping/customs to Canada, always takes longer); that is why I had everything prepared months ago including a test book so that I could "press the button" later as required (i.e. now). Apple's sudden refusal has really thrown me for a loop.</p>

<p>Yes, as said above, they fully have the right to refuse business. But since they are potentially ruining my exhibit, I will remember this for a long time.</p>

<p>Meanwhile, I hope Blurb shows more consistency and works out - I'll keep you all informed. Thanks for the help!</p>

<p> </p>

<p>You might check with Blurb. is there a way you can save output your Aperture or iPhoto book to work at Blurb? But what i don't understand is, if you already chose the photos in aperture, just export the ones you chose. Or do you want to re-edit?</p>

<p>Exactly, Barry - I need to re-edit since the different layout means different pics. Doing it now!</p>

<p>And worried in case Blurb too objects to my content. There are Canadian outfits, and they'll be more mature, but unfortunately their products are much more expensive... which I don't mind, but my visitors will...</p>

<p>Michael</p>

<p> </p>

<p>Millers Lab can get it to you and they do their own printing.</p>

<p>If you send it to Canada, you may have customs and duty issues when they're sent back.</p>

<p>Thanks for the suggestion - will try. Unfortunately I see that they do not tell you their prices until you have established an account. And as you say, shipping from US to Canada is likely to be complex.</p>

<p>An account when I have no idea of price level is not realistic, but it's certainly worth a call tomorrow.</p>

<p>Michael</p>

<p> </p>

<p>Send me a private message through my profile here with your email address. I can look up the price for you.</p>

<p>Appreciate that.</p>

<p>Especially since Booksmart (the Blurb app) has now crashed and/or hung three times already on my iMac. Sure doesn't look too stable. If I mark an entire line of text and hit Enter (ie I want to delete that line), I get a hard hang. And that's just one example.</p>

<p> </p>

<p>Wait, didn't you say Aperture? When you view an Aperture book in Browser mode you have all the pictures in the book right there, just select all and do Export Versions.</p>

<p>Michael:<br>

I have published two books of female nudes with Apple without a single problem and have many students in my workshops that will tell you the same. My guess is that this problem was, in fact, printer specific and not Apple specific. Another place to try might be My Publisher. com. I know many photographers that have published figure work with them. Good luck.<br>

-Owen</p>

<p>Andrew: Aperture and iPhoto and Lightroom. But different book means different picture choices.</p>

<p>Owen: interesting. I have no idea what they took offence at - they will not say. They just point to a policy and I am very sure I do not sin against any of the things they actually mention in that policy (porn, minors, etc). perhaps an over-zealous person somewhere - but meanwhile I am having to recreate my book, and that is major work.</p>

<p>I was absolutely astonished that my work is being judged by these people, and even more astonished that it failed their test (but only the second order). So, since I cannot rely on Apple they have lost a customer. A pretty significant one, if the exhibit does as well as I think it will. As Rob points out,in today's economy who wants to do that?</p>

<p>Actually, now that I ask: Apple would probably be the one company that would want to do that. Not being short of money... :-)</p>

<p> </p>

<p>For starters, no need to re-create the book. In iPhoto, view your iBook, then:<br>

File Menu --> Print --> PDF button in dialog box --> Save as PDF.<br>

I'm guessing some print shops can work from a PDF. <br>

Also, you now have a digital copy which you can share without the cost of printing.<br>

You can also save as a QuickTime movie set to a sound track of your choice. Same basic process. Have fun :-)</p>

<p>Moderator(s):<br>

Please keep this string in archive (please do not delete, as it is of general and long-lasting interest, I think).<br>

John (Crosley)</p>

<p>Hey Michael, sounds like a really interesting project. Hope I get a chance to see the pics you choose.</p>

<p>Have you tried Pikto in the Distillery District? They do nice books and wouldn't have a problem with it.</p>

<p>www.pikto.ca</p>

 

<p>I don't think Blurb are prudes. Check out</p>

<p>http://www.blurb.com/books/312187</p>

<p>They may not have a problem with yours.</p>