Good software for making albums

[alan_markowitz1]

<p>Hi-<br>

Can anyone recommend a good software for making albums with various backgrounds and layouts?<br>

Thanks,<br>

Alan.</p>

[alan_markowitz1]

<p>Let me rephrase my question-<br>

I have created several backgrounds in PS. Now I want to make a 20 page album using the backgrounds I created and pulling pictures into those backgrounds (1-4 pics per background).<br>

Is there any software that can help me automate this process, rather than doing it all in PS?<br>

Thanks again,<br>

Alan.</p>

[fuccisphotos]

Alan, you can use in design. I used to know how to use that software well. Now I tend to just use photoshop and use an

action I created that allows me to use templates I have made up and automate the process of putting those images into

the allotted spaces.

[bikealps]

<p>can anyone comment on the tradeoffs between using Photoshop CS5 and InDesign?<br>

My understanding is that with photoshop you must do each page or spread separately, but with InDesign you can do the book as a single document.<br>

Which is easier to use? for beginners vs. once you are up-to-speed?<br>

And do the major album makers support both? Blurb, Asuka, McKee, GraphiStudio, Renaissance, etc.? Do they provide templates for each of the software tools? What file format do they require?</p>

[picturesque]

<p>Allan--you might do some research in past threads. InDesign is probably top notch but has a learning curve. Lumapix FotoFusion Extreme is generally considered to be the easiest as far as learning curve, yet capable and fast. There are others, and different people prefer different ones.</p>

<p>Start in the archives, under Resources. After identifying likely candidates, go to their websites and find the answers to your questions. Most of the key candidates will 'support' most of the key album suppliers. Most have some templates, and a variety of output formats available.</p>

[keithdunlop]

<p>InDesign is the best for this type of thing because it is page layout software. Photoshop, while good at working on individual images, isn't the best tool for a multi-page document like an album.</p>

<p>If all you're doing is album work, the learning curve with InDesign is actually very manageable. All you really need to know is how to set up your document, how to work with object frames. I would start here for a exceptionally good tutorial: http://www.casttv.com/video/7a9jak/kiss-with-kevin-swan-designing-albums-in-indesign-cs4-video</p>

[fuccisphotos]

<p>Alan, even if you don't use photoshop, and choose something else, this wonderful 6 part series put together by leather craftsmen is AMAZING. It's where I learned to make my super time saving actions. It is truly a STEP BY STEP series.<br>

part 1 http://youtu.be/czeLBFiOLic<br>

part 2 http://youtu.be/Q96rUUGah0g<br>

part 3 http://youtu.be/Ft84u2Tz55A<br>

part 4 turning old designs into templates: http://youtu.be/euzthlFm4lU<br>

part 5 http://youtu.be/e7FKLtigiR4<br>

part 6 http://youtu.be/nGyqYSagwaI</p>

[ianivey]

<p>LumaPix FotoFusion (you'll want the Extreme version) is truly remarkable software that greatly facilitates album design. I'm good with Indesign, but FotoFusion makes easy so many of the things you want to do in designing an album that I'd never do it in Indesign. It's really good. </p>

[jimstrutz]

<p>I'll add another vote for FotoFusion.</p>

[karl_knographer]

I've been using photojunction for several years. It's flexible and intuitive without being over complicated. I think you can get it for free, but not sure.

[bikealps]

<p>Vail,<br>

Thank you!!! I just watched part 1. It got started slowly (skip past the rule of third stuff) and then covered some organization ideas. Wow. This will save me a TON of time!<br>

He covered using the color and rating tags in Photoshop or LR to plan your spreads. He applied a different color to each spread and a rating within the page.<br>

I'm planning to apply this to the overall organization for the album I am starting today, as follows:</p>

<ul>

<li>ctrl-B to put the bride's chosen images in a collection</li>

<li>1-5 stars to record her preferences (5= top 5-10 images, 4 = main favorites, 3 = possibles)</li>

<li>color to separate into chapters (red = getting ready, yellow = ceremony, green = family portraits, blue = reception/dinner, purple = cake/dancing)</li>

</ul>

<p>Once done, I can see how many images I have per chapter, and organize how many spreads I need per chapter and budget my total pages for the album.<br>

This is a big improvement over my previous album design work flow. I won't embarass myself by explaining. :-)<br>

I'll listen to the next chapter after I have done this.<br>

Vail, thanks a million!</p>

[francie_baltazar]

<p>I love Luma Pix photo fusion - best most wonderful album software in the universe....</p>

[nicolas_metallo]

<p>http://www.magicalbumdesigns.com is going to be released this month. It's a plugin for indesign. It's going to be amazing.</p>

[nicolas_metallo]

<p>www.magicalbumdesigns.com is going to be released this month. It's a plugin for indesign. Looks like it's going to be amazing.</p>