Trying New Things

Last week I gave Blurb a try and the results were amazing. I have always been interested in creating a blurb book to see why so many photographers were raving about them. The questions that I also wondered were: how was the build quality, binding quality, printing quality of blurb books and rather or not they would make ideal gifts for family & friend and if they would make great coffee table books. When I received my first book yesterday I immediately opened it and examined it. The various parts of the booked that I checked were: hardcover, binding, image-wrap, color accuracy and alignment. The book is very well built and the color accuracy is near identical to my color calibrated monitor. Blurb gets a plus for that. My only gripe with the book was that the alignment was off. It seemed that blurb didn’t trim each page identically as some pages were trimmed offset from other pages. Therefore when the book was finally bind together some of the borders didn’t line up with the adjacent page. None the less, I plan on using Blurb again in the future and I would recommended them as a company if you plan on making photo books for family and friends. I would also not have a problem using Blurb to make a small wedding album as part of my budget wedding package (since it does not normally include an album). For professional albums I would recommend WHCC or BayPhoto. Here is my first blurb book (Premium Paper + Custom Logo):

This semester in our photography class we get to learn how to mount images to matboard, create our own mats and learn the proper technique to cutting matboards. I was excited, not only because it was something I was interested in, but also something that I didn’t know how to do. Then our professor says we won’t get to it until mid-late of the semester. WHAT!!! So I had ordered the supplies in advanced, because our professor said that most of the supplies stores will sale out because students tend to buy them all at the same time. When I placed my order, I though I was just purchasing one board, but when they got here it came with 12 in a pack. Awesome, more is always good. I got my supplies and was ready to go when it becomes time to perform the mountings in class. Then my Grandma and I went to Michaels to pick up some frames. After we picked up the frames my grandma decided to look at some of the boxes and decoration items, then something caught my eye. I find myself starring at a can with an orange cap and 3M logo on it. Eventually my curiosity gave in and I had to go over and see what it was. I picked it up and it says Spray Mount Artist’s Adhesive. Now I am interested and begin reading. Then it says “For mounting art prints, posers and more!,” at that point there was no if and or buts that I was going to purchase it. Then when I got home, I read the directions, printed out an 11×14 print and mounted it to a 16×20 matboard fine art style. The results were out of this world. I took it one step further and placed it into a 16×20 thick (2”) frame which gave it that professional quality look and feel. Unfortunately 3M Spray Mount is not cheap and does come with a hefty price, but the results are worth it.

UPDATE: I have switched from 3M Spray Mount to 3M Photo Mount after some trial and error and further researching. Some of the information that I have gathered between the two adhesives are: Spray Mount is not recommended for photographs (although it is photo safe), Spray Mount is only intended for short time bonding, and Spray Mount is re-positional. Photo Mount is recommended for photographs, has a permanent, long lasting bond, heat resistant and moisture resistant. The only problem so far that I have with Photo Mount is that once it touches the mat board that’s it. I am trying to find the best way of keeping everything lined and straight with Photo Mount since it not re-positional, and what I have in mind is using a large L-Square and using a clamp.

This was my first attempt: Fine Art Mounting.

This is the one that I completed this evening: Fine Art Mounting. (I used a square ruler on this one.)