Online Digital Photographic Processing

The online photo service Printing-1 is growing and increases its service capabilities in the UK. The company now offers a range of soft and hardcover photo books from leaflet size to A4 books with up to 144 pages Printing-1 photo books are available with three different bindings methods (staple, spiral and book binding) with soft and hardcover in matt or glossy finish.
Taking good photographs is easier and cheaper than ever before. Many digital images lingering on computer hard drives could be preserved in coffee table style photo book or stand out as a mounted canvas on a wall or in the reception room. Until recently photo canvas printing was done by small workshops at horrendous prices. Printing-1 claims to apply the latest technology and efficient production methods to offer what it calls “large prints at small prices”.

Printing-1, a specialist service for amateurs and professional photographers, prints photos onto canvas on frames starting at 30 cm per side and increasing in 10 cm steps to 80 cm per side, where any combination of size can be chosen in these 10 cm steps. The standardised formats, parts and processes allow for higher degree of automation and help to bring the price down. The print penetrates deep into the yarn and therefore does not crack on the edge of the frame. Images are delivered stretched and mounted onto a robust wooden frame which can be hung on the wall immediately and is expected to be extremely long lasting, due to optimised inks and fabrics.

Photo Book Software

According to Printing-1, during the software development special emphasis was put on ease of use and creative freedom for users on Windows and Apple computers. Images are not only fully scalable and can be positioned freely on any page; each frame can be defined individually, too. The page number feature can be switched on or off for individual pages in order not to spoil a beautiful full page image. Instead of limiting creativity through an automatic assistant the program provides templates to help positioning images after which they can still be adjust or moved. In general, the new photo book software entices creative experiments with the lay-out tools. Printing-1 is going down new paths: The program allows switching between binding types and book formats at any time, automatically adjusting the page layout.



Not only printed photo books, but also online photo book sharing

Individual photo books can be saved as separate projects. The photo books are to be uploaded to http://www.printing-1.co.uk first, before placing an order. At their website they will be stored free of charge for up to two months, allowing users to invite friends to view their Printing-1 photo books online. This way friends and family can view and comment on the scrapbook project and order and pay for their own printed memory book if they wish. When a photobook is ordered as a present and sent directly to friends or family abroad (including the USA), using a separate delivery addresses helps save time and money.

The Printing-1 Photo book Software

Beyond the use of layout templates, each page can be edited freely. The editing tools include free scaling, rotating and positioning of photographs. A line around an image helps to set it against coloured backgrounds. Frames can be defined individually around each picture and images can also be printed frameless across a full page or even a double page, providing the right format for landscapes and other photographs requiring a larger space. The printing-1 My Photobook software for Windows and Mac also provides a tool to post-edit images individually. This allows giving images a degree of semi-transparency, an interesting effect on some overlapping images.

With digital photobooks the many digital memories vanishing on ageing computer hard discs can finally see the light of day. The digital photo service Printing-1 delivers in the UK, the USA and most European countries within two weeks of ordering online. The ability to view digital photographs on ever improving screens removed the immediate need for printing. It appears that long lasting, professionally printed products like canvas prints and photo books will keep photographers interested in printing for some time to come.

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Labels: Digital photography, launching new website, mounted canvas printing, new product, photo books, photo on canvas