Photo books
Do you have a question about our photo books? Browse our frequently asked questions below.
What is embossing and what does it look like?
Embossing is a technique that creates a raised relief on the cover of a photo book. Using an embossing machine, metal letters are pressed into the cover with heat and pressure, creating a visible and tactile effect of the chosen text.
We apply embossing using foil in gold, silver, black or white. The result is a subtle, refined finish — perfect if you’re looking for a natural, understated look.
Have you received a photo book with wavy pages? What now?
You’ve ordered a photo book, received it neatly from us, but notice that the pages inside appear wavy. That’s understandably not what you expected, and you’re looking for an explanation or solution.
For our photo books, we use photochemical (photo) paper because it delivers much higher quality and sharpness than standard paper. This type of paper, however, behaves differently: it has a slightly plastic structure and can react to changes in humidity. During certain times of the year, higher air humidity can cause the photo paper to expand slightly, resulting in wavy pages.
As long as the photo book remains in a stable environment with a humidity level between 40% and 60%, nothing will happen to it. However, during transport, the book travels through various environments: production, postal sorting centres, trucks or vans, and finally your home. Each of these locations has different temperatures and humidity levels, and the photo book simply needs some time to acclimatise.
You can read more about this topic on our page “Album with rigded pages.”
What is the difference between a Premium photo book and a Professional photo book?
The main differences between our photo books lie in the production method, page thickness and cover options.
All photo books feature lay-flat pages. The Premium Plus and Professional photo books are hand-bound, while the Premium photo book is machine-glued.
The pages of the Premium photo book consist of two photo prints glued back to back. In the Premium Plus and Professional photo books, these pages are additionally reinforced with approximately 1 mm museum board, giving the book a more luxurious appearance and improving colour stability and longevity.
The maximum number of pages also differs:
- Premium photo book: up to 100 pages (50 spreads)
- Premium Plus & Professional photo book: up to 70 pages (35 spreads)
The materials and cover options for the Professional photo books also differ from those of the Premium and Premium Plus photo books.
For a full comparison, please check our photo book selection guide.
Where do I choose endpapers for my photo book?
Premium photo books
When ordering a Premium photo book, you can choose between a standard endpaper or a custom design.
If you select custom design online, the photo book starts with your designed spread 1–2 (with page 1 against the cover) and ends with your designed spread 29–30 (with page 30 against the back cover). Your endpapers are therefore already included in your design within the software.
If you choose a standard endpaper (for example white), your photo book will start with a white left and right page on pages 1–2. Your originally designed spread 1–2 in the software will then become pages 3–4 in the physical book. The book will also end with white pages on both sides, meaning that after your last designed spread (for example 29–30), the book will include an additional white spread (31–32).
Your design always starts on the left page, and your layout is never shifted by this choice.
Professional photo books
If you choose a Professional photo book, the finished book always starts and ends with a linen spread. The linen colour is carefully matched to your chosen cover (for example, white linen with a white leather cover).
Your designed spread 1–2 in the software will therefore become pages 3–4 in the final book. The book also ends with a linen spread, meaning that after your last designed spread (for example 29–30), an additional linen spread (31–32) is added.
Your design always starts on the left page, and your layout is never shifted at Profotonet.
How can I keep my photo book looking its best?
The photo paper we use for our photo books is specially developed for frequent handling while browsing through the pages. If you notice any marks or smudges, gently wipe them away using a soft cloth, such as a glasses cloth or a microfibre cloth. Never use water on the pages, as this can cause them to stick together and damage your album.
If your photo book accidentally gets wet, let it air-dry and do not close it until the pages are completely dry. You can use a hairdryer if needed. The cover of a photo book is coated and can be cleaned with a slightly damp cloth. In this flyer, you can read everything about preserving the high quality of your photo book.
If you want to be extra sure your photo book stays in perfect condition, take a look at our custom protection boxes.