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 means creating a relief in the cover of a photo book. Using an embossing machine, we press lead letters into the cover of a photo book with force and heat, creating a tactile and visible effect of your chosen text. We do this with foil in gold, silver, black or white. The text is then subtly present, which can be a deliberate choice if you're after a natural look.
Have you received a photo book with wavy pages? What now?
You've ordered a photo book and it arrived safely, but now the inner pages seem to be completely wavy. That doesn't seem right, and you'd like a solution.
For our photo books, we use photochemical (photo) paper because of its much higher quality and sharpness. However, it isn't really comparable to ordinary paper: it's slightly plastic-like. At certain times of the year, humidity is higher than ideal, which causes the photo paper in the album to react, resulting in wavy pages. As long as the book stays in the same room with a humidity of between 40 and 60%, nothing will happen to it. But a photo book goes "on a journey": it leaves our production facility with PostNL or DHL, arrives at a sorting centre, goes back into a lorry or van and finally ends up at your home. All those different temperatures and humidity levels take some getting used to for a photo book.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 are the way they're made, the page thickness and the cover options.
In all cases the pages are lay-flat. The Premium hardcover with thick pages and the Professional photo book are bound by hand, whereas the Premium photo book is glued by machine.
The pages of the Premium photo book consist of two photo prints glued back to back. In the Premium hardcover with thick pages and the Professional photo book, they are additionally reinforced with approx. 1 mm of museum board, giving the book an elegant look and extending its colourfastness and lifespan. The standard Premium photo book has a maximum of 120 pages (60 spreads); the Premium hardcover with thick pages and the Professional photo book have a maximum of 80 pages, or 40 spreads.
The materials and cover options of the Professional photo book also differ from those of the Premium photo book.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 photo book, you can choose a standard endpaper or your own design.
If you choose "own design" online, the photo book starts with your designed pages 1–2 (page 1 attached to the cover) and ends with your designed spread 29–30 (page 30 attached to the cover). So you've already determined your own design in the software.
If you choose a standard endpaper when ordering, for example white, your photo book starts with white on the left and right on pages 1–2. The pages 1–2 you designed in the software therefore become pages 3–4 in the photo book. The book also ends with white on the left and right, so after your last designed spread, for example 29–30, the photo book has pages 31–32 in white.
Your design always starts on the left: whatever you choose here, your layout never shifts.Professional photo books
If you choose a Professional photo book, the finished book starts and ends directly with a linen spread. The linen comes in a colour that matches your chosen cover (for example white linen with a white leather cover). The pages 1–2 you designed in the software therefore effectively become pages 3–4 in the photo book. The book also ends with a linen spread, so after your last designed spread, for example 29–30, the photo book has pages 31–32 in linen. Your design always starts on the left; at Profotonet, your layout never shifts.
How can I keep my photo book looking its best?
The photo paper we use is specially developed for photo books and designed to withstand frequent handling while browsing. To wipe away any small marks, use a soft cloth, such as a glasses cloth or microfibre cloth. Never use water on the pages, as they may stick together and damage your album.
Has your photo book accidentally got wet? Let it air-dry and don't close it until the page is completely dry. You can use a hairdryer if needed. The cover of a photo book is coated and can be wiped with a slightly damp cloth. This flyer tells you everything about everything about preserving the high quality of your photo book.Want to be sure your photo book stays in perfect condition? Take a look at our custom protection boxes.