Coffee Table Books for Professional

[Winsonapm]

My first visit to Photokina, held in Cologne from 26th Sept to 1st Oct. I was told that the show was about 20% smaller in size and visitors than the last held in 2004. The growth of digital must have taken some casualties. Big players like Kodak, Fuji, Nikon, Canon, HP are still having huge stands, and some occupying a whole hall.

My observations related to our offerings of Coffee table Books for Professionals at Photokina, there were about 30 booths offering traditional Photo Albums. Mainly Italian producers, still the main stay, still appealing and very expensive. A handful of producers from China, will be big players in time to come with low prices.

About 10 booths offering the new trend of printed Coffee table books. The printed books had phenomenal growth in just a short span; I guess the buyers are getting more pages for less, instead of the usual 20 pages of a thick photo album at a much higher cost. The technologies have also made it possible to print just 1 book.

Other interesting observations at the show, all the book pages are not laminated. About half of our production from Photogs here so far wanted lamination.

Since our offering to Pros in Clubsnap, we've been getting a couple of orders a day. Printing books in excess of 40pp, some 80pp, 120pp and more. The look and feel of a printed book with jacket or slipcase is most appealing. Some of the works are simply awesome! The works of our Singapore Photogs can rival the best in the world:thumbsup: , showed some of our printed samples with great comments from my associates.:thumbsup:

I intend to showcase them in the next Photokina in 2 years time. This year, there were about 6 booths from Singapore selling various photographic supplies and equipment. We can show the world we’ve great photographers here flying the Singapore flag.:bigeyes:

 

[Winsonapm]

Various questions PM to me, thought I'll post it for the benefit of some of you interested.

Print Production Technical Issues

1. Supported graphics software: Freehand? Illustrator? Indesign? Quark?
YES, we support all DTP applications.

2. Acceptable file formats: PDF? EPS? Native file formats?
YES, yes and yes.

3. Settings for saving as PDF?
(i) Average downsampling at: 200 to 300dpi,
200 do not mean lower quality or higher for 300. Take note on the size of files.
So 300dpi will be larger file-size?
If there’s no difference in quality between 200 and 300dpi, then why don’t everyone just downsample to 200dpi?
Marginal difference noticeable by eye, larger file size when RIPped. Usually compromised with very huge files.
(ii) Compression:
JPEG
(iii) Quality:
Print or Press
(iv) Compress Text and Line Art?
1200dpi for Vector
Here’s a screen capture of the PDF setting for more clarification.

4. Settings for saving as EPS?
(i) Compatibility: Version:
From Photoshop, EPS JPEG, maximum quality
From InDesign, export as EPS and hi-res image.
From Freehand, export as EPS.
(ii) CMYK Postscript Level:
Level 2 or 3.

 

[glennyong]

Thanks Winson for sharing your experience with us on Photokina 06.

Nevertheless i would like share with everyone that what winson can produce is far superior than any of the book manufacturers can achieve in terms of speed and quality. and not to forget customer service is great.

i cant believe they really actually remember my weird name. :bsmilie:

A few words to describe Winson's printing.

Impressive. Innovative. Incredibly Fast. Impressive prints. and many more.


Rating: 10/10 :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

 

[Winsonapm]

Thanks Winson for sharing your experience with us on Photokina 06.

Nevertheless i would like share with everyone that what winson can produce is far superior than any of the book manufacturers can achieve in terms of speed and quality. and not to forget customer service is great.

i cant believe they really actually remember my weird name. :bsmilie:

A few words to describe Winson's printing.

Impressive. Innovative. Incredibly Fast. Impressive prints. and many more.


Rating: 10/10 :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

WOW! :embrass: Embarassed to see such a great feedback about our work and services. But I’m so glad a happy client would take time to post and sing such high praises.

Glenn, looks like I’ve to give a good discount on your next order. Thank you for your support, but 10/10 rating is too much. It’ll go over my head. Great printing can only be achieved with great images.:thumbsup:

But I still believed there’s room for improvements, although the feedbacks have been very positive so far on print quality. We had binding issues like PVC matt lamination pages cracked at spine and falling off, pagination, scratch marks, etc. We’ve rectified it with reworks and double bind. For B2B, there’s no excuse, just have to ensure the quality for our trade partners. We’ve an unwritten policy of money back and satisfaction guaranteed.

We’ve being averaging 6-7 days for finished books delivery instead of the 10 days guaranteed. Like any other consumer, I would expect products and services to be Fast, Good and Cheap. The market would be crowded by next year, working hard for us to take the lion share.

 

[Dodol]

Hi Winson,
I just wonder whether you will be having any more factory visit in the near future for wedding photographers like us who missed the previous ones? And how could I contact your person-in-charge if I want to do a coffetable for my client. I hope you can can give me your website address as well. Thanks.

 

[Winsonapm]

Hi Winson,
I just wonder whether you will be having any more factory visit in the near future for wedding photographers like us who missed the previous ones? And how could I contact your person-in-charge if I want to do a coffetable for my client. I hope you can can give me your website address as well. Thanks.

We are still getting requests on factory visits frequently. With about 90 photogs visited us so far, we may not get a group of pros to do so. For Pros interested in trading with us, pls register online. http://www.kikuze.com/wedding/index.html We’ll approve your application, if sufficient details are given with website link. It’s the only way we can determine if it’s hobbyist or trade. We’ll ignore consumers’ registration.

As a registered trade partner, you can come visit us anytime with your request. I’ll be happy to meet up with every visit with appointment.

 

[Winsonapm]

Proof Books - The best way to proof photos
“Memories in Print” will be offering a new concept for viewing and selecting your favourite images, making your picture selection simple & enjoyable. A spiral bound (wire-o) book that can hold 300 to 600 images. The covers show a picture of your choice along with the title and date.
Proof Books - New!
Many of our customers have been asking for a printed Proof Book, an alternative for those clients that insist on printed proofs or to replace 4R photo albums. Now you can order proof sheets, have them collated, bound, and assembled in an attractive spiral-bound Proof Book with a customizable cover. You can manage layout, design, and assembly to accelerate delivery to customers.
Proof books will be available in one standard size and format of 6” x 16.5” closed, open flat 12” X 16.5”. Each page with 4 pictures, 3R with 1/5” borders or 4R with no bleed. You can also create your own layouts for six, twelve, or twenty-four images per page and a variety of print styles with creative background and border options. It’s bound on the 16.5” edge with wire-o. This means that Proof Books are portrait in orientation.

 

[Kagari]

this gives me a very good idea... but then again i need to take more shots

 

[glennyong]

Winson,

do note that there is a HUGE number of amatuers around. it will be hard to identify them also.

and the best part is, any tom dick harry also can register one website, pirated softwares and start claiming pro.



my 2 cnts.

 

[Winsonapm]

Winson,

do note that there is a HUGE number of amatuers around. it will be hard to identify them also.

and the best part is, any tom dick harry also can register one website, pirated softwares and start claiming pro.



my 2 cnts.

Glenn, thank you for the advice. Everyone is a customer to me, we just do not sell direct. But consumers can buy thru our trade partners, like wedding couples. I’m in the midst of confirming a couple of resellers that is willing to sell to consumers at a small margin. It's a much bigger market than Pros, we just have to look after our trade partners.

We had 70+ registered trade partners. Most of them are only interested to produce coffee table books for their clients whom have engaged their photography services. Workings with Pros have different challenges as compare with consumers. We'll be happy to work with enterprising Pros that are interested in the consumer market.

 

[Winsonapm]

A couple of PMs asking….

What’s a “Proof Book”?
In the North American and European markets, photogs seldom provide albums with 300 4R prints. A “Proof Book” is printed instead with thumbnails or slightly bigger, with file indexing or numbers for their clients to select the images to buy. It also prevents the client from scanning and not buying the prints from the photogs. It’s usually raw, and it also allows a photog to check the quality before further editing.

It’s a good and low cost alternative for those clients or photogs that need to see images first on printed proofs before coffee table books production. Its not seen or available in our market, thought we introduce it here first for photogs to differentiate and as an alternative.

How much?
As to how much, I’ll never quote thru PM or publish prices on this or any forum. Trade Partners can login to http://www.kikuze.com/wedding/ and check for updates. The cost should be lower than 300 pieces of 4R prints and album if it’s meant to replace it.

How to layout?
The cover template will be up on the website shortly, or you can submit your design. Now you can design the cover as well as the pages with our new personalized covers. Add a photo to the cover along with the title and date, you choose the layout. See your book stand out from the crowd.

Most of the Pros have Aperture, Lightroom (PS beta plugin) and CS. Select Contact Sheet and fill automatically, fast and simple. The file size is huge with 304 images in 4R size, 200dpi is good enough and save to PDF.

 

[pierceteo]

Upzzz...for a great idea...

Pierce

 

[glennyong]

i was thinking....

WHY not. i say why not because its a suggestions..

hmmm.. maybe i send you an email. no nid to print so many pieces idea.. :bsmilie: save cost also.

 

[Winsonapm]

We’re planning to move the entire operations by 31st January to Tampines Industrial Park. We’re moving in with our HQ, expanding our capacity and capabilities to do more. The heavy offset printing presses will be installed on the ground floor with a new 40”, 5 colors press added to the family. The Indigoes will be located on the 4th Floor with rooms to grow. As the move will be phased over 2 weeks starting from 18th January, it’ll be business as usual without any interruption or delay in productions.

There’re quite a few requests and orders for personalized printed covers, we’ll be equipping with a case-maker to produce “just for 1”. It’s unproductive to do so currently. It seemed like this needs is strong and growing.

As the distance to Tampines Industrial Park may inconvenience to some of you, we’ll throw in the delivery service on completion. For partners’ job submission, simply ftp the files with the job order form or just mail the CD to us, we’ll deliver the books anywhere in Singapore with no extra charge.

We’ll do an open house after Chinese New Year for those who are interested to visit us.

 

[Cheesecake]

We’re planning to move the entire operations by 31st January to Tampines Industrial Park. We’re moving in with our HQ, expanding our capacity and capabilities to do more. The heavy offset printing presses will be installed on the ground floor with a new 40”, 5 colors press added to the family. The Indigoes will be located on the 4th Floor with rooms to grow. As the move will be phased over 2 weeks starting from 18th January, it’ll be business as usual without any interruption or delay in productions.

There’re quite a few requests and orders for personalized printed covers, we’ll be equipping with a case-maker to produce “just for 1”. It’s unproductive to do so currently. It seemed like this needs is strong and growing.

As the distance to Tampines Industrial Park may inconvenience to some of you, we’ll throw in the delivery service on completion. For partners’ job submission, simply ftp the files with the job order form or just mail the CD to us, we’ll deliver the books anywhere in Singapore with no extra charge.

We’ll do an open house after Chinese New Year for those who are interested to visit us.

hi winson, thanks for ur service!
keep us informed of the Open House.

regards.

 

[Winsonapm]

hi winson, thanks for ur service!
keep us informed of the Open House.

regards.

You guys have been most supportive, will definitely keep you posted.

 

[Winsonapm]

Merry Christmas & A Happy New Year 2007.
Thank you for your support and continued interest in our work. This has been a wonderful year for us, with the promise for a great 2007 ahead.

Sincerely wishing you and your family good heaith. Hope 2007 will bring peace, luck and success to you!

Best Wishes From A & P Production Team.

 

[glennyong]

u also !! i wish you many many years of prosperous business and may winson and family grow big and healthy and happy many many years !!

and more many many years !!!

:bsmilie:

 

[Sandisct]

Hi winson,

Is it possible for you to collaborate with Apple so those using Iphoto will be able to get their photobooks printed here in Singapore too....

A Plausible idea to consider....

 

[wazzup]

Any sample to view and see?