Shutterfly v/s Artscow Photobooks (Pictures Included)

[nesser1981]

Ok ladies, I wanted to share this with all of you. I got my "sample" artscow photobook today.

If you're never printed your LO's before or never had a photobook from shutterfly done, then you won't know the difference and they'll look great to you.

The Artscow books compared to Shutterfly Books
First, the colors are off on the cover and inside

Second, the pages are a lighter weight

Third, something is weird about how they're printed, I don't know exactly how to describe it, the pages aren't glossy, to me the shuttefly books are like pictures, these pages aren't like pictures.

Fourth, everything is grainier if that makes since, almost like you can see the pixels, not bad, like I said, if you've never gotten a shutterfly book these really do look nice and I plan on using the freebies for my family, but I won't print my personal scrapbooks there.

Hold on, I'll post the pics in a few.

I wanted to add to, if you didn't know they ship from Hong Kong, I ordered mine on June 26th and got it today, July 7th. Shutterfly usually takes about 1 week for standard shipping.

 

[MelindaH]

I got a little confused if you were telling us about a shutterfly or an artscow book until the end, but think I understand what you are saying (never ordered from either ... print 8x8 from home, usually).

Looking forward to examples!

 

[nesser1981]

Sorry, here are the pictures.

Sorry about the glare.

 

[Megan Turnidge]

I just ordered some books from them. They are for family members so I was ok trying them. From ym experience Shutterfly sucked and my pics were really blurry and grainy, though I know others have been thrilled with their SF books. I didn't think my SF pages seemed glossy at all. In fact, I didn't like the way the pages felt. I'm just waiting for my Artscow books so I can compare too.

 

[MelindaH]

Wow, those are both pretty amazing to me since I've never had a book made. How do you get these sample books? I currently print my pages 8x8 and slip them into 8x8 albums that are top-loading. This looks much neater.

BTW, your pages are gorgeous ... printed either way!

Thanks for sharing!

Melinda

 

[Megan Turnidge]

Wow, those are both pretty amazing to me since I've never had a book made. How do you get these sample books? I currently print my pages 8x8 and slip them into 8x8 albums that are top-loading. This looks much neater.

BTW, your pages are gorgeous ... printed either way!

Thanks for sharing!

Melinda

It will be cheaper to print your LOs into a book than printing them individually. Go to www.artscow.com and sign up for an account. You'll automatically get credit for one free 8x8 book. PM me if you want the code to get 10 more free book credits (not sure the code is still valid, but you can try!).

 

[nesser1981]

I just ordered some books from them. They are for family members so I was ok trying them. From ym experience Shutterfly sucked and my pics were really blurry and grainy, though I know others have been thrilled with their SF books. I didn't think my SF pages seemed glossy at all. In fact, I didn't like the way the pages felt. I'm just waiting for my Artscow books so I can compare too.

Really, I love shutterfly, I use to print 12x12 pages with Mpix and Whcc and I switched completely to shutterfly, I think I have 10 12x12 books and I just switched to 8x8 to be more cost effective, I have 2 of those. I was very impressed, not as nice as photo paper, but still really great.

 

[nesser1981]

Wow, those are both pretty amazing to me since I've never had a book made. How do you get these sample books? I currently print my pages 8x8 and slip them into 8x8 albums that are top-loading. This looks much neater.

BTW, your pages are gorgeous ... printed either way!

Thanks for sharing!

Melinda

What she said. LOL! I wanted to try out artscow before I switched completely, so I printed an exact copy of one of the shutterfly books I'd done. I used the free code and just paid the $12 for shipping.

 

[Megan Turnidge]

Really, I love shutterfly, I use to print 12x12 pages with Mpix and Whcc and I switched completely to shutterfly, I think I have 10 12x12 books and I just switched to 8x8 to be more cost effective, I have 2 of those. I was very impressed, not as nice as photo paper, but still really great.

Crazy how different all our experiences are with printing!! I am on the hunt for a new company to print with and after my artscow books I want to try MyPicTales (they do 10x10 which I think is a perfect size!) and Viovio.

 

[Sarah8914]

Thanks for the review, I've been so curious. I might still use a free one or two, but we'll see.

Megan, you do all of the research for us. I'm really anxious for you to do a viovio book, especially when having so many to compare it to!

 

[Megan Turnidge]

Thanks for the review, I've been so curious. I might still use a free one or two, but we'll see.

Megan, you do all of the research for us. I'm really anxious for you to do a viovio book, especially when having so many to compare it to!

Anyone wanna donate $10 to the Photobook Review Service I offer so I can try them?
We need better smilies... a laughing one at least.

 

[Kat Stokes]

If you have a Costco membership, they have a link to MyPublisher and you get 45% off ($100 order) their books until 8/27 (I think that's the cutoff date). Not sure if you can upload LO's to MyPublisher but my sis' wedding photographer (also my chiropractor) had one done of the wedding he shot the weekend after my sis' with MyPub and showed it to me. It was GORGEOUS!!! Of course, he used their LO's and backgrounds but still, it was a really pretty wedding album.

 

[MelindaH]

If you have a Costco membership, they have a link to MyPublisher and you get 45% off ($100 order) their books until 8/27 (I think that's the cutoff date). Not sure if you can upload LO's to MyPublisher but my sis' wedding photographer (also my chiropractor) had one done of the wedding he shot the weekend after my sis' with MyPub and showed it to me. It was GORGEOUS!!! Of course, he used their LO's and backgrounds but still, it was a really pretty wedding album.

That is a great idea. I should see about doing that for my own wedding. I just am not motivated to scrap it myself.

~Melinda