Picaboo Review
Check out of all Picaboo's latest offers! |
Read my Picaboo X Review and take a "peek" at my lay flat Madison book
Read my Picaboo Classic hardcover Review
Check out my Picaboo Calendar Review
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Picaboo was founded in 2006 and is headquartered in Palo Alto, California. According to Picaboo's site, its name owes its origins to the phrase, "peek-a-boo" and was chosen because it's a common expression that induces smiles. Definitely a clever name - I'm smiling :)
Picaboo's latest software, Picaboo X, released in April 2010 is both Mac and PC compatible. Using the new software requires a download of Adobe AIR. Software built using this platform, runs on your desktop without being connected to the Internet. To start building a book, the program requires a quick selection of the photos you wish to use. Unlike some other photo book companies, you don't have to upload full-sized versions of your photos before you can start to design your book. It took only 1 min and 17 seconds for me to access a folder of 619 photos for the Madison book I created and then I was off and running.
I've never used the older Picaboo 2.5 software before, but the new software features fully customizable layouts and thousands of backgrounds. They offer a number of book styles, all in landscape format in hardcover and softcover styles. A variety of materials are also available including velvet, leather and linen. Three Five book sizes are offered: 8x6, 11x8.5, 14x11 and a new square format in 8x8 and 12x12 with prices starting at $9.99 for a 20-page 8x6 Classic photo book. What's nice is the software makes it fairly easy to switch book styles at any point in the creation process. You can therefore retain the interior layout that you've created and just swap out the book cover and style for another. That feature may come in handy for a bride and groom who want make a nice, but affordable version of their album for family as a gift, while keeping a more expensive wedding album as an heirloom.
For those looking for a higher-end look, Picaboo also offers 6 lay-flat styles of photo books, ranging from $99.99 for a 20-page Madison to $449.00 for a 14x11, 20-page Flush Mount book - the most expensive book offered in Picaboo's product line. More recently lay flat options have been added to the Classic line, allowing users to upgrade to lay flat binding for a flat fee of $15.00 $9.80 for the first 20 pages and starting at $1.48 per page for additional pages depending on book size.
Unique Features/Tips
- Offers fully customizable layouts
- Six lay flat styles with covers ranging from velvet to leather available
- You can now add a lay flat upgrade to Picaboo's 8.5x11, 8x8 and 12x12 size Classic photo book line for $.49 per page
- You can switch styles and sizes at any time without having to redo your layouts for maximum flexibility (within orientations)
- Features a very quick start to get you into designing your book and less time waiting for photos to upload
- (2/11) Picaboo has recently announced a permanent price drop on additional pages for its entry-level Classic photo book line, putting it more in line with pricing from other companies. Extra pages for the Large Classic book has dropped from $1.99 to $.99, extra pages for the Medium size from $.99 to $.49
- Picaboo has recently updated its software to allow for adding a title to the spine of your book (for custom cover hardcover books)
See a full review on Picaboo X and take a "peek" at my lay flat Madison book
Click HERE to go to Picaboo's site!
Don't forget to check the main Photobook Deals page for all of today's deals! Bookmark that page or fan me on Facebook and you won't miss out on the latest coupon codes! Save money with the latest Picaboo coupons and deals.
Picaboo Reviews from the Blog
Feb 26, 2014: The Ultimate Lay Flat Photo Book Comparison Guide - A Book for Every Budget (Updated 2017)
Mar 8, 2011: FREE Picaboo Photo Book Is Back in 2011!
Dec 27, 2010: Picaboo Review - Classic Custom Photo Book Layouts and Ideas
Dec 9, 2010: Picaboo Calendar Review (Updated 12/28/2010)
Oct 20, 2010: Picaboo Review - the Classic Custom Hardcover Photo Book & Make Your Own FREE BOOK!
Aug 23, 2010: How to Maximize your Savings with Picaboo Groupons and other Picaboo Deals
Aug 16, 2010: My Picaboo X Review - The Madison Lay Flat Photo Book (Updated 7/1/11)
Apr 2, 2010: Photo Book Virgin â€" What I Haven’t Tried Before…Tips & Ideas
Quick Specs for PicabooNew to photo books? Learn the lingo
| Book Type | Hardcover & Softcover |
| Book Shape | Landscape, Square |
| Types of Covers | Full Photo Cover; Die Cut Linen or Leather; Silver, Black, Velvet, Leather, Linen Hardcover; Die Cut Textured Paper softcover |
| Min/Max Pages | 20 - 160; 20 - 90 (Flush Mount, Madison & lay flat Classic) |
| Paper | Varies by style: 100 lb. gloss archival, 110 lb. semi-gloss archival, Kodak Endura paper, 110 lb. card stock w/pearl finish |
| Binding | Case bound; Post bound; Hinged lay flat; Case bound lay flat; Perfect bound (softcover) |
| Lay Flat | Yes |
| Fully Customizable Layouts | Yes |
| Themes | 16 main themes with subthemes |
| Layouts/Templates | Full customization plus 250+ layouts |
| Backgrounds | 10000+ |
| Image as Background | Yes |
| Full Photo Cover | Yes |
| Customizable Spine | Yes on hard cover Custom Cover books |
| Full Photo Back Cover | Yes |
| Full Page Bleed | Yes |
| Captions/Fonts | 40+ fonts, colors by hex code |
| Embellishments | No - but has borders and shadows |
| Mac/PC | Both |
| Download or Online | Download |
| Special Photo Importing | Flickr, Facebook |
| Share Online | Yes |
| Sell Online | No |
| Collaboration | No |
| Logo | Yes - depends on style |
| Photo Editing in Program | Rotate, Zoom, Red eye, Brightness, Contrast, Sepia, B&W, Contrast, Saturation |
| Digital Scrapbooking Compatible | Yes |
Picaboo Photo Books
Thinking about designing a photobook on Picaboo? You can view a detailed chart of every Picaboo photo book, including sizes and pricing. See the full list of Picaboo photo books.
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