Hello everyone...I was wondering if some of you can recommend some books or web tutorials about how to create album layouts in photoshop. I am mainly looking for simple type of layouts with 2-3 pictures per spread.

Aperture. Or, get an album company that gives you a nice album making software tool. Or, get someone else to do it.

If you want to make $$ the getting someone else is the most profitable.

Hmm RWR can you recommend someone that you can outsource to for album creation?

I will try aperture.

AleksRachael wrote:I will try aperture.

Aperture is a kind of all or nothing deal - so, if you are not up for the 'all' ...

And, I am sure there are album designers in the sticky post.

What do you mean all or nothing? I have no problem with the making of the design or creating my own, I actually prefer it I just don't know how.

RedWhiteandRed wrote:
AleksRachael wrote:I will try aperture.

Aperture is a kind of all or nothing deal - so, if you are not up for the 'all' ...

And, I am sure there are album designers in the sticky post.

You know, some of the companies do it... I should make that part of the update.

-Tim

Basically I want to find out if there is a book or for photoshop that can tell me how to make a full two page spread layout that is all white or black background, how to put the little white boarders around the pictures and place them on the page. I have the basic idea down but when I open up a template for the spread I can't figure out how to change the background color, or how to make the boarders on the pictures prior to placing them.

I hated album design until I tried InDesign. Using PS for album design is like trying to use a spoon to cut a steak.

LERtastic wrote:.... like trying to use a spoon to cut a steak.

The lovely steaks (Lomo) in Argentine are best cut with the spoon.

Look at fine art photography books. Or a catalog from Sotheby's, Christie's, high end jewerly, high end architecture/condo brochures/catalogs.

AleksRachael wrote:
Basically I want to find out if there is a book or for photoshop that can tell me how to make a full two page spread layout that is all white or black background, how to put the little white boarders around the pictures and place them on the page. I have the basic idea down but when I open up a template for the spread I can't figure out how to change the background color, or how to make the boarders on the pictures prior to placing them.

paint bucket tool (color of choice) on the bottom layer for the background color, for that 'border': right click a layer > blending options > STROKE (it's at the bottom)

good luck

http://www.tofurious.com/2009/03/psd-album-templates/

Don't get involved with design software from Album vendors. They deliberately lock you into ordering only from them and provide sub-standard rubbish that's only useable if you have extremely low standards and don't mind giving your customers something that was sloppily thrown together. Some even have the cheek to charge you for their software (YSI, Albums Australia ... you should be blushing at this point).

I find Photoshop just fine for album composition but I put together some pretty complex page layouts and always do full custom design. I've heard good things about InDesign too but to be fair Adobe tools tend to borrow heavily from each other and once you have a few you have them all so to speak.

3 years of graphic design!

AleksRachael wrote:
What do you mean all or nothing? I have no problem with the making of the design or creating my own, I actually prefer it I just don't know how.

There are plenty of books available, try amazon or actually going to a book store.

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw_0_18?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=wedding+album+design&sprefix=wedding+album+desi

no offense but it sounds like you need a little more experience in photoshop before you start trying to make album layouts in it.

Good luck.

-B

Hire an album guy. I hate albums now. Too long of a process.

~Sam

AsukaBook Album Maker.

Photojunction Remix. Now free. Be sure and watch the tut's as it will really speed up learning the software.

Lumapix photofusion. Saves me hours and hours, is fun to use, doesn't cost a lot.