SmileBooks Online Review:
SmileBooks Photo Book Review
This SmileBooks Online photo book review is based on their online photo book software. Smilebooks also offers a uses an downloadable version and the software review is at
Smilebooks Review.
SmileBooks' Online Photo Book Software
Many photo book printers offer either an online program or one that you can download. This is the first printer I've seen that offers both! The online photo book software has similar features to the downloadable version, but is missing just a little bit of some features. What it misses in features is made up in the ability to collaborate with other people to make a book.
Collaboration and Photo Book Sharing
One collaborative feature is full integration with Facebook, Flickr, or Picasa. I was able to take pictures from my Facebook albums or any of my friends albums. The only problem is that these pictures have a low resolution and will only look good in small pictures in your book.
Making a Photo Book at SmileBooks
You have three choices when starting a book with
SmileBooks Online: creating a personal photo book, a community photo book, or a shared photo book. This is the height of collaboration and ranks the highest of any of the photo book printers we have reviewed.
Backgrounds and Layouts
As with the downloadable software, you have an almost unlimited number of layouts and more backgrounds than you could possibly use-- one of my favorite parts of this SmileBooks Online review. You can also use your own photos as page backgrounds. The only feature that is not as functional as the other version is the ability to edit your photos.
Paper and Covers
The paper that Smilebooks Online Photobooks uses is 135 lb. This is thicker than most photo book printers who use 100 lb. paper. The books have twenty-six pages, where most printers have twenty.
Help and Customer Service
There is no Photo Book Assistant that creates the book for you in Smilebooks Online. I usually choose to do it myself, so this is not a personal issue. If you like the speed and ease of having the Photo Book Assistant put your book together you will need to use the downloaded photo book software.
Updated: Sept 2, 2010
Smilebooks Online Photo Book Review
What is the Quality of the Photo Books?
The review on this page only reviews the software that you use to make your photo book. In order to review the quality of the photo book you receive or the
quality of any help please go to
Photo Book Experiences. Here you will find what other people have said about
different printer/publishers. These reviews have been broken out by
each individual publisher.
The quality of these comments are only helpful if Make Your Own Photo Books site visitors take the time to leave comments about their experiences.
Please pay it forward to other site visitors by taking the time to leave a comment (good or bad)if you have made a photo book.
Comparative Photo Book Software Review
| Background Themes |
Numerous |
| Layout Variety |
Over 170 layouts |
| JPG as a Background |
Yes |
| Digi-Scrapbooking Friendly |
Yes |
| In-book Editing |
Limited. |
| Text - Variety and Full Page |
Add unlimited text to each page |
| Embellishments and Corners |
Yes |
| Full-Page Bleed |
Yes |
| Final Grade |
A |
For an explanation of the Feature Set Review
Photo Book Sizes
The prices given are based on a 26 page book with printing on both sides of the pages. Additional pages are available for an extra charge. The price given is the
lowest price for that size category.
| Hardcover |
| 8x8 |
32.95 |
| 8x11 |
34.95 |
| 11x8 |
39.95 |
| 11x14 |
89.95 |
| 12x12 |
68.95 |
| 16.5x12 |
149.95 |
| Softcover |
| 8x8 |
26.95 |
| 8x11 |
28.95 |
For a more detailed pricing, please visit Photo Book Covers and Sizes
Go from this SmileBooks Online Review to my page all about the other photo book printers out there.
