2011 Calendar- Who is Best?

keps

Once again, I am planning on getting calendars done as a Christmas Presents/Stocking Fillers.

I have done it for the last 3 years with 3 different calendar production outfits. I got 20 done each time.

All the recipients of the calendars 'express their delight'- but each year I have been disappointed with the photo quality.

What I'm looking for is a good quality simple design A3(that is the full page you see) calendar.

Also needed is kinda real time control - where the software allows you to pick and plant your own images and see them etc

Any ideas:D

artyeva

for image quality and versatile design software you can't beat photobox.... er... apart from the price that is.... i was actually thinking of getting some done with them as i've been happy with their prints and after service... till i saw the price of them

greeneyedspirit

I did calendars last year with Redbubble and was very happy with them, quality-wise and everything.
The advantage (for me, anyway, with the family in a different country) was that they could order as they wished, and have it sent to them directly. I didn't have to deal with sending out packages to Germany/America/elsewhere, they did all that themselves. You can also set your own price, and get a certain amount of profit for each calendar sold.

ant_moore123

I got 2 A3 ones from Photobox last year and thought they looked great

Bacchus

I used photobox for one I did for my parents when I was away traveling last year. Having seen it in the flesh now, I thought it was very good quality. They're a great idea for a present.

keps

Thanks to all who replied -much appreciated:)

squareballoon

Another vote for photobox but then I'm a big fan. Love their books and calendars.

keps

Keps with stunned look:eek:

Photobox is €26 per calendar- so for 20 (reaching for calculator) that would be €520!

I like my family in friends - but not that much:pac:

squareballoon

at christmas they usually do a 2 for 1 offer but it's still a lot of love I give one to each granny for Christmas with pics of the grandchildren and drawings they've done. Usually good for a few Sunday dinners.

Bacchus

Buy 20 of anything and things start getting expensive... except for penny sweets. They're still cheap.

You did ask for 'good quality' recommendations. Quality comes at a price. How much has it cost in previous years?

Mountainsandh

Hi Keps, don't know about quality at all, but I remembered this link I found interesting from someone who asked where to get photo mugs printed a little while ago, might be worth a look ? For their price you could get one printed and make up your mind before Christmas comes .
Actually I took note of that link because I quite like all the tacky bits and pieces, thinking of getting a few coin purses as presents for the grannies or aunties this Christmas . Fact is, they'll probably love them.

http://www.artscow.com/photo-gifts/cat0504

Bacchus

Mountainsandh wrote: »

Hi Keps, don't know about quality at all, but I remembered this link I found interesting from someone who asked where to get photo mugs printed a little while ago, might be worth a look ?

That'd be me. Mugs should be arriving this Thurs/Fri.

keps

Bacchus wrote: »

Buy 20 of anything and things start getting expensive... except for penny sweets. They're still cheap.

You did ask for 'good quality' recommendations. Quality comes at a price. How much has it cost in previous years?

Yeah I know - and maybe if I put a tenner a week away from my Guinness budget I could afford Photobox.

In previous years I got A4's but have come to hate that size- average price about 11 euros each calendar.

keps

I came across this site - and think I may get one done to test the water - even though there is a £40 set up charge.


http://www.askgroup.net/calendars/stage1.php?id=a3

Kbeg3

Shakespeare Photobooks do calendars as well, don't know what they're like but the books are good quality.

http://www.shakespearephotobooks.com/calendars.htm

the_tractor

+1 for photobox.

Get it all loaded up and prepared. Then wait and order when the special 2-1 offer comes up.

dave66

I got one done for 2009 (for friends and family) and it was the first time I did it. I used (I thought) Spectra Photo, but as it turns out they sub contract out to Tic Tac Photo, the quality was fine but the delivery and service was appalling. They shipped them by post from Belgium (I thought they came from Kerry) which would have been ok, if they had not put them in the post in the middle of a postal strike in Belgium. I'd never use Tic Tac Photo again.

keps

the_tractor wrote: »

+1 for photobox.

Get it all loaded up and prepared. Then wait and order when the special 2-1 offer comes up.

Do you think that you could rely n a 2-1 offer coming ?

Ricky91t

Artscow quality is shocking. I got a free mouse pad and I certainly wouldn't buy from them!

run_Forrest_run

another one for photobox, I get calendars done by them every year (Christmas presents too) and all recipients have been happy. their offers can be good too.

dinneenp

With photobox can I put multiple images on each page (differnet sizes) and little images on specific days in the calendar 'month' section?

Bacchus

yes you can (99% sure about this)

IIRC, there are a few templates for the calendar available. I had some pages with 3 images on them and a few with just one nice big image on it. it's quite flexible. You can personalize the dates too (e.g. put in birthdays). I remember being able to put photos on specific days too. I think they may cost a bit extra though.


Just checked it there. It's €2 extra to put photos on specific dates. That's per calendar, not per photo.

oshead

Photobox are doing an offer on calendars at the moment. Here's the offer page 15% off.

32finn

+1 for Shakespere photobooks. They are good quality but think you are limited to only 2 sizes

http://www.shakespearephotobooks.com/calendars.htm

Paulw

Would anyone have a calendar template for 2011??

I'm just looking for a template, so I can build my own.

2011, with Irish holidays seems quite difficult to find, for some reason.

FoxT

After trying other printers ( I found snapfish to be particularly mediocre) I have used photobox regularly for prints & photobooks.

- They are a bit expensive
BUT
- They keep you informed as to when you can expect to receive your photos
AND
- they deliver pretty quickly
-AND
- they have reasonably good customer service

- I ordered a photobook from them earlier this year( eu 60) , wasnt happy with the quality, and they reprocessed & sent me another one ( that I was happy with) no quibble. Took me about 5 weeks in total, from time of ordering book , to receipt of a book I was happy with. So definitely not suitable for pros or people on a deadline, but if you are flexible regarding time, they are very, very good.


Now for 20 calendars, I would struggle with their prices. It might be worthwhile identifying say 2-3 providers & ask each to print say a 10x15 photo for you. That should cost less than eu20. Then you can decide which one to go for.

- FoxT

eeyore2502

I have used Photobox for coffee table books and calendars and the quality is perfect.

*eadaoin

I'm using lulu.com just to see what it's like. I made two calendars yesterday and if I like them enough I'll sell them directly from Lulu rather than trying to shift copies myself. Postage is cheap enough so I don't think people will have a problem buying from the site if they want one.

I bought a calendar from another photographer off there last year and really liked it so thought I'd give it a try this year myself. My only issue so far is that the site is pretty slow to load.

One of the two features a LOT of cupcakes!

keps

Thanks *Eadaoin and all the people who have taken time to respod


*Eadaoin- you might just give some feedback on lulu when you see the results:)

*eadaoin

Will do keps, I will hopefully have the calendars in my hand in the next week or so!

nextbigthing

Is there a calender package offered through I Photo ?

I taught i heard there was ?

If it exists is it any good ?
or are you just paying for the Apple brand ?

thatsnotmyname

I have iphoto on the lap top
I think I used it once

its not worth all the hype that Apple waffle on about :rolleyes:

Re Calender I think they do offer something alright but if i remember correctly Its US residents only (I stand corrected on that !)

Photobox looks the best to me

I used that tic tac Crowd for a book once and was waiting an age
quality nothing great either

nextbigthing

Cheers for that
the reason I asked my friend has one of slim shiny things with the half eaten apple yoke

I was going to give the pictures I had in mind to her
and let her do the Biz :P

But having looked at the photobox thingy it looks straight forward enough

Hopefully I wont be back !!

P.S
Does anyone know when the closing date for the Christmas is ?
couldn't see any dates earlier

ThOnda

There are calendar blanks in Lidl, so get the empty ones and just glue on your regular prints

keps

the_tractor wrote: »

+1 for photobox.

Get it all loaded up and prepared. Then wait and order when the special 2-1 offer comes up.

wow - this has happened- Photobox now have a 2 for 1 offer finishing on the 21st October

I know what I will be doing tomorrow!:)

Thanks for the heads up the_tractor and Baachus!


oops here is the link

http://www.photobox.ie/shop/calendars-and-diaries

keps

I thought the 2 for 1 promo was a little vague- it just mentioned - 2 for 1 but was not clear about higher numbers.

Anyway I have clarified to my own satisfaction with them


If you order 20 you pay for 10


If you order 100 you pay for 50


I know that may seem obvious - but the words in the promo were a little unclear to me:pac:

keps

Just to let anyone who is interested know- I dispatched an order for
30 x A3 calendars just now.

The total price was €272 including postage(trackable online) - which is great value I think

The 2 for 1 offer closes on Thursday night

keps

For anyone who is interested- the calendars arrived today.

I am totally blown away by the quality of the calendars
(nothing here about the photos)

The paper quality, the reproduction- the packaging -all just 1st class

PopeBuckfastXVI

FWIW if anyone else is doing this, snapfish.ie currently have 50% off on Calendars.

use coupon code 50DEC10 at the checkout by midnight Sunday 12th December 2010

No idea about quality or anything like that, I'm afraid, I've just taken a punt on it myself.

dinneenp

PopeBuckfastXVI wrote: »

FWIW if anyone else is doing this, snapfish.ie currently have 50% off on Calendars.



No idea about quality or anything like that, I'm afraid, I've just taken a punt on it myself.

Feck, I only saw this now. 1 day too late.

Abelloid

Quick question for anyone producing their own calendars this year; what is the most important factor when choosing a calendar supplier? Reputation, price, online editing?

PopeBuckfastXVI

JustinOval wrote: »

Quick question for anyone producing their own calendars this year; what is the most important factor when choosing a calendar supplier? Reputation, price, online editing?

For me it was:

Layout Management > Price

That was about it.

Abelloid

PopeBuckfastXVI wrote: »

For me it was:

Layout Management > Price

That was about it.

Thanks. How much control over layout did you need/want? Template based?

PopeBuckfastXVI

JustinOval wrote: »

Thanks. How much control over layout did you need/want? Template based?

Yeah, I wanted multiple photos (portrait & landscape) on different pages, and the snapfish software let me do anywhere between 1 and 5 or 6 (most I did was 3 so can't recall max number) photo's on a given page, with a variety of layouts for each one. I would have like a couple more options, but I was pretty happy with the results.

DannyBuoy

Just to throw in my 5 cents.. I'm using Vistaprint at the moment and they turn out a good product. Had a few bits lost with Photobox in the past and decided to use someone different just for the calendars, very happy with the product and the price.

sbsquarepants

greeneyedspirit wrote: »

I did calendars last year with Redbubble and was very happy with them, quality-wise and everything.
The advantage (for me, anyway, with the family in a different country) was that they could order as they wished, and have it sent to them directly. I didn't have to deal with sending out packages to Germany/America/elsewhere, they did all that themselves. You can also set your own price, and get a certain amount of profit for each calendar sold.

Am i reading this right? You sold gifts to your family? And not even at cost but to make a profit?:eek: