When it comes to the printed word, computers and word processing
software let us put our thoughts to paper in ways never imagined
only a couple of decades ago. Modern word processing coupled with
sophisticated yet intuitive page layout applications endow
professionals and amateurs alike with the ability to produce
beautiful brochures, newsletter, greeting cards and just about
anything else you can imagine.
For years, applications like The Print Shop have let computer
users design banners, calendars, certificates of all kinds, signs,
postcards, business cards, the list goes on and on. But there was
one thing that until recently I have really never seen created on a
personal computer yet it is probably one of the most common things
we think of when we envision the printed word.
I'm talking about a book. Yes a good old fashioned book. OK, so
before you jump at me, let me be more specific. Yes, you can write a
book on the computer. You can create chapters, indexes and whatever
else you may find in a book using a good word processor. You can
even add pictures and images. But you couldn't actually print out a
perfectly finished book complete with a hardbound spine and a cover.
I'm talking about one of those beautiful coffee table style picture
books but since you are the one making it, it would contain your
photos, your annotations and whatever else you like.
Yes there are services that let you send out the printed data and
images online and you can expect a finished book mailed back to you
in a short period of time. Apple Computer was one of the first to
offer making a real book filled with your photos with their iPhoto
application when it came on the scene. But I'm talking about
printing all the components of a book on your ordinary inkjet
printer without having to send it off to some book service. That's
what Epson's new StoryTeller - Photo Book Creator is all about.
The StoryTeller is actually a kit that works on any inkjet
printer and not just Epson's line. The kit is comprised of several
components. It begins with the special Epson StoryTeller Publisher
software on a CD. Also in the kit is a self-binding hard-back book
that includes a transparent, custom-fit sleeve to protect the book
once it's finished. Also included are enough pages to fill the book.
They are Epson's high glossy photo pages and the kit gives you two
additional pages to print out practice layouts if you make an error
or just simply change your mind. After printing these pages, they
affix themselves to the book's self-binding pages in such a way that
you really can't tell that they were placed into the book. The last
component is Epson's cover-size glossy photo paper that will be used
as the book's actual jacket cover. Two are included as you may want
to use one for a trial run to see if it's to you liking.
You start with your digital pictures from your camera or scanner.
You can drop in up to 200 photos, working with the suggested
templates and layouts that have been designed by professional
designers. The software lets you place text in any font, anywhere on
the pages. But my favorite is the book cover itself. In addition to
being able to print your photographs and text on the front and back
of the jacket, you can type in paragraphs of text so that they will
be positioned exactly on the cover's two inner flaps. It really
lends itself to the feeling of a professionally published book.
I have to say that after holding one of these finished books, I
was hard pressed to see any difference between a StoryTeller
produced book and one that I would buy in a book store. It's that
good. This is a great idea for making a lasting impression on
someone you really care about. Imagine going to a wedding or
graduation and taking pictures with your digital camera, then
producing one of these StoryTeller books and sending them to the
family as a gift. I promise you that something like this will make a
bigger impression than sending a picture frame or a set of dishes.
If you follow the basic guidelines in the StoryTeller software,
you'll create a gift that will be remembered for a very long time.
Epson's StoryTeller Photo Book Creator kits come in two different
sized books, 5 by 7 inch, or 8 by 10 inch. The smaller book comes
with 10 pages for $19.99, the larger comes in either 10 pages for
$24.99 or 20 pages for $29.99. A refill kit for the larger version
with enough pages for 2 books goes for $39.99.
A picture may be worth a thousand words, but with Epson's
StoryTeller Photo Book Creator, the book you create will have them
talking about your pictures in ways that words could never express.
www.epson.com/storyteller
