Near JiaShan (China) 2008 copyright Douglas Stockdale –
I am continuing to consider the use of a Print on Demand (POD) book printing process for my SoFoBoMo (Solo Foto Book Month) project book. Now I am a member of both LuLu (lulu.com) and Blurb (www.blurb.com) POD communities. These may be my best options since I am a PC user and not a Mac guy (Update: now a Mac user). My attempts at trying to understand LuLu early last year was a disaster. Thus I am more apt right now to try my first full attempt using Blurb. When I did a quick review of LuLu earlier in the day, it looks like the competition has inspired them to do better.
Both POD options offer a horizontal book format, with a slightly larger size and slightly lower pricing in the favor of Blurb. I have not tried any of their templates yet, and both have one for photo books and one for portfolio books. I think that the photo book templates allow for more full bleeds and more composite picture options.
So then comes the decision to keep the book private or make the book available through their sales networks and whether to go hard cover (more expensive, but hopefully a little nicer presentation) or soft cover, to creating a publisher’s book proposal.
With the other things that I am trying to get in order, I probably won’t mess with either of these two options until the end of this month or beginning of March.
I am thinking that the Newport Beach strand out on the peninsula would be a nice place to work on the photography side of this series.
Above is a warmed toned version of a street photograph I made in China in early 2008.
Best regards,
Doug
Singular Images 
Hi Doug,
I understand what you say about Lulu … I could not figure it out neither last year.
I have used Blurb a number of times, and in general I like the product. Nevertheless, it is important that you realize that the quality of the prints in the book are years light from the far superior inkjet prints … there is no way to compare both.
What Blurb offers is a nice book, with nice cover and decent picture quality for what it is. But don’t expect the same quality you can get in a published “real” Photo book … or you will be disappointed …
Even with this said, I still use and plan to use Blurb … but now I am more inclined to use the folios approach as you described in your previous post.
Best
Miguel
When I get as far as the actual publication stage (for basic completion, I will probably have to rely on finishing a PDF presentation), I have been thinking about Blurb. I am eager to see what you find in your continued investigation.
I meant to shout a “Hurrah” at your mention of doing a folio of your early landscape work. That body of work is beautiful and certainly deserves a folio treatment