Now’s the perfect time to get started with your Christmas gifts. If you have someone special in your life, you’ll want to make them something beautiful and spend a bit of time in making it.

In these upcoming weeks, I will make a few suggestions here in our EasyBlog as to what type of gifts you can make with your photos In this first post I’m starting with the probably most extensive product: the Pixum Photo Book.

Theoretically you create a photo book quickly, even within a few minutes by using the assistant in the software. But to make it special and unique, you’ll put in extra efforts and time – and can easily spend a weekend creating your perfect photo book .

But the most important thing is: your gift will come from the heart. Here are a few suggestions for inspiration:

Continue »

“It’s fun and fast to make professional-style photo books.”

Cologne, July 2009
Photo books are in style and the trend is growing! The online magazine Macworld UK tested the Pixum EasyBook and was amazed with the quality of the book and the photos printed in it.

Like all Mac users, the online magazine Macworld cares a great deal about quality and usability of the software. The Macworld opinion about the Pixum EasyBook: “Pixum EasyBook is photo-book making for everyone. Intuitive, simple and swift you can create professional-looking results from scratch in minutes freeing up time for more photo snapping. Producing professional and appealing results in a range of sizes to suit all pockets, Pixum offers a way to turn even everyday snaps into treasured keepsakes.” Not only was Macworld extremely satisfied with this new software created especially for Mac users, but also amazed about the quality of the finished product.

This is not the first award given to Pixum for its amazing quality in photo books! This year alone we already have received a 4-star award from PC Advisor, a 4-star rating from Software Editorial plus various test wins in Germany and the Netherlands.

Read the full review from Nick Spence @ Macworld here: www.macworld.co.uk

If you’re creating an album of vacation photos on your own or assembling your shots for one of those commercially printed photo books, the July-August issue of National Geographic Traveler offers tips and tricks for producing something you’ll want to share with friends and family.

• Keep it simple. Don’t let design compete with your photos. Choose plain backgrounds and themes. Don’t pick overly designed template pages.

• Be consistent. Choose one typeface and a colour scheme, and stick to it throughout. Pick one or two templates, but no more. The best photo books have a Zen-like quality.

• Let the images speak for themselves. A simple black border — or none at all — allows your photos to tell the story. A large, ornate border that changes page by page detracts from your images and can confuse readers.

• Spell-check your captions. Typographical errors cheapen your book.

• Add scrapbook mementos. Scan and upload ticket stubs, menus and other souvenirs from your trip, and include them alongside the images. These will complement the captions and offer context to your photos.

• Edit your photos. Don’t try to fit every image on the page. Pick the strongest ones, and supplement them with several smaller snapshots. Crop each picture, and don’t forget to correct the colour and contrast.

• Ask for help. Most photo-sharing sites have an active community where you can get advice from other shutterbugs. If you’re not sure about a picture, just ask.

• Avoid special effects. Yes, you can turn your photo into a pencil drawing or an Andy Warhol painting, but is that the right effect for your safari or cruise?

Written by: Alice T. Carter, TRIBUNE-REVIEW THEATER CRITIC
Monday, July 13, 2009
TribLIVE

1. Download
Go to www.pixum.co.uk/photobook and click on “Download free EasyBook software”.
After installing it, you can start making your photo book.

2. Collect your photos
Collect the photos you have decided to use in a separate folder. That will make things easier when creating your photo book.

3. Choose your format
You can choose between different formats: hard cover, linen cover, soft cover. You can also choose between different sizes: square, landscape and portrait.

4. With or without assistance?
Use the assistant to make a photo book within 3 minutes. Or simply drag and drop your images into your photo book. Make a two page spread with your favourite photo. Use a photo as a background image, or add frames to your photos.

5. Flickr import
Import your photos from Flickr. Or from your computer, directly to the EasyBook software.

6. Edit your photos
Not satisfied with your photos? Make them even better with our photo editor. Right-click on the photo, and choose to edit it with our photo editor. Change the colours, rotate the photo or frame it.

7. Add text
Write a description, or let the photos speak for themselves. Choose the colour and font of the text.

8. Preview
Check the preview to review your book before ordering it. Carefully check everything before ordering your photo book. Is the resolution of your photos high enough?

Try it yourself and download the software here:

Have fun with our new photo book software!!

Summer greetings from

Your Pixum team

Pixum has launched a new version of our award-winning EasyBook software. It’s now even quicker and easier to create your own professionally bound photo book! The enhanced photo book assistant will help you to create your own fantastic photo book in just a few simple clicks.

Our latest international award comes from the German magazine ColorFoto; Pixum came first place out of 10 photo book providers – “With EasyBook, Pixum offers easy to use software with many design options” noted the testers.

As well as a newly arranged user surface, the EasyBook software has a great range of new functions and comprehensive image editing options.

The print quality of all photo books has also been improved with an increase of the print resolution from 254 to 360 DPI. Our A4, XL and XXL EasyBook are now available with up to 130 pages.

Download free photo book software here >>

Enjoy the new Pixum EasyBook software!

Best regards

Your Pixum Team

www.pixum.co.uk – Get the best from your photos!

New Pixum EasyBook software

Cologne, February 2008

Photo books ordered via the Internet are increasingly popular and begin to replace the traditional photo album more and more. With current and future customer preferences in mind, the online photo service Pixum keeps improving its range of photo book offers. The EasyBook software that has been available within the UK since October 2007 has now been updated to include a new XL photo book.

More room for creativity at low cost and effort: This is the gain of the new Pixum EasyBook photo book software. You can choose from five different types of book in up to four different formats. The new XL book in 12x12inch format leaves a stunning expression. The square EasyBook is also available in moderate 8×8 inch size. If you like it classic, you may prefer the large EasyBook in A4 portrait format. Last but not least, the smart Booklet in pocket format captivates with handy size and pocket-money price. This range of formats and cover types can be designed and ordered with the new Pixum EasyBook software which allows for comfortable, simple and intuitive handling.

EasyBook software – create your book within minutes

With the Pixum EasyBook software, you can easily create your photo book offline. After downloading the software with only approx. 800 KB, only few mouse clicks are required to fill the desired book type with photographic life and to place it into the Pixum shopping cart. Three minutes for a 26-pages book; even beginners will not take longer. The customer has all tools and design options always on screen thanks to the well-arranged software layout. In case of questions, the EasyBook Assistant can be opened with one click to answer all questions and offer a solution.

Elegant EasyBook types for the most precious memories

Whether you decide for a hardcover with your own photo over the whole book cover, for the elegant linen cover or the deluxe model with faux leather for the XL book; every EasyBook type is a classy gift idea with high value. All books’ page number is adjustable from 26-98 depending on number and arrangement of photos. The 200g paper ensures a perfect presentation. The EasyBook Hardcover is provided with a protective film for increased durability; a personal text on the book spine is possible. Linen and faux leather covers are available in different colours. Starting at £21.99 for the square Linen Cover and at £22.99 for the square Hardcover, your personal book is the ideal affordable solution for your most precious memories. You decide yourself how much your memories are worth; nothing is a better tribute to a special occasion than the new deluxe EasyBook XL, starting at £39.99. All prices are for 26 pages, plus shipping costs.

EasyBook Softcover and Photo Booklet: quick and low-priced

The EasyBook Softcover is a low-priced alternative to the Hardcover. It features the same options and quality, but with a flexible cover. You get an EasyBook Softcover with 26 pages for only £16.99 plus shipping. For only £5.99 plus shipping costs, the Pixum Photo Booklet in handy pocket format (5×5.5 inches) is the perfect form to offer snapshots of special events as a gift. The high-quality paper cover accommodates up to 50 pages, stapled to the cover, also in square or A4 format. The Pixum EasyBook software has proven its success. Since October, it has allowed for the ordering, printing, binding and despatching of high-quality photo books for glad recipients all over Great Britain. With the extended range of products, it is bound to become increasingly popular.

More information about Pixum and this topic are available on www.pixum.co.uk.

Photo books at Pixum (http://www.pixum.co.uk/photo-book.html)
Gift ideas (http://www.pixum.co.uk/photo-gift-ideas.html)
Photos simple, fast & low-priced (http://www.pixum.co.uk/digital-photo-printing.html)
Photos & Posters in professional quality (http://www.pixum.co.uk/online-photo-print.html)

About Pixum

Pixum (www.pixum.com) is one of the leading, independent providers of online photo services in Europe. In over 35 tests by special interest magazines and consumer protection organisations, Pixum scores the overall top position. The range of products comprises the professional printing of digital images as photos or posters (up to 20x30inch), creation of individual photo gift ideas such as mugs, jigsaw puzzles, T-shirts, soft toys etc., the printing of individual invitation cards and photo calendars as well as the printing and binding of high-quality photo books. Other free services are online photo albums and photo sharing via the Internet as well as offers for camera mobile phone users. On www.pixum.com, Pixum’s services are available in the languages English, French, Dutch, Danish, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish and German. Delivery is possible within the whole of Europe. Pixum is a certified member of Trusted Shops and received the “Fast 50 Award” of Deloitte Technology, the magazine Capital, the German Stock Exchange Deutsche Börse and the DVFA (Investment Professionals Company) for the 50 fastest growing technology companies in Germany in October 2007.