I’m a sucker for no downloading, and that’s what attracted me to Mixbook as a photo book editor. If you’re like me and your computer gets easily overloaded, pitches a fit, and runs away from new software downloads, you might want to consider a web-based photo book editor.
Mixbook has created a site that is part social networking, part photo book creator. You can add friends and collaborate on projects together. For a teen’s book project, this would be a wonderful tool.
Compared to the Blurb photo book creator, Mixbook has a smaller selection of book sizes. However, the size range is still quite large. The one that attracted me was the 6 by 4 mini book. It’s stocking sized, and it’s a good size for a child-created miniature story book. My daughter is not the most wordy of souls when it comes to writing her books, so it’s good to have a smaller option instead of having to fill up the pages! The books go all the way up to a lovely coffee table sized photo book, and the aside from the mini book, the different sizes are available in both hard and softcover.
Mixbooks have a variety of backgrounds to choose from. The system is laid out as a digital scrapbooking or photo service, and it’s not completely ideal for a child’s story book. However, if you’re doing an annual scrapbook for a baby or creating a portfolio of work, these layouts make it extremely simple to look good. There is also a blank background for those who would prefer more leeway in choosing their images. If you click on the tab that says “Give me a book that is almost done,” Mixbook will create a layout for your photos. Unclick it, and you’ll have free reign over your book, which is better for those who want to create a picture book rather than a photo scrapbook.
The prices are reasonable, especially for the smaller books. There is a coupon for 20 percent off your first order when you sign up for the Mixbook newsletter. If you are like me and your child is creating a number of copies of a photo book or novel to give to friends and relatives, this certainly adds up! If you are doing a print run for friends and family and have more than 20 books, Mixbook will also give you a volume discount.
Overall, I like the ease of the Mixbook software, and I love the fact that it is online.
Image Credit: Pear83