I have a client who prefers a matte album rather than magazine/flush mount. I did a search, but most of the info. covers flush mounts. Does anyone have any recommended leads on either vendors that sell quality matte albums (a client can purchase prints from me and, either I assemble, or client assembles) or vendors that handle the entire production of a matte album.

Thanks for any advice or leads. I've seen a couple online, but would rather follow through on a recommendation.

Steve

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kambara
seldex

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leather craftsmen

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queensberry

We use Zookbinders for our matted albums. They are beautiful. Customers love them. You can either send them the prints or they can print and bind. They only sell to photographers, not to consumers.

leather craftsmen

Do any of these vendors do the design/layout too?

Leather Craftsman 8500 series! Most beautiful book I've ever seen!

Zookbinders has design service available.

If you are going to be doing these on any regular basis, I highly recommend using Labprints album design software for it. It is super simple, allows you to show the layout to your customer and make changes, change crops, etc in a very quick simple fashion.

Hey Steve,

My name is Joe and I am a rep for Leather Craftsmen. We have been making matted albums for over 40 years and would be happy to make books for your clients. I am not sure what part of Cali you are in, but we have a full service production facility, including in-house printing, in Santa Ana. My email address is cis@leathercraftsmen.com . If you want more information, please check out the website or email me and I would be happy to discuss making some books for you.

Joe

Thanks a bunch, Lynn.

I prefer to leave the design to the pro's as I still work part time & don't have much time for designing.
Lab Prints is indeed cool and fairly idiot proof, but I'd rather farm-out the design & production..besides that, I suck at it. ;-)
I also like the idea of simplyfying my workflow and outsourcing is my best option, IMHO.

We use Queensberry (and 95% percent of the album we do are matted) and think they are amazing. They're definitely more expensive but 110% worth it

Let me know if you want anymore info on them! You should definitely check them out!

Thanks everyone for the ideas. And Joe, thanks for introducing yourself.

I'll be looking into these options and making some decisions.

Steve

see now I am confused.... are you looking for a matte album (as in the surface of the paper is a matte finish) or are you looking for a matted album? One that you order prints and place under a page with openings? Cause I have two different answers!

for matte pages- I really like cornerstone albums. The matte finish is really nice and I like the page weight

for a matted album- I like the ambiance albums from Maxima (we order ours through Albums Inc) I like them because the matts are not as thick and gaudy as a traditional matted album and the feel clean and a little more modern to me. They also have a great selection of matts and have some really nice combination pages. It's the only matted album I offer.

Cypress makes beautiful products!

Thanks for the additional ideas. Erin -- yes, I meant the matted album where you slip the images behind mattes. But thanks for providing some leads on both!

matted albums just seem so.... 80s

Depends on the matted album. The slip in ones can look pretty dated, but many of the custom ones that are offered are beautiful. I also think the matted albums are more timeless than flush albums. The flush albums are going to look very dated in a few years, whereas matted albums have always been around.

I felt this way too until we made our first couple of la-vie and queensberry sample albums... It's hard to go back once you get a feel of high-end mat albums

oh lavie...... beeeeeauuutiful

The new LC "Red" is definitely not "80's". That's an awesome book.

I offer the magazine style, but I also offer Cypress and Jorgensen matted albums. overall at least 50% prefer the matted style, which are anything but 80's looking. Clients are concerned that the magazine styles will get dated, and it's possible they will I guess.

The matted albums from the 80's are totally 80's.... Seriously though, if one were to have a matted album with standard combinations and print sizes, then I can understand how any one could think they are "dated". However, with a custom bookbinder (*cough* Leather Craftsmen *cough*), I can show you things that would blow your mind. I always tell new, current, and hopefully future clients that if you can think of it we will at least try it. If we can't do it your way, we will find a way to do what you want.

Oh, and thanks for the plug Mark. The red 8500 is a sharp looking book!

Joe

I am in LOVE with Leather Craftsmen's fine art album!



It looks and feels amazing.

I'm almost done working with a customer to order theirs... and next on the list is a studio sample...

*edit* off to check out the red album...

Yes....it is an awesome album! Actually, Christina, I am the rep that you contacted a few months back and sent you those albums. Please let me know if you need help ordering your albums. (and that offer goes for anyone that needs help!!)

Joe

i ONLY do matted albums as i think they are far more classic and will stand the test of time over magazine albums which WILL look dated in a few years (IMO) I use Jorgensen Albums as they are made right here in WA so they dont have far to travel

So...do I, um, get the, um, free studio sample now?