Epson StoryTeller Photo Book Creator -- 5in x 7in (10 pages) Reviews

• very pleased

  
  By A2X2GQU20XOYUJ on 2005-07-26
  I was able to create a great gift with this product! Item was exactly as described, and the software was very easy to install and use. The only thing to be aware of is that the long printable cover for the 5x7 book is only able to be used in certain printers. The 8x10 version of the long cover is only able to be printed with certain other printers (not the same ones as the 5x7). I happen to have 2 printers, so was able to print it, but they do have a good single sheet option for the cover if you don't have the right printer. I would definitely buy this product again!
  
  

• I've bought several

  
  By AG3I8TU5VMX3L on 2006-02-24
  I enjoyed using this kit. It creates a very nice, hardbound book to share with friends and family. My teenager has used a couple of these to make school projects. The teachers gave her excellent grades each time, so it was money well spent. The software is very easy to use, although you will find that you are trapped in their templates. You can't do much to change them if you want a bigger font, for instance. However, the templates are quite good, so this isn't as negative as it might seem.
  
  I do wish Epson had included something for the backs of the photos. As it is, the backs of the photographs actually say "Kodak". I have used some of my scrapbooking skills to attach another color paper to the back and add a bit more journaling there.
  
  The cover can be tricky unless you have Epson brand printers. There was another brand available, but I don't remember it. They do include extra photo paper that you will use to make very acceptable covers. However, with the correct Epson, you can actually print on the cover itself, which will include the bookflaps, front and back cover and spine.
  
  We enjoyed using this and are planning something cool for Mother's Day.
  
  

• Easy to use, but incredibly limiting

  
  By A2HBRVFEKWQ631 on 2006-05-20
  This kit is neat; I have to admit that. It comes with all the materials needed to make a nice little coffee table book. However, the kit itself is a little pricey considering that A) there's only 10 pages, B) the pages are only 5 x 7, and C) the pages are not double-sided. The software included, although as simple and easy-to-use as can be, is so limiting, it doesn't actually feel like you have made this book yourself. Instead, it's as though you're in preschool, bringing in the pictures and having Teacher put it together for you. You can arrange different page setups for different themes as you please, but there is seldom the precise one that you really want. It doesn't help that half of the themes have these cutesy "scrap book" elements that look absolutely ridiculous.
  However, the book itself is pretty slick once you make many, many comprimises. The only reason I gave this two stars is for the materials included.
  
  

• no room for creativity

  
  By A3AXDQD8GWJFO8 on 2006-05-22
  The idea of this book is great, but there is no room for creativity whatsoever. If a page has space for 11 photos, you have to put in 11 photos. If you like the layout, but only want to put in 9 photos, it won't adjust itself. If you're supposed to put a date somewhere, there is no room for more characters than a date would require, and it is not adjustable. You want to move a photo up a bit, out of luck. I got so frustrated using their software, that I will be doing most of the layout work (except the cover) in Adobe Illustrator, which is obviously more flexible, but will require more of my time. This is for someone who likes to be told how to design their custom-designed book.
  
  

• Good idea, bad software

  
  By ABE58OWMOVCHG on 2006-12-18
  I really liked the idea of this product, and they have some good templates, but after putting hours into designing the book and writing up captions, I printed it and the pictures looked HORRIBLE. The software resizes the images automatically to fit the layout, but for some reason leaves the pictures pixelated and fuzzy. I took the pictures with a 6MP camera, and they look great when viewed on the computer or printed with other software, but when this software resized them they came out terrible. And there's really no way around it, except to try to guess the proper resolution for each photo and crop and resize yourself before inserting the photos, but that would take several more hours.
  
  This product wasted hours of my time and left me very disappointed.
  
  

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