Quick/Easy way to assemble photo album

[viv85e 3]

The first time around I didn't do this, and it took FOREVER to organize the pictures by date, label them, etc.

Now that it is interview time, the Embassy wants more photographs, so I discovered this method using software to do the work for me. You need to have some kind of software for this to work, fyi. Also this method is for printing on regular paper, not fancy photo paper. So it is cost effective too.

Idea:

• Use Adobe Bridge (which comes with Adobe Photoshop) to create image contact sheets.
  
• Open bridge and find the album you'd like to use.
  
• Select all the images you want to include.
  
• Click output to pdf button on the top menu bar.
  
• Customize the paper size, margins, number of images per page, etc. and hit "create pdf".
  
• DONE! It automatically created 11 pages of photos in one pdf file for me.
  
• Afterward I open the PDF and type in labels/descriptions for each page using the comment tools.
  

Attached is a preview of what one page looks like. I decided to put 4 images per page but you can make it any number.

If you don't have Adobe Photoshop and Bridge you can try the free trial on their site:

http://www.adobe.com/products/catalog.html

Or try some other software like this one (haven't tried it so can't confirm if it works):

http://download.cnet.com/Contact-Sheets/3000-12511_4-10556168.html

I hope this info proves helpful to others. Maybe someone has other suggestions for making a quick photo album?

All the best - Viv

Edited October 4, 2012 by viv+cata

[Nick1980 11]

The first time around I didn't do this, and it took FOREVER to organize the pictures by date, label them, etc.

Now that it is interview time, the Embassy wants more photographs, so I discovered this method using software to do the work for me. You need to have some kind of software for this to work, fyi. Also this method is for printing on regular paper, not fancy photo paper. So it is cost effective too.

Idea:

• Use Adobe Bridge (which comes with Adobe Photoshop) to create image contact sheets.
  
• Open bridge and find the album you'd like to use.
  
• Select all the images you want to include.
  
• Click output to pdf button on the top menu bar.
  
• Customize the paper size, margins, number of images per page, etc. and hit "create pdf".
  
• DONE! It automatically created 11 pages of photos in one pdf file for me.
  
• Afterward I open the PDF and type in labels/descriptions for each page using the comment tools.
  

Attached is a preview of what one page looks like. I decided to put 4 images per page but you can make it any number.

If you don't have Adobe Photoshop and Bridge you can try the free trial on their site:

http://www.adobe.com/products/catalog.html

Or try some other software like this one (haven't tried it so can't confirm if it works):

http://download.cnet.com/Contact-Sheets/3000-12511_4-10556168.html

I hope this info proves helpful to others. Maybe someone has other suggestions for making a quick photo album?

All the best - Viv

Is this all free? If not it seems like alot less work to go to a photo shop and have them do it. If it is free then it's a good idea.

[viv85e 3]

If you download the trial than it is free, or you could google search for a software that offers this feature. I really just wanted to share the idea of automating the work. I'm a photographer so I already had this software (Photoshop).

I highly doubt you could get the same thing from a photo store. I don't know any that have offer this service or would do it to my specifications and liking.

I know this won't work for everybody but for those who already have the program or are a little tech savvy- this is a nice alternative to making the album by hand.

Edited October 4, 2012 by viv+cata

[Nick1980 11]

If you download the trial than it is free, or you could google search for a software that offers this feature. I really just wanted to share the idea of automating the work. I'm a photographer so I already had this software (Photoshop).

I highly doubt you could get the same thing from a photo store. I don't know any that have offer this service or would do it to my specifications and liking.

I know this won't work for everybody but for those who already have the program or are a little tech savvy- this is a nice alternative to making the album by hand.

You're probably right that you couldn't get this quality of a picture at a photo store. But they aren't judging the quality of your photo at the interview

It could be a neat program to make some baby albums or family albums however!