About Matted Albums
From Photojournalism to Traditional style, create the look you want with over 300 page options, including our signature special effects. Photos are hand-mounted into recessed mat openings, and bound in a genuine leather cover.
PHOTO PREPARATION
Marking: Prints should be pristine, with no stickers or marks, front or back, except for light numbering for sequencing (see next section).
Numbering: When numbering prints for a Matted Album with more than one photograph on a side, each print will have a number AND letter designating the position of the print. For example, if there are (4) 4x5’s to be mounted on side 13; they would be numbered as 13A, 13B, 13C & 13D. For proper numbering of all photos, please refer to our Frame Code Booklet.
In a mounted album, you determine the layout of the prints by lightly numbering the back of the photographs by the page sequence (e.g. 1, 2, 3, etc.). Refer to our Frame Code Booklet to follow additional layout positioning (A, B, C, etc.). Always use a 6B pencil (which we supply at no charge) to number the prints in the center on the back. NEVER use ink, marker, stickers, or anything else to number prints and be sure that all negative numbers or other markings are done in pencil.
Shipping standards: Please view our “5-Minute Order Preparation” video that illustrates the procedures described here. Keep prints in order, with the first photo turned over so that it faces print #2. All other prints should be packaged with the image facing up. When sending orders with multiple size photos (e.g. 8x10’s & 5x7’s), each size MUST be packed within the same size cardboard, keeping the photos in sequential order. We recommend, “sandwiching” each set of prints between 2 thick cardboards with rubber bands that we supply at no charge. Use the cardboard that we provide at no charge, and NEVER use corrugated cardboard for packing photos (it leaves indentations in your prints).
For multiple size orders, place the smallest size “sandwich” on top of the next largest size and rubber band the entire order together with the order form on top. Then wrap the prints with bubble wrap or other sturdy packing materials (no “peanuts” or “chips” please), and pack them securely in a carton.
When packing multiple orders in the same carton, be sure that each order has a separate order form.
For panoramas, we recommend sending them in sturdy “flat” cartons, packed with thick cardboards on the top and bottom to prevent the carton from bending or panorama tubes that we supply at no charge.
PHOTO QUALITY PRESERVATION AND PROTECTION
Protective coating: All prints are lacquered with a water-based, environmentally friendly clear lacquer protective coating. It is specifically formulated to not noticeably alter the finish on your prints.
Damage: You will be notified if a photo is received damaged from shipping.
Original photo quality is your responsibility: We do not review each individual photo for dust spots or imperfections from printing or the negative. Be sure to carefully review your prints before sending them to us.
UNACCEPTABLE OR PROBLEMATIC PRINT TYPES
Non-lab produced prints: Zookbinders only accepts lab produced photographs. After extensive testing we have found that only lab quality photos work best with our production process, therefore we cannot accept ink jet prints of any kind.
Metallic Prints: Although we will accept metallic prints, we strongly discourage using them as the lacquer will hide the metallic properties of this paper.
Dye-Sub Prints: We do not accept dye-sub prints.
Enhanced prints: In the special instructions section on your order form, please indicate all photos that have any print enhancement (dyes, etc.). If prints have an uneven “sheen” or dull spots, due to artwork those areas will appear in the album the same way they arrive at Zookbinders. If artwork is not indicated in special instructions and is accidentally removed by Zookbinders during production, Zookbinders will assume no responsibility for the cost of the print and/or artwork.
COMPLETING ORDER FORMS/SPECIAL EFFECTS/FEATURES
Forms are album specific: The Matted, Flush, & Zook Book albums each have their own order form, so be sure to use the correct one. There is a sample of a completed matted order form on the back page of your frame code booklet.
Cameos: Are recessed photos cut into the album cover. We offer over 40 options, which are listed in our catalog. We also display our cameo option on the cover sheet of our new album order forms. To order a cameo, check the box of the size you would like, and be sure to send the photo with “cameo” written on the back in pencil.
Cover Stamping: We offer Italic imprinting for the lower right corner of the album cover. If there is a cameo, the imprinting is centered underneath the photo on square albums and in the lower right on rectangular albums. Standard Title Designs such as “Our Wedding”, “My Bar Mitzvah” and “My Bat Mitzvah” should be ordered as a Title Design or Monogram to be printed in the upper center of the album. All imprinting is priced per line; see our price list. 2 “tooling lines” on the spine are also offered at no charge.
Studio Stamping: We will print your studio name on the inside of the front cover. If you’d like your logo imprinted, send us a piece of black and white camera ready artwork. There is a $30 charge for die-manufacture. Once we have the logo on file, write “Use Studio Die on file” on the order form and you’ll only pay for 1-line of Studio Stamping.
Slipcases: Slipcases are decorative leather boxes made to house one or more albums. Leathers and color options are the same as those for album covers.
SQUARE FRAME CODING
Our Square Frame Code Booklet is color coded by the format you shoot with, and the size of the finished prints you send. For example, all pages with square photos are YELLOW. Pages with 35mm photos (3½ x5, etc.) are PURPLE and all other rectangular photos are TEAL.
Each frame choice has a code, which is to be written on the order form next to the sequence number. For example, if you’d like to mount an 8x10 Vertical print on side 1, enter the code “1-810-V,” next to sequence #1 on the order form. For more information on sequencing, see the sample matted order form on the back of our Frame Code Booklet.
TRIMMING
For any questions about trimming, please call Customer Service
In a matted album, we machine trim each photo up to 1/8” from all 4 sides (e.g., the final size of an 8x10” print is 7¾ x 9¾”). If there is a print that needs special trimming there are 2 options:
Option 1/Leave it to us: Zookbinders will hand-trim up to 5 photos per order at no charge. For this service you must note exact trimming instructions for each photo and package all photos to be pre-trimmed together.
Option 2/Do it yourself – at your own risk: Use a professional trimmer (we recommend a Rotatrim which can be purchased at a photographers supply house or online). It is imperative that you cut them to the exact final sizes listed below. If photos are unevenly trimmed evenly or to the incorrect size, the 1/8” liner that surrounds the photo will appear uneven. Zookbinders will not attempt to correct customer cutting errors.
(click chart to enlarge)
SPECIAL EFFECTS NOTES
NOTE: NEVER trim shapes before sending to Zookbinders
To forestall production delays, we will take use creative discretion with special effects (Puzzle Pages®, Pinwheels, Composites and Panoramas) unless you specify otherwise. From experience, we know this is a win-win situation that will help us to process your orders more quickly as well as meet our common goal of quality albums at a fair price.
Shapes: If a requested shape (oval, circle or octagon) does not work as ordered (e.g., cropping is too tight), we will mount it as a rectangle or square. We will not call you if this layout is necessary.
Pinwheels: We size the center photo of your pinwheel to best fit the accompanying photos. We try to cut the center photo to an oval, but may cut it to a rectangle or square if necessary.
Composites: Size, cropping, and composition of photographs that are submitted to us for composites occasionally pose a problem. We may change the size or position of the photos for the best composition.
Invitations in Matted Albums: We will custom cut a mat opening to fit an invitation. We cut a mat opening slightly larger to recess the invitation into the mat, just like a photograph. We do not mount invitations with ribbons, beads or other protruding objects. If at all possible, send an extra invitation. The album will open with the invitation on the first right side (side #1). You may begin the photos on side #2 or have a blank on side #2 and begin the photos on side #3.
PANORAMAS
Panoramas: Panoramas are full-page spreads that add tremendous impact to Matted Albums. We cut the large print in half and then mount it leaving less than 1/16” of space between the two halves. Sometimes, the center split cuts an important part of the image. In such cases, we will shift the photo and offset the space with a “pano strip” (made of the same material used in the pages) on one or both ends. There is no charge for a “pano strip.”
¾ Panoramas: We sometimes need to take creative license in switching your smaller side photos to the opposite page than ordered depending on the location of the split. If a panorama needs to be shifted, or side photos switched, we will add “pano strips” as needed, and make the required changes to avoid any delays. Once again, there is no charge for “pano strips.” Panoramas should be numbered as 2 prints (e.g. sides 12 & 13) and MUST start on an even numbered page. Be sure to write the sequence numbers, your account number and order form number on the back of all panoramas.
Half Panoramas: Half Panoramas are “full bleed” (Flush) pages in Matted Albums. They are especially effective as the first print in the album or as 2 separate prints facing each other.
PANORAMA SIZES FOR MATTED ALBUMS
(click chart to enlarge)
