At the photo service provider Saal Digital, you can regularly find get-to-know promotions for professional photo products or discounts for product tests. I was lucky: a few weeks ago I received the Go! for testing a photo book from the high-quality Professional Line. A report on my experience.
Before you read, please note: this post was translated with the help of Deepl.
If you find any errors – please have fun first and then give me a hint.
Since 2018, we have been spending our annual holiday in the south of France. Two weeks to switch off, relax, find peace. We let ourselves drift through Provence, planning only a few destinations. But the camera is always with us, and we bring thousands of photos home every year. The current state of my database: around 19,000 photos.
Then Saal’s offer to test a photo book from the Professional Line came at the right time, because it could be a wonderful place for our many pictures loaded with unforgettable memories. Indeed, it offers the combination of an acrylic cover and a leather-look cover, and comes packaged in a high-quality gift box if desired. Alternatively, the cover can be chosen in linen, cork or wood look and can be provided with text and clipart.
I decided on a large landscape format (40 x 30 centimetres) and used Saal’s free design software for the layout. Of course, I could have created and submitted the print data myself in InDesign – the templates prepared for this can also be found on the Saal website. But since I had thousands of photos to sift through and edit (I shoot in RAW mode) and the action period was of course not unlimited, I was happy to use this “quick and dirty” solution (not meant pejoratively!).
The Saal Digital
Design Software
The app probably covers Saal’s entire portfolio: photos, murals, posters, cards, etc. And of course the various photo books. Promotions and discounts for the various items are visible, the software updates itself automatically when it starts and – what I really appreciate: runs stably. I have not experienced any crashes.
The start screen of the design software
The use of the software is self-explanatory. The possible options for an item (cover design, paper selection, production, etc.) are explained via mouse-over, and the prices update on the fly. The design can be left entirely in the hands of the software – so if you need to get it done quickly, a photo book can be clicked together in just a few minutes. After selecting one of the many templates, the software takes care of the rest.
Working in the design software
For the “Impressions from France” book I wanted, I had prepared over 300 photos. Of course, not all of them found their way into the layout, because that would have become an incredibly thick tome. A very charming feature of the design software: once pictures have been placed on a page, they are hidden in the file structure – so there are no pictures twice.
The design succeeded quickly, yet I encountered no creative limits: Text, pictograms, effects – everything was possible. The software warned me if the bleed was disregarded, as well as if the resolution was borderline. I could check each page again in a preview afterwards and adjust it if necessary.
The preview function of the design software
The ordering process didn’t raise any questions either. The software checked the individual pages in advance and then uploaded the print data. A somewhat faster internet connection was not a disadvantage – the backup of the project was just under 1 Gbyte.
Just four days later the photo book was delivered – great! Although the communication was in Italian and I also used the Italian-language design software, the book was manufactured in Salzburg according to the shipping label. In keeping with the price, it was packed several times and sturdily, the acrylic glass cover was covered with a protective film. The heavy lump (66 pages) immediately convinced with its high-quality feel, and – this is always important to me: did not smell of solvents, glue or paint. The cover has a beautiful depth, especially in the sun.
Clear, sharp and bright: the acrylic glass cover
The special binding allows panoramic images over two pages
The matt paper prevents fingerprints
Beautiful colours and sharpness
This photo book also convinces me. The uncomplicated software for the creation runs smoothly and without errors, the touch quality of the finished product is great, as is the print quality and colour fidelity. In the past years, I have already ordered several photo products (photo books, wall pictures, cards) from Saal Digital and was not disappointed this time either.
For the sake of order: Saal Digital gave me a generous discount for my opinion on the Professional Line photo book – many thanks for that!
Perfectly matching:
Tested: Vario footrests by probrake
Get Dressed in Pakistan – Customised Leather Suit
New boots for MotorProsa: Daytona Security Evo G3
Bullet Brake, or: Your motorcycle brake can do more
