The file requirements for the die-maker are:

• hi res file (min 300 dpi)
• vector
• file extension ends in .ai or .eps (please note: converting a non-vector file to .ai / .eps file will not work as we need a vector file)
• 100% black and white art (no colors/shades of gray) – what is black is what is embossed on your book with a single color or no color (blind embossing)

And the result is great!

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Need more specifics, here is a guide we found that is pretty self-explanatory.  To see it, click here.

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Need more assistance?  We probably can help.

A.  CONVERTING a color vector file to black & white:

We can convert most color VECTOR files to black & white at no additional cost.  Here is an example:

- File we received.

-  We received the file as a hi res vector file that was not in 100% black and white, so we made a quick correction that is no cost to the customer.  We converted the file to 100% black and white.  Because the file was vector, we were able to “highlight” the design, then select it to be in all black.

I had the great pleasure to tour their facility today and I am completely blown away.  These guys are smarter than smart.  Their business model is the essence of being nimble.  With everything being handmade in the USA, they have a unique position to offer a wide variety of services to their retail customers, like Blue Sky Papers.   Built on the hard work of American hands and run by a family, this business is not only admirable in their excellence but also because their products shout HIGH QUALITY.

For starters, they make small and large runs for chain stores, custom-designed with the store’s choice of exclusive leathers and with the brand’s logo.   Next time you are at Barney’s or Tiffany’s and you are looking at an accessory or a leather good, odds are that Graphic Image is the quality manufacturer behind it.   You may not see their logo, but their hard work shows.

But they don’t just sell to the large retailers.  They also sell their catalog items to retailers of all sizes.  Their quality products can be found in most mom and pop stores and gift boutiques across the US.  I’ve even seen some of their products in a local art store.

Being nimble and organized also allows them to sell single items direct to end-users by way of sales from their website or on behalf of one of their retailers.  They personalize – and fast.  Their personalization program is top-notch, far surpassing any other company with a drop ship model.

They are flexible and stretch themselves far outside the box.  They are always willing to try something a different way and allow their customers the flexibility to create something according to their own desires.

They are organized and well-structured.  For example, they keep up with their holiday demand by hiring hundreds of part time employees and work around the clock to help keep up with the steep increase in demand.  And that is after a summer of diligently preparing to have all the needed raw materials ordered so no one goes without their favorite album, frame or bag over the Holidays.

With their classic designs, Graphic Image’s products speak to many people while still staying on the pulse of what’s new.  Presenting new collections regularly, Graphic Image and the people behind it clearly have fun designing their products, their business and their future.   Why, not only an hour after leaving their facility in Long Island did I see a lady in Manhattan with a GiGi bag!  A collection they just launched!

And just how many owner/operators like Carol would drop their busy schedule (and before a major trade show too) to spend several hours with one of their smaller retailers.  Better yet, I felt mentored by Carol as she probed into our BSP business and drew from her years of experience to make suggestions to help it grow.  How awesome is that?!

By the looks of the press Graphic Image receives at a regular and impressive pace, it appears most others would agree that Graphic Image is an award-winning company!

So, yea.  If you couldn’t tell, I drank the Graphic Image kool-aid.  …It’s pretty darn good.

We hope your Holiday Season is full of bright cheer!  And, to celebrate our many blessings, we are giving you a gift with a purchase over $100.

With an average retail value of $24, these gifts’ retail range from $18 – $126!  We have lots of journals, guest books, photo albums, notecard sets, wine coasters, gifts and more.  These will make a great treat for yourself, a gift for a friend or a stocking stuffer.

No coupon code needed.  While supplies last!

A little inspiration for cool gifts for your special man, father, brother or grandpa.  Check out these featured items below – or click here for a whole laundry list.

Leather World Travel Journal - $56

Great Resource Book & Coffee Table Book - $89

Personalized Leather Portfolios - $156

Another great resource book & coffee table book - $148

Here are some ideas for gifts for the special lady in your life, whether she be your wife, girlfriend, mom, grandmother, sister or friend.  Check out these featured items below – or see a whole laundry list by clicking here.

Leather & Suede iPad Envelopes - $138

Leather Brush Cases - $56

Vogue Covers Coffee Table Book - $89

Paper page albums are perfect because they are flexible, archival and easy.

Flexible in that it allows you to show your album just the way you want it – orienting the photos, placing other keepsakes, and even drawing/decorating the pages.

Archival in that acid-free/lignin-free (archival quality) paper page albums take better care of your photos/keepsakes by keeping degenerative materials from prematurely aging your photos.

Easy in that adding photos to your album can be quick and easy with the proper tools, shown below.

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So, how do I get photos in paper page albums?

All these photo album accessories and adhesives make it easy to add photos to a paper page album – and they are archival quality to protect and preserve your photos for generations.

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Photo Corners

Slide the corners of the photos into the corners, removing the photo corner from the liner.  Eyeball/mark the page where you want the photo to go, place the photo on the paper page and then press the photo corners in place.  Make sure the photo corners are snugly prior to pressing them down so the photo doesn’t have much wiggle room.

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Photo Sleeves

The easiest, best and most flexible of the photo accessories.  While being archival, photo sleeves completely cover/protect your photos from finger prints.  They allow flexiblity in placing your 4 x 6” photos either landscape or portrait orientation.  Simply slide the photo in the sleeve, remove the liner from the back of the sleeve and press on the page.

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Photo Dots

Little glue dots have never been so cute and fun!  With a miniscule amount of adhesive touching your photo, roll the mechanism about 1/2″ long on the back of your photo – one center and in each corner.  Then, press the photo into place.  Non-yellowing dots are archival and strong to last generations.

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Photo Mounts

Photo mounts are two-sided adhesive squares, allowing you to place the square on the back of the photo yet remove the liner later for placement.

Great option for photo guest books where you want to preselect where the photos will go.  To do this, determine where you want your photos to go and place the photo mounts on the pages, keeping the liner on the front.  Ask your guests to remove the liner and press the photo into place.

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Roller Tape

Super easy and fun, these roller tapes apply a micro-thin layer of archival adhesive to the back of your photographs.  Simply press and roll the applicator on the back of the photo, flip and press in place!

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Tape / Glue

Almost all of us have this on hand!  While there are many scrapbook and archival quality options of double-sided tape and glue, it is so important to select tape and glue sticks that are archival quality.  Not all adhesives are archival quality!  So check before you use your household supplies.  And, no wet glue – it’ll warp your photos!

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We hope this guide helps you make great family keepsakes with lots of photos and memories kept!

Technorati Tags: paper page album, photo albums, photo corners, photo dots, photo guest book, photo mounts, photo sleeves

A remarkable way to capture the essence of your special day is to engage your guests with a Polaroid or photo booth guest book.  This fun, guest-centered activity will be a wonderful opportunity to record the spirit of the day from the guests’ perspectives – and you will have a dynamic keepsake of fun photos and messages to relive, rather than a list of names.

**PS – Photo guest books aren’t just for weddings!**

How to select a Photo Guest Book?

There is no “one size fits all” when selecting a photo guest book – this allows you creative freedom and control!  The best way to select a photo guest book is to find a paper page album you like.  These can be scrapbooks, photo albums with paper pages, etc.

There are a handful of things to consider when selecting the right paper page album/photo guest book for your wedding/event:

• Pages need to be thick paper pages firm enough to hold photographs & allow for text without bleeding through
• The spine needs to be built to accommodate dimensional items such as photographs.  Anything that says “photo album” should work.
• Determine the number of pages needed in your book by seeing how many photos/messages can fit on a page.  Most albums will allow for 2 up on a page.  Then, considering families and couples sign together, determine how many pages you will need to cover your headcount.

Determining how to put the photos on the pages with the proper photo album accessories, such as photo corners or photo sleeves, is important and is covered below.

How to create a Photo Guest Book?

1. Set up a “photo booth” area for the photographs to be taken

While a photo booth is lots of nostalgic fun, it can be a bit pricey.  Instead, try creating a DIY photo booth by decorating a space for Polaroids/digital photo booths.

• Create your own “photo booth” by using a backdrop or by “setting the stage” – furniture, open frame, theme-oriented decoration etc.
• Use fun props to loosen your guests up into showing some personality – such as large sunglasses, funny masks, etc. 
• Or, ask your guests to leave a message or a “party yell” by having them write a witty message on a chalk board sign.

2. Keeping the Flow

Ensure the creation of your photo guest book is smooth by following these tips.

• Ask one or more people to be your photo guest book attendant. By having someone responsible for the guest book, you can relax and enjoy your event. And you will be sure to have the treasured wedding keepsake to be created how you like.
• Leave a sign with instructions on the guest book table or nearby so everyone will know what to do.  Chalkboard signs are lots of fun.  You can also print out a sign in large font and place in a decorative frame.
• Set an example.  You and your fiancé can create the first entry to provide an example for the guests to follow.  Or, ask a close friend or family member to create the example.  (If you want your guests to be fun & light-hearted, your example should be this way.)

3. Photos in Book – Messages

The finishing touches are to take Polaroid pictures of your guests. Then, have them attach the picture to the pages and write a message next to the photograph.

• Taking the pictures is easy with a tripod in your “photo booth”.  Or, have the attendant walk around with the camera and book, taking your guests pictures/messages.
• Attaching the photos is easy – use roller tape, photo corners, or other photo album accessories to get the photos on the pages.  Leave these out on the table for your guests to add to the book with plenty of instruction.
• Or, to ensure proper use of space for photos and messages, it can help to place photo corners or photo sleeves in the space you want the photos to go before your event.
  • A fun idea is to put a copied photograph in the photo corners/photo sleeve of you and your fiancé holding a sign saying “your photo goes here,” perhaps wearing with silly glasses.
  • Another idea is to place a stamp, art, etc on the space where you want your quests to put their photo.

Having a photo guest book can be one of the more fun and unifying activities at an event.  And you end up with a keepsake book of your closest loved ones!

Technorati Tags: DIY photo booth, DIY photo guest book, photo guest book, photo guestbooks, polaroid book, polaroid guest books

Silk Dupioni Bow Colors

Embossed Velvet Ribbon Colors

Technorati Tags: book with bow, embossing on velvet, silk dupioni, silk dupioni ribbon, velvet, velvet ribbon

Chocolate Linen - shown on Welcome "Home Guest Book"

Ivory Linen - on In Loving Memory Memorial Sign In Book

Sage Linen - shown with Baby Shower Guest Book

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Pink Linen - shown on Guest Sign In Book

Baby Blue Linen - shown with custom velvet ribbon sash guest book

Slate Grey Linen - shown on blank cover Guest Book

Stone Linen (first book) - shown on Unlined Guest Book

Black Linen (center) - shown on Velvet Custom In Loving Memory Guest Book

Deep Red Linen - shown on Well Wishes Memory Book

White Linen - shown with Silk Dupioni Bow Custom Photo Album

Tan Linen - shown with Chocolate Velvet Sash Guest Book

Midnight Navy Linen - Shown on Guest Book with Photo Frame

Sea Satin - Luminosity slightly shown - Shown on In Loving Memory Memorial Sign In Book

Teal Satin - Luminosity shown - In Loving Memory Memorial Sign In Book

Wine Satin - close up - Shown on Twenty Five Years Guest Book

Onyx Satin - Shown on Guest Sign In Book

Black Leather - shown on Guest Book with Photo Frame

Rich Brown Leather - shown with Memorial Guest Book

White Leather - shown on Corporate Guest Book, 3 ring

Technorati Tags: embossing colors, leather books, linen book cloth, personalization colors, personalized leather, satin colors