Saal Digital photo book review: a simple way to get your best images off your hard drive and into a classy photo book

Amateur Photographer's verdict highlights Saal Digital's photo book creation service as an intuitive and classy option. The process is simple with on-screen prompts and advice, offering a wide range of options, finishes, and materials. However, silk or gloss pages are slightly more expensive than matte. Occasional error messages may occur during book creation.

For the author's first book with Saal Digital, Japan was the chosen subject due to their partner being Japanese and frequent visits. The review focuses on the Professional Line Photo Book, which is compatible with Mac and Windows operating systems. The service operates from Germany and ships worldwide, including to the UK and USA.

The author started by selecting the Professional Line Photo Book with a 40x30cm maximum size, opting for a matte paper finish to keep costs lower. Cover options include acrylic or leatherette, with a choice of silk, matte, or gloss pages. Turnaround time is approximately five days, including shipping.

The Professional Line Photo Book uses Fuji's Crystal Archive 368 g/m² paper, a standard choice for professional labs. This paper ensures high-quality images with no loss of detail when stretching photos over double-page spreads. Saal Digital also ensures no manufacturer logos are present on the product, making it suitable for professionals who want their images and services to stand out.

The author selected a non-Japanese font for the cover, adjusting its size, width, and depth as needed. The template software is user-friendly, allowing for quick adjustments and changes before finalizing the design. The 40x30cm book provides a 4:3 image ratio, matching the author's digital files perfectly. Images can be uploaded directly from a computer and resized as needed, with the software warning users if the images are not of sufficient quality.