Editing photos for a photo book in Photomator is different from editing for a phone screen. Print shows every flaw that a small screen hides: soft focus, noisy shadows and colour casts all become more visible on paper. It also rewards a calmer, more consistent style, because photos sit side by side on a spread and need to feel like they belong together.
Choose fewer, stronger photos
A photo book works best with a tight selection. Choose photos that tell the story of the event or trip, and leave out near-duplicates, even if each one is good on its own. A book with eighty strong photos is far more enjoyable than one with two hundred similar ones. As you choose, look for variety: wide scenes, details and portraits, rather than the same framing repeated.
Edit for print, not for a screen
Screens are backlit, so photos often look brighter on a phone than they will in print. Before finalising a book, check your edits at a lower brightness and on paper if you can. Avoid pushing saturation too far, because print tends to mute colour slightly, while oversaturated skin can look unnatural. Aim for natural skin, clean whites and shadows that still hold detail.
Crop with the page in mind
Photo books use many page shapes, and a photo that works as a wide landscape may be cropped by the book layout. Keep important subjects away from the edges, and leave a little space around faces and hands. If a photo will sit across a fold, check that no face or key detail falls into the centre gutter. Cropping with the final page in mind saves disappointment later.
For export settings that suit print, see best export settings for Photomator photos. For a consistent look across the whole book, how to create a consistent photo editing style in Photomator explains how to keep brightness and colour steady.
Keep colour consistent across spreads
When two photos face each other on a spread, colour differences stand out. Use the same white balance approach for photos taken in the same place and light, and check neighbouring pages together before you export. Small, consistent adjustments matter more here than dramatic individual edits, which can make a spread feel disjointed.
Mistakes to avoid in a photo book
- Including too many similar photos, so the book feels repetitive.
- Editing only on a bright phone screen, then finding prints too dark.
- Cropping faces or hands close to the edge of a page.
- Using very different colour styles on facing pages.
A photo book editing workflow
- Select a tight set of strong, varied photos.
- Apply a consistent, natural edit to the whole set.
- Crop with page shape and folds in mind.
- Check neighbouring pages together for colour.
- Export at high quality and proof a test print if possible.
Done this way, a photo book becomes a lasting record rather than a rushed collection, and the editing effort shows on every page.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many photos should a photo book have?
It depends on the book, but a tight selection is usually better. Eighty strong, varied photos make a better book than two hundred similar ones.
Why do printed photos look darker than on screen?
Screens are backlit, while paper reflects light. Photos edited only on a bright screen can print darker, so check edits at lower brightness before ordering.
Should I use the same style for the whole book?
Yes, broadly. A consistent brightness and colour style helps photos on facing pages feel like one story, even when they were taken in different light.
What resolution do I need for print?
Use the highest quality export your photo allows, and avoid heavy cropping of small photos. Soft or low-resolution photos become more obvious in print.
Can I edit a photo book entirely in Photomator?
Yes, for selection, editing, cropping and export. The book layout itself is usually done in a printing service, but the photos can be fully prepared in Photomator.