Making a Photobook in the UAE: Riot and Picsati

Riot left, Picsati right.  Note the air bubbles in the cover film coating on the Picsati.

I now have a rather large collection of images and wondered how they might look presented in a book.  I also thought it might be helpful to have something to show others who ask about my work without having to worry about the availability of a device or internet connection.

So one fine day in late February I spent perhaps five hours preparing images, investigating various websites, registering, designing, and uploading a 20-page layout.  I ordered identical A5 photobooks from two online services - Picsati and Riot.  Delivery was made within one week from both services.

Seven options

I found seven services available in the UAE through a Google search.

Picsati, Riot, SnaptoShop, and Artisan offer a range of products from the reasonably priced to expensive.  The simplest books start at 100AED.  Middle East Photobook doesn’t offer an online design option. It appears you provide the images and they do the work for you. The other two services offer premium products starting at 250AED.  I would have used SnaptoShop if they didn’t require a 40 page minimum.  Riot, Picsati and Artisan allow for 20

Picsati, SnaptoShop and Artisan offer online, customizable design processes.  Riot requires users to download software and later upload the completed project, whereas you can’t begin work at Picsati until all your images have been uploaded.  22 images (20 pages plus front and back covers) at 300dpi to Picsati took about 30 minutes.

Since I was doing a very simple design of one image per page on white background, I didn’t experiment with the various templates that allow for multiple images per page or the addition of  backgrounds.  The software at all three services seemed reasonably intuitive.  I didn’t have to consult help files, or write or call the help desk apart from getting the files to upload to Riot.  Their help desk responded within minutes by email with the option to save locally and upload through WeTransfer.

Including delivery, the Riot book was 124AED;  Picsati 122AED.

Note Riot's wrap-around cover image extends across the spine

Picsati's textured interior covers

Finer image quality from Riot at left

Picsati's scuffed product as it arrived

The results

The book from Riot is much better for the following reasons.

1. Binding:  As you can see in the images, the Picsati book has a film finish with a couple of unsightly air pockets.  With Riot's wrap-around cover image, text can be added to the spine.
2. Image quality:  Image quality in the Riot book is finer, even with a smaller image size in the Picasti.  The color from Riot is more vibrant;  the Picsati images are darker with less detail.  
3. Quality of product:  Binding appears similar in both, but the Picsati book came with the scuffs and nicks visible in the photo here. 

I will forward copies of this blog post to both services and update here with any replies.

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Picsati
https://www.picsati.com/

Riot
http://www.riotphotobooks.com/

Snap to Shop
https://www.snaptoshop.com/ae/account/mysnap

Middle East Photobook
http://mephotobook.com/

Artisan State
http://www.artisanstate.com/

Cinemalerba
http://cinemalerba.com/photo-books-uae/

Photobook
http://www.photobookemirates.com/

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