How to make a PhotoBook

Written By Nancy Lehrer

My friend described this method as “making photobooks with your printer and art that you learned in 2nd grade”. I learned of this approach from a UK photographer Paul Treacy. You may want to watch his video tutorial and follow @treacyphoto on Instagram to show appreciation for his work. Paul uses A4 paper, which is a bit taller and narrower that US Letter. The description I have here is for US Letter at 8 ½” x 11”.

Here is how it goes. You’ll want to make it better than you did when you were in 2nd grade.

Materials

  • Letter sized (8 ½” x 11”) matte photo paper - one-sided

  • ¾”  - 1” wide acid free tape

  • Double-sided tape (acid free) or permanent glue stick

  • Cardstock - for covers

Tools

  • Self healing cutting mat

  • Ruler

  • 9mm utility knife or Exacto

  • Bone folder

  • Pencil

  • Printer

  • Simple (or complex) layout program: LightRoom, Photoshop, Elements, Pages (on Mac), Affinity Publisher, Adobe InDesign

Printing and Preparing for Construction

  • Print image two per page with the following dimensions as shown.

  • Cut each printed page in half at 5 ½”

  • Fold each ½ page down the center and crease with a bone folder.

  • Stack folded pages and press under a something heavy several minutes to secure the fold.

  • Prepare tape into ~5 ¼” strips and cut  lengthwise down the middle (see Hints below).

  • (Optional) Design and print end-papers cut to the same size as each book page (8 ½” x 5 ½”).

  • Design and make two book covers a bit larger than the folded page. Cover size is ~ 4 ½” x 5 ¾” . (There are many videos on YouTube showing the technique. You can cover card stock with a print made on the same Matte Photo paper as used in the book.) 

Construction Process

  • Check that your images are in the correct order!

  • Tape the edges of prints together to create a long accordion.

  • (Optional) Attach end-papers each end of the accordion.

  • Prepare tape for hinges, ~¾” long (see Hints below).

  • Apply hinges along the spine alternating inner and outer hinges (see Hints below).

  • Attach covers to the back side of the front and back end-papers using double-sided tape or glue stick. (Note, if not using end-papers, attach to the back side of the first and last image page.)

Cautions

  • Practice cutting and folding paper.

  • Make prototypes on cheap paper.

  • Be prepared to make mistakes.

Hints

Applying the Hinges

  • Add a set of outer hinges to the last fold on the spine.

  • Add a set of inner hinges to the second to last fold on the spine.

  • Tape the outer hinges over the second to last fold.

  • Repeat alternating the addition and taping of outer and inner hinges one fold at a time.

Working with ABACA.SA Tape

  • Cut the tape into strips that are some multiple longer than needed.

  • Lightly score the strip at the desired length and width, cutting through just the tape and not the backing.

  • Bend at the score and peel back as needed.

Resources and Materials

Nancy Lehrer
Next

My journey to a handmade photo book