Creative Memories photo book (top); Panstoria Photo Book (bottom). Each image is 0.94″x0.70″.
These low-resolution photomicrographs highlight my concern with image quality in Pansotria’s photo books. The Panstoria image has a vertical screening pattern that makes the graininess more apparent than it is with the Creative Memories. The Panstoria photo book is also noticeably darker.
Creative Memories photo book (top); Panstoria Photo Book (bottom). Each image is 0.13″x0.10″
High-resolution photomicrographs show a similar effect. In this case, the dot pattern for the Creative Memories photo book appears significantly more random than the dot pattern for the Panstoria photo book.
Both photo books were printed from the same file.
See Panstoria Photo Book Review for Part 1 of my review.
All About Images Blog 
Wow! Pretty big difference. Hope either panstoria can resolve this or we find someone with better quality. Thank you again Dr. Mark.
My philosophy about memory keeping is a bad photo is better than NO photo, but given what I am learning from you Mark, please don’t make my poor photography skills worst… I want the best quality available when printed. *U* Kathleen
Looking forward to seeing what the New Creative Memories offers in the way of digital photo book printing. I’m certain it will be supurb quality, we just have to be patient until it is rolled out. 🙂
CM has been clear in communicating that the “New Creative Memories” will NOT include any digital photo book printing.
Actually Anne, CM will have digital printing in the future. It just won’t be done through their current programs.
CM has been doing their own printing. No matter what the future brings for their digital program, they will not be printing digital product. It will all be done through some outside source
Whether CM prints directly or indirectly you can bet their quality will be outstanding in the marketplace.
I am deeply concerned about the poor quality of Panstoria printing. Any other options available?
Thanks Mark, very much appreciate your reviews and comments. Two questions:
1.Have you compared CM books with others such as Blurb?
2. What printer does CM and Panstoria use?
Thanks, Larry Rood
1. I have not evaluated Blurb. Information that I have is posted to this blog.
2. CM uses a Kodak Nexpress. Panstoria uses a Xerox iGen4.
Excellent information. Keep in mind, CM is still in negotiations with Panstoria and an unidentified third party regarding the digital business. We may have solutions available to us that will give us the quality CM is known for. I’m going to wait and see before I go looking for a new provider. We need Panstoria to be a part of our solution if we want to continue using StoryBook (Artisan).
Reblogged this on Memories Valued and commented:
Great article for more information about Panstoria’s photo book printing vs Creative Memories photo book printing. This is Part 2.
Panstoria would do well to consult with Dr. Mark so their products will be the best choice available. Thank you Dr. Mark for the information you share with us.
I was hoping that Panstoria quality would be that of what we are accostomed to. I suppose saving our projects as jpgs and uploading to a more reliable source will serve us better. Just need to find a more reliable source.
I didn’t hear anything in today’s CM webinar about CM being involved with digital printing. In fact, the only reference to digital was acknowledging the CM-Panstoria connection. No mention about the digital app that some have been “so excited” about.
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