Printing Layouts: Books vs. Single Sheets

For the longest time I've been debating if I wanted to print all of my layouts in a bound book or print them on single sheets. I have personally decided to print them on single sheets and then place them in plastic protectors and place in a binder. Let me explain why I chose this option.

 

(Photos from Persnickety Prints Website.)

1. Rearrange: If you print your layouts in a bound book you can't ever add any more layouts or rearrange them. There have been plenty of times when I thought I had scrapped all my pictures for a certain time period only to find more pictures hiding away or given to me by a family member. It's nice to be able to rearrange and add or take away layouts.

2. Replace: If a layout in a bound book gets dirty, ripped or something spilt on it you have to re-purchase the whole book again. If you have them in single sheets you can easily just print the damaged page and replace it, saving you time and money.

3. Durable: If you print your layouts at Persnickety Prints*, like I do, the pages are printed on archival quality paper which makes them more water resistant than an ink jet. It would be damaged if you submerged it in water but a few drops of water won't hurt the sheet. It's nice to be able to let your kids look at all of your memories with out being paranoid the whole time. Plus you don't have to worry about wrinkles or fingerprints as much since you have page protectors on each sheet.

4. Extra Photo Sheets: If you print single sheets then you can also have sheets of individual photos behind your layout. I use sheet protectors such as these so I can fit 6 photos on each side. A great way to save space, time & money.

5. Print As You Go: If you print in single sheets you can order the prints as you scrap them. You don't have to wait until the whole book is scrapped. More time to enjoy your printed layouts.

*Just so you know I print my layouts in the 12x12 size and I always print at Persnickety Prints. The cost is about $1.99 per page but sometimes they do sales. You spend so much time creating your layouts that I think it is worth the cost to get them printed at a high quality place that will last a lifetime. They print on the highest quality paper and they print full bleed so you don't have to worry about any of you layout getting cut of when you print it.