For several years now, I've published a calendar of images made during a prior calendar year, selecting one from each of the months they represent in the calendar. At first, just a few were printed, growing to around a dozen so I would have some to give away as family Christmas gifts. Eventually I ordered more to have some that I could sell here and there. This year`s order of only 25 is over half spoken for by family and one client.
Here is a collage of the 2018 version.
First I used Black's (now defunct) online service to publish and print, moving to a service in France for one year (didn't like the European paper sizing) and for the last couple of years, Vistaprint has been the choice.
Selecting the image is always a trip down memory lane. Even though the images have been from that latest full year past, as I look through the catalogue, I`m reminded of so may good times and even find some "gems in the rough" to work on later. Many images are not suitable for selection because of the horizontal format I select for the finished product and every year I think of switching to vertical orientation ... but again, not this year.
For the Vistaprint service, I prepare each processed image and size it in preparation for addition of a custom coloured border-background. I then add my signature template and copyright notice, title the image with location it was made. The addition of location was a request made by several who have had the calendar in the past. The process is the same for each image so I created a Photoshop action to take care of the repetition, though each year I tweak things a bit.
Final Note: Last year, I made the mistake of not proofing all of the calendars as soon as I received them and there was a problem with streaking on some images, but I'm gonna give Vistaprint another go, keep my fingers crossed and check them thoroughly when they arrive..
DJE
