I received my layout and while I was very happy with the pictures, I was very dissapointed with the layout (I liked 4/15 spreads, the rest were either pasted together on a gray background or rearanged out of order that I put them in).
I want a lot of changes done, not only changing the order of the pictures but also redoing some of the layouts themselves. I am pretty picky and it's so difficult to explain so many changes in words. I'm pretty savy with photoshop, so instead of saying it in words I rearanged the layouts on photoshop the way I like them and added some special effects.
Has anyone else ever redesigned their layout (it looks totally different)? Anyone knows if Duet will be willing to make the album fbased on so many changes - I seriously changed more pages then I kept, and changed them a lot.
ckgmwedding
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Re: Changing Duet layout
I wanted to do what you did(photoshop) but instead I went through it page by page and detailed exactly what I wanted in a word document and sent it. I was not happy with my layout AT ALL- the pictures were laid out all haphazard and it look terrible so I had many changes. I am still waiting to see the changes and this was over a month ago. So I don't know if they really listened and fixed it but I have one more change list that I can make so I hope they did what I asked and not make me write another 10 pages.
RVCBride
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Re: Changing Duet layout
I just received my DUET album layout (re-do) after I made my changes. I thought they did a wonderful job. They had a lot of special effects in the background and I don't think I could have done as good a job.
I did however make two or three changes, and I hope to have my actual album in less than a month. They said 2 months, but I hope that it's shorter than that.
BTW, Do we receive our parent albums when we receive ours???
Steffie05
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Re: Changing Duet layout
When handing in your proofs for Duet , do you tell them that u want some pics in black and white wit some color. Or do they just do all that on there own??
RVCBride
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Re: Changing Duet layout
They did it on their own in my album but I would tell them just to make sure.
I changed about 3/4 of the layout. I went a little crazy but this is what I did... I printed out the layout and cut out each of the pics, taped them on separate pages the way I wanted and copied them and faxed it over to Duet.
Backinneyork
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Re: Changing Duet layout
I changed a bunch of stuff on mine, and sent them a very detailed word doc of all the changes. They did everything I wanted and I should be getting it in a few weeks. Why don't you see if you can have an in person meeting with them? It may make you feel more comfortable and it will be easier to describe in person.
In the first version of my album they also added pictures that I did not send them and I thought that was really annoying bc I hated the pics they added. When asked them about it, they totally denied it and they said we only used the pics you sent us. BS - then why do I have the proofs?? - and why would I pick a picture that I look HIDEOUS in??? HELLO!!!! Why couldnt that have just called me and said - hey, we need 5 more pics, tell us what you want! So annoying!!
David'sbride
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Re: Changing Duet layout
I am making an appt. to go in and change my layout.
After spending hours picking out pictures and sitting in their studio (for 2 hours) explaining in detail what I wanted, in the order I wanted the are SEVERAL mistakes in my layout. I'm getting a traditional album... how hard is it to put the pics in order of the day?... which I did BTW. My pictures are completely out of order. There are also several pictures REPEATED in my layout... the exact same proofs. Why am I eating my cake on one page and then THREE pages later I am cutting it?
I was really annoyed because I spent a long time putting pictures in order and writing down exactly how I wanted some in B/W etc. and it wasn't followed.
Sorry for the vent but why did I do all of that work in the first place for such obvious mistakes.
David'sbride
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Re: Changing Duet layout
Posted by diamondgrlie
I changed about 3/4 of the layout. I went a little crazy but this is what I did... I printed out the layout and cut out each of the pics, taped them on separate pages the way I wanted and copied them and faxed it over to Duet.
This sounds like a GREAT idea!!
Make sure you keep a copy for yourself in case there is another problem.
Steffie05
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Re: Changing Duet layout
In everybodies album that is done did they do a couple of pics that are black and white and have some color addred to them. Or some Speia pics (the old fashion look to it) I am going Sat to drop off my proofs and I jsut to make sure I am doing it all right.
jbride2b
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Re: Changing Duet layout
Posted by David'sbride
Posted by diamondgrlie
I changed about 3/4 of the layout. I went a little crazy but this is what I did... I printed out the layout and cut out each of the pics, taped them on separate pages the way I wanted and copied them and faxed it over to Duet.
This sounds like a GREAT idea!!
Make sure you keep a copy for yourself in case there is another problem.
This does sound great! And if this was OK, hopefully the photoshoped version should be acceptable.
I did not have any special effects in my layout except some bluring of the edges on a few pictures (I did not specifically ask for any effects, but I was hoping they would do it themselves - or at least not have gray backgrounds). Nor did I have any sepia pictures. The only black and white ones were the original black and white ones I handed in.
I think it really depends on your editor. I looked through some of the past brides' albums, and there seem to be a few editors that just make amazing albums with effects and all, and some that just throw the pictures together based on color and not theme (instead of playing with the colors to make them fit).
So unless you get one of the better editors, I would advise anyone who wants any specific special color works done to be explicit with which pictures and what should be done - they are pretty good at carrying out what you specifically ask for.
jcdesignz
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Member since
Re: Changing Duet layout
i had a similar experience with my duet layout ---- i received the orriginal layout and was sooooo disappointed in it - i am a graphic designer though and redid the layout to what i wanted - emailed thyem the jpgs of the pages and they redid everything that i wanted done.... and they never said anything negative about it...... and my album came out beutifully - and i get to say i designed it mostly myself!!!!
i still have not sent them my changes from their first layout. I'm dissapointed in much of it (people cut off in pictures, corners of pictures jutting into my face on portrait pic, pics I chose not in there...) and don't quite know how to word changing it. This thread has given me some gret ideas nd inspired me to just deal with it.
tann22
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Re: Changing Duet layout
Wow after reading all these posts I'm a little nervous to see how mine comes out. I should be getting it in a couple of weeks.
Nautical bride
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Re: Changing Duet layout
I just got my first layout from Duet and like many of you, am VERY disappointed. I think I like 2-3 of the pages and want to change the rest. I don't feel they put much effort into making the layouts visually interesting or creative. Also, they DID add in pics that I did not send them. Maybe the editor felt he needed more to work with, even though I gave them more pics than the # requested. Unfortunately, I don't like the proofs he picked so I am going to add others.
I feel that perhaps Duet has been over-advertised on this site. I am not saying they are a bad company, and in fact I have been very happy with their customer service so far, but maybe they are not as worth the 'hype' anymore. Any thoughts?
charityhope
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Re: Changing Duet layout
I feel like they got so popular that they became overwheled and customer service has suffered.
I haven't dropped off my proofs yet, but I wasn't thrilled with my video or the way they responded to my issues. I wrote a detailed e-mail about my video concerns and was told that I needed to make an appointment to discuss them with one of the editors in person.
When I got to the meeting, the person had never seen my list of concerns before. I handed him a copy, thinking that it would be the starting point for a conversation. Instead, he said, 'Oh great, that's all I need. I'll get back to you,' and that was the end of the meeting-- a grand total of five minutes. I was really disappointed, b/c I wanted to talk about specifics-- find out if there's a reason things were done a certain way; make sure that they know which parts we really like, so they don't cut the good stuff in an effort to squeeze other things in, etc.
I wrote to Sue and said that I was a little frustrated that I took off work to simply hand the person a list that she had for at least a week before the meeting and then walk out without any answers. She never replied to my e-mail, and now, months later, the editor still hasn't gotten back to me.
Don't get me wrong, my video isn't bad-- no horror stories about missing big moments or anything like that-- but I think it could be better. And there are a few things that I would have liked to have on the video that I'm hoping are somewhere to be found on the raw footage. If they're not there, life will go on, but it would have been nice if someone at least took the time to explain that to me. At this point, I am resigned to the fact that the edited video is what it is.
Long short, I think they've taken on a lot and are finding it hard to continue providing the kind of personal attention they did in the past.
charityhope
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Re: Changing Duet layout
After my rant, I realized that I forgot to ask a question. Do you get the proofs back that you selected for the album? Those are obviously our favorite pics, so I don't want to lose the 4x6s forever. If Duet keeps them, then I want to scan them in before I part with them.
Steffie05
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Re: Changing Duet layout
When I went on Saturday to drop off my proofs I asked if I will get them back when I get my album and they told me yes we would.
angelbear217
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Re: Changing Duet layout
I just sent my changes to them and have not received a reply as to if they understand what we wanted redone. They buried the father/daughter dance picture on the last page almost last pic. For such an important part of the reception, I felt it should have stood out.
I am sorry that all of you are so disappointed with your layouts. I hope you all get what you want.
