Making Memories with KIS Photobook Maker at PMA

Scrapbookers and memory harvesters might not always have ten hours and hundreds of dollars to spend on making a photobook for a friend or family member, not to mention most people don't keep book binding equipment laying around the house.

So if you're short on time, money, equipment or all of the above, the KIS Photobook Maker might be a good option for you.

And no, it's not "Kiss," it's K-I-S, and if they get their way, their Photobook Maker kiosk will be in your local mega-retailer or corner pharmacy by this summer. I got a hands-on demonstration of the KIS Photobook Maker at PMA, and I made my own photobook in 10 minutes.

While my taste may be questionable to some when you see my photobook's design, I'm sure you can appreciate the high quality of the product itself. And remember, it took a total of 10 minutes to make it, and that was with KIS Marketing Manager Yan Manissadjian describing the underlying technology and interface. That's enough jibba-jabba from me, check out the step-by-step pics.

Putting my USB stick in the slot. You can see the kiosk supports all commonly used memory card types, even DVDs.



The Photobook Maker automatically detects how your pictures should be oriented. Whether portrait or landscape, the KIS Photobook Maker even aligns them correctly for you, so you don't end up with crooked pictures in your book.



Next I selected my cover picture, in this case the classic, steampunked-out James T. Kirk. It just wouldn't be my photobook otherwise.



Naming my album title and date created. Remember this is all done with a simple touch screen, so it's quick and painless.



The KIS Photobook Maker allows you to select your photobook's theme from their them library, or you can pick one of your own from your memory card.



My 10-page photobook is being created.



Two, ten-page photobooks for under forty dollars? Here's where the KIS Photobook Maker may be a little controversial. I'll take it, and so will other people who are in a hurry or prefer convenience, but for die-hard DIY scrapbookers this may seem pretty steep. Pricing may vary by time of launch.



(about 10 minutes later) What's that noise? It's done!



YEESSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!



Some pics of the interior pages.



The KIS Photobook Maker definitely impressed me. You'll notice the pictures in the book are from different times and different places. The KIS Photobook Maker automatically organized them for me, which is a great time-saver. It truly helps you make a photobook in minutes without the headaches!

Make sure you check back for more PMA 2009 coverage, and if you're into scrapbooking we have a nice collection of Scrapbooking Software Reviews, ready to help you get your photos off your computer and into a real photo album.

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