When it comes time to impress your clients in choosing their album cover to preserve their precious memories, a simple heirloom photo album just won’t cut it anymore. With the advancement of technology, there are now more options than ever to create a stunning, one-of-a-kind album that will last a lifetime. In this article, we will explore two of these options, acrylic cover and crystal cover albums and go over their differences to help you decide which is best for you and your clients.
What is Acrylic Cover Album?
An acrylic cover album offers a minimalistic solution to those seeking a modern photo presentation. The cover is made of a clear acrylic material to deliver a glossy and high-end look with your option of beveled or seamless edges. The image is printed onto photographic paper and then overlaid by the thick acrylic to create a unique and eye-catching display. This cover type is perfect for showcasing special occasions such as weddings, graduation or family vacations.
Benefits of Acrylic Cover Album
- Durable: The acrylic cover is scratch-resistant and shatterproof, making it a long-lasting option for preserving your memories.
- Customizable: There are two edge options for the acrylic front cover along with cover material of choice from genuine leather, leatherette, linen, or suede & velvet for the back cover. An additional option of the acrylic cover is the cameo feature. The Acrylic Cameo Cover includes three different cameo styles for more options and variety.
- Modern and elegant: The simple addition of a clear acrylic cover introduces sophistication and elevates the album by making it a statement piece in your print packages.
What is Crystal Cover Album?
The crystal cover album is similar to the acrylic cover album by also featuring a clear cover. However, instead of acrylic, the cover is made of anti-scratch glass, giving it a more luxurious and elegant look and feel. The photo is printed onto photographic paper and then mounted on the crystal cover to create a 3D effect. This type of album is recommended for professional photography and life’s big events such as weddings, anniversaries or milestone birthdays.
Benefits of Crystal Cover Album
- High-quality: The crystal cover adds a touch of luxury to the album, showcasing the delicacy and sophistication.
- Unique 3D effect: The photo is mounted onto the crystal cover, creating a 3D effect along with its beveled edge that adds depth and dimension to your album.
- Customizable: Available in multiple sizes and choice of genuine leather, leatherette, linen or suede & velvet back cover material, the crystal cover album can be customized to be an heirloom album for generations to come.
Which One Should You Choose?
Both acrylic cover and crystal cover albums offer a modern and elegant way to display your photos. These are two popular choices for professional photographers when it comes to creating high-quality and visually appealing photo albums for their clients.
If the above descriptions of these two covers are still insufficient to convince you to choose, the following descriptions of their features will help you. Ultimately, the decision will depend on clients’ personal preference and the occasion for which you are creating the album.
Material
Acrylic cover is made of clear, high-quality acrylic material. It provides a premium shine and modern look that brings out the vibrancy of the photo under the cover.
Crystal cover is made of anti-scratch glass. It has better transparency and more elegant appearance, which makes a luxurious impression and is perfect for special occasions and high-end photography.
Weight
Due to the use of material, acrylic cover is slightly lighter in weight than crystal cover. However, both of them are substantial and premium options for you.
Thickness
Acrylic and crystal cover albums both offer a sleek and modern aesthetic. However, different materials require different cutting processes. As a result, the crystal cover is 0.5mm thicker compare to acrylic cover.
Transparency
Although the acrylic cover is transparent and offers a high level of clarity, the crystal cover has a higher degree of transparency due to the properties of glass.
Customization
Back Cover Material Options
Both acrylic and crystal covers can be customized with four types of cover materials: Suede & Velvet, Linen, Genuine leather, Leatherette.
Four types of Back Cover
Suede & Velvet: Suede & Velvet back cover tends to have a smooth, soft texture that embodies elegance and sophistication, making it a popular choice for high-end events or weddings. 16 kinds of choices and rich colors create a visual and sensory pleasure.
Linen: If you appreciate a vintage feel and environmentally sustainable ideas, you can choose a linen back cover. It is made from linen fabric and contains 28 different natural textures. The linen back cover has a classic and rustic look and also provides a unique texture to the album.
Genuine Leather: The genuine leather back cover has a delicate touch, which comes in 18 different colors and textures. It is known for its natural appearance, unique grain pattern, and durability. It offers a premium and luxurious feel, while the texture and scent of genuine leather add to its attraction.
Leatherette: Leatherette is a synthetic material similar to genuine leather, which comes in 25 different textures and colors for you to choose from. Compared to genuine leather, leatherette is more affordable and easier to maintain and clean.
Cameo
Due to the extreme hardness of glass, we cannot cut or chiseled easily the crystal cover. For that reason, only acrylic can be used for the Acrylic Cameo Cover Album, which includes a precision cut acrylic inlay. There are three cameo styles to choose from: Panoramic, Landscape and Center.
Edges
Both acrylic cover and crystal cover albums have the beveled edge, which has a slight bevel or angled cut along the four sides. This adds a distinct and 3D touch to the album cover that can be particularly appealing for clients who value fine details and craftsmanship.
By opting for the acrylic cover album though, there is one more edge option, Seamless. The seamless edge is flat with no bevels, giving the album a clean and modern look. This will be a good alternative for clients who admire minimalism or prefer clean and tidy covers.
Durability
While both acrylic and crystal covers are extremely durable, crystal cover is made of anti-scratch glass. It is more scratch-resistant and less susceptible to damage over time. This durability ensures the album remains in pristine condition for a longer period of time.
In conclusion, acrylic cover and crystal cover albums are both excellent options in a modern and stylish way. Acrylic Cover Album has a glossy and contemporary appearance. While Crystal Cover Album is more classic and conveys a sense of luxury and elegance. Both covers make stunning photo albums with their different customization possibilities. Consider the benefits of each and choose the one that best fits your clients’ needs and style. Whichever one you choose, you will have your beautifully displayed and protected for years to come photos.
FREE PRE-MADE SAMPLE
As a professional photographer, it is vital to impress your clients by letting them look, touch and feel the difference in quality of a professional photo album. Zno offers an unbranded, Free Pre-Made Sample to help you with that. This free 18-page Flush Mount Album is available in 13 cover options. Including acrylic cover and crystal cover and 3 photo themes with each spread a different photo paper type to showcase the 9 print options. By showing this sample to your clients allows them to be involved as part of the album design process and envision their own album to come.
About Zno
Zno is your One-Stop-Shop Print Lab and All-In-One software platform for professional photographers. With premium quality print products and innovative selections, impress your clients with professional printing on high-quality materials. Maximize your profits with maximum customization options and streamline your workflow with our cloud-based editing and easy ordering system. Say goodbye to complexity and hello to simplicity with Zno. Join us today and take your photography business to new heights！
