Frequently Asked Questions


Where is West Coast Albums located?

We have our studio in Los Angeles, California.

Do you ship albums to customers?

Yes, we ship UPS ground nationwide. You are also welcome to come to WCA for pick-up.

How long has West Coast Albums been in business?

WCA has been printing and producing custom handmade albums for over 16 years in the Southern California area. We recently changed our company name to West Coast Albums. Mostly, we have served our local photography community. After many years of developing our style and techniques, we decided to expand nationwide providing the same custom artistic quality to our customers throughout the country.

Do your album prices include print and binding?

Yes, absolutely.

What are your methods of payment?

Credit card or PayPal.

How many different album sizes do you make?

We currently produce over 25 different size albums. Please contact us for our album price sheet.

Are Studio Sample Albums discounted?

Yes, studio sample albums are discounted 50%.

Does WCA provide album cover swatch samples?

Yes. We provide swatches for all of our album cover materials (fabric, leatherette and leather). The cost is $20 which includes shipping for new WCA customers. It is refunded on the first album order. Click here to order swatch cards.

What is your turnaround time?

Our normal turnaround time is 3 weeks. It's important to note that once we receive all your files, we double check everything. If there are any discrepancies or problems regarding the order, we will bring these to your attention for correction or approval before we begin production.

How are my files transferred to West Coast Albums?

The best way is through our FTP service. Or, if you wish, you can mail a CD.

How do you like your files prepared?

We like full resolution jpeg files (flattened). It's also important to note that our printers run at 320dpi. Example: If you are sending in full spreads for a 12x12 album, your finished spreads should be 24x12 @320dpi. For a single page right start album, it would then be 12x12 @320dpi.

What color profile do you recommend?

sRGB is the best color profile for photographic printing.

Can I send full spreads or do I have to cut my spreads into separate pages?

Full spreads are fine as noted above. Please be aware of the center cut line and avoid people's heads, etc.

Do you do the center page fold over page procedure?

No. We have a very tight center gutter. Over time, the center fold over page will crack and discolor. It's a faster, cheaper process to mount the one page and fold it over as opposed to cutting the spread and mounting the 2 halves correctly. In the long run, mounting the two pages with a tight gutter is the best way to go.

Do you color correct my files?

We do apply a slight color and density correction to help the printing process.

How do I calibrate my monitor?

Please calibrate your monitor professionally. There are a number of products that do this for you including Spyder Data Color, Eye-One and ColorMunki. Once calibrated, send us 3 8x10's (skin tones are best) so we can see your color profile. It will make everything so much better for you in the long run. It's also very important to initially get a good white balance "in camera." It is recommended not to oversaturate your colors in PS.