Rating: 
Summary: Doesn't always work with HP OfficeJet 600
Review: After my first calender turned out really nice, I ordered 10 more sets. But after two sets the prints became fuzzy. Results with different papers were much better. Finally I replaced the Ink cartridge of my OfficeJet 600 (although the old one wasn't empty yet). That improved the quality a lot. I hope things don't turn worse again.
Rating: 
Summary: If you want to make a calendar this is the only way to go!
Review: For four years we've been producing family calendars for Christmas gifts. The first year we let Kinko's do it all for us. That was easy but you only get 1 photo per month with no graphics or other frills. The second year we found some matte/flat paper and printed things on the computer and let Kinko's bind it for us. That was the worst of both worlds and finding that paper again is impossible.Last year I found these kits and bought one with the software. The software wasn't too helpful to me (being the control freak that I am) but the kit itself it wonderful! 15 pages for the calendar, clear plastic or blue paper covers, and a binding. It is literally the perfect set of supplies for this type of project. I used 5 kits last year and may use even more this time. After all, once you get the design down why not make a lot! I use Calendar Creator and MS Publisher to make the calendar and photo displays. You could use their software if you want. Either way, the paper, covers, and binding in this package are the only way to make calendars with your printer. I highly recommend this to anyone. I've tried the alternatives and this is the best!
Rating:
Summary: If you want to make a calendar this is the only way to go!
Review: For four years we've been producing family calendars for Christmas gifts. The first year we let Kinko's do it all for us. That was easy but you only get 1 photo per month with no graphics or other frills. The second year we found some matte/flat paper and printed things on the computer and let Kinko's bind it for us. That was the worst of both worlds and finding that paper again is impossible. Last year I found these kits and bought one with the software. The software wasn't too helpful to me (being the control freak that I am) but the kit itself it wonderful! 15 pages for the calendar, clear plastic or blue paper covers, and a binding. It is literally the perfect set of supplies for this type of project. I used 5 kits last year and may use even more this time. After all, once you get the design down why not make a lot! I use Calendar Creator and MS Publisher to make the calendar and photo displays. You could use their software if you want. Either way, the paper, covers, and binding in this package are the only way to make calendars with your printer. I highly recommend this to anyone. I've tried the alternatives and this is the best!
Rating:
Summary: photo calendar kit - great gift idea
Review: Great gift - all ready for pictures and printing.
Everything you need for project.
Rating:
Summary: A Fantastic Gift Item!
Review: I bought 6 of these last year and made them into Christmas gifts for my family. They were a BIG hit!! The kits are extremely easy to use and you get extra paper in case you goof. I am planning on buying even more this year for Christmas gifts. I used to buy photo calenders through the mail and this is a LOT easier, faster and CHEAPER than that. (Plus, the results are just as good if not better)!
Rating:
Summary: Best Bang for the Buck!
Review: I bought this specific product while browsing in my local office supply store quite awhile ago.(The kit with included software is available but costs more!) I finally pulled it out to make a calendar for my mother's birthday (Jan 8). First, I was pleased with the contents, they give you everything you need and more to do a 12 month, high quality calendar, in a variety of ways. There are sufficient instructions for those with a bit of experience with an inkjet printer. If you're new to this follow the suggestion and print up samples at a low resolution or b&w and on cheap paper. (My personal opinion: whenever there is a problem with the project - the fault usually lies with the printer and or user (me!).) I have a Lexmark Z51. I love my printer and this kit was a perfect fit. My printer has a "drying time" setting and I use it on photo type papers. I used the Hallmark Deluxe Card Studio to print all the monthly data because it allows you to add personalized "special days" as well as pick which "national" holidays you want displayed; it also shows miniature prior and future months on the page. I then loaded up all the matte sided pages and printed all 12 months in one sitting, at 600 dpi resolution. I was impressed. Then I went to MS Publisher to print the photos. (I had already composed them using MS PictureIT Publishing 2001. This is what takes the time!) I set up the page layout and just loaded each JPG file and sent it to the printer in the appropriate order. You need 13 sheets to do a 12 month calendar. They give you extras in case you make a mistake. I didn't, so I actually had enough to print a full page 12 month calendar for 2002 and 2003! (I used PrintShop Deluxe 11.0 to do this!) After assembling the calendar, I discovered the 2 sticker pages. I printed up little moon phases clip art, birthday cakes, etc., cut them out and added them to the appropriate blocks on the calendars. I used the solid blue sheets (included in the kit) as a cover and back cover. I then printed up a photo of my mom when she was a kid on the sticker paper and cut it out and stuck it on the cover! She was impressed with the results and I was so pleased with the product that I immediately bought two more.
Rating:
Summary: Not for those who need their hand held
Review: I bought three of these calendar kits in November of 2000 and gave them as Xmas presents when completed. The kit contains heavyweight paper for the cover(s) and 15 pages with glossy paper on one side and matte on the other. The glossy side means your photos can be printed at the highest photo-quality setting of your printer, and the matte side (for the month's grid of days) permits easy writing. That is the major draw of the kit. If there is a glossy/matte printable paper out there, I don't know of it (a trip to Kinkos would take care of the binding). The pages are pre-cut with a hole to hang the thing from and holes for the plastic binder. Two clear plastic covers are included, as well as two sheets of sticker paper, to print stickers for placement on the finished calendar. I didn't use them. I have considerable, but non-professional, computer experience, and I found the calendar kit to be a good experience. I composed a calendar of our two daughters, with 12 monthly photos and a cover photo. I used 3.3 Mega-pixel digital images from my new Sony S-70 digital camera at full resolution, and included them at 8"x10" size. High quality images are a must for good results. After constructing the January graphics, I simply altered it for the other months. In total, you need 12 month grids, 12 month photos, cover photo or graphic, and rear cover graphic (if desired). A couple of caveats. First, large photos, particularly dark ones, chew up printer ink. Be prepared to feed your printer ink cartridges. Try to use photos without a lot of dark background, or consider smaller sizes. I decided to pass up on a beautiful photo of a Halloween pumpkin that had an extensive black background. Secondly, I had some difficulty getting the paper to feed into my HP 722 smoothly. I think the printer may not be used to feeding paper with the glossy side DOWN, as is required to print on the matte side. As a result, the printing was tricky, I lost a couple of pages (you get three extra), and it took a lot of time. The large photos, as usual, take a long time to print. I don't recommend doing more than a couple of kits in a short period. Let the relatives compete for your affections. Finally, the heavyweight covers are very nice, but one side is matte white and the other is DARK BLUE (Argh! They should change that, and make one white/white, for the front cover/January). I used one for December/back cover (the "copyright" on the blue side), but used a glossy/matte month page for the front cover/January, with a clear cover on top of it. One less screw-up possible, then. If you need software to compose your calendar, they offer an "Invent It! Photo Calendar Plus" version that includes the software. I used my own Corel Print House program, so I can't comment upon the "Plus" version. The results? My mother-in-law said it was "the best present she had ever received," and my Dad said that one of the pictures of our older daughter "brought a tear to his eye." Enough said.
Rating:
Summary: Easy to use
Review: I found these after I couldn't find the hp kit I usually used every year. This is the first time I actually used it and I am so amazed at how easy it was to assemble and print out. I have had so many problems with the other kits I purchased, the time it took with other kits was about 3-4 days total, but this one was completed in 2 days! I am definitely going to use this one again.
Rating:
Summary: The only way to print a custom calendar!
Review: I have made family calendars as Xmas gifts for 6 years now. I have experimented with every kind of paper imaginable. I found this kit last year, and all 18 families that received the calendar agreed that this is the best ever! The best feature is you have glossy photos on one side and the matte finish on the other that allows you to write on the calendar. Absolutely the only way to print a beautiful, usable calendar.
Rating:
Summary: Best Kit Yet
Review: I have used these kits for the last two years to make Christmas gifts for my family. I've made 20 calendars. Last year I took pictures of everyone in my family with my digital camera and made calendars with everyone's birthday & anniversary included. I used Hallmark Scrapbook for putting the pictures together and MSPub for the dates. This year I used my scanner and scanned in baby pictures of everyone. The kit is so easy to use and the pages are high quality for printing photos from both camera & scanner and I haven't noticed any fading. The only downfall I found is that the binding slips off if not handled carefully. Making your own calendars is easy and much less expensive than Kinkos or other photo developers. It is a wonderful gift from the heart and becomes a keepsake for years to come. I haven't found another kit that compares. I know I will be ordering more for next year.
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