"Periodicals" is a mobile application for printing pictures, postcards and photo books. "Periodika" - a mobile application for printing pictures, postcards and photo books What equipment do we use

How did the idea come about

Varya Vedeneeva worked as a photo editor, producer, was the creative director of Trends Brands, and in 2013, together with her partner, the Picls project was an agency that conducted shooting for online stores. She says that she has always paid special attention to photography and visual content in general.

Varya was inspired to create a new project by the spirit of the times: the media are going digital, and society is striving for contactless technologies. The faster the progress, the more people want to feel what is happening. Therefore, giving a person the opportunity to turn their memories into a beautiful book seemed like a good idea. So there was a "Periodika" - mobile app, in which the user can make a photo book, postcards, or just a set of square pictures from their photos.

Varya does not hide the fact that she found analogues abroad and used them more than once - however, with the shipment it turned out to be expensive and long. Therefore, a similar project in Russia seemed in demand.

How the mobile application "Periodika" was launched

With her idea, Varya came to her friend Oleg Stavitsky, the founder of Vice III and the Bubl game application, who supported the idea and promised to connect it with the Impulce VC venture fund, with which he had already dealt. The fund has agreed to invest in the app. This was influenced by several factors at once: firstly, similar projects worked successfully in the West, and secondly, Stavitsky recommended Varya.

Together they developed a business plan and a financial model, according to which the project will develop. The launch took four months and 2.5 million rubles. This money was spent on the development of the application, layouts, server side, website, logo and corporate font.

It took a week to come up with a name for the app. It was important for Varya that it be in Russian, but if successful and enter the foreign market, it would be easy to translate it into English. As a result, we settled on Periodic.

We also paid a lot of attention to the font: we wanted it to be recognizable and non-standard. We reviewed hundreds of type designers, and as a result, settled on the version of Roman Gornitsky, the former art director of the Afisha magazine. The main expense was the development of the application - Oleg's Vice III company is responsible for it as a contractor. It took about three months, testing took the same amount.

Finding a printing house for Periodicals, despite Vari's previous experience, was difficult. As a result, they chose the one that met the requirements: quality, efficiency and the presence of taste among employees - so that they did not have to explain for a long time what "Periodika" required. All products are printed in Moscow, on eco-paper without mother-of-pearl: it turned out that most of the design paper is with glitter. Working on the startup took all of Varina's time, so she decided to sell her stake in Picls and devote herself entirely to the new project.

How to make an order

Periodicals now has three products: a set of square photographs (20 pieces, 990 rubles), an edition of postcards (20 pieces, 990 rubles) and a photo book (40 pages, 1490 rubles).

Each product contains templates, so the user can only substitute their own photos. The interface was deliberately made extremely simple so that even a person who has never dealt with design can cope with this task. Nevertheless, in new versions they are going to further simplify and improve it, taking into account the suggestions coming from users.

In one or two days, the courier brings to the customer finished product- while payment is made in cash, but soon it will be possible to pay by card. Photobooks are delivered in two days, as they need to dry after printing.

Team

The Periodica team is tiny in terms of business scale: in addition to Varya, two more assistants work in the project to help with order processing and promotions. All other employees - development and logistics - are outsourced. This model allows you to save money.

The project aims at full automation of production. The user in the application creates his own product on his own, and the order is automatically sent to the server. From there, all collected orders go to print every morning. In the evening Courier company picks up finished products V sorting center, from where it sends them to customers throughout Russia.

Promotion and launch

In late November - early December 2015, the application began to work in test mode. First of all, Periodika contacted photo communities, bloggers, photographers and everyone who actively shoots, and gave them access to beta testing. Many of them wrote about own experience V in social networks- so the first clients came to the project. In addition, the launch on New Year's Eve played into the hands: many chose photobooks as a gift for their loved ones. In total, during the existence of the project, Periodica has exceeded one thousand orders.

Plans

Now "Periodika" is preparing version 2.0 with a new product line: you can also order stickers, posters and notepads. In the near future the company will introduce payment bank cards, which will reduce the cost of delivery to other cities and will attract customers from Ukraine, Belarus and the countries of the former CIS.

”, which allows you to print a set of 20 square photos, an edition of postcards in which you can add your own text, or a photo book based on ready template layout. Passing the microphone.

My name is Varya Vedeneeva, I am 27 years old. I have devoted ten years to photography, fashion, marketing and project management. She spent the last five of them at Trends Brands as a creative director and co-founder of a photography production company that specializes in shooting products for online stores.

A year ago, I met the Impulse VC venture fund. I received an offer to make a project at the intersection of photography and ecommerce based on a mobile application - and I agreed. How can you refuse again and go through the startup stage again when you feel like a sad Keanu every day?

Product and development

In May 2015, we started developing the application, and at the end of September, we started testing it. The launch took place in December in the best traditions of Lean startups. We assembled an MVP with a simple product line, studied the behavior of users inside the application, their wishes, and decided to eliminate the roughness in the next version.

An important trend in products is to think for the user and give him turnkey solution instead of a wide selection. I am baffled by the abundance of backgrounds, fonts, cover types, paper, and other design options in print services. We went from the opposite: our main task was to make a product with already verified dimensions, paper and templates, so that the user would only have to substitute photos and wait for the courier.

"Periodicals" is a mobile application, a digital object, but we carry a very tangible message. Our product is about tactile sensations, nostalgia, "lamplikeness".

We print photo books, postcards and pictures, so we carefully approached the development of the product and the first impressions of the user. The product layouts were made by the magazine's designer. Pictures are printed on paper that is pleasant to hold in your hands. We are currently developing packaging.

There are five people working remotely in the team who do their job perfectly. All processes - development, printing, logistics, partly promotion - we outsourced.

Promotion and plans

Good memories in a stylish gray fabric hardcover. The endpapers are made of gray design paper to match the cover, the pages are made of thick matte paper, and a layer of translucent tracing paper is laid at the beginning and end of the book. To make it easier to store the book, we pack it in a thick envelope with a photo (think about which one is better to choose). Envelope uses elegant design paper with "shell" embossing with a density of 320 g/m², for pages - matte paper with a density of 135 g/m².

We can additionally pack any book in a stylish gift box.

Preparing for printing

Photos may be darker when printed than when viewed on a phone or laptop. Turn down the screen brightness by 30-50% to present the photo in print.

Photos must have a color profile sRGB

Print quality

We print digital offset. This method allows you to print even one book in magazine quality. Pick up an Esquire or Kinfolk magazine with nice matte pages and familiar 10x15 photos. So you will clearly see the difference between digital and photo printing.

Our printing house prints on HP Indigo 7600. This is a professional typewriter the size of a gazelle. We have automated all processes to keep your pictures private.

Delivery

All our products are free Express delivery. Check if we deliver to your city.

What is digital printing?

Almost everything that is now at your fingertips is printed in digital: booklets, brochures, niche magazines. Glossy magazines are printed in offset because of the large circulation.

We use professional equipment, but we do not want to exceed your expectations.

When printed, photos will never look as bright and saturated as on a phone screen: paper does not glow, and printing has its limitations.

The printed image consists of dots or screen. The raster size is fixed and cannot be made smaller.

Therefore, we observe an important rule: the smaller the subject in the frame, the less clear it will be. A group portrait, where everyone's small faces will not come out clear, and a large portrait will turn out perfectly in print.

There will always be color distortion, because everyone has different monitor and screen settings. If you are faced with the task of printing photographs with a perfect color match, then it is better to contact a photo lab, where you can pre-print images and print out color proofs.

The number can be printed on designer papers, and with the usual photo printing only on photo paper. For us, tactile sensations, the density of pages, their certain craftiness are important.

What equipment do we use?

Our printing house prints on HP Indigo 7600. This is a professional printing machine the size of a GAZelle. We have automated all processes to keep your pictures private.

How will the print look like?

Photos may be darker when printed than when viewed on a phone or laptop. Turn down the screen brightness to 50% to present the photo in print.

What are your photo requirements?

We print images in the sRBG color profile.

If you are shooting on your phone, process your photos in VSCO cam, this application will automatically set the color profile to sRGB.

If you are printing photographs taken with a camera, check with the photographer for a color profile, check that they are not oversharpened. Do not upload heavy photos, resize 2500-3000 px using the same VSCO cam.

Photos against the sun, window, sky or other light source will turn out darker in print, it is better to either brighten them or not print them.

The smaller the object in the photo, the less sharp it will come out.
Remember that no printing equipment can match the brightness of a retina screen.

Order

How to make an order?

All orders are placed through the Periodika application for iOS or Android devices, as well as on the website from a computer. To order use latest versions browsers Chrome, Firefox, Opera or Safari. You can check which version you are using by following this link.

You create the layout of the photobook yourself and send it to print in one click. Photos in the book can be arranged in different ways, choosing from templates for pages and covers. You can add text to pages and covers.

When placing an order, check if your email address is correct: notifications about the order status will be sent to it

How to pay?

Cash to the courier or by card through Yandex.Cashier.

When placing an order, choose a convenient payment method for you. A letter with a link to payment (or confirmation of the order) is sent to the specified mail. After successful payment, you will receive an email confirming payment for the order from us and a receipt from Yandex.Checkout.

How to know the status of an order?

We send order status alerts via email and SMS. After placing an order, you will receive an SMS and a letter. After payment or confirmation - a notification letter from us and a receipt from Yandex.Checkout.

Orders go to print on weekdays at 10.00. You will receive a corresponding letter and SMS notification about this.

Another letter and SMS will come when the order is transferred to the courier service - they will indicate her contacts.

What to do if the order through the application did not go?

• First, check if you are using the latest version of the app. If not, update the application - and everything will work.
• Perhaps the fact is that the phone has run out of space.
  When you upload photos to the application, the pictures are saved again - and their weight is doubled.
  When creating the layout, the phone should have at least 800 megabytes in reserve, and 1 gigabyte is better.
• Sometimes the app doesn't load all the photos.
  To check if everything has loaded, try closing the application completely. It is necessary not only to exit it, but to press the Home button twice, and when a line with all programs comes out at the bottom, click on the cross. Now open the app again - your order is still in the cart. Open the layout and see if all the photos are in place.
• If that doesn't help, close the app (the layout will be saved), then open it again, go to the trash and click on the pencil icon (layout editing), which is located next to the trash icon. When the layout opens, scroll through it, click on the photos, and then try to place an order again.

Can I change my order?

If you haven't checked out yet and are in your shopping cart, open your shopping cart by clicking on the pencil icon - this will take you back to the original layout. If the order is already placed, we will not be able to change it, but we will help you cancel so that you can create a new one.

When will I get my order?

Paid and confirmed orders are submitted for printing every working day at 10.00.
Calendars are printed 1 business day.
Paperback photobooks - 2 working days.
Hardcover photobooks –– 2 working days.
These times do not include delivery.
Delivery in Moscow and Moscow Region usually takes 1-2 business days, to other regions - from 3 business days. We value quality very much and carefully observe the production technology. Please plan your orders in advance.

Can I print my order faster?

Unfortunately no.
These are the minimum terms that are required for printing and delivery of the order.

What does the packaging look like?

Our cardboard box, although cute, still serves as a transport package, so there may be traces of transportation on it. On reverse side boxes, we glue an envelope into which we put a ticket with an order number. This is done at the request of the delivery service - with such an envelope your order will not be lost and will be delivered within the specified time.

On demand transport company cardboard boxes are packed with adhesive tape.

For photobooks, we have a beautiful gift box, you can add it to your order in the shopping cart.

Delivery

When will my order be delivered?

In the notification letters, we indicate the estimated delivery date. In a letter called "The order has been transferred to the courier service" you will receive a link to track the order and contacts courier service, they can be contacted promptly for all delivery issues.

Note: Courier delivery is carried out only on weekdays.

Can I pick up my order myself?

Yes. When placing an order, you will be given the opportunity to specify pickup, you only need to select a city and a convenient address of the point. The date of delivery of your order to the pickup point will be specified at checkout and also in all our notifications. As soon as the order arrives at the pickup point, you will receive an SMS with the address, opening hours of the point and the date until which the order can be picked up.

How much does shipping cost?

Our delivery is free and carried out by courier directly to your door.

I do not live in Moscow. How is delivery in other cities?

How is the delivery?

On the day of delivery, you will receive an SMS notification with the courier's contacts. An hour before delivery, the courier will additionally contact you.

The letter titled “Order transferred to the courier service” contains a link to track the order, as well as the contacts of the courier service so that you can always contact them and clarify the status of the order.

Delivery is free and delivered to your door.

Please note that we only deliver on weekdays.

We use matte lamination for the cover of this photo book - it looks stylish and will keep your memories for a long time. The pages are printed on 135 g/m² matte paper.

We can additionally pack any book in a stylish gift box.

Preparing for printing

Photos may be darker when printed than when viewed on a phone or laptop. Turn down the screen brightness by 30-50% to present the photo in print.

Photos must have a color profile sRGB

Print quality

We print digital offset. This method allows you to print even one book in magazine quality. Pick up an Esquire or Kinfolk magazine with nice matte pages and familiar 10x15 photos. So you will clearly see the difference between digital and photo printing.

Our printing house prints on HP Indigo 7600. This is a professional printing machine the size of a GAZelle. We have automated all processes to keep your pictures private.

Delivery

Free courier delivery is available for all our products. Check if we deliver to your city.