THE TRANSITION FROM PHOTO ALBUMS TO PHOTO BOOKS

During the colour film era, most colour labs handed over a free album which would accommodate prints from one roll of film (36 prints).

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There were times when two to three film rolls would be used on a given vacation or a function. In this case, people would buy a spiral bound album that accommodated more than 36 prints. When photographs did not conform to just one size, say 4x6 or 5x7 inches but were a mix, then instead of a photo insert type of album with fixed pockets, a self-adhesive type of album was preferred where a photo collage could be made. This was probably the beginning of the photo book concept which eventually resulted in the photo paper itself becoming the base on which photographs and other design elements were printed.