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I like to do something to show my Muse Models a little appreciation for the holidays. I came up with something to thrill the models and keep them motivated to shoot all year… Calendars!!
I started with Jeffrey Frield’s Calendar Script for Photoshop, and installed it per Jeffery’s instructions. Run Jefferey’s calendar script, just like any script in Photoshop. Go to; File/Scripts/Jeffery’s Calendar. You will next be presented with the option menu and several choices, paper size and orientation, output DPI and so on. I noticed that when you run the full year option you will create 12 files. One month per file. I was not happy with the text effects (Layer Style) and I chose not to rasterize text layers to allow for my own customization later. I was also not happy with the twelve individual files.
I need to make at least ten calendars for models, family and friends. Realizing the automation benefits, I decided to create a customized the calendar, so Photoshop could do the hard work. After running a full year and combining all 12 months into a single year/file I began my text customization. This was easily accomplished by selecting all of the text layers at once, then Right click/Clear Layer Style. With all of the text still selected, go to the Text Properties change the color as desired.
My file was huge, at 300dpi. I decided to consolidate. I created a Common Folder and move all common components tothat folder (photo mask, week days, grid, etc.) Next I deleted the duplicates from within each month. This greatly reduced the over all file size. Arranging my months as shown right, it gave me the ability to run actions for a significant production increase.
You can see the structure of my file in the screen-shot to the right. I copied the title and all of the days of each month to a corresponding folder. Next, I created the common folder and moved one grid, one set of weekday titles and the year, to this folder. I then rasterized the days and Month title within each folder. This created a single file within each month and further reduced file size. It is easy to change the size and format by resizing the canvas. Select all folders and resize by dragging all to suit your own needs.
When printing on 8.5? x 11?, either vertical or horizontal, it’s fairly straightforward and simple to keep your image to month correlation straight., simply prints your months on the backs of photographs. You can then finish by spiral binding or your prefer method of finishing.
I’m using a large format Epson 7880 printer to make 12?x12? calendars. I fold and staple each calendar in the center after assembly. The fold in the center complicates the project and requires additional forethought. My main concern was to ensure my snow pictures corresponded with winter months and my bikini pictures with summer months.
Pagination would resolve this minor dilemma. Pagination is the process of arranging and numbering the pages with respect to the final printed product. This example below will illustrate my problem better than words. The most effective way to paginate your own calendar is to take a piece of paper, fold it up until you have the correct number of days and then cut the edges. Write in the months, noting where images and pictures go.
With all of the customization and planing finished we are ready to have some fun.
The first thing to do is to carefully align each monthly image. This can be a pain, but subsequent new calendars become much easier when using each previous calendars image as a mask. Right click and use the Select Pixels command. Then simply paste your new image into. (Ctrl + Shift + I on a PC, Command + Shift + I on a Macintosh)
You might have noticed, I like to use a B&W as the background behind the dates. It’s a nice touch. Close-ups work exceptionally well for this. Be creative and let yourself run wild and have fun with this project.
Here is where I start to record an Action. Before you begin make sure the little eye on the Common folder is turned on (exposing the grid, year title and weekdays) and the Cover layer is turned off . Click on the little eye on the January layer to turn it on to make January visible. Create a common folder on your hard drive to save your work. I like to name mine 2011Calendar. Now start recording the Action, by saving January as 01-2011.jpg. Turn off the eye next to Jan, turn on the eye next to Feb and save it as 02-2011.jpg. Run through the entire calendar saving each month with it’s corresponding numeric name and stop recording after December. You can record a Print step if you wish. I always wait until I do the back cover myself.
We are almost finished, we only need a back cover. I like to include a small shot of each month with a text description and of course ,all of my contact information. I saved a single JPG copy of each month to a common folder. This made it simple to make a contact print. (File/Automate/Contact Print II) For my purposes ,I added .5 times the height, which I will crop later. Using the rectangle selection tool to select the second row images I copy/paste my selection up to the previous row. Do the same to the bottom until you have room to crop the back page square. I also have a clean area for advertisements and contact info.
Paste your finished back cover into position beneath the front cover and save a copy to your common folder as 00-2011. If you would like to continue recording your Action you can do a Print step here. Do not forget to insert a Stop with Continue . I like to ad a note on my stop command, so that I do not forget if interrupted during the process.
I like to copy the entire 2011Calendar folder to the models folder for safe keeping before deleting the contents. Now you’re ready to make the next personalized calendar. It took us about two and a half hours to customize this. Now on we can crank one out in about 5 to 10 minutes or less 
Enjoy the Holidays with photography.
Dave
All photographs were supplied by Dave Davis of Dave Davis Photography.
DrDavesGraphics.com The Official Website of DrDave
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About the Author
I'm a Northern California Professional Photographer, based just outside San Francisco. I specialize in commercial product advertizing and architectural. I have been working with Bay Area modeling agencies for more then 10 years, shooting portfolio development for models and high-end makeup artists. I am highly creative and always unique. I shoot cutting edge projects, both in the studio and on location. Follow Dave:
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this was fun and so easy. great post.
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OK Battis,
My printer started complaining that it was out of paper, when I had 20 feet left on the roll. I change rolls often. I guess I had forgotten to reset the paper counter at some point and now I need too. Epson drivers… In typical Epson stile Windows 7 drivers do not fully work… (see my new category: Wide Format Printers)
As I do every year I printed calendars for a few models I work very closely with throughout the year. The calender Gods, were not smiling down on me this year.
This year I had several calendars printed at MagCloud.com. They ROCK!!! I love this place!! Here is a link to Aleccia’s 2013 calendar: http://www.magcloud.com/browse/issue/473515/
The beauty with MagCloud.com is that you create your own account. Its print on demand, so you can make them for Sale as a single unit with absolutely no upfront costs.
Please feel free to buy Aleccia’s 2013 calendar as an example and see the Awesome quality for yourself.
Personally I will never do another calendar at home! LOL It’s way too time consuming, especially considering I have to load a single cut sheet back into my printer and run the back by hand. This year I downloaded the MagCloud.com PSD template file and tweaked it – Adding the “months” with Jeffery’s plugin, linked above. Then followed their simple directions. Ordered as many as I wanted, after I received the order I deleted the file(s) – “Publication”.
Another beauty with MagCloud, is that you can sell calendars – as Aleccia and I are doing, or you can simply order as many as you need and keep the products hidden from the public. When you are selling to the public you can add your own markup. So an order comes in MagCloud, prints it and ships it. Then they pay you via PayPal…
The quality is exceptional in my opinion!! I loved the calendars, everyone does!! I have had 20 printed, some only one, some several. I did several specials for boyfriend’s of models. I am shooting a car club right now. MagCloud is an awesome deal IMHO..
EDIT:
Yes, rotate your template 90 degrees counter clockwise, before you upload. MagCloud is a book publishing company and very new to calendars. They’ll get it shortly (I’ve been whining in the forums).
The calendars do not come with holes, for hanging either. I had to do the holes myself..
Yes, the cover is triple thick and the inner pages are double thick. I was very pleased.. Only the covers (inside and out) were glossy on both sides. The inner pages were glossy on the photo and matte finished on the “month” page(s).
My only option was wire bind on the 12″ x 12″s. I loved it and ordered them all that way. It’s a $2.00 ea. upgrade option.
Shipping was a bit pricy, but the calendars themselves, were dirt cheap – IMHO!! I intend on using MagCloud for a very long time to come!!
All the best – Happy New Year!
Dave
Thanks for the the post.
Over the years I’ve ordered dozens of calendars that were printed with less than expected quality. Last year my company printed some calendars with PCA Delta in Pompano Beach FL, and they were great. I’ve been printing with them ever since. If you need calendars printed go to http://www.pcadeltaprinting.com/ I strongly recommend them.
Hi, firstly I’d like to say your site is great and very impressive. I have always wanted to create that, you made it so easy!
What is it to you to a head has come?
Anything similar?
The excellent message gallantly)))
Thanks! I saw this once before on your web blog, but I just tried it. It took me only 30 minutes to follow a long and create my template and first calendar. This is the perfect christmas gift
This worked out Great, Awesome website
Thanks! Seasons Greetings
Casandra
This is awesome and very inspiring, thanks for the post
Great article and thanks for including the link to jason’s script
The important and duly answer
Great work here Dave!
[...] You can read more about DIY Calendars Here. The pagination on the 7880 can be very tricky, but it’s nothing you can’t handle, with a little planning. You can use Photoshop to make a “Contact sheet” – thumbnail’s of all the pages to use as a back cover. [...]
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[...] Printing Your Own Calendars | Portfolio [...]
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