Create a Unique Photo Book or Gift with RocketLife

RocketLife allows you to turn your photos into beautiful keepsakes such as photo books, mugs and t-shirts. Getting started on your photo gift is fun and easy.

RocketLife is very simple to use, but you do need to download their software. Once it is installed, you can choose a product, upload your photos and let the software get to work. It will automatically create color-coordinated and themed collages that are appropriate for whatever product you’ve chosen. Although you have the option of making changes, you’ve basically got a finished product with little to no effort.

One of the things that sets RocketLife apart from other photo gift sites is the use of digital scrapbooking techniques. The software organizes your photos by date and color, and chooses digital background “papers” and embellishments to decorate your product. You can then go through and change the background, choose additional elements, add text, rearrange the photos, use tinting and even change photo edges and orientation.

The flaw, if it can be called that, is that there are a lot of ways you can personalize your collages. Although RocketLife had done a beautiful job of arranging my photos for a photo book I designed, I spent hours tweaking the design to make it “just right.” So, if you’re willing to let go of the project, RocketLife can save you time. Otherwise, you might find yourself spending even more time than you originally planned.

I received my final product in a timely manner once I managed to finish the design. The book was comparable in quality I’ve seen from other sites. Colors are bright and clear, but still not as sharp as a photo. I’d have preferred a slightly heavier paper weight. Overall, I was happy with the quality. Friends and family all enjoyed the book and commented on the fun design elements.

A Few Challenges

Overall RocketLife is easy enough for a beginner. However, you do need to have a basic understanding of how to find/upload photos on your computer and navigate menu options on a website. I originally had some trouble saving through Internet Explorer using Vista (perhaps due to permissions), but that issue seems to have been fixed.

The Bottom Line

Creating a photo book with RocketLife was a lot of fun. Even though it was occasionally overwhelming, I had a great time choosing themes, clip art and other page elements. The final product certainly stands out, in terms of color and design, from other photo books I have created, so I also think the extra effort was worthwhile. RocketLife is a wonderful option for creating personalized gifts and keepsakes.

• Choose your photos in advance and place copies of them in one folder. It will make the upload easier.
• If you decide you want to customize your design, browse through all of the design elements first. This will keep you from having to redesign things later.
• During check out, you may be offered optional add-ons. They will typically raise the price of your final product so choose carefully.