fotobuch

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What fotobuch is

fotobuch is a desktop app for creating print-ready photobooks from image collections, with a layout approach intended for books that place many photos on each page. It can build a book through a graphical interface or through a scriptable command-line interface. The layout preserves photo proportions and keeps pages in top-left to bottom-right reading order. Users can change the space allotted to each image, rearrange pages, and group photos by event or folder. Titles and an appendix generated from EXIF photo metadata are optional.

The app exports a self-contained PDF at 300 DPI; printing is arranged separately, with Saal Digital offered as an example service. fotobuch makes cached copies of source images without changing the originals. A project consists of a YAML file and a Typst template, and the app uses the Typst compiler to render the final PDF. Project changes are tracked in Git, which supports reviewing history and undoing changes. The software is free and open source under the GNU Affero General Public License v3.0. Its maker describes a single, opinionated design approach for many-photo books and invites inquiries about commercial licensing.

Who it suits

fotobuch suits people assembling image-heavy printed books who want to control photo grouping, page order, and image emphasis. Its graphical app serves visual arrangement, while the CLI is aimed at users who want to script book creation.

What it does well

Creates print-ready 300-DPI PDF files.
Offers both a graphical app and scriptable CLI.
Preserves photo proportions without cropping or distortion.
Groups photos by event or folder.
Tracks project changes in Git with history and undo.
Can add titles and EXIF-based metadata.

What to know first

Uses one opinionated design approach for photobooks.
Printing must be arranged with a separate print service.
Commercial use may require discussing a separate license with the maker.

Getting started

Open the fotobuch project website on GitHub.
Use the desktop app on Linux, macOS, or Windows, or work through its command-line interface.
Create a project using its YAML file and Typst template.
Arrange photos, adjust their relative space, and group or reorder them as needed.
Optionally use VS Code with the Typst Preview extension to view layout updates.
Export the print-ready PDF and send it to a print service such as Saal Digital.

Verdict

Choose fotobuch if you want a free, open-source way to turn large photo collections into print-ready layouts while preserving image proportions. Look elsewhere if you need multiple design philosophies or want printing ordered from within the app.

Questions

How much does fotobuch cost?

It is free and open source under the GNU Affero General Public License v3.0.

Which operating systems does it support?

Linux, macOS, and Windows.

Can it order a printed book?

No. It exports a PDF for printing through a separate service; Saal Digital is one example.

Can I automate book creation?

Yes. fotobuch offers a scriptable command-line interface as well as a graphical app.

Does it change the original photos?

No. It reads source photos to create cached copies and leaves the originals unchanged.

Can it be used commercially?

The software is licensed under the GNU Affero General Public License v3.0. The maker invites inquiries about a commercial license for uses such as integrating it into a paid product or service.

Facts from fotobuch's own pages

Commercial licensing: The README asks users to contact the maker to discuss a commercial license for uses such as integrating fotobuch into a paid service or product. · github.com, 11 Oct 2026
Export: The app exports a print-ready 300-DPI PDF, and the README says the resulting PDF is self-contained. · github.com, 11 Oct 2026
GUI and CLI: Users can arrange pages in a graphical app or automate book creation with a scriptable command-line interface. · github.com, 11 Oct 2026
Integrations: The maker suggests using VS Code with the Typst Preview extension to see layout updates live, and names Saal Digital as an example print service. · github.com, 11 Oct 2026
Intended user: The maker describes fotobuch as a hobby project built to address their own workflow for arranging thousands of photos into printed books. · github.com, 11 Oct 2026
Intended users: The maker recommends the app for everyone and describes the CLI as suited to power users. · github.com, 11 Oct 2026
Layout: The layout keeps photo aspect ratios intact and preserves reading order from top-left to bottom-right. · eddyxorb.github.io, 11 Oct 2026
Layout controls: Users can adjust photo weights, rearrange pages manually, and keep photos grouped by event or folder. · github.com, 11 Oct 2026
License: fotobuch is licensed under GNU Affero General Public License v3.0, and the maker invites inquiries about commercial licensing. · github.com, 11 Oct 2026
Maker: The maker’s GitHub profile is named EddyXorb. · github.com, 11 Oct 2026
Many-photo books: It is designed for photobooks with many images per page, which the maker says can be tedious to lay out by hand. · github.com, 11 Oct 2026
Metadata: The app can optionally add titles and an appendix with photo metadata generated from EXIF data. · eddyxorb.github.io, 11 Oct 2026
Notable design constraint: The README describes fotobuch as supporting one opinionated design philosophy for many-image photobooks. · github.com, 11 Oct 2026
Original photos: The documentation says fotobuch reads source photos to create cached copies and does not modify the originals. · eddyxorb.github.io, 11 Oct 2026
Photo grouping: Photos from the same event can be kept together, and users can assign more space to important photos. · eddyxorb.github.io, 11 Oct 2026
Photo treatment: The layout engine preserves each photo's aspect ratio and does not crop or distort images. · github.com, 11 Oct 2026
Platforms: The maker lists pre-built binaries for Linux, Windows, and macOS with Apple Silicon. · github.com, 11 Oct 2026
Project files: A photo book project is stored as a YAML file and a Typst template tracked by Git. · eddyxorb.github.io, 11 Oct 2026
Project history: Changes are version-controlled in a Git repository inside the project folder, with history inspection and undo support. · github.com, 11 Oct 2026
Purpose: fotobuch automatically turns images into print-ready photobook layouts for professional printing services. · github.com, 11 Oct 2026
Rendering engine: fotobuch generates Typst source files and uses the Typst compiler to render the final PDF. · github.com, 11 Oct 2026

Where fotobuch stands on Freedom251

Photo Book Software#11 of 32