Crafting Yearbooks with Entourage

Every yearbook has a story: the students, the events, the fashions, the moments. What transforms a collection of pages into a keepsake is more than content; it’s design, materials, customization, and polish. Entourage Yearbooks provides tools and upgrade options that help schools make their yearbooks not just a record, but something special.

Design Software: EDOnext + Features to Streamline Creativity

Entourage’s design platform (EDOnext) is built to help yearbook teams (students, advisors) bring their vision to life with less friction.

Here’s what stands out:

• Online, cross-device editing: Whether on a computer or tablet, you can design your pages online. That flexibility is huge for tight schedules, remote collaboration, or when different team members contribute from various locations. Entourage Yearbooks

• Digital collaboration tools: You can organize pages, assign tasks to staff members, review work, etc., all inside the software. This helps with workflow, so fewer “did someone send that photo?” or “who’s doing the layout for this spread?” moments. Entourage Yearbooks

• Social media & cloud integration: Need photos from Instagram, Facebook, or Google Drive? They support importing from those sources, which saves time and helps pull in candid content. Entourage Yearbooks

• Hundreds of pre-made templates + themes: If you’re not sure where to start, there are lots of professionally designed templates. Themes like Comic Book, Retro, Storybook, Geometric, Game Zone, and more let you apply a consistent style. Additionally, once you select a theme, you can still rearrange elements; flexibility is preserved. Entourage Yearbooks

• “Book Builder” & Project Importing: Want to speed things up? Entourage lets you apply a theme across the whole book quickly. Also, they allow importing last year’s project into a new one, handy if you want to reuse layouts, templates, or specific assets rather than starting from scratch. Entourage Yearbooks

• Stock image & vector art library via Pixabay: Includes thousands of free stock images, backgrounds, and illustrations; over 120,000 free vector art images via the Pixabay community. These are copyright-safe under the Pixabay license, which is helpful so you don’t have to worry about rights/permissions. Entourage Yearbooks

In short, the design software is built for ease, speed, collaboration, and giving student designers room to be creative without having to reinvent everything.

Printing & Cover Upgrades: Turning Design Into Something Tangible & Memorable

Design is only part of the story. The materials, finishes, cover options, and extras are what let a book feel premium. Entourage offers many upgrades to help schools produce yearbooks that are durable, visually striking, and personal.

Here are the key upgrade features and what makes them special:

Foil Stamps (Front cover & spine)

Adds metallic foil stamping to text or numbers (e.g., the year, school name). Options include foil deboss (impression + foil), raised foil, spine foil, and holographic foil. These make cover text or elements pop.

Matte Lamination

Instead of a glossy finish, you get a soft, smooth matte finish on the hardcover. Looks more subtle/refined. Many seem to prefer this finish for pastel or sophisticated color palettes.

Metal Inlay

A raised, sculptural metal element embedded in the cover design. Very premium; adds “Whoa!” factor.

Spot UV Coating

Gives a shiny, reflective finish on specific areas of the cover (logos, names, shapes), while the rest stays matte (or another finish). Creates contrast and emphasis.

Die Cut

Cut a shape, number, letter, or frame into the cover so that the underlying material shows through, creating a window effect.

Embossed Imprint

Raised text or design element—adds texture. Good for years, titles, names. Makes the cover “feel” special when held.. Adds dramatic visual interest.

Dust Jackets (Printed or Clear)

Cover wraps (printed) or a transparent jacket that goes over the hard cover. Offers protection and design flexibility. It can be especially nice if the printed art is complex or you want more cover detail.

Printed Endsheets

Instead of plain white end sheets (the inner pages at front/back), you get a custom design: photo collages, school colors, text, etc. This extends the design theme to the interior of the book.

Name Personalization

Each student’s yearbook can have their name printed, usually in gold or silver foil, typically at the bottom-right corner of the cover (or specified spot). Makes the book feel more personal, special.

Why These Features & Upgrades Matter

Here are some of the reasons schools choose to invest in the extras:

• Tangible sense of value: A yearbook with a custom cover, special finishes, or personalized name feels more like a keepsake, something you want to display or hold, not just a collection of photos.

• Differentiation/school spirit: A school might want something that stands out something that reflects their identity, colors, pride, or a special theme of the year. These upgrades allow that.

• Memorializing special years or themes: For anniversaries, milestone graduating classes, or a theme that has been central (e.g., a COVID-recovery year or a centennial), the upgraded cover or extras help communicate that significance.

• Increased student & family buy-in: When students see that the yearbook is high quality, or that their name/favorite moments are featured in a premium way, there’s more excitement about purchasing, flipping through, and keeping it.

• Potential for prestige/recognition: Some of these companies run contests (Entourage does) where cover design or creative work is judged. If your design is very good, you might win a prize or recognition. Having good materials helps in that.

  Trade-Offs to Consider

  Of course, extras come with costs (literal dollars, time, logistics). Some considerations:

  • Budget vs. Impact: Each upgrade adds cost foil, embossing, metal inlays, etc. For some schools, a simpler book might make more sense; use the budget for content, student photos, etc.

  • Minimum order requirements: Many upgrades require minimum print quantities (100, 300 books). If your school only orders small runs, you might not qualify, or the setup costs might be steep. Entourage Yearbooks

  • Timeline/planning: Customized covers (die cut, metal inlay, embossing, etc.) often require more lead time in design, proofing, and production. Must plan deadlines carefully.

  • Design complexity: Some cover treatments impose design constraints, e.g., foil might need simpler text or color contrasts; die cuts or metal inlays need clean shapes. Sometimes what looks good on screen doesn’t translate unless it is designed with the material and process in mind.

  • Weight & durability trade-offs: Some finishes or thicker covers add weight, which may affect shipping cost; some cover materials might be more fragile in certain areas (e.g., foil edges).

Final Thoughts: Is Entourage Right for You?

If I were advising a yearbook committee deciding among vendors, here’s how I’d think about whether Entourage hits the sweet spot:

• If you want design flexibility + collaboration, especially with students who may be remote or working on tablets, Entourage’s EDOnext and template/theming tools make sense.

• If you’re willing to invest a little more to make your yearbook feel premium, something that students keep and treasure, the cover treatments and personalization options are compelling.

• If you're ordering enough copies to meet the minimums for the premium upgrades, then the extra cost per book may be well worth it in terms of pride, durability, and satisfaction.

• But if the budget is limited, it might make sense to select a few high-impact upgrades (e.g., a matte finish + foil-stamped title) rather than going all-in with everything.