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| Color Profile |
| Please upload only JPG or JPEG images at a 300dpi resolution and a sRGB color profile. WE DO NOT COLOR CORRECT IMAGES. |
| Image Size Tips |
File Size: When preparing files, please note that files don’t necessarily need to be extremely large to achieve exceptional print quality. JPG Images saved as high quality resolution setting of 8 or higher in Adobe Photoshop will typically achieve excellent print quality. Images targeted at 300dpi will achieve maximum quality.
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Image Resizing: To resize your images in Adobe Photoshop so that they comply with the recommended 300dpi resolution, follow these steps:
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| 1.) Open the file and select Image > Image Size from the top menu. |
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| 2.) This window will give you the pixel dimensions (total pixels present in the image), the document size (the size at which it will print) and the resolution (how densely the pixels are packed together). The document size is determined by dividing the pixel dimensions by the resolution. Since we are targeting a resolution of 300dpi, first, make sure the Resample Image box is unchecked. This will allow you to alter the resolution or document size (proportional to eachother) without altering the original pixel dimensions. Essentially, you are condesning the same amount of image information into a smaller print space. This is what determines how clearly your image will print and helps minimize artifacting (jagged edges or blurriness). |
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| 3.) Enter 300 in the resolution field. This will change the document size to reflect how large your image will be when printed at 300dpi. If the document size shows up smaller than you would like, your image will not print clearly at your desired size. You can still utilize this image but we make no guarantee about its print quality. If the document size is larger than your desired final size, you can upload it as is and the site will downsample it accordingly, or, you can downsample it yourself and save time uploading. |
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| 4.) To downsample your image, make sure the Resample Image box is checked this time. This will force the pixel dimensions to change depending on the resolution or document size you enter. With this box checked and a value of 300 in the resolution field, you can enter the desired document size and your image will be downsampled. You can then save your changes and begin uploading your images to the site. |
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| Auto-Fill Layout Basics |
Manual Layout: You can place every image on every page manually. Choosing this option will take you to the Page Editing screen so you can begin laying out your book one page at a time.
Same Layout on Each Page: If you choose a
specific template from the Auto-Fill Layout drop down box, the book will automatically generate with the images arranged in the order in which they appear in the Photo Folder and utilize the selected template for every page in the book.
Random Mixed: If you are planning on utilizing the Random Mixed option, the site will try to create a book that has an average of 2.5 images per page with the number of pages you selected. As long as you have selected a page count that will generate an average image count per page between these guidelines, the book will automatically generate and you will be taken to the Preview Screen. |
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| Too Many Images: If the number of images in the Photo Folder far exceeds a 2.5 image per page ratio for the selected page count, the site will bring up a message that will enable you to Continue, allow the site to Auto Adjust your page count or Cancel the operation and change your book options. Continue maintains the number of pages you have chosen and adds more images to each page, averaging about 3-6 per page, but will not use all the images in a Photo Folder if it reaches the end of the alotted pages and there are still images remaining. Auto-Adjust changes the number of pages to accomodate the 1.25 to 3.5 images per page random flow and utilize every image in the Photo Folder.
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| Design Tips |
Default Backrounds: If you selected a Default Background on the Book Options page and you want to use a different background on a later page, you will have to delete the Default Background from the page before you add a new one.
Background Opacity: Often times setting the Opacity to 70% creates a nice look that is utilized frequently, particuarily for background images. You can change the Opacity level to your liking on all backgrounds and images. |
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| Image Sizing: You can resize an image from the Image Editing Screen by grabbing the red corner handles and dragging them until the image is at the size you want. You can then move and reposition the image inside the template slot by clicking and holding in the center of the image then dragging the mouse to move it to your desired location. |
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| Edge Treatments: On the Image Editing Screen, you have two Edge Treatment options which will create torn or brushed effects around the edges of your image. If you plan to use these effects on a Full-Bleed template, please be sure to resize the image slightly as the Edge Treatment effect may become lost in the book binding or trimmed off if you allow the image to go all the way to the edge of the page. |
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| Resizing a Book |
Book Formats: After creating and Saving a book, you may
decide that you want additional copies of that book, but in different sizes. When determining what size you want your additional book to be, it is important to understand that our books come in three formats.
• Square (Height and Width are equal)
• Portrait (Height is greater than Width)
• Landscape (Height is less than Width)
For best results, it is a good idea to resize your book to another size within the same format. Books can be changed from the original size to any other size or format, but the image placement and cropping effects may be distorted or lost. In addition, text and stock backgrounds will not automatically reload when the book size is changed. It is important to manually resize any text you may have used.
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Multiple Sizes from the Same Layout: If you’re considering creating multiple books, it is a good idea to start with the smallest size first. For example: a 4"x6" can be used to create a 6"x9" and an 8"x12". The resized books will simply have a larger margin around the outside (make sure the resolution on your images is high enough to support larger sizes).
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Resizing Your Book
1.) After creating and Saving your book, from the Preview Screen you can go back to the Book Options page by clicking the Book Options button.
2.) On the Book Options page, choose a new size from the Size drop down list. The sizes are all listed with the Width first and have the letters W and H next to the Width and Height measurements. Remember, for best results, choose a size that is the same format as your current book.
3.) A warning message will pop up alerting you that changing book sizes may affect content. Click OK.
4.) Make sure the Manual Layout box is checked and then click the Layout button.
5.) Using the Page Layout screen, go through each page of the book and make sure that all
your pictures have preserved their cropping and placement and that any stock backgrounds used were reloaded with the new size.
6.) Any text you may have used in the book will need to be manually resized. The size and placement of the pictures will be automatically converted when you switch book sizes but text is based on a different sizing system and will not be changed during a size conversion. You will have to edit each text block manually and change the Font Size.
7.) After checking all your pages and making any necessary changes, you can Save your newly resized book on the Page Editing Screen or the Preview Screen by clicking the Save button.
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| Copying Photos |
When organizing a Photo Folder, the left side menu contains a button labeled Copy To. This button allows you to copy the images you’ve selected to either A New Photo Folder or An Existing Photo Folder.
When selecting multiple images, hold down Ctrl (Apple key on Mac) and then single click every individual image you want to copy. The selected images will be indicated by a blue border surrounding them. To select a range of images, hold down Shift and single click the first image and the last image. Every image in between will be selected. After selecting the images you want to copy, click Copy To on the Photo Folder screen to open the window pictured below.
Choose a location for your copied images and click the Copy button.
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| Copying Projects |
| To copy a project, simply go to the Projects screen, single click the desired project to select it (selection indicated by a blue border) and click the Copy button in the left side menu to bring up the window pictured below. Type in a name for your new project and click OK. This feature is useful for duplicating a book where you want to have multiple versions with only slight differences (such as variable cover images).
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