Our PhotoBook Software is an off-line program, which means that you download it onto your computer (where it will be faster to work with than staying connected to the Internet), build your book, then connect to the Internet to send your final design to UBuildABook.
A few tips about working with your images
If your images need cropping or editing, we recommend using a separate photo-editing program before bringing your images into the software.
We recommend putting all the images you wish to use in your book design, into a single folder that is easy to access. Once you bring the images into the software, do not move, re-name, or delete them from the original folder location or the software will not be able to link them properly, and they will not load
If your images are very large or your computer Hard Drive does not have enough free space, the Photo Book Software may run slower than average
The software will accept .jpeg, .tiff, .gif, .psd, and .png files. They should be at least 250 DPI .
What if my images appear black when they are placed on the pages?
Without getting too technical, the main problem is that the PhotoBook Software could not read the image. If you change the file type to a .jpg or .gif and reinsert the image the problem will normally go away.
Can I create the page designs in another program and bring them into the PhotoBook Software?
Yes. You can create your pages using any other program you are comfortable with as long as the files you bring into the software is in one of the supported formats listed above.
How do I add pages to the book?
Select “Insert” from the top menu and choose “Add New Page.” You can click and drag the page to move it around the book layout.
Can I upload a folder of my images instead of adding them one by one?
Yes. Right below the “Add Images” icon you will find the “Add Images Folder” button. All the images from the folder you select will load into the photo browser.
Can I access or transfer my book to or from another computer?
Unfortunately, the software and books you have created can only be accessed on the computer that it is installed on since it references the images which are on that computer. Multiple computers can download the software for free, but you cannot access the same book from another computer. The book you create cannot be transferred between computers.
Note that we do support creating separate parts of a book on several computers and combining them when finished. Contact our customer service if you need assistance with this.
How do I know if my images will print clearly?
Once you have the image in the software, click on File Preflight. Your book validation report will open and warn you if any images are less than 250 ppi (the minimum resolution required). It will also warn of empty pages, empty text boxes, and empty picture frames.
How do I ensure my Black & White pages will only be charged as Black & White?
In order for our printers to read your pages as black & white you must make the images in grayscale and use only a black font. If you use a background it WILL read as color. Here is a list of some of the more popular programs and how to make an image grayscale in them:
Adobe Acrobat Pro: Advanced > Print Production > Convert Colors
Adobe Photoshop: Image > Mode > Grayscale
Adobe Photoshop Elements: Image > Mode > Grayscale (say OK when asked "Discard Color Information?")
When scanning an image select “scan as grayscale” to ensure it will scan without any color.
Warnings and Error Messages
When I open my book, the images do not show up on the pages and continue to say “loading”. Why?
This may occur when the original location of the image files has moved or changed. For example: if you had a folder on your desktop with the images you are using in your book, and you move or re-name that folder, the software will not be able to locate the new folder destination. You will have to re-load and replace all the images that have been moved, renamed, or changed.
What is the “Generic Caption Text” message I am receiving?
This message will display if you have a text box that is hidden behind another text box or image. Please go to the page that is receiving the error message, and select the top text box or image. Right-mouse-click over the box and select “Order”, “Send to Back.” This should reveal a hidden text box that you should delete. Then use the “Order” option to re-arrange your text and image boxes to their original places.
For further questions, you can reach our Customer Service Toll-Free at 866-909-3003.
