Creating Layflat Photo Books with Printable Covers in the Photo Factory.
Step 1:
To build a Hard or Soft Cover Layflat Photo Book in the Photo Factory you will need a Thumbnail with a minimum of 500x500 pixels and a maximum of 1000x1000 pixels and saved as a jpg.
You can add as many thumbnails as you want. The LAST thumbnail you add will appear as the MAIN thumb.
Next locate the Category and Subcategory you want your Photo Book to appear and click on the Unpublished number in the Product Catalog environment.
Click on the NEW VARIABLE LENGTH PRODUCT button at the top of the page.
Click on the THUMBNAILS button under the no image default icon.
Locate your Thumbnail and click on SET AS THUMBNAIL. You will see your Thumbnail appear. Add the product Name and Description, scroll to the bottom and SAVE.
You will see your Custom Product appear in the UNPUBLISHED products section in your account. Click on the EDIT button next to your new product, this will bring you back to your Product Creation page.
Step 2:
Photo Books with Printable Covers consist of 4 Different Page Types. The Cover, the First Page, All Other Pages and Last Page.
The Cover Page Spread is made with a FREESTYLE LAYOUT PAGE. This basically means that the user will be able to add as many photos and text as they want to their book Cover. Below is an example of how the user will see the Cover spread in their browser.
Click on the NEW FREESTYLE PAGE button on the top right of the Pages section.
Enter the Dimensions of the page and add the Fold and Bleed Lines scroll to the bottom and SAVE.
Under Canvas click on Add Instruction. This will create a text box that does not print on the final output.
Enter the Instructions text for the FRONT and BACK COVER to assist the user in identifying the correct page layout.
Next go the LIBRARY button under Graphics and locate the transparent png mask that you prepared to show the danger zone in 50% red for users to stay within due to cropping. Choose Set as Mask and the mask will appear on the page.
Click on the mask with your cursor. You will see an Image Tools pop-up appear. Click on use as mask and unclick render. * If you want to edit the Instructions Text or image placement you will have to unclick use as mask.
Make sure to choose Cover for your Page Intent. Click on Show Mask and Unclick Can be empty? Scroll to the bottom and SAVE.
Step 3:
The First Page Spread on a Lay Flat Photo Book consists of a blank left page. In order to achieve this we have to make it a FIXED PAGE LAYOUT meaning that you can control how many photos and text that goes on the page as well as their location on the page. Below is an example of how the user will see the First Page spread in their browser.
To Make the First Page click on the NEW FIXED PAGE button on the top right of the Pages section.
Enter the Print Dimensions of the page and add the BLEED and Fold Lines scroll to the bottom and SAVE.
Under Canvas Click on Add Image and make sure the default cloud image fills the entire right portion of the spread. Then Click on Add Text making sure that the text bounding box stays within the right side of the page spread. Scroll to the bottom and SAVE.
Next go the LIBRARY button under Graphics and locate the transparent png mask that you prepared to show the red danger zone for users to stay within due to cropping. Click on SET AS MASK.
Click on the Mask and you will see the Image Tools pop up appear. Click on use as mask and unclick render.
Make sure to choose FIRST for your Page Intent. Scroll to the bottom of the page and SAVE.
Step 4:
The Inside Page Spread is made with a FREESTYLE LAYOUT PAGE. This basically means that the user will be able to add as many photos and text as they want to their pages. Below is an example of how the user will see the Inside Page spreads in their browser.
To Make the All Other Pages click on the NEW FREESTYLE PAGE button on the top right of the Pages section. Enter the Print Dimensions of the Inside Pages Spread, add the BLEED and Fold Lines scroll to the bottom and SAVE.
Next go the LIBRARY button under Graphics and locate the transparent png mask that you prepared to show the red danger zone for users to stay within due to cropping. Click on SET AS MASK.
Click on the Mask and you will see the Image Tools pop up appear. Click on use as mask and unclick render.
Be sure to Choose Standard for the Page Intent. Scroll to the bottom and SAVE.
Step 5:
The Last Page Spread on a Lay Flat Photo Book consists of a blank right page. In order to achieve this we have to make it a FIXED PAGE LAYOUT meaning that you can control how many photos and text that goes on the page as well as their location on the page. Below is an example of how the user will see the First Page spread in their browser.
To Make the Last Page click on the NEW FIXED PAGE button on the top right of the Pages section. Enter the Print Dimensions of the Inside Pages Spread, add the BLEED and Fold Lines scroll to the bottom and SAVE.
Enter the Dimensions, Bleed and Fold Lines and follow the same steps as you did for the First Page Spread Layout to add your Image / Text boxes and your Mask.
Make sure to choose Last Page for your Page Intent. Scroll to the bottom and SAVE.
Click on the EDIT button to the right of Specification values to add the specs for the books.
Once your Printable Cover Photo Book is Published you MUST enter the Minimum and Maximum pages in the Product Page. Scroll to the bottom and SAVE.
