This article will cover briefly some of the most asked questions about photo books.
Photobook Specifications
Photobook Specifications
Which type of paper are photo books printed on?
At our company, we take great pride in the quality of our photo books. We understand that your memories are precious and deserve to be preserved on the best possible paper. That's why we use The standard thickness of the pages in a photo book ranges between 160 gsm and 250 gsm for the inner pages. This type of paper is known for its smooth and luxurious feel, making it the perfect choice for showcasing your photos.
In addition to the inner pages, we also pay special attention to the cover of our photo books. We want it to be just as beautiful and durable as the pages inside. That's why we use a matte lamination for the cover. This not only adds a touch of elegance but also provides extra protection against wear and tear.
What binding do you use for photo books?
We understand that you want your photo book to last for years to come. That's why we use a long-lasting glue-bind for all our books. This type of binding ensures that your book will stay intact and the pages won't come loose over time. It also allows the book to open 180 degrees without any trouble, making it easier for you to view and share your memories.
What colour is the back cover and spine of the photo book?
When it comes to the design of our photo books, we believe in simplicity and elegance. That's why the back cover and spine of our photo books are white. This neutral color allows your photos to be the main focus and ensures that your book will look timeless and beautiful on any bookshelf.
However, we have upgraded our website and on the new website, you will have the option to add a photo for the back cover. If you do not add anything, the default color is white.
What cover options do you have on photo books?
What cover options do you have on photo books?
We have the following cover options for the books:
14x14 cm - available in softcover
20x20 cm - available in softcover and hardcover
28x28 cm - available in hardcover
28x21 cm - available in hardcover
21x28 cm - available in softcover and hardcover
We add an anti-scratch lamination to the cover page so that your book is well protected and lasts longer. The cover pages of our photo books are printed with a matt lamination.
Why are there blank pages in a photobook?
Why are there blank pages in a photobook?
When you look at a photo book, you'll notice some blank pages at the beginning and end. These are technically called "flyleaves" which are connected to the “endpaper” (the sheet of paper partly glued to the inside of the cover of a book) and they play a crucial role in the book. These blank pages serve as a protective shield for the first and last pages, ensuring they stay in good condition.
Moreover, flyleaves help keep the book structurally sound, preventing pages from becoming loose or falling out. They also add to the book's visual appeal. Publishers often use them for decoration, incorporating artwork, author signatures, or other attractive elements, making the book more visually appealing.
In essence, these flyleaves are more than just empty pages; they are essential components of a book that protect its contents, maintain its structure, enhance its appearance, and even offer practical value at times. So, they are a necessary part of your photo book.
What is the minimum number of pages for a photobook to complete the order?
What is the minimum number of pages for a photobook to complete the order?
The photobook must have at least 30 pages to complete the order.
What guidelines should I follow when submitting my photos to create a photo book?
What guidelines should I follow when submitting my photos to create a photo book?
For optimal results, we recommend to follow the guidelines below:
Avoid using photos obtained from messaging platforms like WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, iMessage, Instagram, and Facebook, as the quality may have been compressed. Our system only accepts JPEG and PNG formats.
Whenever possible, use the original photos. If you receive an image from a friend or family member, kindly ask them to send you the file via email, Google Photos, or Dropbox, as these platforms do not compress files.
Provide the original photo taken with your digital camera, preferably in the highest resolution available (measured in pixels/DPI). A minimum resolution of 300 DPI is required to ensure sharp printing quality.
For photo collages, it's advisable to utilize smaller-sized photos because they undergo compression to fit the frame. Uploading photos with excessively high resolutions may result in pixelation.
Can I change the color of the cover?
Can I change the color of the cover?
The front cover can be any colour you like if you place an image of the desired colour onto it. The back cover of photo books will remain blank and cannot be edited.
How do I change the title of my photo book?
How do I change the title of my photo book?
Changing the title of the photo book is easy. All you have to do is click on your front page on the edit page and edit the text in the white text box. You can use different fonts and choose a title that is perfect for your book.
For the USA, New Zealand, Australia, and Ireland websites
You need to add a text box to the cover page if you want to add a title to your book. To edit the title of the book all you need to do is click the text box on the cover page.
How can I change the photo book size?
How can I change the photo book size?
Once you have finished creating a digital book, you cannot change it to another type of book of a different format or size. If you want to change to a different format or size, you will need to create a new book and upload your photos again.
How can I edit a photo book?
How can I edit a photo book?
After you have decided on the type of book you want your pictures to be printed in, you will be redirected to the editor page. This is where you can bring your photobook to life and make it truly unique.
You can upload the photos by clicking "add photos" located on the left side of the editor page.
You can add your uploaded image by drag and drop method. You will drag the image towards the page you want it to be printed.
If you want to create a collage you can just drag and drop another image to the page you want to have a collage layout.
You can re-arrange the pages by dragging the arrow symbols located above each page.
You can create a collage with up to 4 photos maximum.
If your photobook has 60 pages you will have an option to add the title of the book in the spine. You can do this by clicking the cover page and tick the "show title on spine"
While the editor page offers a lot of customization options, there are some limitations that you should be aware of. Here are some of the most important ones:
The text on the back of the book is the same as the title of the book. However, you have the option to add or remove the date on the back.
Fonts, colors and sizes available for the cover and inside are all determined.
For photo books, the book title can only be placed along the top of the cover. For flip books, you can place the book title at the top, center or bottom of the cover.
Inner cover pages on the front and back are empty and nothing can be printed on them.
For photo books, the maximum number of images per page is four, and it is only possible to add and edit captions at the bottom of each page
How do I select different layouts for photo books?
How do I select different layouts for photo books?
You can add multiple pictures on a single page of a photo book and create a collage, or you can also extend the images to cover the full page.
To select different layouts, you can:
How can I add, remove or edit the text in my photo book?
How can I add, remove or edit the text in my photo book?
You can add and edit the captions on each page of the photobook from the edit page by clicking on it and typing or editing the text in the text box. You can customize the text by choosing from the different fonts and colors available.
In the photo book, you can't add custom text to every page of your book. However, you can automatically add the date, location, and captions for your uploaded photos by clicking "Show text" next to the front of the book on the edit page.
How do I add a caption in the photo book?
How do I add a caption in the photo book?
If you wish to add captions to your photo book, simply click on a page within the photo book editor, this will open the caption editor from which you can add and edit your desired text.
Text can be added to both the front cover and on each page below your images, but not on the back cover.
For USA, New Zealand, Ireland, United Kingdom and Australia websites
You can freely add the caption on each page wherever you like to put it. Simply click the "Text" tab located on the left part of the editor page and click "Add text".
You can also choose the available layout we have that will allow you to add captions to each page.
How do I delete a picture from a Photo Book?
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How do I delete a picture from a Photo Book?
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To delete a picture from a photo book, you have to:
Select the image you want to remove
Drag it out of the page of the book
Drop it when you see a red symbol
For USA, New Zealand and Australia websites:
Select the image you want to remove.
Click the trash bin icon located in the right corner of the editing page to delete the image or click the "Delete" key on your keyboard just make sure to delete also the image box.
Can I change the hardcover book I created to a softcover book without creating a new project?
Can I change the hardcover book I created to a softcover book without creating a new project?
On the Legacy website, you can add the book back to your basket and change or choose the type of cover you want for the book in the basket.
If you are on the new website (USA, AU, New Zealand, and Ireland), this feature is not available yet as we are still transitioning and improving these features before adding them to the new website.
Which side should I put the picture on the cover page of my book?
Which side should I put the picture on the cover page of my book?
For New Websites (US, Australia, Ireland, and New Zealand)
Please place the image for your cover page on the right side of the page, as that is the front cover. The left side of the cover page is the back of the photobook and is blank. After adding the image to the right cover page, you can check the preview by clicking the "Preview" button located in the upper right of the editor to ensure everything is correct.
Why can I only preview the front cover of my book and not all the pages?
Why can I only preview the front cover of my book and not all the pages?
Our new website is still being improved. Right now, the "Preview" feature only shows the front cover, unlike the old website where you could view all pages. For now, please review each page directly in the editor to make sure everything looks good.
How can I add/remove a page from my photobook?
How can I add/remove a page from my photobook?
New Website
New Website
Adding extra pages to a photobook for USA, AU, and New Zealand customers
If you want to add pages to your book you do so by:
Hover your mouse cursor over any page except the one labeled "back inside."
When you do this, three dots will appear on the page you are hovering over.
Click the three dots to find the option to add pages.
Where can I save my photo book design?
Where can I save my photo book design?
Legacy Website
Legacy Website
If you are not logged in, you will find the "Save" button at the top of the editor's menu. If you are logged in, the photo book is automatically saved in your library.
New website
New website
You can save your design by clicking "exit" and "save and exit" Your work will be saved to your draft. You can also save your design by adding it to your basket.
How to order a photo book already in the library?
How to order a photo book already in the library?
This is applicable to legacy website. Your digital photo books are saved in Your Library and you can access them anytime, anywhere, from any device. You can order a book in three small steps:
1. Log into your Optimalprint account.
2. Go to your digital photo book saved in Your Library.
3. Add the book to the basket and complete the purchase.
I'm having trouble uploading my images.
I'm having trouble uploading my images.
If you're encountering issues, please ensure your images are in JPEG or PNG format. For instance, if you're trying to upload an HEIC file, it won't be accepted, and the upload will fail.
How do I delete a photo?
How do I delete a photo?
To remove a photo when you are editing a product on the website, click on the photo and then press on the X icon.
If you like to delete a photo when you are editing a card on the app, please tap on a photo, drag it down until you'll see a red minus sign and then drop it.
Images are permanently deleted once you click on delete and we cannot recover the deleted images.
On the new website applicable to AU, US, and NZ.
Aside from dragging the photos, you can also remove the image by clicking the photo you have uploaded, and a bin icon on the upper right corner will show up hover your mouse over the photo that you have uploaded and the bin icon will show up.
Please note that for Photobooks, once the image has been uploaded, there is no option to remove or delete it from the uploaded section. But you can remove and replace the photos on each page.