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Life Design Books has developed one of the EASIEST TO USE software packages availabe to help you create stunning Albums, Cards, Calendars, Posters and Canvas products in minutes (Try our FastTrack option for each product)
If you have a question that is not answered by our TOPIC HEADINGS below or in our FAQ section, please email us at info@lifedesignbooks.com.au (please note some functions in our software are generic, so check out the question under another heading eg Photo Albums or Calendars) 
Colour management:
Online Sharing:
Photo Albums:
Cards:
Calendars:
Posters and Canvas: (Please select card option in software)
You will be presented with the following menu:
 Please note the middle 6 selections represent our canvas products, they are currently listed as poster in our menu. We will be updating this menu in the future to better represent our product selection.
Colour management:
Professional Photographers
We recommend using having a calibrated monitor and using files in sRGB color space for the best color reproduction, our digital printing presses use a CMYK toner based printing process when images are converted to CMYK we use the standard ISO Coated V2 profile.
Image reproduction will vary to what is viewed on your monitor, while all efforts are used in colour management we can not guarantee accurate reproduction of RGB images.
The top 'bar' of the calibration image above comprises alternating 0% black and 5% grey squares. You should ONLY JUST be able to perceive the bar as squares rather than an all black strip. If the bar looks solid black your monitor is adjusted TOO DARK.
The middle bar comprises 21 steps of neutral grey in 5% steps from 0% black to 100% white.
The bottom 'bar' comprises alternating 100% white and 95% grey squares. You should ONLY JUST be able to precieve the bar as squares rather than an all white strip. If the bar looks solid white your monitor is adjusted TOO LIGHT.
Contrast Adjustment: Set the contrast control to 100%.
Brightness Adjustment: Adjust the brightness CAREFULLY until you can ONLY JUST see the squares in the top bar of the image above. Keep an eye on the grey squares in the middle band - especially the three at each end of the scale.
Monitor Calibration with Reference Print: The following information is given as a guide to help you get the best results from your PhotoBook and as true to the image you seen on your screen to our printing as possible. For those people that want images the are more unusual or very spefic requiremnets we offer the following option. We will supply you with a reference print which you can use to adjust you monitor to closely match our output. When you request your prints you must then request that we print your images with all auto corrections turned off and no manual corrections. Remeber that this procedure is only a basic adjustment
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Online Sharing:
Life Design Books is continuously striving to improve our services and in our latest upgrade we are proud to announce that all users of our Photo book software will be able to create their own online albums to share with friends and family around the world for FREE. Click HERE to go to our online sharing page for more information. Back to top
Photo Albums:
How to create your Photo Album
- Double-click the Photo Album desktop shortcut.
- A Welcome dialog will come up. Click Create New Book.
- Now, choose a size for your Phot Album (10x10, A4 portrait, A3 landscape). NOTE: All photo books have a minimum of 20 pages & a maximum of 80 pages.
- You should now see the Photo Album workspace. Use the Image Browser at the bottom of the workspace to load pictures to use for your photo Album. To do so:
- Click the Add Picture or Add Folder (of pictures) icon at the left of the Image Browser. You can then drag & drop pictures directly from the Image Browser and onto your photo book pages.
- If you are using layouts or templates, you can use the Distribute Pictures command (under the Layout menu) to automatically distribute your pictures amongst the pages.
- Toggle between the various page display options seen as tabs on the Image Browser:
- Page Layouts – preset arrangements of picture-ready picture frames. Once applied to a page, you can still rearrange the layout elements any way you choose.
- Page Backgrounds – various colors, textures, and designs you can apply to your pages.
- Picture Borders – borders of various color and thickness you can apply to pictures.
- Templates – themes that can be applied to your entire photo book. Once applied to a page, you can still rearrange the template elements any way you choose.
All of these items can be dragged & dropped directly onto a page (or frame, as the case may be). Back to top
Book monitor
Using the Book Monitor feature, you can see issues that arise in your photo book in real-time. By default, the Book Monitor is set to on. If the Book Monitor has been turned off, go to the View menu and click “Show Book Monitor.”
A new bar will appear underneath the photo book pages scrollbar. If everything is 100% fine within your book, the bar will be blank. If however, there are issues with any page, color-coded boxes will appear for those pages with errors.
The color of the arrow at the left indicates the most serious of the problems within the book. Placing the cursor over a color-coded error box will display a page’s problems, and allow you to go directly to the page to make changes. Multiple problems on a single page with the same color-code will be represented by a single box of the pertinent color.
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Individual page layout
Once you have selected the type of book you would like you will then be presented with the Photo Album Work space.
If you look to the bottom left hand corner of the Photo Album Work Space you will see a tab with ‘book pictures’. Directly below this are 4 icons, if you move the cursor over them the following heads will appear.
Add images
Add folder with images
Hide used images
Clear image browser
Click on either Add images, or Add folder with images and you will be presented with the option to add images individually or a folder of images. Once you have selected your images the image browser will then be populated.
Your now ready to start creating your book. Back to top
Placement of images
There are a number of ways to insert images to create your Album:
- Drag and Drop
- Insert page layout
Drag and Drop, select an image by left clicking on it. Then holding the left mouse button down drag the image to the required page. You will then be given a number of options:
- Single page background, your image will fill the entire page
- Two-page spread background, your image will fill both pages
- Layout picture, will insert your picture in a frame
- Add picture, will add picture to the page without a frame
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Page Layouts
If you click on Page layouts tab on the bottom of the Photo Album Work space, you will be presented with a number of different layouts.
Use the slider to browse through the layouts, select a layout and left click, hold down and drag to the page you want to apply the template to. Every layout can be moved, resized or rotated by right clicking on the template frame.
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Designing your own layouts
Our software allows you to design and save your own page layouts. Simply select Page layouts from the browser
Insert a layout to a page and select the 'Edit Copy of Layout'.
This will then lock you into modify mode. Adjust your layout to your design then click on 'Save Layout' in the bottom left of the layout browser as see above. Back to top
Two-page spreads
Any of your pictures can be used as a background for a two-page spread. Just drag a picture from the Image Browser to a page (but not onto a frame), and when asked “Would you like your picture to be used as a background for a single page, or across a two-page spread?” click the Two-Page Spread button.
NOTE: When using a landscape picture for a two-page spread background, it’s often best to use a portrait orientation book. Also, faces should be kept out of the gutter, as some of their fine details may be lost or distorted within the spine.
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Picture cropping, resizing, & rotation
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Picture borders
If you click on the Pictures Borders tab on the bottom of the Photo Album Work space, you will be presented with a number of different borders.
Use the slider to browse through the borders, select a border and left click, hold down and drag it onto of the image you want to add the border to. Back to top
Page backgrounds
If you click on the Page Backgrounds tab on the bottom of the Photo Album Work space, you will be presented with a number of different backgrounds.
Use the slider to browse through the backgrounds, select a background and left click, hold down and drag it to the page you want to apply the template to. You will then be asked if you would like to apply the background to the single page or two-paged spread. Back to top
Fading control of pictures and backgrounds
Right click on either the background or the Image, you will then be presented will the following tool bar.
The other option is to use the Image tools bar, this will allow you to vary the fade from 0% to 100%
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Ordering of images
Right click on the Image, you will then be presented will the following tool bar.
then select your option. Back to top
B&W and sepia filters
Right click on the Image, you will then be presented will the following tool bar.
then select your option. This option is also avaliable on the picture tool bar.
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Adding pages
When you open your Photo Album you will be present with 20 pages. There are two way to add pages, either click on insert and use the drop down menu.
or right click anywhere on the page and use the menu
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Picture distribution
Once your images are are loaded into the Image browser, and you have selected your backgrounds and page layouts you can use the picture distribution function. Click layout then distribute pictures, your images will then be automatically uploaded to your layouts in the order they occur in the Image browser.
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Aligning pictures (grids)
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Adding text and pasting text
Adding text to your Photo Album is easy. Right click on the page then go to insert, caption. You will then get a text box on the page. Drag and drop the text box to your desired location. You can now use the Text box browser, to change sizes, fonts, colours, alignment.
To paste text from a documnet such as MSword select the text in the documnet and copy. Then open the text box in the Photo Album Software by double clicking on it, the text box will then enlarge.
Then use <Ctrl> V (on PC) or <apple> V (on Mac) to paste the text into the text box. Back to top
Photo book cover
The design process for the cover of your photo book is the same as for the interior pages, except that you cannot use separate backgrounds for the front & back covers, nor can you see the front & back covers at the same time. Otherwise, frames captions, grids, and so on behave exactly as they do within the book. Back to top
FastTrack
To speed up designing your Album a number of pre built templates have been designed. These allow you to select you images, then the software will create an album for you.
When you first open up your software you will be presented with 3 options
Select the fast track option, you will then be asked to choose an Album
You will then be able to select your book sizes. Once you go through this step you will be asked to select your images form 20 to 396. Click select pictures, you will then be able to select the images you want to appear in your Album, you will also be able to rotate.
Once you have selected your images click ok, then click next and you will be given the options to preview and arrange your images to the order you would like them to occur in the Album.
You will then be given an option to place text on the front page if you selected the custom cover option at the start.
You will then get a preview of your selection if you are happy select finish.
Your images will then be automatically created into an Album. You can then use the tools and functions to make any changes you wish to full customise you Life design Album. Back to top
Book templates
If you have already opened up a book, select the book template option on the bottom of the Photo Album Workspace, you will then be presented with a number of book options
Select a book option then drag it onto the page. Your Album will then be created using the template up to 20 page. Then insert your photo's and use the functions above to create your unique book. Back to top
Send to Life Design Books
When you are happy with your book click on the Send to LifeDesign Tab
You will then be given a screen where you will be able to check your images for any issues and go back and make any changes.
Then click ok and you will proceed to a screen where you can view your Photo Album pages in Adobe reader. Once happy you then will need to tick the box to say you have examined your proofs and are happy to proceed to printing.
Your Photo Album will then be sent to Life Design Books, and you will be directed to our check out. Once your Album is paid for we will then print and deliver your book. Back to top
Cards:
Getting started
Upon selecting New Card… from the “Open or Create Project” dialog, a card size/style selection screen will come up. To begin creating a set of cards, a size/style must be specified. Once this is done, nearly every visual aspect of the cards can be customized to suit your needs.
Our card has customizable surfaces – front, inside, and back. Select card and click the “Continue” button. Back to top
Basic layout
A Greeting Card has three sides: front, back, and card inside. To switch between sides, use the “Front, Back, and Card Inside buttons at the right of the window, or simply click the desired side in the Pages column (directly under the Front, Back, and Card Inside buttons).
Please note when you select Card/inside option the lower pane is traditionally where text would appear on a standard greeting card. Back to top
Adding images
If you look to the top left hand corner of the Management Control Center you will see 5 icons, if you move the cursor over them the following headings will appear.
 Add image
 Add images
 Add folder with images
 Hide used images
 Clear image browser
Click on either Add images, or Add folder with images and you will be presented with the options to add images individually or a folder of images. Once you have selected your images the image browser will then be populated. Back to top
Adding images to your card
Left click on the image you want to add to the calendar then drag it onto the area on the calendar that says ‘drag an image here or double click to load an image’ You will then be presented with the Image Management Controls.
To the image, you can now:
- Add borders to the image.
- Rotate the image. Don’t worry about making mistakes here – the reset rotation button will always undo any undesired rotation of an image.
- Round the corners of the image.
- Fade the image.
- Crop the image. A cropping box will appear over your image. Resize it as you want and click outside of the cropped area to complete the cropping.
- Resize the image to fill the page.
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Add graphics
You can add a square/rectangular object to customize your design scheme. Just select an object and the Objects Management Controls appear:
Selected objects:
- Can have their borders adjusted.
- Can have their fill adjusted.
- Can have their borders rounded.
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Insert text
To add text to your calendar simply select the text icon.
Drag a box in the area you want to insert the text; you will then be presented with tools to customize your text including size, font, colour, alignment. You can also rotate you text using the rotation tool.
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Templates (frames)
To enhance your cards with that special added touch, try adding a template. A template is a frame or border that you can apply to your cards. We furnish you with a wide range of templates for nearly every occasion.
To apply a frame to a card (and over an image), click on the frames menu command from the main application window on the left hand side.
- Select a template frame from any of the thirteen available categories.
- Import the image you wish to place in the frame (you may do this before template selection as well).
- Resize the image however you want. Note: At this point, the image is above the frame.
- Send the image behind the frame by using the “Edit->Layout” menu (also available by right-mouse-button clicking).
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FastTrack cards
Upon launching My Photo Calendars and Cards select the FastTrack option, and then choose New Card.
You will then be guided through the 8 step process to create your calendar. Back to top
Send card to Life Design Books
Once you are happy with your Card design click Send to LifeDesign located in the top tool bar.
You will then be given a screen where you will be able to check your images for any issues and go back and make any changes.
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Calendars:
Getting Started
Upon launching My Photo Calendars and Cards, you will be offered Four options
Select New Calendar. If you would like to create calendars quickly and with amazing ease, why not give our new calendar FastTrack option. Back to top
Customizing your calendar
Upon selecting New Calendar a template selection screen will come up.
Select the desired template by double-clicking on it or by selecting it and pressing the OK button. Each calendar starts with a template, though once selected, you can customize almost any visual aspect of the calendar.
Make sure to select the right template size! You can change the template at any point during the design process—just be sure to confirm that your new template is in harmony with the design scheme you have already set. If it isn’t, you can always modify your design scheme to fit the new template.
A3 - Bound at the Top Each 42 cm x 29.7 cm page is single-side printed and bound at the top.
A3 – Centre fold Calendar measures 29.7 cm x 42 cm when open, 21 cm x 29.7 cm when folded at the center binding. Each 21 cm x 29.7 cm page is printed on both sides. This calendar size fits European paper size.
A4 - Bound at the Top Each 21 cm x 29.7 cm page is single-side printed and bound at the top.
After double-clicking (or clicking OK), you will be presented with a calendar customization screen:
Here you can specify a starting month & year, a week start day, as well as the sets of holidays that you would like to have printed on your calendar.
You can always come back later and modify any of these selections. After clicking OK, the calendar main project screen will open with the first month displayed:
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Page Navigation
There are two ways to move from front cover to last calendar month. The fastest way is to use the forward/backward arrows in the Management Control Center located at the upper right-hand corner.
Clicking the blue right/left arrow buttons will change the calendar page displayed on-screen.
The second way to move from month to month is by using the navigation column located along the right side of the screen. Here you have a thumbnail view of each calendar page. Just click a month and the month will appear on-screen. Back to top
Adding Images
If you look to the top left hand corner of the Management Control Center you will see 5 icons, if you move the cursor over them the following headings will appear:
 Add image
 Add images
 Add folder with images
 Hide used images
 Clear image browser
Click on either Add images, or Add folder with images and you will be presented with the options to add images individually or a folder of images. Once you have selected your images the image browser will then be populated. Back to top
Adding images to your calendar
Left click on the image you want to add to the calendar then drag it onto the area on the calendar that says ‘drag an image here or double click to load an image’ You will then be presented with the Image Management Controls.
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Adding borders
You can add a square/rectangular object to customize your design scheme. Just create or select an existing object and the Objects Management Controls appear.
- The first icon allows you to add a border and select its thickness.
- The second icon allows you to select a colour for your border.
- The third icon allow you to round off the corners of your image and border.
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Adding graphics
You can add a square/rectangular object to customize your design scheme. Just select an object and the Objects Management Controls appear:
Selected objects:
- Can have their borders adjusted.
- Can have their fill adjusted.
- Can have their borders rounded.
Inserting text
To add text to your calendar simply select the text icon.
Drag a box in the area you want to insert the text; you will then be presented with tools to customize your text including size, font, colour, alignment. You can also rotate you text using the rotation tool.
You also have the option to insert text directly above the calendar date grids.
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Rotation tools
Use the rotation tools to rotate text and images, 1 click will rotate 90 degrees. The middle green symbol will return the text or image to a horizontal position.
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Calendar cell content
Every aspect of the actual calendar grid can be customized: text, images (you can drag an image to any spot on the grid), cell shape – even the grid itself! Click on any text on the calendar grid and the following Cell Management Controls appear.
Events can be added & edited to the day cells by using the Personalize—Events menu items or by double-clicking on a day cell. You also have the option of adding clip-art.
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FastTrack
Upon launching My Photo Calendars and Cards select the FastTrack option, and then choose New Calendar.
You will then be guided through the 13 step process to create your calendar. Back to top
Send Calendar to Life Design Books
Once you are happy with your Calendar design click Send to LifeDesign located in the top tool bar.
You will then be given a screen where you will be able to check your images for any issues and go back and make any changes.
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Poster and Canvas:
Getting started on your posters or canvas
Upon selecting New Card… from the “Open or create project” dialog,
a poster/canvas size/style selection screen will come up.
 Please note the bottom 6 selections represent our canvas products, they are currently listed as poster in our menu. We will be changing this in the future to better represent our product selections.
To begin creating your poster or canvas a size must be specified. Once this is done, nearly every visual aspect of the poster/canvas can be customized to suit your needs. Back to top
layout of workspace
A poster or canvas has only 1 side which a design can be added.
The poster or canvas can be rotated using the Rotate Card tab
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Adding images to your image browser
If you look to the top left hand corner of the Management Control Center you will see 5 icons, if you move the cursor over them the following headings will appear:
Add image
 Add images
 Add folder with images
 Hide used images
 Clear image browser
Click on either Add images, or Add folder with images and you will be presented with the options to add images individually or a folder of images. Once you have selected your images the image browser will then be populated. Back to top
Adding images to your poster or canvas
Left click on the image you want to add to the calendar then drag it onto the area on the calendar that says ‘drag an image here or double click to load an image’ You will then be presented with the Image Management Controls.
To the image, you can now:
- Add borders to the image.
- Rotate the image. Don’t worry about making mistakes here – the reset rotation button will always undo any undesired rotation of an image.
- Round the corners of the image.
- Fade the image.
- Crop the image. A cropping box will appear over your image. Resize it as you want and click outside of the cropped area to complete the cropping.
- Resize the image to fill the page.
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Rotating poster/canvas
Use the rotation tools to rotate text and images, 1 click will rotate 90 degrees. The middle green symbol will return the text or image to a horizontal position.
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Creating backgrounds and overlays
Select and drag the images you want to use on your poster/canvas. It is important to note do not insert a picture as a background at this point. Insert the images you wish to appear on your poster/canvas.
To resize your image and drag use the zoom tool located on the top browser. Turn on the grid tool found under Edit>Grid>Show grid to enable placement of your images.
Once you have positioned your images then select the image you want to use for your background. Once selected then click the fill page tool
Your selected image will then fill the background, right click on the image and select send backward.
You will now be presented with your layout and your selected image in the background
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Inserting Text in your poster or canvas
To add text to your calendar simply select the text icon.
Drag a box in the area you want to insert the text; you will then be presented with tools to customize your text including size, font, colour, alignment. You can also rotate you text using the rotation tool.
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Send poster or canvas to Life Design Books
Once you are happy with your poster or canvas design click Send to LifeDesign located in the top tool bar.
You will then be given a screen where you will be able to check your images for any issues and go back and make any changes.
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