close
Sign In    Sign In    Join    Help

Frequently Asked Questions

(Click on a category to go to the questions.)



General Questions

1. What screen resolution is ideal for Inkubook?

Inkubook is designed to work at a minimum screen resolution of 1024 x 768. Settings higher than this will work wonderfully depending on your eyesight and monitor properties but anything less than 1024 x 768 will cause problems.

2. What is Silverlight and why do I have to download it?

Microsoft Silverlight is the plug-in technology that was used to build Inkubook. If you've ever been asked to download Adobe Flash or Apple QuickTime when you've visited another website, this is a similar situation. Without Silverlight, you won't be able to use the Inkubook editor. To learn more about Microsoft Silverlight or to download it, visit http://www.microsoft.com/getsilverlight/get-started/install/default.aspx .

3. Why won't Inkubook work on my Mac?

PowerPC Macs do not play well with Microsoft Silverlight, and unless Microsoft creates a version of Silverlight that does work on a PowerPC, there's not much that we can do to help you aside from suggesting that you try to use Inkubook on an Intel Mac or on a PC.
If you have an Intel PC and it appears that Silverlight won't install properly for you and that it's not supported, we suggest that you check to see if your browser has been set to run in PPC emulation mode. You can check here to get instructions on how to see if PPC emulation mode is on and how to turn it off. 

4. What should I do if unable to install Silverlight?

Support for Silverlight install problems is available at no cost from Microsoft by clicking on the Support link at http://www.microsoft.com/getsilverlight/get-started/install/default.aspx . 

5. Why can't I sign in?

Chances are that if you can’t sign in, you might be using the wrong information—what nerdy programmers like to call "credentials." You need both an email address and a password to sign in. If you have forgotten your password, it's no big deal. Just click the "Forgot password?" link in the sign-in window. We will promptly send you a new password, and you’ll be off and running.

If you've linked your Facebook account with Inkubook then you always have to login via the Facebook login link. To disconnect the link between Facebook and Inkubook please contact Inkubook support and we can do this for you.

It's a whole other ball of wax if you've forgotten your email address. We're not mind readers, so we can't tell you what your email address is. We don't normally advocate wild random guesses, but you can try entering a few of your usual email addresses on the Forgot Your Password screen. If you hit on one that we have in our files, we’ll let you know you got it right by sending an email (with a password, no less) to the correct address.

There's one last possible reason why you might not be able to sign in, and that's the off chance that the site could be undergoing a slight interruption of service at the precise moment you decide to sign in. We don't expect that to happen often, but it can happen, and the only solution is for you to try to sign in again after a short time has passed.

6. What is Inkubook?

Inkubook is a web-based book creation service. With Inkubook you can create books of text and photos, collaborate with others on book projects, and have your books printed and bound. For more information about how Inkubook works, check out the Learn More, Creating Photo Books , or the Photobook Fun with Friends pages.

7. Is my personal information protected in Inkubook?

We here at Inkubook try our best to not ask for much personal information. When we do, we treat it with the respect that it deserves, employing secure, encrypted data transfer, and we store only a little basic information so that you can sign in to the site.

8. Can other people see the text and photos for the projects I'm creating?

Right now, only you have full visibility into all the text and photos that have been contributed (whether by you or others) to your project. Contributors cannot see the individual photo and text items that you have in your galleries. Both you and your contributors can see the book or calendar in preview mode, but other members of Inkubook cannot.

9. How can I cancel my Inkubook account?

You can cancel your Inkubook account at any time by sending a written request to admin@inkubook.com.

10. Can I make things seem larger on my screen when I'm editing them?

If it feels like the editor is a little cramped, or if everything is a little smaller than you would prefer, there's a way to expand things to fill the full screen if you're using Internet Explorer or Firefox. Press the F11 key and you'll switch to full-screen mode. The bars at the top and bottom of your screen will disappear, which leaves more room for Inkubook to expand. It makes quite a difference.
When you're done using full-screen mode and want to return to the way your screen normally looks, you need to do one of two things. If you're using Internet Explorer, press F11 a second time and your screen will be restored to normal setup. If you're using Firefox, hover your mouse at the top of the screen. The menu bar and open tabs will reappear and you'll be able to click the Minimize/Maximize button to restore your screen to normal view.

11. Why does the site look a little funny in my browser?

While we strive to support all browser types and versions, it can take a little time to fully update the site for all browsers. For optimum performance, we recommend you use Chrome, Internet Explorer 7 or newer, Mozilla Firefox 3, Mozilla 4 or Safari (Mac version only).

12. How do I report a problem I'm having with the site?

There are several ways to contact us if you're having a problem with the site. You can chat with our online support representatives. To start a chat session, visit the Support page. Or you can email us at support@inkubook.com .

If you prefer talking to typing, you can get us on the phone between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. Eastern time and Monday - Friday. The number is 877.886.7034.

No matter how you contact us, we'll work on resolving your problem as quickly as possible.

Back to Top >


Inkubook Bookshelf

1. How do I create a new project?

Project creation starts on the Bookshelf which is the screen you see immediately after logging in.
  • 1. Click on the NEW button.
  • 2. Click on the type of product you'd like to create (Book, Calendar or Card).
  • 3. Select the size and cover type then click Next.
  • 4. Select the Theme, enter a project name and click Next.
  • 5. Select photos to start your project with, select whether to place the photos yourself or have us place them for you and the format then click Finished.
If you selected to place the photos yourself we'll start uploading the photos and provide a status in the lower left hand corner of the screen.
If you selected to have the photos placed for you we'll begin building the book, turning the pages as they are completed.

2. How do I change the size and/or cover type of my book?

You can change to a different book size or cover type by making a copy of the book with the following steps:
  • 1. With the book selected on the bookshelf click on the Copy icon.
  • 2. Enter the book name.
  • 3. Select the desired size and cover type from the drop down list.
  • 4. Click on Copy.
When the copy process is complete the new book will open in the editor. If you've change the book size you'll want to check the content on every page and the covers to make sure everything is correct.  If your copy is the same size but a different cover type you should verify the front and back cover are correct.

3. What does Invite mean?

Inviting others to your project allows them to contribute photos or text for you to use in the project. A project member can also preview and purchase the book or calendar project
NOTE: A project member can not make any changes to your project, nor can they see photos that have not been placed into the project.

4. What does Share mean?

Sharing allows you to create a virtual copy of your book and then place a link to the book on Facebook or your blog. Your friends and family can flip through the virtual copy of your Inkubook at their leisure.

5. Can I rename my project?

You can rename your project either from the bookshelf or the editor.
To rename the project from the bookshelf open the project and click on the Rename Project link which is directly to the right of the project title. Enter the new name and then click out of the box.
To rename the project from the editor open the project in the editor and click on the Rename Project link which is directly to the right of the project title. Enter the new name and then click out of the box.

6. What order are projects displayed in on the bookshelf?

Projects are displayed from left to right starting with the most recently modified project.

Back to Top >


Inkubook Editor (All products)

Editor Screen Tips

1. How do I save my changes?

You don't have to save; we do it for you! (We don't slice, dice, or julienne potatoes, though.) Each time you make a change to your work in the Inkubook editor, a save is performed. For example, when you drag a picture on to the page, the revised page is saved as soon as you've made the change. The same is true when you add text to a page, insert or remove pages, or rearrange pages.

2. Can I change the title of my project as it appears on my user home page?

You can rename your project either from the bookshelf or the editor.
To rename the project from the bookshelf open the project and click on the Rename Project link which is directly to the right of the project title. Enter the new name and then click out of the box.
To rename the project from the editor open the project in the editor and click on the Rename Project link which is directly to the right of the project title. Enter the new name and then click out of the box.

3. How do I change to a different background?

Based on the theme you selected when creating the project certain backgrounds have been applied. These backgrounds have also been loaded into the Backgrounds gallery, which you can access by clicking the Backgrounds tab at the top of the screen.
To change the background on a page, you can drag one of the preloaded backgrounds from the gallery to the page. The background of each page is selected individually, so you can have an absolute rainbow of backgrounds if that suits your fancy.
You're not stuck with only the preloaded backgrounds, though. Additional backgrounds can be selected using the steps below:
  • 1. Select the Backgrounds tab.
  • 2. Underneath the far left background sample there is a selection windows entitled Show.  Click on the down arrow to the right of the Show window.
  • 3. View the backgrounds by the various categories listed and when the background you'd like to use is displayed in the tray drag it to your page to use it.
All backgrounds that are assigned to a page in your book will be available by selecting the Used filter.
View the specific color codes for each solid color background.

4. How do I change to a different layout?

The layouts that are preloaded into your Layouts gallery are the ones that are being used on the pages. These are displayed when you first open your project.  There are quite a few more layout options for each project type, and you can add any of them to your gallery. Here's what you need to do:
  • 1. Click the Layouts tab to see the Layouts gallery.
  • 2. Underneath the far left layout template there is a selection windows entitled Show.  Click on the down arrow to the right of the Show window.
  • 3. Select the option for the number of photos you want to have on the page.
  • 4. When the layout you'd like to use is displayed in the gallery drag it to your page.

5. Can I switch my page layout after I've placed photos or entered text?

Does a one-legged duck swim in circles? (We say that this means "Yes, you can switch page layouts after you've started creating a page," despite the fact that our support manager, who is much more savvy in the ways of water fowl than the rest of us, says that a one-legged duck does not, in fact, swim in circles.)
If you have already placed photos or text on your page, they will be inserted into the new layout. If the layout you're changing from includes more photos than the layout you're changing to, the appropriate number of photos will be used. If you switch back to the original layout, all your photos will reappear.
If you'd like to see what other layouts are available but don't know how to find them check out the instructions for question 4.

6. How can I change the font used on text?

We default text to Georgia 12 pt but your not stuck with this and can change the font type, size, color and/or style (bold / italic) using the text editing tools. When you click into a text box you should see the text tool box open in the middle of the screen above your page. To change the font, highlight the text you're wanting to change then click the down arrow to select a different font type. To change the size, styling or color of your text click on the appropriate area of the text tool box.

7. How do I add or change a border to my image?

To spice up your photo with a border simply requires selecting the border style and then the color.  With the image you want to add the border to selected you'll need to click on the border style using the drop down arrow under Borders in the photo editing tool bar. Hovering over the border icons will provide a preview of how they will look on the page. Now select the desired border color and you're done. If you want to have the same border on the entire page you can do so by clicking on the Apply to Page button after selecting the image with the border you like best.
We will automatically apply the last border style to the next and all subsequent photos you add to the book.
To remove a border, select the photo and then select the red circle with the line through it.
Borders are not available on images that are adjacent to the edge of the page or on text boxes.

8. Will the outline of a photo container print if I don't put a photo in it?

If you leave any containers on a page empty, whether they're for text or photos, they will not print. So if you want to use one of the collage layouts but you have only five photos instead of eight, leave three of the spots empty and no one will ever know that you could have put eight pictures on the page.
To visualize how the book will look when printed click on the Preview icon.

9. Should my images be saved in CMYK or RGB

The most accurate reproduction of your image will be present in the printed book if your images are saved in sRGB colorspace. This will result in the image being displayed in the editor and printed with the same characteristics are your original file.

10. How can I view contributions made to my book or calendar?

If you've extended invitations for contributions to your book or calendar and people have uploaded their contributions to your project, those items will appear in your Photo gallery in the editor.  You can use the photo filters to display only the photos contributors have submitted by opening the Show filters window and placing a check mark next to the username.

11. Can I make things seem larger on my screen when I'm editing them?

If it feels like the editor is a little cramped, or if everything is a little smaller than you would prefer, there's a way to expand things to fill the full screen if you're using Internet Explorer 7 or Firefox 3. Press the F11 key and you'll switch to full-screen mode. The bars at the top and bottom of your screen will disappear, which leaves more room for Inkubook to expand. It makes quite a difference.
When you're done using full-screen mode and want to return to the way your screen normally looks, you need to do one of two things. If you're using Internet Explorer 7, press F11 a second time and your screen will be restored to normal setup. If you're using Firefox 3, hover your mouse at the top of the screen. The menu bar and open tabs will reappear and you'll be able to click the Minimize/Maximize button to restore your screen to normal view.

12. How do I turn the pages in preview mode?

When you're in preview mode, use the blue arrows at the bottom of your window to turn from one page to another or simply click on the page. The right-facing arrow flips the pages as if you're reading front-to-back. The left-facing arrow turns the pages the opposite way. Clicking on the left page of the book will turn the page back towards the front and clicking on the right-hand page will turn the page towards the back of the book.

Back to Top >


Editing and Creating - Book specific

1. How do I remove the Inkubook logo from the back cover?

To have the logo removed contact Customer Support either via Live Chat or by emailing support@inkubook.com with the request prior to submitting your order. The request should include the project title and your Inkubook email address. We will let you know when the logo removal is complete at which time the order can be submitted. Once the logo has been removed from a book it will not reappear unless you specifically request to have it added back.

2. How do I add text to the spine?

You can add text to the spine of a hardcover book with the following steps:
  • 1. Open the book in the editor and select either the front or back cover.
  • 2. Hover the mouse over the spine of the book and click the mouse button.
  • 3. Enter the desired text on the spine and click the Close button.

3. How do I move a page?

Select the Page Sorter link near the bottom right corner of the screen (it's the middle icon of the three).  There are a variety of ways to move pages:
  • 1. Single page
  • Click on the page, hold down the mouse button and move it to the new location.
  • 2. Multiple pages
  • a. Hold down the mouse button and drag the icon over all pages to be moved.  Now click and hold down the mouse button within the selected area and drag to the new location.
  • b. Hold down Ctrl button and click on each page to be moved.  Now click and hold down the mouse button within the selected area and drag to the new location.
  • c. Place a check mark in the box in the upper left corner of each page to be moved.  Now click and hold down the mouse button within the selected area and drag to the new location.
  • d. Hold down Shift key, click on the first page to be moved and then click on the last page to be moved.  Now click and hold down the mouse button within the selected area and drag to the new location.

4. How do I add pages?

If adding a page before, between or after the currently displayed pages you can click on the Add a New Page button in the tool bar. You’ll have the choice of adding before the left-hand page, between the two displayed pages or after the right-hand page.

If adding multiple pages to the book select elect the Page Sorter link near the bottom right corner of the screen (it's the middle icon of the three). Click on the ADD button in the lower left corner. Specify the number of pages to add, select where the pages should be added and click OK.

5. How do I delete a page?

If deleting one of the currently displayed pages you can click on the Delete a Page button in the tool bar. You can delete the left-hand page or the right-hand page.

If deleting multiple pages select the Page Sorter link near the bottom right corner of the screen (it's the middle icon of the three).  There are a variety of ways to move pages:
  • 1. Single page
  • Click on the page. Now click on the DELETE icon in the lower left corner and select OK to verify the delete.
  • 2. Multiple pages
  • a. Hold down the mouse button and drag the icon over all pages to be deleted.  Now click on the DELETE icon in the lower left corner and select OK to verify the delete.
  • b. Hold down Ctrl button and click on each page to be deleted.  Now click on the DELETE icon in the lower left corner and select OK to verify the delete.
  • c. Place a check mark in the box in the upper left corner of each page to be deleted.  Now click on the DELETE icon in the lower left corner and select OK to verify the delete.
  • d. Hold down Shift key, click on the first page to be moved and then click on the last page to be deleted.  Now click on the DELETE icon in the lower left corner and select OK to verify the delete.

6. Can I browse directly to a specific page?

To browse directly to a specific page from within the editor you can type the page number into the page number window and press the Enter key.
To browse directly to a specific page in the editor from the page sorter screen you double click on the page.

7. For a custom (full bleed) page what dimensions should my image be?

In order to account for the area trimmed during the printing process your image should be the sizes below depending on the book size: (Text and/or important image information should be kept at least .25 inches from the edge of the image to ensure it is not lost during the trim process.)
  • 7 x 5 - the image size should be 7.2 wide by 5.2 inches tall
  • 85 x 85 - the image size should be 8.7 wide by 8.7 inches tall
  • 11 x 85 (landscape) - the image size should be 11.2 wide by 8.7 inches tall
  • 85 x 11 (portrait) - the image size should be 8.7 wide by 11.2 inches tall.
  • 11 x 11 - the image size should be 11.2 wide x 11.2 inches tall
  • Check out the guidelines for how to size your full-page layouts.

8. For a custom (full bleed) cover what dimensions should my image be?

In order to account for the portion of the image wrapped around the case and the area cropped during the printing process your image should be the sizes below depending on the book size:
  • 7 x 5 Soft cover - the image size should be 7.2 wide by 5.2 inches tall
  • 7 x 5 Hardcover - the image size should be 7.75 wide by 6.5 inches tall
  • 85 x 85 Soft cover - the image size should be 8.7 wide by 8.7 inches tall
  • 85 x 85 Hardcover - the image size should be 8.875 wide by 10.25 inches tall
  • 11 x 85 (landscape) - the image size should be 11.375 wide by 10.25 inches tall
  • 85 x 11 (portrait) Soft cover - the image size should be 8.7 wide by 11.2 inches tall.
  • 85 x 11 (portrait) Hardcover - the image size should be 8.875 wide by 12.75 inches tall.
  • 11 x 11 - the image size should be 11.375 wide x 12.75 inches tall
  • Check out the guidelines for how to size your full-bleed cover layouts.
  • For hard cover books each of the above measurements take into account:
  • .3 inches on the left (front cover) or right (back cover) will be cropped.
  • .75 inches on the top and bottom will wrap around the case
  • .45 inches on the right (front cover) or left (back cover) will wrap around the case
  • The spine and gutter will display the background selected for the cover around the spine. Your image will not wrap around the spine of the book.

9. Can I build an Inkubook by uploading a PDF?

The only file types that can be uploaded to Inkubook are .JPG, .TIF and .PNG but books can be built from a PDF indirectly in a fairly simply manner using the steps below:
  • 1. Open the PDF and export the files to either .JPG, .TIF or .PNG file format. By default, the files will be named with the page number appended to the PDF name.
  • 2. Create a new Photo Book project.
  • 3. Select the appropriate book size and cover type and click Next.
  • 4. Select the theme "DIY Scrapbook" from the Photo Book theme category, enter a name for your project and click Next.
  • 5. Click on the Upload option for selecting photos and browse to the directory that contains the image files from your PDF.
  • 6. Select the files in the order they should be placed in the book and click on Open.
  • 7. Place a check mark next to "I want photos placed for me".
  • 8. Select the Full Page format (bottom right option) and click Finished.
We'll auto-fill the images into the book in the order you selected them in Step 6 then you'll just need to upload / design the front and back cover to have a completed book.

10.  How many pages can be in my book?

Books created with Inkubook must have at least 20 pages, and they cannot be more than 200 pages. Books must be printed with page counts that are multiples of two (20, 22, 24, 26, and so on). If you create a book with 45 pages, the printer will add one blank page so that the total is 46 pages.

11. How do I create a cover for my book?

A book without a cover is a little like a house without a roof, isn't it? It just wouldn't be right. Here's how to customize the cover for your book:

In the editing tool, the "pages" for your front cover and back cover are automatically created when you start a new book project. The front cover is represented by the FC page and the back cover is represented by BC. To add photos and text to your covers, simply enter FC or BC and press Enter in the page field or click on the arrow icon. After either cover is displaying in the editing pane, you can chose a cover layout from the Layouts gallery and add text or photos to it as you would any other page in the book.

12. How do I change the size and/or cover type of my book?

You can change to a different book size or cover type by making a copy of the book with the following steps:
  • 1. With the book selected on the bookshelf click on the Copy icon.
  • 2. Enter the book name.
  • 3. Select the desired size and cover type from the drop down list.
  • 4. Click on Copy.
When the copy process is complete the new book will open in the editor. If you've change the book size you'll want to check the content on every page and the covers to make sure everything is correct.  If your copy is the same size but a different cover type you should verify the front and back cover are correct.


Back to Top >


Editing and Creating - Calendar specific

1. Can I enter text to a specific day or any area of the calendar?

Yes, you can customize your calendar to include text for special dates by adding text anywhere.
With the calendar open to the appropriate month click on the "Add a New Text Box" button. Now move the text box to the desired location, change the text box size if necessary and enter your text.
NOTE - Instructions for moving and changing the size of text boxes.

2. Can I make a calendar that starts in a month other than January?

At this time we only have calendars available that start in January and end in December.

3. For a custom (full bleed) page what dimensions should my image be?

In order to account for the area trimmed during the printing process your image should 13.7 inches wide by 8.95 inches tall.
Text and/or important image information should be kept at least .5 inches from the top edge of the image to ensure it is not lost during the wire warp holes.
- the visible portion of the image will be 13.5 inches wide by 8.85 inches tall.

Back to Top >


Photos

1. How do I add photos to the gallery for my book project?

  • Click the Get Photos button.
  • Click the Upload button to get photos from your own computer, or click one of the Import buttons to get photos from another Inkubook project, Facebook or Flickr. Select the file/s you want to use and click the Open or Import button.
  • Click the Finished button, the screen will close, and all the file will be uploaded to the Inkubook server and appear in your Photos gallery. While images are uploading, you can work on other things in your book editor.

2. Can I upload more than one photo at a time?

Mais, oui! Here's how you do it: 
  • Click the Get Photos button.
  • Click the Upload button to get photos from your own computer, or click one of the Import buttons to get photos from another Inkubook project, Facebook or Flickr. Select the files you want to use and click the Open or Import button.
  • If you want to upload more photos that are in a different folder, repeat the steps above for each separate folder.
  • Click the Finished button. The screen will close and all the selected files will be uploaded to the Inkubook server and appear in your Photos gallery.

3. How do I delete photos from the gallery for my book project?

  • From the book editor hover over the image you want to delete
  • Click on the red x in the upper right corner of the image.
  • If the photo is placed on a page you will receive a prompt outlining which pages the image is placed on and verifying that you want to remove the image from the book and gallery. Clicking Delete will remove the photo from the page/s and the gallery.
  • If the photo is not placed on any page of the book you will be presented with a Delete Photo verification message. Click on the Delete button when prompted. (The prompt will only appear the first time you delete a photo. All subsequent deletes will be automatic with no prompt.)

4. How do I move a photo from one place on a page to another?

  • Select the photo you want to move.
  • Hold down the left mouse button and drag the photo to its new location and once you're ready to complete the more let go of the mouse button.
  • If there was an image in the placement that you have drug the image to then the images will swap places.
  • It is only possible to move a photo to a different placement on its current page or the facing page

5. Why does it sometimes seem to take a long time to upload photos?

When photos are uploaded to Inkubook, we import an exact copy of your original file so that the photo is a sufficient resolution to be used in a high-quality photo book or calendar. We also make a second copy at a lower resolution, which will be used for the thumbnail version that appears in your Photos gallery. All this is a much more complicated process than when you upload photos for other purposes that might have simpler requirements, such as when you upload a photo that will be used as an avatar or profile picture. Consequently, it can take a fair bit of time to upload photos for your book. We are constantly working to improve this process to make it even faster than it already is.

6. Why can't I upload my photos?

If you're having difficulty uploading photos, the most likely issues below:
  • 1. If your photos are stored in iPhoto you will need to export them to a folder or your desktop and upload to Inkubook from this new location. You can do this by selecting the photos and then clicking on Export from the file menu.
  • 2. The size of the files or the number of files is large. Large files might cause a problem if your connection to the Internet is intermittent or slow. Try uploading fewer files at one time or using smaller files.
  • 3. If you are uploading a large number or files and your computers Power Management settings are set to turn off your hard drive prior to the upload completing you'll need to disable power management temporarily or lengthen the shutdown period.
If problems persists please contact our online support representatives (go to the Support page to start chatting with someone) or contact us by phone or email and we'll help you troubleshoot the problem.

7. Can I add photos from several different folders to my project?

Adding photos from more than one folder on your hard drive is no problem. Just follow the steps described in the "Can I upload more than one photo at a time?" answer. You can add photos from as many different folders as you need to.

8. How do I add a photo to a page?

Adding a photo to a page is a snap. All you have to do is drag the photo from the photo gallery to the picture container on the page where you want the photo to appear. If you need more information about how to add photos to the gallery, please see the FAQ that explains how to upload photos.

9. What types of photos can I use in Inkubook?

You can use photos of most anything—cats, dogs, wombats, lemurs, wildebeests—the list goes on.
Oh, you probably want to know what file types work, right? If that's the case, your image files should be in one of these formats: .jpg, .tif, or .png.

10. What file size should my photos be?

Image files must be 20MB or smaller.  The image must also be less than 7000 pixels wide or tall.

11. What's the best resolution for my photos?

The highest resolution your Inkubook can be printed at is 300 pixels per inch (300 PPI). Placing images larger than this on a page will not improve the quality of your printed book or calendar. Larger images will make uploading more difficult, or even impossible, and may also result in a distorted image.
300 PPI is the optimal resolution. If you use a photo that is 200 PPI or smaller, you'll receive a warning that the printed picture might not look as great as you'd like in the finished product.

12. Can I use pictures from sources other than my computer?

As a matter of fact, you can import photos from Flickr and Facebook.
Here's what you need to do:
  • Click the Get Photos button just as you would if you were planning to retrieve a photo from your hard drive.
  • Click the Import button next to the Flickr or Facebook logo in the Select Your Photos box.
  • On your first attempt to import photos, you'll be asked to grant authorization for Inkubook to make a connection with your account. Follow the instructions to grant this authorization.
  • Using the drop-down options next to "Select a Photo Set" find the group of photos from which you want to import. Thumbnail images of the selected set will display in the pane.
  • Click the photos you want to import. If you want to choose a bunch of photos that are all right in a row, press the Shift key while you click on each photo. If you want to choose photos that aren't one after another, press the Ctrl key while you click.
  • When all the photos you want to upload have been selected (a green box should appear around each selected photo), click the Upload button at the bottom of the screen. The window will close, and you can proceed with other business in the editor while the photos upload to the server.

13. Is there a limit on how many photos I can have in a book?

There's only one thing that limits how many photos you can have in the book and that is the number of photo blocks available in the layouts you choose. If your objective is to use as many photos as you possibly can, you could use the overlapping collage layout on every page. We suppose that would be a lot of photos and we could probably figure out exactly how many it would be, but that would feel too much like math class. (Oh, who are we kidding? We had to know. If you use the collage layout on every editable page of a 200-page Classic Landscape book, you could use 2400 photos.)

14. Why does it look like the edges of my photo are cut off when I place a photo that goes to the edges of the book?

One step in the binding process is the trimming of the pages. Trimming is what the printer does to make sure that the pages inside your book (the "guts") align properly with the cover. About a quarter of an inch is trimmed off. You also have to be aware of what might fall into the gutter of the book (that's the edge of the book that's bound.)
When you use preview to look at a page of your book with a full-bleed photo (one that extends all the way to the edges), it is shown with the edges trimmed off and we've tried to simulate what the gutter will look like. It's not perfect, though, because our image is totally flat but your book won't be. We suggest that on full-bleed pages you not use any photos that have something really important (like the top of Aunt Betty's beehive) around the edges of the picture.
If you'll be using a graphics program to customize full-page layouts, you can refer to this document   for some guidelines on how to size your pages.

15. On the layout that uses an image as a background for other images, is there a way to make the background image lighter than the other images?

Currently there is not a photo-editing tool in Inkubook that you can use to adjust a photo in this way. If you want a background image to have the appearance of being lighter or more grayed out than the images in the foreground, you should modify the background photo in a photo-editing application before importing it to Inkubook.

16. Can I use scanned images?

As long as your scanned images are one of the supported file types (.jpg, .tif, or .png) you can use them. There might be some degradation in the quality of scanned images, though, so you should check them carefully to make sure the photo looks okay after you've scanned it.
When scanning photos we suggest you set your scanner at the highest resolution available with your scanner. This will make it possible to print the image at a larger size than its original size.

17. Can I use a photo more than one time in the same project?

Absolutely. Let's say you have this one photo. It's beautiful. As far as you're concerned, it's the only photo worth looking at in the whole wide world. You want to put it on every page of your book. Go for it! There's nothing in Inkubook that will prevent this. You can reuse one or several photos as many times as you'd like.
If your objective is to not use any photos more than once, we've tried to help make it easier for you to tell what's already in the book. Photos that you've used will have a green checkmark next to them in the Photos gallery. You can also sort your gallery by Used, Unused, and All photos.

18. Why do my photos look like they're sideways?

First, is there a chance that:
  • You are lying on your side?
  • Your monitor is lying on its side (perhaps as the result of an earthquake, mudslide, or other catastrophic event)?
  • Your pictures were sideways to start with?
Our best guess is that C is the most likely answer. The Inkubook editor is designed to take images as they are and put them into the book. You can use the rotate tool on the photo-editing toolbar to make your photo right-side up again.

19. How do I import photos from Flickr?

The window that opens after you click Get Photos offers you two options for getting photos. You can browse your computer or you can click the Import button that's to the left of the Flickr logo. The first time you click Import you'll have to give Flickr permission to share your photos with Inkubook. You should only have to do this one time, and there are step-by-step instructions to tell you what to do. (Basically, you'll sign into Flickr and click an Authorize button, then you'll be ready to select the photos you want.)
When you select photos in Flickr to be imported into Inkubook, we'll grab the largest available file for each photo. In some cases, the quality of this photo might not be the same as the quality of the photo you originally uploaded to Flickr due to certain stipulations Flickr puts on what types of files we can grab. If you place one of your Flickr photos in a layout and you receive the low resolution warning, you can try placing the photo in a smaller photo container.
If you're particular about making sure that the original photo that's in Flickr gets into your book, you can consider upgrading your Flickr account to a Pro account, which has an annual fee. Inkubook certainly does not require you to have a Pro Account with Flickr in order to use photos from your account, but the option is available to you if you choose to exercise it.

20. Why does the background of my transparent PNG file appear as black?

PNG files uploaded prior to September 27, 2010 that utilized transparencies will not display properly within the editor nor will they print correctly.  We modified the way these files are handled so that they will display properly in the editor and print properly on the 27th so you will need to upload the file again and place it on the page to take advantage of the change.

Back to Top >


Text

1. How do I add a text box

A text box can be added by clicking on the “Add a New Text Box” button in the tool bar. Depending on whether you’re adding the text box to the left or right hand page click on the appropriate button. We’ll add the text box to the page where there isn’t any other object, text or photo, or if there is no blank location on the page we’ll add the box to the middle of the page.

2. How do I move a text box?

Moving a text box can be done with either the mouse or keyboard.
  • a) Hover the mouse slightly inside the text box border, hold down the left mouse button and drag the text box to the desired page location.
  • b) To move using the keyboard click on the text box border and then use the arrow keys to fine tune the location.

3. How do I change the text box size?

Hover the mouse over the text box border and handles at each corner and the middle of each border line. Hold down the left mouse button over the handle that will affect the desired text box size and drag the handle in the desired direction.

4. How do I delete a text box?

A) Select the text box by clicking inside it.
B) Click on the Remove text box button in the tool bar.

5. How do I place text on a page?

If you or a contributor has uploaded text files to your project, those text files will show up as thumbnails in your Text gallery. To add one of them to a page, drag the thumbnail from the gallery to the appropriate text block on the page. To learn more about uploading a text file to your project, please read the "Can I import a text file into Inkubook?" FAQ.

You can also add text to a page by clicking on a text block. Your cursor will appear in the text block and a small formatting toolbar will open. You can type your text directly in the text block.

6. Can I paste text into Inkubook?

But of course... We don't discriminate against text from other programs, in fact we encourage such activity. To paste text into Inkubook you first need to copy the text from it's current locale, open the desired text box and then hold down the Ctrl button and then the V key (For Mac users Apple - V to paste).You can also paste text into Inkubook by opening the text box, right clicking and select paste.

7. How do I change the font of my text?

When you click in any text block within the book editor your cursor will be placed in the box so that you can edit the text. A toolbar appears that allows you to change the font, type style (bold or italic), alignment, color, and size of your text.

8. Can I use non-English and/or special characters (such as accent marks and copyright symbols) in the text of my book?

Non-English and special characters are not be a problem with Inkubook. You can type them directly into the text box, upload a text file that includes the characters or copy from a document and paste into Inkubook. If they look okay on the screen then they'll  print properly in the book. 

9. Is there a way I can check my spelling in Inkubook?

We're confident that you'll spell everything perfectly when you first enter it, but we've included a spell checker just in case.

Words that aren’t in the dictionary are automatically flagged with a squiggly underline as you type them.  If you right click on the word we’ll offer suggestions on the correct spelling or allow you to add the word to your personal dictionary.  Of course you can always ignore the squiggly line.

10. Can I import a text file into Inkubook?

Yep, you can. One thing to note, though, is that once a text file is in Inkubook, you can't break it into separate pieces. If you have a file that contains enough text for every page of your book, we recommend that you break it into separate files (one for each page).

To import or upload a text file, follow these steps:
  • With your project open in the editor and select the Text tab.
  • Now click on the Upload Text File button.
  • Click the Browse button and browse to the location of your text file or files. After you've found what you're looking for and made your selection, click the Open button.
  • If you want to upload more text files that are in a different folder, repeat the steps above to add the other text files to the list.
  • Click the Finished button, and all the files in the list or the text you typed will be uploaded to the Inkubook server.

11. Why does my text appear fuzzy when it is part of an image file?

When you upload an image to Inkubook we store your original file and make smaller version of the image for use in the editor and preview. The smaller file has a lower resolution which doesn't affect pictures but can affect text clarity. The original high resolution file you uploaded will be used to print your book which means the printed book will have the text exactly as it should be.

12. Why does my text disappear when I change the layout of a page?

If you change the layout of a page from one that includes photos and text to one that includes only photos or photos and captions, the text entered on the original page will no longer be visible. If you switch it back to a layout that includes a text box, your text will reappear.

13. Can I use my own fonts to create my book or calendar?

Unfortunately, fonts are a tricky business. In order to make them look like you would expect, we have to make sure that our server and your computer share the exact same font files. Because there are literally a bazillion fonts (trust us, we put an intern to work counting them all), we've played it safe by choosing the most common fonts. We can pretty much count on everyone having the fonts we've chosen.

If you are particularly inclined toward the graphic arts and you absolutely have to have a particular font because no other font will do, we suggest that you buck the system and convert your text to a graphic file. Then you can insert it as an image. Just don’t tell anyone we told you that, okay?

Back to Top >

Windows Live Photo Gallery

1. Can I use the Inkubook plugin with Windows XP?

Yes you can build Inkubook books or calenders with earlies versions of the Photo Gallery. You'll first need to install the Inkubook plugin from http://inkubook.com/WindowsLivePhotoBooks .
Now when you open the WIndows Photo Gallery you can create an Inkubook project by selecting the Inkubook Photo Book Uploader from the Publish pull down menu.

2. Can I change the title of my project?

You can change the name of any project created in the Windows Live Photo Gallery. To do this click on the Inkubook plug-in icon, click on the arrow in the upper right corner of the project and select Rename. Enter your login credentials, enter the new project name and click Ok.

Back to Top >

Facebook

1. How do I upload Facebook photos to Inkubook?

Here's what you need to do:
  • Click the Get Photos button just as you would if you were planning to retrieve a photo from your hard drive.
  • Click the Import button next to the Facebook logo in the Select Your Photos box.
  • On your first attempt to import photos, you'll be asked to grant authorization for Inkubook to make a connection with your account. Follow the instructions to grant this authorization.
  • Using the drop-down options next to "Select a Photo Set" find the group of photos from which you want to import. Thumbnail images of the selected set will display in the pane.
  • Click the photos you want to import. If you want to choose a bunch of photos that are all right in a row, press the Shift key while you click on each photo. If you want to choose photos that aren't one after another, press the Ctrl key while you click.
  • When all the photos you want to upload have been selected (a green box should appear around each selected photo), click the Upload button at the bottom of the screen. The window will close, and you can proceed with other business in the editor while the photos upload to the server.

2. Are Facebook photos low resolution?

The answer depends on when you upload the image, whether you up specified to upload the high resolution version and the original photo quality.  In late November 2010 Facebook improved their photo feature to support images up to 2048 pixels wide or tall.  A 2048 pixel tall image could be placed into a placement of up to 10 inches tall without triggering a low resolution warning.

3. Can I import photos from Facebook without logging into Facebook?

If you have not linked your Facebook account and Inkubook account then you can import photos from any Facebook account that you have access to (you'll need the username and password). When you click on the Facebook icon in Get Photos you'll be prompted for a Facebook Email and Password. Once this is entered and you Allow Inkubook access then the photos will be available.
If you've logged into Inkubook via the Facebook login then you'll only have access to your photos.

4. How do I revert to logging in with Inkubook password?

If you decide to delete your Facebook account or simply don't want to it linked to Inkubook any longer you'll need to contact support and request that the link between Facebook and Inkubook be removed. They will reset your Inkubook password which will allow you to login.

5. How do I link an existing Inkubook account with a Facebook account if their email addresses don't match?

We're not able to link the accounts unless the email addresses match. You can change your Facebook email address to match Inkubook or contact Inkubook support and have them change your Inkubook email address. Once the email addresses match you can either launch the Inkubook app in Facebook or click on the Facebook login icon on the Inkubook home page.


Back to Top >
Ordering and Shipping

1. If I've made more than one book can I order copies of each of them at the same time?

Yes, you can order multiple projects in a single order as long as the shipping address for all of them is the same. To add projects to your order you simply click on the "Add Another Item" button that's located in the Item Details page.  The projects are listed from left to right by last modified date.  To switch between Books, Calendars and cards you can click on the appropriate tab.  Once you find the desired project click on Add to Cart, select the desired cover finish, end leaf color and quantity then add additional project, specify the coupon code and/or shipping method then click on Summary and Payment to continue.

2. How do I remove the Inkubook logo from the back cover?

To have the logo removed contact Customer Support via either Live Chat or by emailing support@inkubook.com with the requests prior to submitting your order. The requests should include the project title and your Inkubook email address. We will let you know when the logo removal is complete at which time the order can be submitted. Once the logo has been removed from a project it will continue to be gone unless you specifically requests us to add it back.

3. How much is shipping?

Shipping costs vary depending on the shipping method you choose and your location. Visit the Shippingpage for more details.

4. How long does shipping take?

Shipping times vary depending on the shipping method you choose and your location. Visit the Shippingpage for more details. Reminder: Shipping days are added to the number of days it takes to print your book. Books are printed in 2 to 6 business days.

5. Can I place a rush order?

Inkubook offers next day and 2nd day shipping options that will expedite your order. (Or international express shipping if you're outside the U.S.) There is not an expedited printing option.

6. What are the Inkubook payment options?

Mastercard, Visa, Discover, and American Express are accepted forms of payment.

7. Can I order more than one copy of my book at a time?

Certainly. As you put in the details of your order, you'll run across a box where you can enter the quantity of books that you'd like to order. Enter the number and when you click out of the box  the screen will refresh accordingly. If you're ordering quite a few copies of your book, you can also use our Volume Pricing form to get more information about bulk pricing.

8. Can I order multiple copies of my book and have them shipped to multiple addresses?

At present, you must place a separate order for each address.

9. Can I get a discount if I order lots of copies of my book?

If you'd like to order multiple copies, we'd love to talk to you about a custom quote for your order. Just fill out our Volume Pricing form and an Inkubook representative will be in touch with you as soon as possible.

10. Will Inkubook ship to addresses outside the U.S.?

Yes, there is an international shipping option. For more details, please review our shipping information.

11. Is my personal information protected when I order my book from Inkubook?

Absolutely. While we collect a small amount of information during the purchasing process (so we know where to send your book) all the important private information is transferred via a secure connection to a third party that specializes in credit card transactions. That means that we never even see that information and everything is protected with the same level of security as is practiced by banks. We don't store any of your private information.

12. Is it possible to cancel or change an order after it's been submitted?

Your file is delivered immediately to the printer, which means the printed product is delivered to you in the shortest amount of time possible, but it also means that we are unable to cancel any orders. Orders are final as soon as the Buy button is clicked.

13. Is it possible to use multiple coupons on a single order?

No, only one coupon code can be used per order.

14. What is the Inkubook return policy?

The craftsmanship of printed and bound Inkubooks is guaranteed. If you receive a book that is damaged or is defectively assembled, please contact support@inkubook.com within two weeks (14 days) of receiving the package and we will assist you with obtaining a replacement copy. Please review the full Return Policy for the complete information.

Back to Top >

Printing

1. What are my choices for book size and cover options?

The current size choices are the 8.5" x 8.5" Simple Square in softcover, the 11.5" x 8.5" Classic Landscape in hardcover, the 8.5" x 11" Ultimate Portrait in hardcover, and the 11" x 11" Great Big Square in hardcover. Please visit the Styles & Pricing page for more information about other formats that Inkubook will soon be offering.

2. What kind of paper will my book be printed on?

All books from Inkubook are printed on 100 lb. silk paper, which has a nice sheen without being super shiny and prone to collecting fingerprints (unless touched with fingers covered in chocolate, peanut butter, BBQ sauce, or other tasty treats).

3. What kind of stock will the cover for my softcover book be printed on?

Softcovers are printed on 100 lb. silk cover stock.

4. How long will it take to print my book?

Softcovers can generally be printed in two (2) to four (4) business days. Hardcovers are usually printed in four (4) to six (6) days. Printing schedules do depend on demand, so during the busiest periods printing times might be a little longer.

5. What resolution do I need to use for my photos so that they print well?

The highest resolution your Inkubook can be printed at is 300 pixels per inch (300 PPI). Placing images larger than this on a page will not improve the quality of your printed book. Larger images will make uploading more difficult, or even impossible, and may also result in a distorted image.

300 PPI is the optimal resolution. If you use a photo that is 200 PPI or smaller, you'll receive a warning that the printed picture might not look as great as you'd like in the finished book.

Back to Top >
Inviting Others to Make Contributions

1. How do I send an invitation for contributions?

Open the project on your bookshelf and click on the Invite button or click on Invite from the editor. On the next screen you can copy the URL and paste this into your email program along with a message outlining what the link is for, the project you’re working on and any other relevant information.

If you use Yahoo!, Hotmail or Gmail to manage your email, you can click on the appropriate icon and send the invitation directly from these programs. We've provided some basic text that will be in the email the invitees receive, but you're welcome to write a custom message. Click the Send button, and your invitations will be on their way!

2. Do people I invite to contribute to my project have to be a member of Inkubook?

The people you invite to contribute to your project don't have to be members of Inkubook at the time you issue the invitation, but they will need to sign up to be able to submit photos or text.

3. If I invite more than one person to contribute to my project, will each person be able to see the contributions of the other invitees?

Each invitee will be able to see a preview of your book or calendar, so any contributions that you've used will be viewable by all contributors.

4. Will the people who contribute to my project be able to buy a copy?

As long as your contributors have money we will gladly sell them a copy of your book or calendar. All they need to do is click the Buy button on the user home page or in the preview.

If your contributors don’t have any money, maybe you can let them look at your lovely Inkubook and then they'll get motivated to find a job so they have some money to buy their own copies. Or maybe you can work out some sort of barter system with them. They could do some yard work for you, or maybe they could give you some livestock, and in exchange you could buy them books and calendars.

5. How can I view contributions?

If you've extended invitations for contributions to your book and people have uploaded their contributions to your project, those items will appear in your Photo and Text galleries in the  editor.

Back to Top >


Making Contributions to Others' Books and Calendars

1. How do I contribute text or photos to a book or calendar?

First, you'll receive an invitation email. In it will be a link that you should use to get to Inkubook. Even if you already have an Inkubook account, use the link in the email because it's going to take you to the specific project you've been invited to contribute to. After the invitation page is open in your browser, use the appropriate link on the page to either sign up or sign in.

After you've signed in, the book or calendar you've been invited to will be the displayed on your user bookshelf. You have the option to copy, delete (from your account), preview or purchase it. If you'd like to contribute photos to the project, click the Preview button and then use the Get Photos button from within the preview and follow the appropriate steps for uploading photos.

2. How much text can I contribute to a book?

Well, that kind of depends. The most text that could fit in any one of the Inkubook layouts is about 30,000 characters, and that would be 8-point type on the layout that is one large text block in the Classic Landscape book. Our best advice is to use some discretion. Ultimately the project owner is going to decide how much of what you contribute will be in the final book, so that person would probably appreciate it if you don't submit War and Peace as your contribution.

3. Can I upload more than one photo at a time?

Mais, oui! Here's how you do it:
  1. From your user home page or the book editor, click the Get Photos button.
  2. In the Submit Content area, make sure that you're on the Upload Images tab.
  3. Click the Browse button on the Upload Images tab. In the dialog box that opens, browse to the location of your photo files. Select the files you want to use then click the Open button. All selected files will be uploaded to the Inkubook server
  4. If you want to upload more photos that are in a different folder, repeat the steps for each separate folder.

4. What size do the photos I contribute have to be?

The highest resolution an Inkubook can be printed at is 300 pixels per inch (300 PPI).  Placing images larger than this on a page will not improve the quality of the printed book. Larger images will make uploading more difficult, or even impossible, and may also result in a distorted image.

300 PPI is the optimal resolution. If you use a photo that is 200 PPI or smaller, you'll receive a warning that the printed picture might not look as great as you'd like in the finished book.

5. If there's more than one person contributing to the same book that I'm contributing to, will the other people be able to see my contributions?

Other contributors will only be able to see your photo and text submissions if the project owner uses them in the book. All contributors will be able to see a preview of a book, so each of you can see how your contributions were used by the owner. Other contributors will not be able to see the individual photo and text submissions that you made until they're in the book. Remember that the book owner will be able to use any of the photos you submit, so if that picture of you wearing the ginormous sombrero is something that you'd rather not have anyone else see, it's best to keep it to yourself.

6. Can I purchase the book I've contributed to?

Assuming that you have a widely recognized, valid form of payment, we will accept it in exchange for a brand-spanking new (and dare we say sexy?) photo book. Click the Buy button next to a book on your user home page, within the book editor, or from the Book Preview and we’ll take you step-by-step through the purchase process. At this time, the "widely recognized, valid forms of payment" we're talking about do not include Diner’s Club cards, wampum, or hobo nickels, despite what you might have heard. (We do accept Mastercard, Visa, Discover, and American Express, though.)

Back to Top >

Profile and Password Management

1. How do I change my password?

After signing in to Inkubook, choose Account from the top navigation on your user home page. On the Account screen, click the Change Password button. On the page that opens, enter your current password in the first box and your new password in the second and third boxes. Then click the Change Password button. Your new password will be in effect the next time you log in to Inkubook.

2. What do I do if I can't remember my password?

There is a "Forgot password?" link on the sign-in window. When you use this link, you'll enter the email address that's on your Inkubook account, and we'll send you a new password. It'll be a crazy combination of letters, numbers, and symbols, which makes it very fancy, very secure, and very forgettable. Consequently, you'll probably want to change the password after the first time you've logged in with it. Check out the "How do I change my password FAQ?" for more information on how to do that.

3. How do I change my screen name?

Your screen name will be displayed as either your Name or as your email address if no name has been entered.  To enter your name click on the Account link on the Home page, enter the information and click on the Save Profile button.

4. How can I cancel my Inkubook account?

You can cancel your Inkubook account at any time by sending a written request to admin@inkubook.com.

Back to Top >


Share

1. What does Share mean?

Sharing allows you to create a virtual copy of your book and then place a link to the book on Facebook or your blog. Your friends and family can flip through the virtual copy of your Inkubook at their leisure.

2. If I make changes to the book do I have to create a new share?

To have the changes show up on an existing share all you have to do is click on Share and wait for the update to complete. Once the update is complete you will then need to share the widget to the desired location to have the new version displayed.

Back to Top >


© Copyright 2012 Inkubook   All Rights Reserved.