Bob Books | Online Book Creator Frequently Asked Questions

1 USING THE ONLINE BOOK CREATOR

1.1 Why should I use the Online Book Creator instead of the downloadable software?

The Online Book Creator is the easiest and quickest way to create a photobook. There is no need to download our software; you can access your work from any computer, all you need is the internet. Once you start a new book project, it will be stored on our servers for 30 days. Please note the photographic paper book range is not available through the online book creator.

1.2 Which books can I order with the Online Book Creator?

We currently have available two formats, our paperback and our standard hardback range. The paperback books are available in portrait and square sizes. The standard hardback books are available in four sizes: large square, portrait, landscape and square. The maximum number of pages available varies depending on which format and product you choose. All of our books start from 26 pages and increase in 8 page increments to maximum 154 pages.

Product Name	Max Pages	Approx Size
Large Portrait Hardback	154	30 x 30
Portrait Hardback (A4)	154	21 x 28
Landscape Hardback	154	28 x 21
Square Hardback	98	21 x 21
Portrait Paperback	130	21 x 28
Square Paperback	98	21 x 21

1.3 How do I get started using the Online Book Creator?

Login to the Online Book Creator {insert hyperlink} and click on the ‘create new photobook’ icon. Then select the format and type of your book and upload your photos. You can either choose from our pre-set themes or go straight to the Online Book Creator to and design your book. Edit your book including your cover and select the number of pages you would like in your photobook. Once you are happy with the design of your book, carefully review and order.

1.4 How do I arrange my images?

You can select from a variety of layouts and backgrounds once you are in the Online Book Creator and then simply drag and drop your photos into the image boxes.

1.5 Can I use scanned images or documents to in my Bob Books photobook?

You can scan old photos, paper prints, slides (if your scanner has the ability) or even sketches and drawings and insert the digital files into your photobook. Scan the pictures in at 300 dpi and roughly to the scale you would like it to appear in your Bob Book.

A hint for professionals: Please use only images within RGB-colour scale with a picture depth of 12 bit. LZW-compressed TIFF images cannot be processed.

1.6 Can I make calendars with the Online Book Creator?

The Online Book Creator is only available to use for photobooks at the moment. However we are planning to release a calendar version in the near future.

1.7 Can I make changes after I have completed payment for my order?

You can edit or make changes to your book up to the point of entering your card details or voucher code and pressing the order button. Once the order has been placed, you cannot make any changes as it enters into production.

1.8 Can I move pages?

The Online Book Creator has fewer functions than our software; therefore you cannot move pages around.

1.9 How long will it take to upload my images?

It is recommended that you have a broadband Internet connection or equivalent. If you are using wireless Internet, please try to connect directly to your router to gain the best signal strength for the upload of your photobook images. Please note that it can take up to several hours to fully upload all of your images because the files are not compressed.

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2 REQUIREMENTS

2.1 What are the system requirements?

The Online Book Creator is compatible with all Windows® operating systems (from 2000, NT 6.0, XP Home Edition to Professional) and on any Intel based Mac running a Windows operating system. The Online Book Creator is compatible with Firefox, Internet Explorer and Google Chrome web browsers.

2.2 Do I need an Internet connection to use the Online Book Creator?

Internet access is required; it is recommended that you have a broadband Internet connection or equivalent. If you are using wireless Internet, please try to connect directly to your router or position your computer near your router to gain the best signal strength while you are working on your Bob Book photobook design.

You will require an e-mail account so we can keep you informed about the status of your photobook order.

2.3 a) Can I use all my digital photographs?

There are many advantages to digital photographs – you can view the pictures on your PC or e-mail them to friends. However not every digital image is suitable for printing. Any image that does not meet these requirements will be "flagged" by a red or yellow warning box. If the resolution is too low it will affect the printed quality, we recommend a resolution of 300 dpi. We suggest that your digital photographs are always taken at the highest resolution to ensure the best standard of print. Images that have been flagged with the warning will still be printed, though it is at your discretion as to whether you choose to use these images that have been "flagged".

2.3 b) Can I use non-digital images?

You are certainly able to use non-digital photographs. In order to do this, you will need to scan these photos into jpeg or tiff format and at a resolution of 300 dpi. Once you have done this you will easily be able to integrate these into the Online Book Creator.

Any image that does not meet these requirements will be "flagged" by a red or yellow warning box. To check if your images are of print quality, click on each image box and view the information provided. A green face means your image of print quality, a yellow face means your image may come out looking slightly pixelated and a red face means we don’t recommend you using the image at this size. If any of your images are of low resolution, you may still be able to include these by reducing the size of the image box. You may find that your scanned images will be met with this warning system. Any images that have been flagged with the warning will be printed, though it is at your discretion as to whether you choose to use these images that have been "flagged".

2.4 Are my images of a high enough quality?

Bob books are printed at 300 dpi, therefore the resolution of your images must be 300dpi. Using images with a larger dpi will not improve your book as our printer is set to print at 300 dpi.

When using the Online Book Creator to create your Bob Book you may use photographs from a digital camera or photos that have been scanned. For the images to be useable they should be scanned in at a minimum resolution of 300 dpi and saved in the RGB format, ideally as JPEGs. Scans of 150 dpi and 72 dpi will be too low in quality to be used, however they can still be printed. Due to the nature of the original image, you may find the Online Book Creator will warn you if you use a low resolution image. The image box frame will turn yellow if the resolution of the image it contains is bordering on being too low or red if it cannot be used. If so, you should either replace it with a higher resolution photograph or resize the image box.

2.5 What colour format/space should I use?

Colour reproduction changes from screen to screen therefore the colours in the printed book may differ slightly to your digital photographs. You may also notice differences between different manufactures and medium of print.

Bob Books recommends all of your images to be in RGB or sRGB format/space. If your images are in CMYK, please convert them to RGB. We are unable to offer colour or ICC profiles, however, we are able send our customers an RGB and Greyscale swatch colour tool to help with colour management. Please contact us at askbob@bobbooks.co.uk to request this sample.

2.6 Which image format should I use?

You can use images saved in all established formats (BMP, JPEG, TIFF, PNG), however TIFF files with LZW-compression cannot be used. We recommend saving your files as JPEGS to avoid complications.

2.7 Can I use any font?

The Online Book Creator lets you add captions to your photos, even text or poems. You can create your text in any size or colour. To enable correct reproduction, the fonts that you can use are limited to the fonts supplied as standard with the Online Book Creator. It is currently not possible to use different fonts, particularly Cyrillic or Arabic fonts. If you wish to use another font we suggest that you convert it into an image using an external software such as Photoshop and add it as an image to your individual photobook.

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3. ORDERING

3.1 How do I order my Bob Book?

After you have finished designing your Bob Book and you have reviewed your photo book; you can click the order icon in the bottom right of the page.

The Online Book Creator will lead you through the process. Upon completion of delivery details and payment, the Online Book Creator will send the book files to our lovely printers to be made. You will be notified of your order status by e-mail and again when your order is nearing completion and is being prepared to ship.

The average production and delivery time for your photobook is 7-10 working days.

3.2 Will I be notified of my photobook order?

As soon as your Bob Book order is fully uploaded into the system, you will be informed via e-mail of your order details. When your photobook order is nearing completion, you will receive a secondary email informing you of this.

3.3 When will I receive my photobook order?

The average processing time for your photobook is 7-12 working days.

Unfortunately, a guaranteed time of delivery on a requested date is not possible so please place your photobook order in plenty of time. For delivery to Europe please allow an additional four to five days and for delivery outside Europe please allow and additional five to eight days for delivery time.

Your photobook order will be sent out First Class Royal Mail. However, if your order is over 2kgs, it will be sent via couriered service. Deliveries outside Europe will be sent via Royal Mail.

3.4 What if I am not happy with my Bob Book?

We want you to be completely satisfied with your Bob Book. We therefore welcome all your suggestions. If you have questions on designing your photobook or using the Online Book Creator please contact us at askbob@bobbooks.co.uk

If your Bob Book has been damaged or you are not completely satisfied, please contact us at askbob@bobbooks.co.uk explaining the issue, within 7 days of receipt of your order. We will investigate your complaint and may ask for additional information from you to help with the investigation. If your objection is warranted we will immediately arrange a free replacement to be printed, this will be sent out standard post. Pending the outcome, your original book must be return to us with the return postage sticker provided to be charged back to us. Please note we will not be able to refund postage for books returned to us by any other means.

3.5 What if my Bob Book photobook is not what I expected?

If you have delivered your images at the required resolution but the print quality of your final book is not satisfactory, please contact us at askbob@bobbooks.co.uk explaining the issue, within 7 days of receipt of your order. The staff at Bob Books will investigate your complaint and, provided that no warnings by the Online Book Creator were overlooked, we will immediately arrange a free replacement to be printed. You will need to return the faulty photobook to us with the return postage sticker provided as the postage will be recharged to us.

3.6 Are there any discounts available?

The nature of the manufacturing process means that there are no savings to be made by printing multiple copies. However, we do offer a 3% discount for orders of five or more copies of the same photobook. Postage on two or more books decreases to £1.00 for the second book.

Quantity	% Off
5-9	3
10-19	5
20-49	7
50-99	10
100+	13

The Online Book Creator shopping basket allows you to order multiple books at the same time. The shopping basket will contain a detailed description of your order, the number of items you are ordering and the total value of your order.

3.7 How long do you keep my projects open?

Your project will be available for 30 days from the day you have started your work. Once the 30 days expire, your project will be deleted.

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4 IMPORTANT INFORMATION

4.1 How do I contact Bob Books?

You can contact Bob Books by phone, Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm on 0844 880 6800* or via e-mail: askbob@bobbooks.co.uk You are most welcome to come and visit us, though this is by appointment only. Please contact us on the above details.

* calls cost 5p per minute from landlines
mobile charges will vary

4.2 Is my data protected?

There is always a risk exchanging data via the internet, as data may be lost due to viruses. Protect your system with an updated virus protection program and a firewall.

4.3 How is my Bob Book made?

Your book will be manufactured using the latest digital printing technology and our 'hot glue' binding process to assure long lasting durability.

The hardback cover is also produce in the same manner, though this will be glued to the hardcover and fully wrapped around, enabling you to print on the spine and design just as you would with our other Bob Books products.

4.4 What type of paper will be in my Bob Book?

All of our standard hardback and paperback books are printed on 200gsm semi-gloss paper and are perfect bound. The end papers used to join the cover of your book to the inlay are 120gsm. As this is stock paper, we can not print on these pages.

With appropriate storage and careful treatment papers of this kind your Bob Book will be age-resistant.

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Any questions? Here you can find answers to any questions you might have about Bob Books.