File Format, Resolution (dpi) and Colour Space

All your files and photos must be saved as JPEG files at a recommended resolution of 180 dpi to 200 dpi. For the more experienced photo enthusiasts using photo management software, here are some tips:

		Use sRGB or RGB when enhancing photos.
		Use sRGB or RGB for black and white photos also.
		Do not use CMYK, it will distort your images.
		Remove vectors, slices or layers from your images.
		Our press does not recognise greyscale. You need to create the jpegs in sRGB or RGB.
		Our colour profile is closest to Adobe 98.
		Our press prints 175 lpi (lines per inch).

 

Technical Information regarding image adjustment:

The Auto Adjust function in BookMaker assigns each image to an adjustment zone based on the median composite pixel value. It then makes the following zone-specific adjustments:

	.	An arbitrary Focal Point is increased 5%-15% (output/input) composite pixel values.
		The lowest composite pixel values are adjusted to a pseudo-black point.
		The highest pixel values are adjusted to a pseudo-white point.

 

All adjustments are based on composite pixel values and are applied globally to all colour channels, and not to specific colours. Pseudo-black/white points are designed according to the output profile of MyPublisher's specific printing press, the inks, paper, and RGB-to-CMYK colour conversion tables used. By independently adjusting high-, low-, and focal-point values, the resultant input/output graph resembles a curve that has the intended effect of increasing image contrast around the focal point. The arbitrary focal point may not be the actual principal subject of the photograph.

 

Image Size

To determine the size of your jpeg image, right-click on the original image or file name (on your hard drive, not in BookMaker) and select Properties. The size of your image will be located to the right of the word Size.

For any of the full-bleed templates with 1 Photo per Page, we recommend the following image settings:

Deluxe Hardcover

Landscape (horizontal) with the image resolution set at 180 dpi
		372 mm wide
		287 mm high
		2633 pixels wide
		2034 pixels high
		File size of about 8.93 MB

Portrait (vertical) with image resolution set at 180 dpi
		215 mm wide
		287 mm high
		2066 pixels wide
		2034 pixels high
		File size of about 5.03 MB

 

Classic Hardcover and Paperback PocketBooks

Landscape (horizontal) with the image resolution set at 180 dpi
		288 mm wide
		216 mm high
		2040 pixels wide
		1530 pixels high
		File size of about 8.93 MB

Portrait (vertical) with image resolution set at 180 dpi
		162 mm wide
		216 mm high
		1148 pixels wide
		1530 pixels high
		File size of about 5.03 MB

 

Square Images

If you want to use square images in your book, we recommend that you use a photo management program to create a rectangular jpeg image that maintains a 4 to 3 aspect ratio. You can do this by inserting the square image into a rectangular template with a border or background. Inserting this now rectangular jpeg image into our templates will be printed without distortion.

 

When scanning images, please keep the following information in mind:

Image Size (of what you're scanning) Resolution Photos per Page 305 mm x 406 mm 180 — 200 dpi Full 305 mm × 406 mm page print and full page bleed 216 mm x 279 mm 180 — 200 dpi Full 216 mm × 279 mm page print and full page bleed 127 mm x 178 mm 270 dpi recommended Full 216 mm × 279 mm page print and full page bleed 127 mm x 178 mm 180 dpi 2, 3, 4 photos per page, Not recommended for full 216 mm × 279 mm page print or full-bleed. 102 mm x 152 mm 300 dpi recommended Full 216 mm × 279 mm page print and full-bleed. 102 mm x 152 mm 200 dpi recommended 2, 3, 4 photos per page; Not recommended for full 216 mm × 279 mm page print or full-bleed. Wallet Size 300 dpi 3 or 4 photos per page, Not recommended for larger photos.

 

Full-bleed pages means that the photo will print to all sides of the page, leaving no white space or border, and is available in the Just Photos theme and certain templates in the Various Mixed theme. Full-bleed pages will be cropped approximately 3 mm to 6 mm on all sides. Please allow this adjustment when creating images in photo management software.

Images saved at a lower resolution than 180 dpi will not print as sharply as it appears on your monitor (most monitors display images at 72 dpi).

We do not recommend using images saved at a higher resolution than 200 dpi (unless you are scanning wallet-sized images). Increasing the resolution will not produce a better quality print.

 

Digital Camera Settings

We recommend using photos taken with digital cameras that are greater than 2 mega-pixels and less than 7 mega-pixels. (Images from 5 mega-pixel digital cameras produce the best results.)

NOTE: Photos taken with a 7 mega-pixel or greater digital camera may print blurry and/or pixilated. We do not recommend you use these photos in the BookMaker software unless they are reduced to a lower pixel setting.

We recommend the following digital camera settings to create jpegs for use in BookMaker:

Image Size (DPI or PPI) Normal Use 640 × 480 Not intended for printing, Do not use. 800 × 600 Wallet-size and 102 mm × 152 mm prints only. 1280 × 960 Prints 102 mm × 152 mm up to 127 mm × 178 mm, if the image is not too dark or too light (washed out) and is in sharp focus, then it can be printed 203 mm × 254 mm. 1600 × 1200 Best setting for prints up to 203 mm × 254 mm or 216 mm × 279 mm full-bleed pages. 2560 × 1920 High-resolution professional printing — will produce files larger than required for successful book printing and typically require longer upload times.

 

Using a Photo Management Program

You can create your own jpeg images or customise jpegs by using a photo management program, such as embedding text in the jpeg image or placing a background behind the photo. If you choose to do this, we suggest you select the Just Photos theme and 1 Photo per Page template. Doing so will allow the jpeg image to fill up (full-bleed) the entire page.

NOTE: Please allow 3 mm to 6 mm around all sides of your jpeg to allow for the cropping. Without this allowance, any text or image placed at the edges of the jpeg will be cut off when the book is printed.

 

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