The Product Quality

1. What kind of printing press is used by Shakespeare?
Our products are printed on a digital offset press. Expect your book to last as long as any standard high-quality printed book.

2. What is the print quality of a digital offset press?
Digital offset printing produces colour and texture like an offset press, and with higher accuracy. Our book quality is like a high-quality, coffee table photography book that you would find in a large bookstore.

3. How does the calendar compare to one bought in a store?
The quality is similar to many calendars that you might buy in a store except that your product is customized by you.

4. How can I be sure that the printed colour matches what I see on my monitor?
We suggest that you calibrate your monitor regularly to minimise any colour differences. However, you cannot make an exact print match of what you see on your monitor. The software provides a proof before you proceed to order your product.

Ordering & Delivery

1. How long does it take to print a product?
We process and despatch orders within 3 to 5 business days after receipt of payment. Actual delivery time may vary depending on the destination.

2. What is your return and refund policy?
We offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee. If you are dissatisfied with any of your products for any reason, we will provide you with a replacement or a full refund.

3. How long does it take to upload a file through the Internet?
Uploading can take approximately between 10 to 90 minutes depending on the overall size of your file and the connection speed.

4. How many different products can I order at one time?
You can only make a single order at any one upload. But you can specify multiple copies of the same product.

5. Can I make changes to my product after placing orders?
No changes can be made to your product after your order has been submitted and accepted. Therefore, carefully review all of the pages before submitting your order.

6. Can I cancel my order at any time?
You may withdraw from this contract, without any charge, by giving us a notice by email at any time within 7 working days from our acceptance of your order by our confirmatory email. This right of cancellation does not apply if we provide the Service to you within this 7 day period.

7. Do you give a discount on additional copies of previously submitted files?
No. A discount, where relevant, is given only on each individual order.

8. How will you ship my order?
Your product will be delivered using the postal service.

9. Can my order be sent to more than one address?
No. Your order can be sent to only one address.

10. How do I check the status of my order?
We do not have an online order tracking system. It is not possible to track your product during transit in the post.

11. How can I re-order additional copies of my product?
Open My Photo Books software or My Photo Calendars & Cards software. Then click on “open saved book/file”. Select the saved product that you want and click “send to Shakespeare”. Then follow the instructions to complete your order.

Making a Photo Book

1. How do I make a photo book?
We provide you with FREE photo-editing software that you may download from our website. This software allows you to design your own book. You chose a book size and cover type; you place your digital pictures onto the book pages, add backgrounds, special effects, text and captions. When your book is completed, click a button and the software will send the order to us via the Internet.

2. How do I choose which photo book size I want?
The downloaded software will ask you to select the type of book or product you want. See our website for more detailed information on the products.

3. How does the Fast Track option work when creating a book?
FastTrack is a tool within the software that you can use to easily and quickly create a professionally looking book. When you click on FastTrack, you will be asked to select the type of book you want and to select the pictures that you want to use. You select a theme (design template) from a number of design options. The software has an intelligent tool that quickly arranges your pictures in a professional layout for you. You can then make further changes and adjustments e.g. add, delete or change pictures, backgrounds or text. Your design can be completed in minutes but you may wish to spend longer adding your creative touches.

4. Can I change the selected book size while making it?
Yes. While making a book, you can switch to a different book size provided it has the same page orientation. For example, you can change from a Medium Landscape to a Small Landscape size. You can't change from a landscape shape to a square shape. In the software, go to 'Edit' in the main toolbar, then select 'Change Book'.

5. How do I drag a selected picture onto a page?
Left click the picture. Then drag-and-drop it onto the page. Or select the picture frame on the page where you want the picture to be placed.
Then, click on the picture and drag it into the selected space.

6. Can I adjust the frames in a page?
Yes. Frames can be removed or added, and their sizes and shapes can be edited. They are fixed in the width:height ratio by default. You can enlarge the frame by selecting it and dragging it by any of the anchor points at the corners.

7. How do I remove or add picture boxes?
To remove a picture or text box from a page, select the object and press DELETE. To add a picture frame, select the page where you want the picture to be. Then select the 'Add picture frame' icon on the toolbar above the book pages. Then, on the page where you want the box, press and drag your mouse to make the box. You can adjust the size, shape and position of the new frame.

8. How does the picture fit into a particular frame?
When you drag-and-drop a picture into a frame, the picture will be fitted automatically (either enlarged or reduced) to fit the width or height of the frame, whichever is larger.

9. How do I edit the picture I have placed?
Right click on the picture and a mini toolbar will appear. The icons on the toolbar allow you to edit the picture. If you zoomed in on the picture, or changed the relative dimensions of the frame sides, left click on the picture. Then place the cursor over the cross and drag it about to move the photo in the frame.

10. How do I change the layout of a page?
Click the 'Page Layout' tab (near the bottom of the screen). Then select the desired layout, and drag-and-drop it onto the page.

11. How do I insert a background onto the page?
Click the 'Page Background' tab (near the bottom of the screen). Then select the desired background, and drag-and-drop it onto the page.

12. Can I use my own picture as a background?
Yes. Drag the picture to the background area. Also, you can have the picture as a background and insert a smaller sized picture on top of it. You can adjust the transparency value for each.

13. Will the frame be printed if I don't place any text or photograph in it?
Yes. Picture frames and text frames will be printed if the frame does not contain a photograph or text. Delete any unwanted frames.

14. How many pages in a book?
There is a minimum and maximum number of pages available in a book. You can add or delete pages within that range. Our website shows the number of pages available per book.

15. How can I change the number of pages?
To insert a page, click “Insert” on the toolbar at the top of the page. Then click “Insert New Page” and two pages will automatically be inserted. To remove a page, click “Edit” on the toolbar at the top of the page. Then click “Delete Page” and two pages will automatically be removed. Note that two pages are added or deleted at any one time. You cannot add/remove a single page.

16. How many images can I place on each page?
You may place as many as you want.

17. How do I use a border for my picture?
Go to 'Picture Borders', select a picture border then drag-and-drop it on your selected picture.

18. Can I add a border to a full-bleed page?
No. You can't use a border for a full-bleed picture.

19. Can I build my own book templates and layouts?
Yes. You can create your layouts and save them as new templates for a re-use. Go to "File" at the main toolbar, select 'Save Page as Layout'. It will be saved into the library of templates.

20. Can I import my own design into MyPhotobooks Editor?
Yes. When you design a full page from another software, follow the exact dimension of the page so that the full image will be visible.

21. How do I rearrange pages in my book?
Near the top of your screen, drag-and-drop the selected page on your desired position.

22. How do I add a duplicate layout?
Select File > Save Page As Layout. The layout that you have created will be saved in the library and appear together with the rest of the layouts.

23. How do I get my photo to print to the edge of the page?
Drag the photo onto the page and drop it as a page BACKGROUND. That automatically allows printing to the edge of the page.

24. How do I share my book online i.e. allow viewing & ordering?
Click tab SHARE ONLINE (beside tab SEND TO SHAKESPEARE). Make the FLASH BOOK. To allow the optional ordering facility, you must previously have ordered the book. It stays up for 6 months. You decide who may see/purchase your book.

Advanced Design

1. How do I get my page designs created with Photoshop into the MyPhotoBooks Editor?
You can create your image in Photoshop, consisting of more than one picture. Then save it as a JPG file. You can then attach that file into the software, as you would attach any other picture.

2. Can I add text as part of the design?
Yes. You can add different fonts, sizes and colours. To insert a text box, left click the ”add/edit caption” icon above the left page. Then left click, hold and drag in the place on the page where you want the box.

3. What can I do to make my images look their best?
You should use high quality, sharp, clean images. The software will warn you of images that are below 119DPI. Try to use images 250 DPI or more.

4. Do I need to resize the image (if they are larger then 300DPI)?
No. The software will resize the images to fit 300DPI before creating the PDF file and sending to print.

5. Why types of images should I use?
The downloaded software will work with multiple types of images. However, we recommend the following format for best performance and color replication: JPEG Full Resolution, sRGB color space, 8 Bit

6. May I use scanned images in my book?
Yes. Use JPEG file format and RGB colour space. Ideally use JPEG Full Resolution, sRGB color space, 8 Bit.

7. Do I have to convert my files to CMYK before submitting?
No. We will convert the submitted files to CMYK for you.

8. When saving images in JPEG format, what degree of compression should be used?
We recommend the image quality be set to Maximum.

9. How can I insert text created in another programme e.g. Microsoft Word?
Copy your text. Insert a text box. Double click the text box, then hold down ctrl and press v.