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What can delay your order?

November 21st, 2008 in Products & Services by


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We’ve been talking a lot about smooth sailing lately, with two goals in mind. For you, an efficient and easy-to-use system. And for us, an order that’s accurate, error-free and ready to go straight into production.

Fair to say then, that it’s in both of our interest to sail through the ordering and production process as quickly as possible.

But when your order doesn’t sail through – what holds it up? Here are a few simple things that we’ve found to be the most common cause of delays (long delays in some cases).

1) Missing print files (cover images) are the most common – people just forget to include them, and Remix still doesn’t include them automatically).

2) Information missing from you order – like text for any personal title or cover motif.

3) Delays getting replies to our queries.

4) Quality or specification issues with image files.

5. Changing your order after you send it.

6) Delays getting confirmation or arranging payment.

There’s nothing terribly complicated about any of these issues. Being that extra little bit vigilant about checking your order before you send it will avoid them. Or if something does slip through, replying to our queries promptly.

As always – if you don’t understand something or would like to talk with us more fully about any of the issues we raise in this series, please get in contact with us. We’re here to help.

Cheers, Nigel

 

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    • Design orders in Photojunction Remix

    November 18th, 2008 in Photography & Design by


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    This post is now superseded by new functionality in Photojunction v1.22 and later).

    If you use Queensberry to design your albums we want to make the process as smooth as possible. Here’s how to go about it.

    (The PJ work sounds more complicated than it is, but we’re here to help if you need it. Follow the links for further information.)

    1. Open up PJ Remix and click the Start New Project button. This fires up the Project Set-up Wizard for you to enter your Client and Event details and import the images.

    2. Click Finish when you’re done setting up the Project. Remix will import the images and open the Event window, where you need to choose the ones you want to include in the album. Move the selected images to a clearly named Group or Collection (eg ‘Album Images’). Remember, we charge per image for design work, so don’t send them all to us! If you’re choosing the images outside Photojunction, just import the ones you need for the album to PJ.

    3. Still in the Event window, locate the Products header in the Navigation Panel (above), click the ‘+’ button to create a new album and enter the details for it (format, cover material, cover style, page details etc).

    4. Once you’re done, open the Project Browser (eg go to the File menu and choose Browse Existing Projects). In the Project Browser, select the Event (just select it, don’t open it).

    5. Go to File> Export Copy Of Event. The window above will open, and you’ll need to set up the details as we’ve shown them. Start by clicking Browse (if necessary) to choose where to save the exported copy.

    6. We need the high-res files to prepare your files for printing, so check the “Include Original HR Image Files” box, which will reveal more options in the window.

    7. Click the “Select Images from Groups, Collections or Albums” radio button. DON’T click the All Images button! The LabFTP upload could be huge and you would incur extra design charges. Choose the Groups or Collections where you put the images that you want used in the album (step 2).

    8. Click the Export button. Photojunction will create a folder containing the PJR file and associated image proxies (ie the exported “Event”), plus the selected high-res files, in the location you specified, and also display a message with the name of the folder for your convenience.

    9. Open LabFTP and upload it to us using the “Full Colour Service Layouts” order form. Under “Select a service” choose “Design and Print”.

    10. Sorry, but for the time being you also need to fill in and fax our Design Order Form. We’re working on a new version of LabFTP that will allow you to send the necessary information online.

    Notice, by the way, you haven’t used the Order Wizard. The Order Wizard assumes that you’ve designed the album, whereas you want us to do that.

    HTH, Ian

    PS If you want to go a step further, you can drag the images on to the pages (just drop them where you want them). You’ll see in the last graphic that Photojunction lets you choose images “used in album” instead of a Group or Collection when selecting the high-res files to send (Step 7).

    Our goal with these posts is to give you an insight into our systems and promote a productive, hassle-free work flow. Please let us know what you think.

     

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    • How to design pagemount Duo split mat pages

    November 12th, 2008 in Photography & Design by


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    The image above shows what we call a split mat in a Duo album. The image extends from top to bottom (or side to side) of the mat, dividing it in two. How did I do it?

    In this case I started in PJ Remix by adding a 10×7 aperture, then selecting Fill Page Height under Aperture Details on the Images tools palette. Look at it closely (as in the third image below) and you’ll see that the pagemount effect appears, just as it should, to the left and right of the image, but at the top and bottom the image extends right out to the edge of the page.

    I hope this helps.

    Smooth sailing, Ian

     

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    • Titles in PJ Remix

    October 28th, 2008 in Photography & Design by


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    We know the feeling – you know there must be a way to do something, but you just can’t figure it out.   

    Here’s an example: there’s no standard “title” aperture in PJ Remix, so how do you add a title? There are actually two ways to do it.

    The easier way (but maybe also easier to get wrong) is simply this:

    1. Add a blank aperture to the layout using the Add button (left image, above)
    2. Change the aperture to Customise (right image, above)
    3. Uncheck the Constrain Proportions box and enter the values directly.

    Easy as long as you remember the values: 112 wide by 200 high, as above.

    Whether you use this direct method, or templates, as explained below, you should right-click on the aperture to add a Note so we know this is where your title goes.

    Remember the actual text for your title goes in the window that pops up when you select your title option, as above.

    To use the second method you’ll need to download the QBY Titles template collection.

    Once you’ve done that, here’s how to set them up…

    Click the More button on the Event window and select Import Templates.

    Then select the Import Folder option and drag the QBY Title collection into the box, as above. Click Import and they will appear under Template Collections in the Navigation panel. You’ll find just two templates in it, one for overlay pages and one for pagemount. You can use them on any format 9×9 or larger.

    When you want to add a title, SHIFT-DRAG the appropriate template on to the layout. (Remember Shift-dragging adds just aperture(s) rather than the whole “layout”.) Be sure to use the overlay one on overlay layouts etc or the apertures will be the wrong size.

    Smooth sailing, Ian

     

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    • Awesome features in PJ Remix v1.2

    October 23rd, 2008 in Photography & Design by


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    We’re working hard on systems to make designing, ordering and printing your albums easier. 

    The latest thing we’ve done is commission PJ to add some features to Remix just for us. They’re in the latest final release – v1.2 – and they’re awesome:

    • “Smart filtering” to avoid invalid selections when you order an album.
    • A simpler version of LabFTP to use with Remix – no asking dumb questions when PJ already knows the answers.
    • Dramatically better handling of Duo albums (here’s a movie, but really, it’s so simple you probably don’t need it).
    • Remix now handles “cut-in” apertures!
    • And we also love the dramatically improved, more intuitive alignment tools and reports.

    Not as exciting as Britney’s comeback tour maybe, but they‘ll help ensure your album designs and orders are “right first time”.

    Click here for a short tutorial movie with Danny from Photojunction.

    Smooth sailing, Ian

     

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    • Smooth sailing

    October 21st, 2008 in Products & Services by


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    Some of our clients enjoy smoother sailing than others. Less aggravation, calmer waters… An interesting thought whichever group you fall into!

    One important reason for this is that some of you understand our systems better than others. And yes, we accept we don’t always do a good enough job of explaining them.

    One reason for this blog is to address the problem with bite-sized tutorials on topics suggested by you or our own staff. So over the next few days we’re going to discuss a few key issues. Here’s our goal:

    • For you, an efficient, easy-to-understand system that gets you back to shooting and selling pictures as quickly as possible.
    • For us, an order that’s accurate, error-free and ready to go straight into production.

    To get you started, why not check out our past tips on Photojunction and printing.

    We hope you find this information useful and well presented. Positive or negative, we’d love your feedback, whether by email or comments.

    Cheers, Ian

     

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    • QBY’s hassle-free printing workflow #3

    October 15th, 2008 in Products & Services by


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    What if you want us to print your cover image, but nothing else?

    1. When you fire up the Remix Order Wizard, choose either the “Assemble From Prints Supplied” or Don’t Assemble” option.

    2. On the same screen the Wizard will offer a place to include “support files” for your album supplier. Open your folder of High-Res Export files and drag in a copy of the cover image (don’t double up by sending it to your lab to print as well).

    3. Remix may ask you if you want us to print the cover image (generally it’ll be obvious what you want, in which case Remix won’t ask). Be sure to say Yes.
    4. When the export is finished you’ll have two “bundles”, one for your lab and one for Queensberry. If you’ve followed Step 2 the cover image file will be in the Queensberry one.

    5. Upload the bundle to us using LabFTP.

    You could just email the file to us, but we prefer if you don’t. Getting everything in the one bundle is much more efficient. It will save us both hassles and you’ll get your album faster.

    HTH, Ian

     

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    October 6th, 2008 in Products & Services by


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    We’re describing the perfect way to send us your print-and-bind order…

    After exporting your files you definitely shouldn’t jump straight to LabFTP and send us the files – we wouldn’t know what to do with them!

    Instead, always use the Remix Order Wizard. (You’ll find it under the Album menu). Remix will validate your order and create an order “bundle” that contains everything we’ll need to process your order – provided you follow these instructions:

    order-wizard-1

    1. Run your order through the Send Order Wizard. You’ll find a tutorial here. The Wizard will ask what service you want (eg Print & Assemble) and also pose a few questions we need answers to, such as whether you want copy albums.

    bundle

    2. You can specify where to save the bundle, which is labeled with a unique ID. The graphic above shows what it looks like (on Mac). This particular bundle is for an order where we’re doing the printing (note the Print Files sub-folder).

    3. You’ve probably already done this, but you still have the opportunity to edit your print files. Just remember this: Photojunction has made COPIES of the print files created earlier by the High-Res Export Wizard. If you choose to edit them now, before sending them to your vendor, please note that you’re correcting a COPY. The original export will remain unchanged.

    4. When it’s finished, the Order Wizard will automatically NOTIFY us of your order but NOT send us any files. If you want us to print for you, (even just the cover motif) we need the bundle, which you need to upload to us with LabFTP.

    5. Last step, open LabFTP and upload the files. Instructions for LabFTP are here if you need them. Please make sure you have the latest version (v3 and later automatically check for updates).

    Next in this series: What if you just want us to print your cover photo?

    HTH, Ian

    PS We’ll be posting a movie to explain the Remix Export and Order Wizards shortly.

     

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    September 25th, 2008 in Products & Services by


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    cover
    Cover layout design in PJ Remix

    Here are the first steps in preparing a perfect, hassle-free print-and-bind order, really fast.

    1. First, upgrade to PJ Remix. If you have already, thank you.

    2. Use Remix to design your cover as well as your page layouts. You’ll get to frame and crop the cover image yourself, see exactly what it looks like and be sure that it looks good. For example, here you can see how much of the image in the photo front cover layout above has been cropped away. No problem in this case, but many images won’t be suitable:

    cover-crop

    3. Export your cover AND page layouts using Remix’s Export Wizard (Album menu > Export > High-Res Export).

    export-wizard

    Make sure you:

    • Choose “QBY Full Colour Service” or “QBY Print-Ready Service” as your Lab Settings (depending on which service you require).
    • Check the box to include your cover layouts.
    • Export PSDs (except in the unlikely event that you don’t intend to edit them in Photoshop afterwards).

    Photojunction will prompt you where to save the output files.

    4. Now you can edit your files to your hearts content. Well, not quite. Remember NOT to change image sizes, cropping, file names or specifications. If you do, Photojunction may not be able to locate your files, or they may no longer match the mats you’ve designed, or they may not be formatted correctly for your lab or album supplier. What you CAN do is add text, colour correct, do artwork etc.

    BTW you’ll find that the special effects you did in Remix (B&W, Sepia, borders etc) are all editable.

    Next step, the Order Wizard and LabFTP.

    HTH, Ian

     

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    • Print-Ready exports from PJ Remix

    September 23rd, 2008 in Photography & Design by


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    What if you want to export layered PSDs so that you can edit them before sending them for Print-Ready service? Easy.

    Just select QBY Print-Ready Service as your Lab Settings in Remix. This will allow you to save the files as PSDs that you can edit to your heart’s content. (Just don’t change image sizes, cropping, file names or specifications.)

    Remember to flatten the layouts to JPEGs before you use the Order Wizard, as PSDs are not valid for Print-Ready service and there’d be an extra charge to flatten the files.

    print-ready-warning

    If you use our Print-Ready service as well as ordering Digital Copies from MATTED albums, it’s a little more complicated. We need layered files to create the copies, so you will need to leave your files as PSDs. When you export you’ll get the warning message above. Just click Yes to continue.

    HTH, Ian

     

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