I actually just posted re this topic and then seen this post.I just created a book to give as a Christmas present - I did it purposely early to take advantage of the savings (20% that is being offered plus free shipping - good till the 24th) In addition - I just won a gift card from Blurb on a contest.I too believe that I should be entitled to the savings that is being offered and be able to use the card I just got as payment. It's supposed to be US Currency and reads that way right on the card - The special offers you are running should not have anything to do with the gift cardsas the gift cards are not discounts - they are currency according to Blurb's own verbiage.Please advise. currently you cant use 2 promo codes - I think your policy should be reworked by your higher ups as you are bound to have a lot of unhappy customers with this implemented - especially holiday time. thank you  I actually just posted re this topic and then seen this post.I just created a book to give as a Christmas present – I did it purposely early to take advantage of the savings (20% that is being offered plus free shipping – good till the 24th) In addition – I just won a gift card from Blurb on a contest.I too believe that I should be entitled to the savings that is being offered and be able to use the card I just got as payment. It’s supposed to be US Currency and reads that way right on the card - The special offers you are running should not have anything to do with the gift cardsas the gift cards are not discounts – they are currency according to Blurb’s own verbiage.Please advise. currently you cant use 2 promo codes - I think your policy should be reworked by your higher ups as you are bound to have a lot of unhappy customers with this implemented – especially holiday time. thank you

2009-11-22T04:49:44Z

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Brandon was just going to answer you but seen you received a response. Hoping all is well with you - I just received mine in the mail today.I just made a gift for someone for Christmas and wanted to utilize it -...Kathy - was wondering if there is a way to utilize the 20% off and free shipping and my gift card - I have tried putting in the codes for Holiday (good till 24th) as well as my gift card code but it wont accept them. I understand that I will probably get the answer that only 1 promo code can be used, but in this circumstance - I dont think that it's fair - I feel that I should be able to take advantage of the special you are running as I purposely got the book in so i could utilize the savings....and being that I have a gift card - why wouldnt I be able to use that in addition - please advise Have a great night everyone. Brandon was just going to answer you but seen you received a response. Hoping all is well with you – I just received mine in the mail today.I just made a gift for someone for Christmas and wanted to utilize it -…Kathy – was wondering if there is a way to utilize the 20% off and free shipping and my gift card – I have tried putting in the codes for Holiday (good till 24th) as well as my gift card code but it wont accept them. I understand that I will probably get the answer that only 1 promo code can be used, but in this circumstance – I dont think that it’s fair - I feel that I should be able to take advantage of the special you are running as I purposely got the book in so i could utilize the savings….and being that I have a gift card – why wouldnt I be able to use that in addition – please advise Have a great night everyone.

2009-11-22T04:37:37Z

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2009-11-22T04:37:37Z

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The problem, at least from what I'm reading, is how inconsistent this problem is. If I know my monitor is properly calibrated and the images look right on that monitor, and if they print correctly on my properly calibrated printer, then what I get back from Blurb should look correct. If not, then I have no real basis for knowing what to correct.I may get a proof book back where the images are a full stop too dark, I might then lighten each image by about a stop (a tremendous pain to do because BookSmart requires each image to be re-imported and re-inserted) and the result may be a book where the images are now  too light.It seems to me that the issue is at least partly an inconsistency in how each of the Blurb print centers calibrates its equipment. This does not speak well of Blurb's quality control.When I first started reading all these complaints I was quick to blame the users for not understanding how to calibrate their monitors properly. In some (maybe even most) cases this is probably true. But there seems to be something more going on here, something on the Blurb end that is resultig in photographs being printed too dark. The problem, at least from what I’m reading, is how inconsistent this problem is. If I know my monitor is properly calibrated and the images look right on that monitor, and if they print correctly on my properly calibrated printer, then what I get back from Blurb should look correct. If not, then I have no real basis for knowing what to correct.I may get a proof book back where the images are a full stop too dark, I might then lighten each image by about a stop (a tremendous pain to do because BookSmart requires each image to be re-imported and re-inserted) and the result may be a book where the images are now  too light.It seems to me that the issue is at least partly an inconsistency in how each of the Blurb print centers calibrates its equipment. This does not speak well of Blurb’s quality control.When I first started reading all these complaints I was quick to blame the users for not understanding how to calibrate their monitors properly. In some (maybe even most) cases this is probably true. But there seems to be something more going on here, something on the Blurb end that is resultig in photographs being printed too dark.

2009-11-22T01:25:13Z

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2009-11-22T01:25:13Z

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If this topic is a duplicate, I'm truly sorry.  I am not sure if I posted correctly.  I'm taking an InDesign course and our professor, someone who has been in the graphic design and publishing / printing business for several years, oddly did not to tell us anything at all about trim sizeing, bleed lines, and spine dimensions.  Our final project being a book we must write, design, and publish through this site, we went ahead creating our book relatively blind.  And now that the class is done for until the end of the Thanksgiving weekend, I have no way to ask him anything about this. Anyways, I was looking at the template for a 7x7 square softcover book from this site.  I noticed that the size of the two pages side-by-side for that book is actually 14.5 in.  And the bleed lines go even further!  I designed mine with page dimensions of 7 in by 7 in and have two pages side-by-side equalling 14 in, which I thought was right.  The blue lines for the spine on the template are .5 in from the center.  Mine are as well.  Here is a picture of my page design: http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a171/CronoDyne/book.jpg The blue line represents the center, 7x7 for the left page and 7x7 for the right.  The red lines represent the spine area, and no content has gone past it.  This is the picture of the template I was glancing over: http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a171/CronoDyne/book2.jpg As you can see, it goes to 14.5 in.  The bleed lines go an extra 1/8.  I know I have to design my background image seen in the picture to compensate 1/8+ bleed lines, but I'm still confused about the information in this template.  Is my design okay?  Am I safe?  Another question I have about the spine is, how close can content come to it?  There is no line to determine this, and I don't know if I can have a picture rest right up against it and have the page print properly. I got ahead of myself and, after many, MANY hours of working on my book, it is nearly complete.. except for learning about these requirements for printing.  So I don't want all that work to be for nothing.  Any help will be greatly appreciated!   If this topic is a duplicate, I’m truly sorry.  I am not sure if I posted correctly.  I’m taking an InDesign course and our professor, someone who has been in the graphic design and publishing / printing business for several years, oddly did not to tell us anything at all about trim sizeing, bleed lines, and spine dimensions.  Our final project being a book we must write, design, and publish through this site, we went ahead creating our book relatively blind.  And now that the class is done for until the end of the Thanksgiving weekend, I have no way to ask him anything about this. Anyways, I was looking at the template for a 7×7 square softcover book from this site.  I noticed that the size of the two pages side-by-side for that book is actually 14.5 in.  And the bleed lines go even further!  I designed mine with page dimensions of 7 in by 7 in and have two pages side-by-side equalling 14 in, which I thought was right.  The blue lines for the spine on the template are .5 in from the center.  Mine are as well.  Here is a picture of my page design: <a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a171/CronoDyne/book.jpg">http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a171/CronoDyne/book.jpg</a> The blue line represents the center, 7×7 for the left page and 7×7 for the right.  The red lines represent the spine area, and no content has gone past it.  This is the picture of the template I was glancing over: <a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a171/CronoDyne/book2.jpg">http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a171/CronoDyne/book2.jpg</a> As you can see, it goes to 14.5 in.  The bleed lines go an extra 1/8.  I know I have to design my background image seen in the picture to compensate 1/8+ bleed lines, but I’m still confused about the information in this template.  Is my design okay?  Am I safe?  Another question I have about the spine is, how close can content come to it?  There is no line to determine this, and I don’t know if I can have a picture rest right up against it and have the page print properly. I got ahead of myself and, after many, MANY hours of working on my book, it is nearly complete.. except for learning about these requirements for printing.  So I don’t want all that work to be for nothing.  Any help will be greatly appreciated!

2009-11-22T01:10:57Z

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2009-11-22T01:10:57Z

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That is too bad.  I am switching from Snapfish where it is easy to find a rotated layout of two photos.   There just may not be enough photo layout options with Blurb, but I am hoping for better quality so I will give this a try. That is too bad.  I am switching from Snapfish where it is easy to find a rotated layout of two photos.   There just may not be enough photo layout options with Blurb, but I am hoping for better quality so I will give this a try.

2009-11-22T00:12:14Z

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2009-11-22T00:12:14Z

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There are a number of things you need to have right in order for PDF to work.  One of the most important is that the software you created the book in be able to export the PDF/X-3 standard.I'm a bit confused that you have a PDF but haven't exported.  I'm far from an expert, but I didn't know you could create in PDF.  I thought you had to produce your publication in a publishing program such as InDesign, and export it as a PDF in the PDF/X-3 standard.  Any other approach would be new to me.  But then I have a lot to learn yet.You need to understand a number of things such as demensions, etc. to make sure they are correct.  If not, your PDF will be rejected by the Blurb servers.I will suggest that what you need to know is too involved for general answers on this forum before you have an understanding of the basics.  I suggest you go to this page and devour and understand everything.  Follow the links, read, learn, and understand.  The process is to exacting for a casual approach to preparing and uploading.  When you get it right, it works as slick as can be. http://www.blurb.com/make/pdf_to_bookThe good news is that using the PDF procedure is a great way to do a book.  Much, much better than BookSmart in my opinion.  I've done books both ways and will never do anything other than PDF from now on. There are a number of things you need to have right in order for PDF to work.  One of the most important is that the software you created the book in be able to export the PDF/X-3 standard.I’m a bit confused that you have a PDF but haven’t exported.  I’m far from an expert, but I didn’t know you could create in PDF.  I thought you had to produce your publication in a publishing program such as InDesign, and export it as a PDF in the PDF/X-3 standard.  Any other approach would be new to me.  But then I have a lot to learn yet.You need to understand a number of things such as demensions, etc. to make sure they are correct.  If not, your PDF will be rejected by the Blurb servers.I will suggest that what you need to know is too involved for general answers on this forum before you have an understanding of the basics.  I suggest you go to this page and devour and understand everything.  Follow the links, read, learn, and understand.  The process is to exacting for a casual approach to preparing and uploading.  When you get it right, it works as slick as can be. <a href="http://www.blurb.com/make/pdf_to_book">http://www.blurb.com/make/pdf_to_book</a>The good news is that using the PDF procedure is a great way to do a book.  Much, much better than BookSmart in my opinion.  I’ve done books both ways and will never do anything other than PDF from now on.

2009-11-21T23:43:18Z

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2009-11-21T23:43:18Z

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Hi. Thanks for replying. U haven't exported it yet. All I have is the PDF and I ain't got a clue as to what I need to do before uploading it to Blurb for publishing. I have one PDF which is the text and one PDF which is the cover. I don't have adobe indesign so I can't take that route. Any suggestions Hi. Thanks for replying. U haven’t exported it yet. All I have is the PDF and I ain’t got a clue as to what I need to do before uploading it to Blurb for publishing. I have one PDF which is the text and one PDF which is the cover. I don’t have adobe indesign so I can’t take that route. Any suggestions

2009-11-21T22:53:21Z

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Which PDF format did you export it in? Which PDF format did you export it in?

2009-11-21T22:40:46Z

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2009-11-21T22:40:46Z

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Just got the card in the mail! Thanks for keeping us updated Kathy! :) Just got the card in the mail! Thanks for keeping us updated Kathy! :)

2009-11-21T20:40:27Z

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Thanks for that Tony, That definatly answered the question (what you see is what you get) so things should be ok, this is my first book so i am a bit apprehensive, it should arrive any day now so i will most likely post here to give my verdict, thanks again.             Gordon Thanks for that Tony, That definatly answered the question (what you see is what you get) so things should be ok, this is my first book so i am a bit apprehensive, it should arrive any day now so i will most likely post here to give my verdict, thanks again.             Gordon

2009-11-21T20:07:11Z

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Gordon, have a read of <a href="7375">this thread</a>, I think my post in there might answer your question/. .....Tony Gordon, have a read of <a href="7375">this thread</a>, I think my post in there might answer your question/. …..Tony

2009-11-21T19:44:29Z

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I have published two books, 8 months ago, and now I want to do a Second Edition of both, so to speak.  I don't want to start ALL OVER.  My books are not accessible on Blurb.  I believe I found them in my computer, but I cannot open either.  Please don't tell me I can't edit them.  One book was 176 pages!Thank you in advance,Judy I have published two books, 8 months ago, and now I want to do a Second Edition of both, so to speak.  I don’t want to start ALL OVER.  My books are not accessible on Blurb.  I believe I found them in my computer, but I cannot open either.  Please don’t tell me I can’t edit them.  One book was 176 pages!Thank you in advance,Judy

2009-11-21T18:25:50Z

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2009-11-21T18:25:50Z

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Elizabeth,make sure you are logged in to the Blurb site then select the Home menu at the top of this page. You should then see your books, both private and public. Just select the one you want to order and then you will see the order form......Tony Elizabeth,make sure you are logged in to the Blurb site then select the Home menu at the top of this page. You should then see your books, both private and public. Just select the one you want to order and then you will see the order form.…..Tony

2009-11-21T18:23:03Z

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2009-11-21T18:23:03Z

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If you follow the link in my post above you can contact Blurb, they will respond to you by e-mail. Using that form actually puts your query into their logging system and allows them to keep track of the status. That is more effective than giving out an e-mail adress which would rely on a person to log all the details......Tony If you follow the link in my post above you can contact Blurb, they will respond to you by e-mail. Using that form actually puts your query into their logging system and allows them to keep track of the status. That is more effective than giving out an e-mail adress which would rely on a person to log all the details.…..Tony

2009-11-21T18:19:38Z

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2009-11-21T18:19:38Z

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I know this isn't Blurb's fault....but most likely the Post Office's or Customs....my last order is still not here.  I have had all my orders (9) over the past three months all arrive in one and a half weeks.  This last order I haven't received was one of three orders all placed and mailed out the same day (give or take one or two days)....and it is 2 1/2 weeks now and I'm still waiting.  The other two arrived right on time in the usual 1 1/2 weeks.  And of course...we are going away for the Winter in one week and I need this order for the last of my Christmas gifts..so I'm not too happy!  Again, not blaming Blurb.   I guess I am just venting.....I rush to the mail box every day so excited....and leave so depressed....!!!  Know everyone here will understand my frustration!!!   Hopefully it'll be here this week. I know this isn’t Blurb’s fault….but most likely the Post Office’s or Customs….my last order is still not here.  I have had all my orders (9) over the past three months all arrive in one and a half weeks.  This last order I haven’t received was one of three orders all placed and mailed out the same day (give or take one or two days)….and it is 2 1/2 weeks now and I’m still waiting.  The other two arrived right on time in the usual 1 1/2 weeks.  And of course…we are going away for the Winter in one week and I need this order for the last of my Christmas gifts..so I’m not too happy!  Again, not blaming Blurb.   I guess I am just venting…..I rush to the mail box every day so excited….and leave so depressed….!!!  Know everyone here will understand my frustration!!!   Hopefully it’ll be here this week.

2009-11-21T18:14:34Z

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2009-11-21T18:14:34Z

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Basically what i am asking is.....is it a case of "What you see is what you get in the preview " before downloading for printing Basically what i am asking is…..is it a case of "What you see is what you get in the preview " before downloading for printing

2009-11-21T17:51:18Z

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2009-11-21T17:51:18Z

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Before i downloaded my book for printing i done all the checks etc all within scissor marks and pink trim markers, but now i look on book preview at blurb and see a slight error which was not there before i sent it, My photoss all have thin white borders on black pages,these thin white lines were there before the book was downloaded but know on the book preview one line has gone, i have not recieved the books yet so i do not know the result yet, but i was told that what you see in priview on the software before you download the book for printing is what you get...am i worrying about nothing ? the white lines were all in place before the download to Blurb. Before i downloaded my book for printing i done all the checks etc all within scissor marks and pink trim markers, but now i look on book preview at blurb and see a slight error which was not there before i sent it, My photoss all have thin white borders on black pages,these thin white lines were there before the book was downloaded but know on the book preview one line has gone, i have not recieved the books yet so i do not know the result yet, but i was told that what you see in priview on the software before you download the book for printing is what you get…am i worrying about nothing ? the white lines were all in place before the download to Blurb.

2009-11-21T17:34:27Z

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2009-11-21T17:34:27Z

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Is there a way to create a solid colour box using BookSmart without changing the background colour? Is there a way to create a solid colour box using BookSmart without changing the background colour?

2009-11-21T17:13:35Z

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2009-11-21T17:13:35Z

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I ordered a book with an image wrap and received it as plain white.  Impossible to contact Blurb by telephone, email, etc.  What customer service? I ordered a book with an image wrap and received it as plain white.  Impossible to contact Blurb by telephone, email, etc.  What customer service?

2009-11-21T16:42:17Z

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2009-11-21T16:42:17Z

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I published and ordered my first book in August 2009.I now need 2 more copies, but cannot find any way to do that.It is a private book, so it isn't in the bookstore.I went through the "PRICING" Tab, and got all the way to an estimate on shipping, but there was nothing to click to place my order.-sigh-Any help would be appreciated!<><, Elizabeth I published and ordered my first book in August 2009.I now need 2 more copies, but cannot find any way to do that.It is a private book, so it isn’t in the bookstore.I went through the "PRICING" Tab, and got all the way to an estimate on shipping, but there was nothing to click to place my order.<del>sigh</del>Any help would be appreciated!<><, Elizabeth

2009-11-21T16:35:51Z

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2009-11-21T16:35:51Z

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My wife told me that the letter X, in our ABC puppy book is why we were only in the top 15. LOL. My wife told me that the letter X, in our ABC puppy book is why we were only in the top 15. LOL.

2009-11-21T16:31:25Z

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2009-11-21T16:31:25Z

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Is there any update to this topic? I'd love to be able to automatically add the date taken to the caption of an image (or the footer on the page.) Kelly Is there any update to this topic? I’d love to be able to automatically add the date taken to the caption of an image (or the footer on the page.) Kelly

2009-11-21T16:12:54Z

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2009-11-21T16:12:54Z

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That would be an issue...From my own experience, Blurb is quite slow to respond when it comes to re-prints.How long have you been waiting for an answer? That would be an issue…From my own experience, Blurb is quite slow to respond when it comes to re-prints.How long have you been waiting for an answer?

2009-11-21T14:27:39Z

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2009-11-21T14:27:39Z

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Hi to all. i want send a book for publishing. i have it all ready in pdf format. but i cant make heads or tails of how to meet the requiremwnts. can someone, in plain english, what i need to do to the pdf so as then i can send it for publishing. the book is only text and there are no pics. Hi to all. i want send a book for publishing. i have it all ready in pdf format. but i cant make heads or tails of how to meet the requiremwnts. can someone, in plain english, what i need to do to the pdf so as then i can send it for publishing. the book is only text and there are no pics.

2009-11-21T14:13:11Z

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2009-11-21T14:13:11Z

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To get more than the first 15 pages your book needs to be public and in the Set Your Price programme. Details here. .....Tony To get more than the first 15 pages your book needs to be public and in the Set Your Price programme. Details here. …..Tony

2009-11-21T09:23:53Z

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2009-11-21T09:23:53Z

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