Intro to the Editor: Photo Books on a Desktop Computer – Artifact Uprising

This guide walks through how to create and customize a photo book using our desktop editor. It covers how to start a project, navigate the editor, and use key features like layouts, text, and page management. You’ll also learn where to find tools, how to make edits, and how to save your work.

This guide applies to:

This guide does not apply to:

How to Start a Project

Depending on the product, you can begin in one of two ways:

Click Customize, then select your design options
OR
Select your design options first, then click Start Designing

All selections (size, materials, colors, etc.) can also be updated later within the editor.

Main Editor Features

Left Toolbar

Customize your cover features like text options, fabric color, foil color, book size, and paper type (when on the cover page)
Choose and apply page layouts (for interior pages)

Top Toolbar

Three Horizontal Lines: email a PDF proof, return to the website, visit the Help Center, and confirm the save status
Bell Icon: for issues like low-resolution images
Undo and Redo Buttons
Manage Pages View
Preview Mode to see how your book will print

Right Toolbar

Upload and Manage Photos
Switch or Add Galleries
Autofill Pages
Sort and Filter Images

Other Key Areas

Rename the Project in the Top Left
Add to Cart Button in the Top Right
Help Button in the Bottom Right to contact Customer Experience

Step-by-Step Editor Walkthrough

1. Upload your photos
When you open the editor, you’ll be prompted to upload images.

For more detailed instructions on uploading images, please see our Uploading Images help article.

2. Rename your project
Click the project name in the top left to keep things organized.

3. Customize your cover
Cover options vary by book type. Foil stamping is applied by hand, so customization is limited to available editor options. To view the foil stamping options, click through the options on the left toolbar.

4. Adjust your design settings
On the cover page, use the left toolbar to update size, foil color, fabric color, paper type, and more.

For more detailed instructions on design settings, please see our Changing Project Options help article.

5. Choose page layouts

Scroll through your book to interior pages
Use the left toolbar to preview and select layouts
Filter layouts by number of photos if needed

For more detailed instructions on layouts, please see our Layouts help article.

6. Add photos to pages

Click or drag images from the right toolbar into photo boxes

For more detailed instructions on adding photos, please see our Adding & Removing Photos help article.

7. Edit photos
Click Edit on any image to:

Reposition or crop
Make basic adjustments
Apply filters

For more detailed instructions on editing photos, please see our Editing Photos help article.

8. Add and format text

Click Add Text Box in the left toolbar
Customize font, size, color, alignment, and styling

For more detailed instructions on text, please see our Using Text in Photo Books help article.

9. Add pages

Scroll to the end and click Add 2 Pages
OR
Use Manage Pages and click the blue plus sign between pages
If you can’t add pages, you’ve reached the maximum limit

10. Rearrange pages

Use the three-dot menu on a page to move it up or down
OR
Drag and drop pages in the Manage Pages view

11. Delete pages

Use the three-dot menu and select the trash icon
OR
Delete within Manage Pages
If the trash icon is greyed out, you’ve reached the minimum page count

For more detailed instructions on pages, please see our Add, Delete, & Rearrange Pages help article.

Main Editor View

Manage Pages View

12. Save your work

The editor auto-saves your project
Use the top menu to confirm All Changes Saved
Access your project anytime under My Account > Projects

For more help building your project, please check out more help articles here.

Articles in this section