tutorial

How to Buy and Design Photo Books? [Full Tutorial]

October 17, 2017

I will share the steps in numbers. Honestly, there are MANY STEPS to finally get our photo book, a bit hard and time consuming for first timer but trust me, you will learn and improve as you play :D

**** Don't skip the captions, okay?

How to Buy and Design Photo Books? [Full Tutorial]

Wohooo.

1. First, buy the photobook voucher / code.

There are many ways to buy one:

Directly from photobook.com.my (LINK)

The price depends on any promotion going on or not.

with promotion, can be as low as RM 1!
without promotion, the normal price is RM 79 per photo book.

Fave (previously group-on) (LINK)

The cheapest so far is RM 2 per photo book.
Advantage - the code is available right after the payment.
Disadvantage - you can only buy 1 photo book per purchase. So if you need more, it is a bit struggle to do the same process over and over again.

Lazada (just knew about this - I haven't try buying anything from Lazada yet hee) (LINK)

The cheapest one! RM 1 per photo book.
Advantage - you can buy many photo books with one payment.
Disadvantage - the code will be available within 3 working days.

3 websites that I know.

2. Activate your code. (or just skip to step #3)

You will receive the code after the payment (via the website itself or via email)

Honestly, I didn't activate my codes for my photo books except the first one. I realized it makes no difference if I activate the codes or not. Why? I still need to key in the code when I submit the photo book for printing.

Just key in the data and click submit.

The purpose of activating the code is to keep a record for our purchase and the let photobook.com.my to send us reminders when the expiration date gets closer. If you buy from Fave, they will remind you as well.

3. Download Photobook Designer software.

You can get the software for free from photobook.com.my website.

3.1 - Scroll to the bottom part of the page.
3.2 - Then, click the one with arrow.

3.3 - Click "DOWNLOAD". You can download on your phone as well (but not sure how it works as I usually design my photobooks with my laptop)

4. Open the Photobook Designer program.

It will appear like this:

4.1 - Click "Create a New Project".

4.2 - Next, double click on "Photobooks" or click Photobooks >> Next

4.3 - Choose "Hardcover and Softcover". Ignore the price as this is only a software to design the photo book. You will redeem the code later.

4.4 - Choose "6x6 Mini Square Softcover" for this tutorial. If you buy any other designs in the future, click the equivalent one .

4.5 - Enter your project name.

5. Now, you can start designing your photo book ;D

I personally take minimum 2 hours to design one - from sorting the photos to adding caption, editing the size, preview etc.

After you enter your project name, your screen will turn into this. I will explain the basic functions of every parts that I've put arrows.

Orange - Click "+" to add photos that you want to use for this photo book. (See next picture)
Red - This area will show every page of the photo book.
Purple - Buttons to edit the photo book (undo, redo, save, add picture, add text etc). The play button is to review the photo book. The trolley is to submit the photo book (will be used later after you finish the design)
Green - Working area
Yellow - Choices of design.
Blue - Area to edit text and box etc

The software will actually help with guidance throughout the process. You don't have to be connected to the Internet in this designing phase. You can also save the project to edit any time later.

This is how my photo book cover looks like. To edit a text, you need to make sure you SELECT EVERY SINGLE ALPHABETS. You can play around with this actually.

For yellow arrow area:

You can add any of these to any pages that you want.
How? Just CLICK AND DRAG into the working area (green arrow)

6. Preview and save your photo book.

Important to see the final result before you submit and order the photo book. If there is anything you need to change, do it as changes cannot be done once you submit the order.

Play button - to preview.
Trolley button - to order.

7. Order the photo book.

Click the trolley button. Then, this notice will appear on the screen. Now, you need to make sure you are connected to Internet :)

7.1 Simply tick the box >> Start.

7.2 - Then, another box will appear. DON'T CLICK ANYTHING as you will be redirected to photobook.com.my website.

8. Sign in to Photobook.

Or if you don't have account yet, you can create one. No matter what, you still need an account to order the photo book.

It is not that hard to create an account :)

9. Now, you can see your cart. Change the type of paper.

I know that you are surprised with the price. Don't worry, you will redeem the voucher / code soon!

9.1 - Change the type of paper you want to use.

9.2 - Just select the first one - Photo Lustre Paper. You will save RM 4.90. This type of paper is still of good quality for the photo book :)

9.3 - See, the price reduced a bit! Now, click "Continue".

10. Choose shipping method.

The first one is already good :)

10.1 - Click Express Shipping >> Continue

11. Redeem your voucher.

Scroll down a bit until you reach 'payment details'.
Here you can finally redeem the code! Yeay!

11.1 - Key in the code >> click "Redeem".

It will become like this.

12. Pay the shipping cost.

11.2 - Now, you only need to pay the shipping cost (+ GST lol).
Choose any online banking etc >> then click "Confirm Order"

Just proceed with the normal processes of online payment. :) I believe most of us know how to deal with this, hehe.

Click "Proceed"

It will redirect you to the chosen online banking.

13. Now, you are done with voucher redeem and payment.

You will return to Photobook website with your order number. Just exit the page. No need to worry as you will also receive the order number via email for future reference.

14. Now, it is time to upload your photo book :D

This process takes quite some time, depending on your Internet speed.

Click "Upload Order" >> then "Continue"

Simply wait for the upload. Just do other stuffs while waiting.

15. Upload completed!

Just click "OK"

16. Check your photo book status.

You can either check the status via email or Photobook Designer software.

You will get lots of emails regarding your payment / order / status.

On Photobook Designer, click "Open an Existing Project"

Now you can check your photo book status - In Production. Once they deliver the photo book to you, it will change to Order Completed.

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Looks complicated, isn't it? Haha yes, I need to admit that. However, it will be much easier through out time and when you want to design your next photo book, you will spend shorter time on it. :)

Have fun with this tutorial and hope it helps!

Can't wait to see your photo books as well! :D

SS, Perak, Malaysia

171016

How To Leave Clickable Link in Blogger Comments?

November 22, 2016

Disqus is one of my biggest blogging sins - that I keep on doing. Till this exact moment.

I know that Disqus is not friendly anymore with Blogger, I mean it doesn't sync at all now. I tried searching around how to change back to Blogger comments without losing the comments I already have on my posts. But, none. T_T

Sad truth.

I am so sorry for those who find it difficult to leave a comment in my blog. I have no idea what should I do with this. Deep inside, I really hope you won't find it hard to leave comment by logging in to Facebook, Google or Twitter. Honestly, Disqus is almost perfect EXCEPT the sync problem. T_T

This morning.

Oh, do you guys know what is Disqus actually?

It is a 3rd party comments section for blog. Told ya, I was a big fan of Korean dramas and shows - those sites were the starting point I learned the existence of Disqus. And after I found few other blogs using Disqus as well, honestly it looked totally cool!

I wish Disqus can sync with Blogger like it used to be. T_T

What is hyperlink?

On Disqus comments section, you can leave a link without extra codes needed. Like, if you leave a Youtube link, it will even attach the video on the comment itself.

But, on Blogger comments, the 'link' will not hyperlink on its own.

Let me show you the examples:

THIS IS ONLY FOR EXAMPLE
1. The link/text without hyperlink
2. Hypertext - link/text with hyperlink

For the first example.

You need to select the text --> right click --> select 'go to xxxx'

This is possible ONLY IF the blogs allow readers to do 'right click'
Although I don't really understand why people disable 'right click', I respect your decision anyway.

Alternative = you can also select the text --> control + C (copy) --> control + T (open a new tab) --> control + V (paste) --> enter

If you are very good with keyboard (especially with shortcuts), this is very simple for you.

So, why not make it easier for other people to click the link on blogger comments by directly make the text / link as hyperlink?

See the 2nd example.

You can click directly on the hyperlink to open the link on the same tab.
Alternative = if you want to read it afterward, just right click on the link --> select open link in a new tab.

You can continue reading the page before continue with the next tab.

-------------------------

How to do it?

You just need to add this HTML code:

<a href="http://www.fortaauto.com">hanisamanina.com</a>

The result will be like this: hanisamanina.com

For the code, simply change the text in quotation mark "http://www.fortaauto.com" into the link you want to share. Next, change the text in between the arrows >hanisamanina.com>< - this is how people will see the hyperlink.

I think you realised that I put this hyperlink at the very end of comments I left on your blog :) The very exact reason why I inserted my blog hyperlink on each comment I left is I don't like both Blogger profile and Google Plus profile when people click on my name.

I had experience once - when I read any interesting comments, I really want to reach out the person. So, when I click his/her name, I was directed to a Blogger profile with most of times the blogger may have 3-4 blogs listed! Why oh why?

T_T

Tips :

I saved the HTML code on Notepad on my laptop and pin it to taskbar. Every time I do my routine blog walking, I'll make sure I already open the Notepad and copy the HTML code.

p/s - People may think the link as spam, I do as well. Just, try to hover on the hyperlink first to see where the link is directing you.

HK, Czech

161121

[Tutorial] Origami LOVE

September 14, 2016

Post ni masa zaman A-Level dulu - 6 tahun lepas :O

Pernah post sebelum ni, entah la kenapa check balik rupanya dalam draft. Mungkin masa tengah tapis post-post lama, semua pakat disumbat dalam draft. Heee.

Green love

Bila baca balik, rasanya saya dan kawan serumah, Ica & Nurul main-main buat origami sehari sebelum exam A-Level (entahlah yang real atau exam semester). Lol. Exam Physics Paper 1, Mechanics. I left mathematics / calculations for ages. Sekarang nak congak pun tak confident, kena guna kalkulator jugak. Padahal Maths tu my favorite kot. :(

Nah, I bet no many people know how to fold LOVE origami. Haha.
Statement over-confident -_-'

Jom buat jom :D