Frequently Asked Questions

Creating a My Reflections photobook is a matter of downloading the Photobook Designer software and installing this on your computer.

You then select the type of book you wish to create. Drag a template onto the page, drag  images onto the template and add any text you desire.

Please see our Tutorials for online videos that demonstrate how easy Photobook Designer is to use.

Photobook Designer is Microsoft Windows based software. To run it you will need the following:

• Windows XP or greaterPentium III or better
• 512 MB or more memory
• A minimum screen setting of 800x600 (Although 1024 x 768 is recommended)
• A broadband internet connection or a CD burner
• Microsoft .NET 2.0

Photos should be scanned at 300 dpi unless you require a larger printed size, in which case a higher dpi should be used.

For instance, if you scan a 6x4 photo and you wish to have it printed as an 8x10, then a resolution of around 600 should be used.

Layouts should be saved as 300 dpi and created in the size you wish to print.

A page is one side of the paper and a leaf is a sheet of paper.

For example, 20 leaves would equal 40 pages.

Yes we do, we use a process black to do this.

Your photobook will be printed using the latest high quality digital press process.

My Reflections currently prints using the award winning HP Indigo 5500

We use high quality 170 gsm silk finish paper, which is recommended for use with the printer.

Yes if your other program can save your pages as a Jpg or Tiff at 300 dpi then you can simply drop the pages into our Photobook Designer program as a full page image.

Photoshop and Photoshop Elements are popular choices. Scrapbooking programs like Scrapbook Max, Digital Scrapbook Artist and FotoFusion are easier to learn and allow you to create flattened jpg files.

Yes we can print from PDF files.

Simply check the sizes and number of pages on our products page and design your book in your preferred program. Then create your book and ensure you keep the outside 3mm clear for trimming. Also leave at least 5mm clear for the binding edge.

15mm is advisable for text to read easily in the centre binding area. Do not add extra bleed to the stated sizes.

Output your PDF book file for 300 dpi print quality. Then upload through your preferred method to orders@myreflections.com.au. We recommend YouSendIt.Com for files under 100mb, and MegaUpload.Com for larger files.

Please email orders with your name, address, plus colour, size and number of books. There are no extra processing charges at the moment.

The red cross is the warning indicator that your image is under 125 dpi for the size you want to print it at.

This indicator means that you are more than likely going to see softness or pixelation in the printed result. It is advisable that you reduce the size of the photo using the square drag handles until the red cross disappears.

The red cross will not print in your book, it is on screen indicator only. To learn more see our tutorials.

The yellow triangle is an infromational indicator that your image is under 300dpi for the size you want to print it at.

This is only an indicator that your print is less than the most optimal print resolution. Prints at this resolution will still print well. If you continue to increase the size of the photo you may see the Red Cross, this indicates there will be a problem printing, see the FAQ item above.

The yellow triangle will not print in your book, it is on screen indicator only. To learn more see our tutorials.

Absolutely, you may have any number of different page colours you like. You can even use photos as backgrounds for your pages. We also have backgrounds and embellishments available to really make your page stand out.

To learn more on how to use Photobook Designer, see our tutorials.

Yes you can. Adding extra photos onto the page is as easy as selecting the 'Add New Picture' toolbar button and drawing your new picture box on the page. Then drop your new picture into the box.

To learn more on how to use Photobook Designer, see our tutorials.

After creating your photobook using Photobook Designer you will generate an album file that needs to be sent to My Reflections for printing.

If you have broadband you can do this online, (you can do it with a dialup connection, however the files generated by Designer are typically over 20 megabytes and this would take a long time), or alternatively you can put the file on CD and send that to us. Payment can be made online or via direct payment.

Once we have received your file and payment we will print, bind and deliver your book back to you using Australia Post.

The My Reflections Photobook software creates rpb files, which are the files you open each time you wish to view or work on your book. When you are ready to generate your finished book, the My Reflections Photobook software creates a file, which you then send to My Reflections for printing.

You can do this by uploading it if you have broadband, or by creating a CD and posting it to My Reflections.

You will be able to view the a low resolution PDF file for final proofing.

Yes you may order as many as you like.

You will receive a discount for multiple copies of the same book. 10% discount for your second copy 15% discount for your third and subsequent copies.

My Reflections uses Westpac Banks Payway system to process payments online.

You can pay by credit card online, My Reflections accepts Visa and Mastercard. Alternatively your can send us a cheque or pay by direct bank deposit.

Please refer to the Products page for current prices.

My Reflections currently print and dispatch on Tuesday and Thursday of each week.

Orders received and paid for by 3pm Tuesday will be dispatched on Thursday, and orders received paid for by 5pm Friday will be dispatched on Tuesday.

Delivery is dependant on your location and postage method chosen. Please see the 'How long does postage take' FAQ item below.

My Reflections uses the Australia Post Express network to dispatch all books.

Express post is next day delivery within the Express Post network. Click here to find the areas covered in the Express Post delivery network.

For areas outside of the Express Post next day network, delivery is 2 days.

We first use tissue paper to wrap your book. The tissue paper is purely asthetic, we think your memories should be presented well.

Our protective packaging starts with 2 layers of bubble wrap to ensure your book is well cushioned. We then place the wrapped book into a protective box to prevent any impact damage.

For express post deliveries, your package is then put into an Express Post satchel for dispatch

My Reflections takes great care in dispatching your Photobook, and we have spent a great deal of time developing our packaging systems to ensure that your book arrives in pristine condition.

In the unlikely event that you need to return your book to My Reflections we do require that the book be securely packaged in the same manner that it arrived to avoid any damage when returned to us.

My Reflections does not cover damage that occurs to insufficiently packaged books when being returned.