General Questions
What is Focus in Pix?
Do I need to install anything on my computer to use Focus in Pix?
To get started using Focus in Pix, visit our download page.
How do I use Focus in Pix?
How do I get my Focus in Pix projects printed?
Am I able to print my Focus in Pix project on my home printer?
Do I need an internet connection to use Focus in Pix?
Can a friend and I work on the same Focus in Pix project together?
How long will it take to complete my order?
Production Time (does not include shipping time)
Booklets: 2 to 3 days
Greeting Cards: 1 to 2 days
Poster Prints: 1 to 2 days
Calendars: 2 to 3 days
Please allow extra time for large quantity orders. Call us at 952-891-8707 for more information.
If you choose to have your order shipped, this can take between 3 to 5 business days to arrive via UPS Ground or US Postal. (Please visit UPS.com for more information about UPS Ground Shipping.) Overnight or 2-day shipping is available upon request. Please email us at production@focusinpix.com if interested.
You can also pick up your order at either Burnsville or Lakeville Cornerstone Copy Center locations.
Software, Operating Systems, Installation & Updates
Which computer operating systems will Focus in Pix work on?
How do I install Focus in Pix onto my computer?
How to Install Focus in Pix Software on a Mac
What does it mean when the software prompts me to update?
- Application updates (*)
- New products
- Updates to existing products
- Available Scrapbook items, Backgrounds, Frames and Masks
(*) Because our software is always being updated and enhanced, and in order to have access to all product offerings in the software, it is strongly recommended to install any application updates whenever they appear. If there is an application update, it will appear at the top of the list.
In addition to application updates, it is also strongly recommend to install updates for any product you intend to use before you start a new project. Product updates applied to your software after a project is started will not be applied to your saved project.
If you see an application update, products or scrapbook items in the list that you want to use, click to select it — then click ‘Install.’ Some updates may take more time to download. This is because we want your graphics to print well and sometimes they can be rather large to download.
NOTE: We do not recommend updating your software with all products at once. When doing so, you may receive a communication error and the update will not complete. Please update your software with one or two products at a time.
What is an application update?
When you initially launch Focus in Pix, by default, it will look for updates and display them in the ‘Auto Update…’ window. When the window appears, pay close attention to the top item that appears in the list. Any application updates will appear as the first item in the list and be labeled ‘Focus in Pix X.X (X.X being the version number). If you do not see an application updates listed at the top of the list, then you are using the most current version of the software and no application update is needed.
While updating my software, I receive an error or my connection times out. Is there anything that will fix this?
If you are trying to update only one or two products and still receive an error, this may have something to do with your computer’s security is set up. Some computers are set up with extra security, especially those at a place of business. This extra security may prevent your computer from communicating with our servers. Therefore, in order to communicate with our servers, you will need to temporarily modify your computer’s security settings. We find that disabling the Firewall and/or Antivirus software on some computers will allow updates and ordering. These are advanced settings in your computer! Do not change these settings unless you are knowledgeable about your system. Seek appropriate technical help for your system if necessary. Also, please be sure to turn Firewall and Antivirus on again after you are done! Please note that when placing an order, your computer will need to communicate with our servers again so you will need to repeat with turning off your Firewall and/or Antivirus at the time or ordering.
Where are my Focus in Pix projects saved on my computer?
- On a Mac, this folder is stored in your computer’s “Users” folder (/Users/YourComputerName/Focus in Pix Projects).
- On a PC, this folder is stored in “My Documents” or in
Libraries > Documents depending on your operating system.
Please note that it is not possible to open your saved projects by double-clicking on these .prj files. The only way to open a Focus in Pix project is to use the Focus in Pix software interface to access and open the project.
Also note that the actual picture files used in your project will not be saved/embedded within these files. All picture files used in Focus in Pix projects are linked to a folder on your computer where the picture is stored. The .prj file includes data relating to the picture file location, not the actual files themselves.
It may also be of interest to know that while placing an order through Focus in Pix, the application process will take all the .prj data and combine it with your linked pictures to send the art files to our server as one print-ready file. Users do not need to send the pictures used in their projects separately to a server. The order process will take care of sending everything needed for production during the last ‘Checkout’ step where the user will ‘Upload Order’.
Using Focus in Pix Software
Starting a New Project
There are only a few projects that show when I open my software. Why can’t I find the type of project I want to create with Focus in Pix?
To update your software, start Focus in Pix and select the “Create a new Project” button. In the lower left corner of the dialog box, look for a button titled, “Check for Updates” and click on it. Your computer will look for updates to your software via the internet. Once your software communicates successfully with our servers, a list of available updates will show. Click on the check boxes next to the products and/or updates you are interested in.
When a list of available updates appears, be sure to get any application updates first. An application update will appear at the top of the list.
We do not recommend updating your software with all products at once. When doing so, you may receive a communication error and the update will not complete. Please update your software with one or two products at a time.
Adding Pictures
How do I import my pictures into Focus in Pix?
Can I import just one photo instead of an entire folder into Focus in Pix?
How do I add my pictures to the page?
What types of image files can be imported into Focus in Pix?
Am I able to import a .PDF into Focus in Pix?
Where should I store my photos that I plan to use on my project?
If you decide to store / link your photos from media such as CDs, flash media or disk drives, be aware that Focus in Pix may require you to re-link your photos to those same media drives each time you access / open your project. Additionally, make sure the media can still be plugged in and/or accessed while on the internet, during the order process.
Is there a way to sort my pictures after they have been imported into Focus in Pix?
A red ‘!’ icon appears on my pictures. What does this mean?
A red icon may indicate either a Low Quality Picture or Missing Picture issue. Use your mouse to hover over the red icon to see which issue is the problem for each picture. (An explanation for each of these issues can be found below this topic.)
A red ‘!’ icon appears indicating ‘Missing Pictures.’ How can I fix this?
‘Missing Picture’ = Picture file is missing from original location
This problem will happen when the photos for your project have been removed or moved to a different location on your computer. This may also happen when attempting to import pictures from external media drives such as CDs or flash drives, or network drives that have been unplugged or removed. (We strongly suggest all photos be stored in and imported into Focus in Pix from one folder on your computer hard drive.)
If you are getting a “Missing Photos” alert, try either of the following solutions:
- If the pictures for your project are on external media, either plug in or insert the CD, flash drive, external hard drive or media card your pictures are stored on.
- If the pictures were on your hard drive, you can try to put each picture with this icon back to the exact location they were before. You may need to restart Focus in Pix and reopen your project.
- If the pictures stored on your hard drive have been moved, you can try to re-link them to the new location where they are stored on your computer.
To re-link your pictures in Focus in Pix:
- Open your project in Focus in Pix
- You will receive a message that your pictures are missing. Click, ‘Find Pictures.’
- A list of missing pictures will show. Click on one of the pictures shown in the list to highlight it.
- Click the ‘Update’ button.
- Use the dialog box to navigate to the picture on your computer (the name of the file will be shown at the top of the dialog box). Select it to highlight it, and then click ‘Select’ button.
- A dialog box will appear to confirm your selection, ‘Are you sure you wish to update the picture box with this picture?’ Click the ‘Yes’ button.
- The software may automatically alert you that it has found additional missing photos in the same folder with the dialog box, ‘There are other missing pictures that appear to be located in this folder. Do you wish to update the picture boxes for these pictures as well?’ Click the ‘Yes’ button.
- In the ‘Find Missing Pictures…’ list, the Status column will change to ‘Updated’ for each picture found. Scroll through the list and click on any additional ‘Missing’ photos to find them.
- Once the list shows that all the pictures have been ‘Updated,’ click the ‘Continue’ button to continue to open your project.
How did this happen? After the pictures were imported into Focus in Pix, the picture files were moved or removed. Since the picture files are no longer in the location they were linked from, Focus in Pix can no longer find them on your computer.
A red ‘!’ icon appears indicating ‘Low Quality Pictures.’ How can I fix this?
‘Low Quality Picture’ = Low Resolution
If any of the images on your page display this icon, the picture used is not saved at a high enough resolution than what we recommend for printing. You may continue with submitting your order, however we would always recommend replacing the image with a higher resolution image first. If you do not replace the image, you may be disappointed in the quality of this image after printing as it may appear blurry and low quality.
How did this happen? Perhaps the picture was saved from a cell phone, webpage or sent in an email. Usually pictures from the internet or within email programs are not saved at a high enough resolution for printing. We always recommend using the original picture file rather than one that has been sized for internet or email use, therefore we recommend replacing any low resolution image with a higher resolution version of the same image, if one exists. (100% size at approximately 200 to 300 DPI)
Picture Boxes, Cropping and Enhancement Tools
How to I resize a picture box on my page?

To resize an item, click and drag one of the blue handles with your mouse.
- Use the Shift key on your keyboard while dragging any blue handle to constrain proportions of your picture box.
- Click-and-drag a side handle to adjust width of the picture box only.
- Click-and-drag a bottom or top handle to adjust the height of the picture box only.
- Click-and-drag a corner handle to allow free transformation of the picture box to be any proportion or size.
Note: After resizing a picture box, you may need to crop your picture afterwards. See the next topic to learn how to crop your picture inside a picture box.
How do I crop my photos?

A cropping dialog box will appear showing a larger version of your picture in the main window. While in this dialog box, look for a little notch in the lower right corner of your picture — then click and drag the notch to fine-tune how the photograph should be cropped. You may have to adjust the frame itself to complete the effect you want.
If you have trouble with cropping photographs you may want to watch this video showing how to crop photos in Focus in Pix.
Cropping and Rotating Photos in Focus in Pix
Can I rotate a photo or text box?
Am I able to lighten or darken photos on my page?
Under ‘Picture Enhancement’ you will find a few tools that will allow you to change brightness and contrast.
The first tool that will affect the brightness of your picture is the ‘Auto-Enhance (Perfectly Clear)’ tool. This tool will attempt to automatically set your picture to the correct brightness and contrast. First select your photo on the page, then click the check box next to this item to turn on ‘Auto-Enhance.’
Sometimes ‘Auto-Enhance’ does not give expected results. If you are not happy with ‘Auto-Enhance,’ simply un-check the box next to this item and then change the Brightness and Contrast settings separately.
With your photo selected, move the slider bar next to ‘Brightness‘ to the left or right to change how light or dark the picture will appear. (You can also type a number into the box, then hit Return on your keyboard.)
Sometimes changing ‘Brightness’ will affect the contrast of a picture. With your photo still selected, move the slider bar next to ‘Contrast‘ to the left or right (or type a number into the box next to the slider).
Are there any picture adjustment tools?
Flip Vertical: Flip a picture backwards, top to bottom.
Flip Horizontal: Flip a picture backwards, left to right.Auto-Enhance (Perfectly Clear): Attempts to automatically set the brightness and contrast of a picture.
Remove Red Eye: Attempts to reduce or eliminate red eye on your photos.
Mode: ‘Original ‘(for original color), ‘Black and White’ for gray scale, or ‘Sepia‘ for an old-fashioned warm tone effect.
Brightness: Use this slider to help enhance photos that are too dark or too light.
Contrast: Adjusts picture dark tones to be darker, or light tones to be lighter.
Vignette: Adds a soft edge to the inside edge of a photo. You can adjust the shape to a circle or rectangle/square. You can also adjust the size, blur, color and opacity of the vignette effect.
The pictures on my project page look very blurry. Is this an accurate view of how my pictures will print?
‘Low Quality Picture’ = Low Resolution
Look for any images on your page that show a “Low Quality Picture” icon on top of your image. This icon resembles a red triangle with exclamation mark.
If any of the images on your page display this icon, the picture used is not saved at a high enough resolution than what we recommend. Perhaps the picture was saved from a webpage or sent in an email. Usually pictures from the internet or within email programs are not saved at a high enough resolution for printing. We always recommend using the original picture file rather than one that has been sized for internet or email use, therefore we recommend replacing any low resolution image with a higher resolution version of the same image, if one exists. (100% size at approximately 200 to 300 DPI)
Camera or Scanning Issues
If you are not receiving a ‘Low Quality Picture’ alert, it is still possible the image is of poor quality due to camera lens blur, subject or photographer movement during picture exposure or scanning malfunctions.
Computer Memory Management
In Focus in Pix, depending on the computer system, sometimes the preview image on the page will appear blurry when in fact the picture will print sharp. This happens sometimes when the computer is managing memory. If you aren’t seeing a resolution alert message on the picture in question, try one of the below methods to help you verify whether you will be happy with the photo quality.
- Show High Quality Picture: First, using the top menu, zoom in on your photo on the page with “View” > “Maximum Zoom.” Then, right click on the photo (with Mac mouse, Ctrl-click) and select “Show High Quality Picture” from the menu. This will give you a more accurate preview image so you can access the quality of your image. If you don’t see a difference after doing this, you may want to view the photo in 3rd party software.
- View the photo in another application (3rd party) software: If the page still shows a blurry image on your page, you will want to open up the photo using a different software program program to view it. Perhaps your scanner or digital camera came with software that will allow you to view and magnify photos on your screen. Once you open it using your photo software, be sure to magnify it on your screen to look for softness and imperfections.
Why do the pictures on my project page look distorted.
To fix this issue, we recommend turning this feature off and manipulating the cropping of your picture and/or manipulating the proportional size of the picture box.
To turn off Scale Picture to Box:
- Right click on the distorted picture
- From the mini-menu, select Picture scaling > Scale Picture Proportionally
After setting the picture scaling, you may find that the picture will be cropped more than you like. This will happen when (for example) putting a vertically shaped picture into a horizontally shaped box or visa versa. The amount that is cropped off will depend on the shape of the picture in reference to the shape of the picture box. To fix this issue, we recommend cropping the picture to your liking by double-clicking on the picture on your page to access the cropping tool.
If you can’t seem to crop the picture so you like it, you may want to consider manipulating the dimensions of the picture box to be closer to being the same proportion to the picture. You may need to make the picture box wider or taller to accommodate the picture dimensions.
- To make the box wider, click on a side handle (dot) and pull to the left or right.
- To make the box taller, click on a top or bottom handle (dot) and pull up or down.
- For tilted pictures, you can manipulate the width or height of the picture box by editing the size dimensions under the ‘Ruler’ icon (in the upper right corner of your screen).
- To scale the picture proportionally up or down, use one of the corner handles (dots) while holding down your shift key.
We only recommend resizing the picture box if it fits within the design layout. You may also want to consider using a different picture that will fit within the design.
How do I add colored borders to my pictures?
Select the picture or element on your page which you want to add a border to. Then, click on the Object Properties icon which is the first icon in the upper right of screen that resembles red/green shapes. In the Objects Properties tray, look for the “Border” attributes. Click the box next to “Border” to turn on borders for the item selected. The color cube shown next to Colour: will show the current border color.
To change the border thickness:
First use the slider bar or type a number into the Size attribute to set the thickness for the border. A smaller number will set a thinner border. A larger number will set a thicker border.
To change the border color:
- Click on the square next to “Colour” to bring up a list of colors.
- Choose one of the pre-mixed colors shown in the list, or choose “Other…” to mix a custom color.
- Choosing “Other” will show your operating system’s color mixer.
- Play with the sliders and/or type in color values to create your own custom color.
About the Mac OS color mixer:
Use tabs at top or pull down menu to select color type. Second icon from left (resembles sliders) or pull down item “RGB Sliders” will bring up Red, Green, Blue colors. Type in Red Green Blue values or play with sliders to create your own custom color.
To save color, drag created color into little color thumbnails near bottom of dialog box. Click OK.
About PC (Windows OS) color mixer:
Choose a pre-mixed “Basic Color” or click on “Define Custom Colors” button to expand this tool and mix your own custom color.
Mix colors using sliders and/or mouse clicks, or by entering [Hue, Saturation, Luminosity] or [Red, Green, Blue] values in these fields.
To save a color to your “Custom Colors”:
- Click on an empty square below “Custom Colors.”
- Mix a custom color.
- Click on “Add to Custom Colors” button.
The color will now be saved in the empty square chosen before mixing your color.
A red ‘!’ icon appears on my pictures. What does this mean?
A red icon may indicate either a Low Quality Picture or Missing Picture issue. A topic for each of these issues is listed below this item. Click on either of the next two items below to learn more about each issue.
A red ‘!’ icon appears indicating ‘Missing Pictures.’ How can I fix this?
‘Missing Picture’ = Picture file is missing from original location
This problem will happen when the photos for your project have been removed or moved to a different location on your computer. This may also happen when attempting to import pictures from external media drives such as CDs or flash drives, or network drives that have been unplugged or removed. (We strongly suggest all photos be stored in and imported into Focus in Pix from one folder on your computer hard drive.)
If you are getting a “Missing Photos” alert, try either of the following solutions:
- If the pictures for your project are on external media, either plug in or insert the CD, flash drive, external hard drive or media card your pictures are stored on.
- If the pictures were on your hard drive, you can try to put each picture with this icon back to the exact location they were before. You may need to restart Focus in Pix and reopen your project.
- If the pictures stored on your hard drive have been moved, you can try to re-link them to the new location where they are stored on your computer.
To re-link your pictures in Focus in Pix:
- Open your project in Focus in Pix
- You will receive a message that your pictures are missing. Click, ‘Find Pictures.’
- A list of missing pictures will show. Click on one of the pictures shown in the list to highlight it.
- Click the ‘Update’ button.
- Use the dialog box to navigate to the picture on your computer (the name of the file will be shown at the top of the dialog box). Select it to highlight it, and then click ‘Select’ button.
- A dialog box will appear to confirm your selection, ‘Are you sure you wish to update the picture box with this picture?’ Click the ‘Yes’ button.
- The software may automatically alert you that it has found additional missing photos in the same folder with the dialog box, ‘There are other missing pictures that appear to be located in this folder. Do you wish to update the picture boxes for these pictures as well?’ Click the ‘Yes’ button.
- In the ‘Find Missing Pictures…’ list, the Status column will change to ‘Updated’ for each picture found. Scroll through the list and click on any additional ‘Missing’ photos to find them.
- Once the list shows that all the pictures have been ‘Updated,’ click the ‘Continue’ button to continue to open your project.
How did this happen? After the pictures were imported into Focus in Pix, the picture files were moved or removed. Since the picture files are no longer in the location they were linked from, Focus in Pix can no longer find them on your computer.
A red ‘!’ icon appears indicating ‘Low Quality Pictures.’ How can I fix this?
‘Low Quality Picture’ = Low Resolution
If any of the images on your page display this icon, the picture used is not saved at a high enough resolution than what we recommend for printing. You may continue with submitting your order, however we would always recommend replacing the image with a higher resolution image first. If you do not replace the image, you may be disappointed in the quality of this image after printing as it may appear blurry and low quality.
How did this happen? Perhaps the picture was saved from a cell phone, webpage or sent in an email. Usually pictures from the internet or within email programs are not saved at a high enough resolution for printing. We always recommend using the original picture file rather than one that has been sized for internet or email use, therefore we recommend replacing any low resolution image with a higher resolution version of the same image, if one exists. (100% size at approximately 200 to 300 DPI)
Page Backgrounds
How do I change the background of my page a solid color?
To change page background to a solid color:
- Click on the icon in the upper right corner of your screen that looks like a blank page. This is the Page Background icon.
- Click on the colored square next to the page listed that you would like to change the color to. (Posters and cards will only show one color square next to the label “Colour”.)
- A list or colors will appear. Choose from the colors listed or mix your own custom color by choosing “Other” on the bottom of the list.
If you already have an image set onto your background, this will cover up the page background color. You will need to delete the background image to show the page background color. To delete it, click on the background image. (Be sure to select the background image instead of selecting other elements on the page.) The use the “Delete” or “Del” key on your keyboard to delete the background image from your page. Alternatively, you can right-click on the background and select “Remove Background” from the menu. (Ctrl-click with Mac mouse to bring up this menu.)
How do I custom mix colors (Windows OS)?
Windows operating system color mixer:
Choose a pre-mixed “Basic Color” or click on “Define Custom Colors” button to expand this tool and mix your own custom color.
Mix colors using sliders and/or mouse clicks, or by entering [Hue, Saturation, Luminosity] or [Red, Green, Blue] values in these fields.
To save a color to your “Custom Colors”:
- Click on an empty square below “Custom Colors.”
- Mix a custom color.
- Click on “Add to Custom Colors” button.
The color will now be saved in the empty square chosen before mixing your color.
How do I custom mix colors (Mac OS)?
Mac operating system color mixer:
Use tabs at top or pull down menu to select color type. The second icon from left (resembles sliders) or use pull down item to select “RGB Sliders” will bring up Red, Green, Blue colors. Type in Red Green Blue values or play with sliders to create your own custom color.
To save color, drag created color into little color thumbnails near bottom of dialog box. Click OK.
How do I change the background on my page to a background image?
To add an image-based background:
- Click on the “Backgrounds” tab found below your page.
- Drag and drop one of the backgrounds in the “Backgrounds” tab onto your page.
You can add more background images to the library in your software. To update your software, you must first exit out of your project. Then click the “Create a New Project” button. Next, click the “Check for Updates” button. In the list, look for “Backgrounds” and select those you wish to update your software with. Then click the “Update” button. Note: You may want to only choose a few backgrounds at a time depending on your internet connection, otherwise your update may time out and only partially update.
If you would like to add your own images to the background tab, see the next topic titled, “How to I add my own custom image backgrounds to Focus in Pix?”
How do I add my own custom image backgrounds to Focus in Pix?
To add image(s) to your Backgrounds library:
- Click on the Backgrounds tab on the lower portion of your screen to show your backgrounds palette window.
- On the lower right corner of your screen, click on the button that looks like a “gear” to bring up the Backgrounds pull-down menu.
- Select “Add…” from the drop-down menu.
- A window will show allowing you to browse your computer for your background image file. Once you have found your file, select it; press the “Open” button.
- Another window will appear allowing you to name your background, and categorize it if you wish. (Using the categorize feature is optional — however is a good idea to use this feature if you plan to add several backgrounds to your library.)
Text and Fonts
How do I add text to my page?

Once the text box is sized and positioned correctly on your page, double-click to add text inside the text box. A blinking cursor will appear, showing where new text will be added. Simply type in the text with your keyboard when you see the blinking cursor.
When adding new text boxes, the default text color is black. If your page background is also set to black, you will want to set the text color to a different color so it will appear on your page.
What fonts can I use?
How do I change the font style and font size?
First, double-click on the text box that contains the text you would like to customize. A blinking cursor will show inside the text box if you have double-clicked on the text box correctly.
Next, select the text inside the text box with your mouse cursor. You can select all the text inside the text box, or you can select specific letters, words and phrases and assign different attributes to them even though they are within one text box. (Click on your mouse button and drag your cursor over the text which you would like to change.)
When selecting the text in a text box, the text attributes tray on the right side of your screen will show. (If you do not see text attributes, click on the “T” icon in the upper right corner of your screen to show text attributes.)
Changing the Font style:
The fonts shown in drop-down list are those installed on your computer. Select a font from the drop down list to assign it to your selected text. (Note: You can use any font installed on your computer. If you install fonts while working on your project, restart Focus in Pix to see any fonts installed while Focus in Pix is open.)
If available for your font, select Regular, Italic, Bold etc… using the pull-down box shown below the font name.
Changing the Font size:
Select a font size by either selecting a point size number from the pull-down list or by typing in a font size number into the box. (Note: For poster projects, you may need to type a font size into the box rather than use the pull-down list since font sizes on posters will many times require a font size greater than 100 pt.)
You can also apply the following styles to your selected text by clicking on the icons underneath the Font attributes:
- Underline
- Strike Through
- Superscript
- Subscript
- All Caps
How do I change the font color?
Text must first be selected with mouse cursor to change the color. (Double-click on text box, then select text with mouse cursor.)
- Click on the square next to “Colour” to bring up a list of colors.
- Choose one of the pre-mixed colors shown in the list, or choose “Other…” to mix a custom color.
- Choosing “Other” will show your operating system’s color mixer.
- Play with the sliders and/or type in color values to create your own custom color.
About the Mac OS color mixer:
Use tabs at top or pull down menu to select color type. Second icon from left (resembles sliders) or pull down item “RGB Sliders” will bring up Red, Green, Blue colors. Type in Red Green Blue values or play with sliders to create your own custom color.
To save color, drag created color into little color thumbnails near bottom of dialog box. Click OK.
About PC (Windows OS) color mixer:
Choose a pre-mixed “Basic Color” or click on “Define Custom Colors” button to expand this tool and mix your own custom color.
Mix colors using sliders and/or mouse clicks, or by entering [Hue, Saturation, Luminosity] or [Red, Green, Blue] values in these fields.
To save a color to your “Custom Colors”:
- Click on an empty square below “Custom Colors.”
- Mix a custom color.
- Click on “Add to Custom Colors” button.
The color will now be saved in the empty square chosen before mixing your color.
How do I fix ‘Text Overflows Box’ error?
To fix this problem, we recommend the following:
- Reduce the font size of the text inside the text box.
- Double-click on the text box that shows the error to begin editing the text.
- Use your mouse to select any or all text to make smaller. Use keyboard keys Ctl+A (PC) or Command+A (Mac) to select all the text in the text box.
- On the right side of your screen, look for text attributes (under the ‘T’ icon.)
- Near the top under ‘Font’ change the font size number to a smaller number by using the font size pull down or typing in a new number + return.
- Reduce the line spacing of the text inside the text box.
-
- Double-click on the text box that shows the error to begin editing the text.
- Use your mouse to select any or all text to make smaller. Use keyboard keys Ctl+A (PC) or Command+A (Mac) to select all the text in the text box.
- On the right side of your screen, look for text attributes (under the ‘T’ icon.)
- Under ‘Spacing’ change the ‘Paragraph’ setting to a smaller number by using the slider or by typing in a new number + return.
- Make the text box larger to accommodate all the text inside the text box.
- Click once on the text box to select it.
- Sizing handles (dots) will appear on corners and sides of the text box.
- Click and drag on any of the sizing handles (dots) to them to make the box larger.
- Delete any extra characters, blank spaces and extra lines not needed.
- Double-click on the text box that shows the error to begin editing the text.
- Check for extra line returns and/or extra blank spaces by putting your cursor after what appears to be the last character in the text box.
- Use the ‘delete x >’ key on the keyboard that deletes spaces in front of the character selected.
- Note: You may find this step easier by first making the text box larger and then deleting any extra empty spaces or lines. When done, resize the text box smaller to its original size.
Page Bleed, Safe Area & Guidelines
What does ‘bleed’ mean?
What is the red line that shows around the perimeter of my pages on my project design page?
When an image or background on your design flows off the page, it is proper practice to bleed that image 1/8″ fully past the red cut guideline, which will be the edge of your page (or commonly seen as a blue outside hairline in Focus in Pix.)
Note: If a red guide line does not show on your page, please position critical items so they are at least 1/8″ or more inside the edge of the page.
Can I add guides on my pages to aid in planning for safe area, margin space and object positioning?
- To make a vertical guide, drag a guide from the ruler on the left side of page.
- To make horizontal guide, drag a guide from the ruler above page.
To add guides to all of your pages, repeat this process for each page. You can add as many guidelines as you wish to any page.
To remove a guideline, carefully grab it with your mouse and drag it back to the ruler.
You may find it easier to set guidelines to more exact positions by magnifying your page before placing guidelines. Therefore, we suggest selecting View > Maximum View from the top menu before placing guides on your page.
If your guides aren’t appearing on your page, make sure guides are turned on to be visible. From the top menu, select View > Guides > Show Guides.
Add, Delete and Rearrange Pages
How do I add more pages to my book project?
How do I delete pages in my book project?
How do I rearrange pages in my book project?
Is it possible to duplicate pages of my book?
While working on a book project, is there an easy way to switch between themes and sizes?
- With your project open, look for the “Change Product” icon located above your page. (If this button is grayed out, this the “Change Product” option is not available on your project.)
- A dialog box of compatible books and themes will appear. Given the current number of pages in your book, a “Price Difference” will be displayed next to the product icon. Select the same book theme in a new book size for your new book
- After your book has been converted to the new theme, a dialog box will appear on your screen. It will prompt you to check each page as some graphics may shift and photo cropping will most likely need to be re-adjusted after the conversion.
- Preview your new book and make any changes
Scrapbook
What are ‘Scrapbook’ items?
Focus in Pix has a large library of ‘Scrapbook’ items. If you don’t find what you are looking for within your project, you can add more items to Focus in Pix by updating your software. To update your software with more ‘Scrapbook’ items:
- Click Create a New Project’
- Click ‘Check for Updates’ button. A list of Auto Update items will appear.
- Scroll down to ‘Scrapbook’. Click the check box next to ‘Scrapbook’ (for all items) or next to separate individual items to add them.
- Click ‘Install’.
How do I add a ‘Scrapbook’ item to my page?
- Click on the ‘Scrapbook’ tab below your page.
- Within ‘Scrapbook’ tab, scroll to the right to find the ‘Scrapbook’ item you would like to add to your page.
- Click, drag and drop the item from the ‘Scrapbook’ tab onto a free area on your page.
- Use your mouse (click-hold and drag) to move the scrapbook item to desired location on your page.
Take care not to drop the scrapbook item into empty picture boxes on your page. If you accidentally do this, just click the ‘Undo’ button in upper left corner above page.
If you don’t find the scrapbook item you are looking for within your project, you can add more items to Focus in Pix by updating your software.
- Click Create a New Project’
- Click ‘Check for Updates’ button. A list of Auto Update items will appear.
- Scroll down to ‘Scrapbook’. Click the check box next to ‘Scrapbook’ (for all items) or next to separate individual items to add them.
- Click ‘Install’.
How do I make a scrapbook images larger or smaller on the page?
To resize a scrapbook item:
- On your page, click once on a scrapbook item to select it.
- Several blue handles will appear around the image once it is selected.
- Click and hold mouse button on one of the corner blue handles.
- While holding your click, drag mouse toward upper left corner of page or lower right corner of page to resize item smaller or larger.
- When item is desired size, release mouse click.
Am I able to flip and rotate scrapbook images?
To rotate scrapbook item:
- Click once on a scrapbook item on your page to select it. (‘Handles’ that resemble colored dots will appear around the item when it is selected.)
- Find the green ‘handle’ in the upper left corner of the item.
- Click on the green ‘handle’ with mouse. While holding your click, drag handle to left or right to rotate item.
To flip scrapbook item:
- Click once on a scrapbook item on your page to select it.
- In upper right corner of screen, click on ‘Picture Properties‘ icon to show picture settings (this icon resembles a white frame).
- Within ‘Picture Properties’ tray, under ‘Orientation‘ click on check box next to ‘Flip Vertical‘ or ‘Flip Horizontal‘ to flip image either horizontally or vertically.
How do I add my own clip art (or Scrapbook items) to Focus in Pix?
Special note about scrapbook images: In most cases, scrapbook images look best when they are profiled or “clipped” so the background on your scrapbook item is transparent. To clip or mask out the background, the image will need to be manipulated and saved in PNG-supported vector or photo image editing software such as Photoshop, Illustrator, or Paintshop Pro. Once the background is removed and made transparent, it should then be saved as a transparent enabled PNG file. If done properly, the scrapbook item will be profiled on your project page. If your image is not “clipped,” your scrapbook image will appear and print with a background on your project page.
To add image(s) to your Scrapbook library:
- Click on the Scrapbook tab on the lower portion of your screen to show your scrapbook palette window.
- On the lower right corner of your screen, click on the button that looks like a “gear” to bring up the Scrapbook pull-down menu.
- Select “Add…” from the drop-down menu.
- A window will show allowing you to browse your computer for your scrapbook image file. Once you have found your file, select it; press the “Open” button.
- Another window will appear allowing you to name your scrapbook item, and categorize it if you wish. (Using the categorize feature is optional — however is a good idea to use this feature if you plan to add several scrapbook items to your library.)
Other
Can I get a .PDF file of our final project?
As an alternative and for all other products, there is a feature built into our system which will allow you to share a ‘preview’ of your final project with others. On screen, this preview has a similar look and feel to sharing a PDF version. Your project preview can be shared via email with a link — or on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Pinterest as well as many other popular social media. It can also be embedded into a WordPress site.
Click here for an example a sample book shared through our ‘My Account’ system. (Take note that the preview can be enlarged to fill screen via icons in lower right corner.)
A preview of your project can only be shared after you have ordered your project. To access the preview for sharing:
- Place your order.
- Go to www.focusinpix.com.
- Click on My Account in upper right corner of screen.
- Click on ‘Current Orders’ to find a preview of an order still in process. Click on ‘Previous Orders’ to find a preview of a job already shipped.
- Find the line item of the project you want to share. Click ‘Preview’ button.
- In upper right corner, click ‘Share Now’ to bring up share options.
- Social Media Share:
- Under ‘How would you like to share?’ click first option for social media.
- Below, under ‘Select the service:’ click icon for social media service you want to share project.
- Email Share:
- Under ‘How would you like to share,’ click second option (envelope icon)
- Below, under ‘Share By Email’ fill out form to share a preview via email.
Am I able to save a .PDF of my project?
- Go to File > Create Proofs…
- A dialog box will appear. Use the following settings:
- Output Format: Multi-page PDF
- Pages: All
- Destination: Click ‘Select’ button. Navigate to a location on your computer to save .PDF file.
- Click ‘OK’ button to create .PDF file.
Am I able to print my project?
- Go to File > Create Proofs…
- A dialog box will appear. Use the following settings:
- Output Format: Multi-page PDF
- Pages: All
- Destination: Click ‘Select’ button. Navigate to a location on your computer to save .PDF file.
- Click ‘OK’ button to create .PDF
When you want to print the proof, open and print the saved .PDF proof file saved on your computer.
A gray box on my design doesn’t show when I preview my project. How do I get the gray box to show?
If you would like to add a gray shape on your page, you will need to create one. From the top menu select Insert > Shape > Rectangle. This will add a black square to the center of your page. Click on the Object Properties tray (this is the first icon is in the upper right corner that looks like a circle and square) to color your object. Use the blue handles on the shape to resize it. Click and drag it with your mouse to position it on your page.
Also, be sure to delete the gray picture box from your page if you don’t plan to fill it with a picture.
How do I arrange elements on my page to overlap in front of or in back of each other
- Arrange > Send to Back
To position the selected element in back of all elements on page - Arrange > Send Backwards
To position selected element behind top element on page - Arrange > Bring to Front
To position selected element in front of all elements on page - Arrange > Bring Forward
To position selected element in front of top element on page
Why can’t I move certain elements on pre-designed Page Styles?
If you feel you are are an advanced user, you can unlock an item by right-clicking on the element and choosing “Unlock” from the right-click menu. After unlocking an item, it will move freely on the page to any position.
Please be aware that when unlocking items in our designs, we ask that you adhere to keeping critical elements in the safe area on the page. For example, photographs and text should be kept at least 1/8″ away from the red cut guideline if it shows on your project. (If a red cut line does not show in your project, use the edge of the page as your cut line.) We also ask that photos that should bleed off the page bleed fully to the edge of the page past the red cut guideline. If you have any questions about locked items and safe area, please feel free to call us at 952-891-8707 between 8 am and 2 pm, or send us an email at production@focusinpix.com.
I have designed my own page layout design which I would like to use on other pages and in other projects. How do I save my new layout design for future use?
You can save a left page, right page or 2-page spread design for future use on your projects.
To save your own design layout to the Page Styles tab, first make sure you are active in the Page Styles tab by clicking once on the “Page Styles” tab title (located on the bottom of your screen). Locate the “Gear” icon in the lower right of the screen inside the “Page Styles” tab and click on it to view the menu.
- If you wish to save the left page of your layout for future use, choose from the drop-down menu “Save Left Page as Page Style…“.
- If you wish to save the right page, choose “Save Right Page as Page Style…” from the pull-down menu.
- If you wish to save the entire 2-page spread, choose “Save Spread as Page Style…” from the pull-down menu.
How can I magnify my page view so I can see fine detail in my design?
Use the magnifying glass icon above your page, or in the top menu of your program, choose View >Maximum Zoom to zoom magnification of your design onto your screen so you can see fine details. To reset magnification so you can see the entire page at once, choose View > Minimum Zoom.
Where is spell check?
When clicking on ‘Open an Existing Project’, my previously saved project does not appear in the list. Has my project been deleted?
If you are having trouble locating your project, please check the following:
- You can only access your project from the same computer you created and saved your project on.
- Focus in Pix projects are created and saved locally on your computer, not online.
- Focus in Pix projects are not accessible from another computer unless you physically transfer your project files and pictures to another computer.
- If your computer operating system (Mac OS or Microsoft Windows) has been set up with different user accounts and passwords, make sure you are logged into your computer using the same account that was used when launching Focus in Pix and creating your project.
- Make sure the software has been properly installed using the instructions on the download pages.
- Each time you launch the Focus in Pix application, be sure that you are using the correctly installed application file rather than opening the original download setup file.
If after checking the above you still cannot find your project, please call us at 952-891-8707, Monday through Friday between 8 am and 2 pm CST. We can help you best if you are in front of the same computer you used when you made your Focus in Pix project.
How do I transfer my project from one computer to another?
You will need to copy the following items from your computer to the second computer:
- The Focus in Pix project files
- All the pictures used in your project
Before beginning to transfer your project, download and install the Focus in Pix application on the second computer. Then, update your software with any program update and/or product updates.
- Click Create a New Project button.
- Click Check for Updates button.
- A dialog box with a list of possible updates will appear. You only need to find and select any program update that appears and any product updates that are related to your projects.
- If there is a program update, it will appear at the very top of the list (example: ‘Focus in Pix 2015r1.1’).
- Update any product that you plan to open on the second computer.
1. Copy and transfer your project from ‘Computer A’ to ‘Computer B.’
Your projects are stored on your computer in a folder named “Focus in Pix Projects.” Each item in this folder represents individual projects created and saved within Focus in Pix. Each project will be titled with a project name and the extension .prj in the title (example: My Poster.prj). For each project you want to transfer, you must copy and transfer each .prj folder entirely and transfer it into the second computer’s “Focus in Pix Projects” folder.
- On a Mac, this folder is stored in your computer’s “Users” folder (/Users/YourComputerName/Focus in Pix Projects).
- On a PC, this folder is stored in “My Documents” or in “Libraries > Documents” depending on your operating system.
2. Copy all the picture files used on your project:
Find all the photos used on your project on your computer (Computer A). Copy them onto the flash drive and transfer them onto the second computer (Computer B). You may transfer the photos to anywhere on the second computer (take note of the location for use later). We strongly recommend storing all the pictures used on your project into one folder on the second computer for easy transfer and re-linking when reopening your project.
3. Open the transferred project on second computer (‘Computer B’).
Open the Focus in Pix application on Computer B. Click Open an Existing Project button. Find the transferred project in the list. If you do not see it, then make sure you have transferred it to the correct location on the second computer (see step 1 above).
While the project begins to open, a dialog box will appear alerting you of missing pictures.
Click Find Pictures button. This will open another dialog box titled ‘Find Missing Pictures…’ Follow the steps below to re-link each picture shown in this list to the new location on the second computer (from step 2 above).
- Click on one of the pictures shown in the list to highlight it.
- Click on the Update button.
- Use the dialog box to navigate to the picture on your computer (the name of the file will be shown at the top of the dialog box). Select it to highlight it, and then click Select button.
- A dialog box will appear to confirm your selection, “Are you sure you wish to update the picture box with this picture?” Click the Yes button.
- The software may automatically alert you that it has found additional missing photos in the same folder with the dialog box, “There are other missing pictures that appear to be located in this folder. Do you wish to update the picture boxes for these pictures as well?” Click the Yes button.
- In the “Find Missing Pictures…” list, the Status column will change to Updated for each picture found. Scroll through the list and click on any additional Missing photos to find them.
- Once the list shows that all the pictures have been Updated, click the Continue button to continue to open your project.
Double check all project pages to be sure that everything looks as it should and continue to design, preview and order your project.
Where are my Focus in Pix projects saved on my computer?
- On a Mac, this folder is stored in your computer’s “Users” folder (/Users/YourComputerName/Focus in Pix Projects).
- On a PC, this folder is stored in “My Documents” or in
Libraries > Documents depending on your operating system.
Please note that it is not possible to open your saved projects by double-clicking on these .prj files. The only way to open a Focus in Pix project is to use the Focus in Pix software interface to access and open the project.
Also note that the actual picture files used in your project will not be saved/embedded within these files. All picture files used in Focus in Pix projects are linked to a folder on your computer where the picture is stored. The .prj file includes data relating to the picture file location, not the actual files themselves.
It may also be of interest to know that while placing an order through Focus in Pix, the application process will take all the .prj data and combine it with your linked pictures to send the art files to our server as one print-ready file. Users do not need to send the pictures used in their projects separately to a server. The order process will take care of sending everything needed for production during the last ‘Checkout’ step where the user will ‘Upload Order’.
How do I access the right-click menu options if I am using a mac mouse?
You can also set up your Mac to allow right clicking on your one-button Mac mouse. Go to System Preferences > Mouse > Enable Secondary Click. Then, to access right-click menus, click with the right portion of your Mac mouse button.
Questions Related to Booklets and Adoption Profiles
Note: Some very important notes and special tips about Adoption Profiles can be found here.
What Focus in Pix products are recommended when making an Adoption Profile?
- Booklets (8 ½ x 11) See more info…
Booklets can also be converted to be produced as single pages with 1 or 2-sided printing. They have a minimum of 8 pages and can only be ordered in page counts divisible by 4. Shareable PDF available for an additional fee. - Half Fold Brochure/Letter (8 ½ x 11) See more info…
Brochures are 4 pages that are printed on one large 17 x 11 inch sheet and then folded in half to make an 8 ½ x 11 brochure. This product can also be produced as individual single pages with 1 or 2-sided printing. Shareable PDF available for an additional fee. - Scrapbook Pages (8 ½ x 11) See more info…
Scrapbook pages are produced as single pages only. They can contain 1 – 60 pages. Shareable PDF available for an additional fee.
Because making an adoption profile can be a substantial time investment, before starting your project we strongly recommend checking with your agency to find out the exact specifications required for your adoption profile.
What is the minimum number of pages in a booklet?
What is the maximum number of pages in a booklet?
How do I delete pages in my booklet?
Am I able to delete only one page in my booklet?
When making a booklet, it is common practice that left and right pages are designed to be displayed side-by-side, together (this is also referred to as a ‘spread.’). Because of this, you will only be able to delete 2 pages at a time.
Booklets are only available with page counts in multiples of 4. If total page count is not a multiple of 4, blank white pages will be added to book at the end, before the back cover.
How do I add pages to my booklet project?
To add pages, from the top menu, select Page > Add. This will add up to 4 pages to your project.
If for some reason you only need to add 2 pages to your project, from the top menu select Page > Insert.
It is important to understand that Booklets are only available with page counts in multiples of 4. If total page count is not a multiple of 4, blank white pages will be added to book at the end, before the back cover.
How do I rearrange pages in my booklet?
Is it possible to duplicate pages of my book?
Can my booklet project be printed as single, individual pages instead of a booklet?
Alternatively, if you know ahead of time that you want only printed pages, we recommend using our Scrapbook Pages product instead.
Are you able to drill holes in my pages so they can be inserted into a standard 3-ring binder?
- Curing checkout, under Product Options > Paper & Options, click the Change button to select a Single-Cut Pages option (one-sided or two-sided).
- Under Finishing, click the Change button to select Standard 3 Hole Drilling (5/16 inch).
Important: If you plan to order 3-hole drilling, be sure to design your pages to allow at least 1/2 inch to 3/4 inch of free space on the bind side of each page to not disturb any text and/or graphics you do not want punched into. The bind side is sometimes referred to the ‘inside margin’.
On the first page (which is the front cover), the bind side is on the left side of the page. On the last page (which is the back cover), the bind side is on the right side of the page. On your inside pages, the bind side alternates between being on the right side (on left facing pages) and on the left side (on right facing pages). So, even numbered pages will be punched on the right side and odd numbered pages will be punched on the left side (see diagram).
(Click on diagram below to enlarge)
If you can’t find 3-hole drilling during checkout or would like 3-hole drilling on a different product, please contact us at 952-891-8707 or email us at production@focusinpix.com.
Can I add guides on my pages to aid in planning for margin space and object positioning?
- To make a vertical guide, drag a guide from the ruler on the left side of page.
- To make horizontal guide, drag a guide from the ruler above page.
To add guides to all of your pages, repeat this process for each page. You can add as many guidelines as you wish to any page.
To remove a guideline, carefully grab it with your mouse and drag it back to the ruler.
You may find it easier to set guidelines to more exact positions by magnifying your page before placing guidelines. Therefore, we suggest selecting View > Maximum View from the top menu before placing guides on your page.
If your guides aren’t appearing on your page, make sure guides are turned on to be visible. From the top menu, select View > Guides > Show Guides.
Our adoption agency has requested our adoption profile to be 10 pages (or a number that is not a multiple of 4). The program will not allow me to submit my project with this number of pages. How do I submit my project?
Sometimes agencies will ask for your adoption profile to be submitted as individual, single pages. Even if you need individual Single Pages, you can still use the Adoption Profile Booklet template. However, to get your project output as individual pages, during order checkout, you must select one of the Single Pages options so your project is output as individual, single cut (loose) pages instead. Even when opting to convert your project to single pages, the page count still must be divisible by 4.
If you are having trouble getting your page count to be divisible by 4, we recommend adding blank pages. Use the menu found at the top of your screen to select Page > Add or Page > Insert. The most popular place to place blank pages are the inside front cover (page 2), the inside back cover, and the back cover. Blank pages can be left white or with a coordinating background pattern from the Backgrounds tab. If you don’t like the idea of a blank page, we recommend filling the extra page(s) with one or a collage of pictures.
If there are extra pages in your project that you do not want included in printing and/or the Share PDF option, feel free to send us a message at production@focusinpix.com. Note: there is no price adjustment for not printing extra pages.
Can I make a change after my order has been placed?
Can I get a watermark-free PDF file of my final project so it can be shared with others online or via email?
The Shareable PDF is an add-on item that has been made available by customer request for those who need a file for online sharing and screen viewing. The Shareable PDF is not intended for customer and/or recipient printing and we will not be able to allow individual access to print the Shareable PDF under any circumstance.
Can I get a watermark-free PDF file of my final project so I can have it printed in my local area?
For draft printing, go to File > Create Proofs… to make a low resolution draft version of your adoption profile. This file can be printed by anyone and can be shared as a file attachment via email.
Am I able to make a PDF of my project?
- Go to File > Create Proofs…
- A dialog box will appear. Use the following settings:
- Output Format: Multi-page PDF
- Pages: All
- Destination: Click ‘Select’ button. Navigate to a location on your computer to save PDF file.
- Click ‘OK’ button to create PDF file.
Am I able to print a proof of my project?
- Go to File > Create Proofs…
- A dialog box will appear. Use the following settings:
- Output Format: Multi-page PDF
- Pages: All
- Destination: Click ‘Select’ button. Navigate to a location on your computer to save PDF file.
- Click ‘OK’ button to create PDF
When you want to print the proof, open the saved PDF and then send it to your printer.
Am I able to share my project with others online?
Online sharing (Free): Upon ordering a printed version, customers will have access to a full-page preview of their project that can be shared online through the Focus in Pix website. To access and share a full-page preview of a project that has been previously ordered, go to www.focusinpix.com and click ‘My Account‘. Log in with your account credentials to view your orders. Click the ‘Share’ button associated with the selected project to see sharing options.
*PDF Shareable File (Add $25): For an added fee during order checkout, Focus in Pix will provide customers with a watermark-free sharable PDF file. This file is optimized for on-screen viewing only. It will be protected so that it will not allow editing or printing. PDF sharable files are only available to those that purchase printing of their booklet project. Please allow 1-2 business days for email delivery of the PDF shareable file after purchase.
Focus in Pix / Cornerstone Copy Center is the only legally allowed printer of the high resolution files created in Focus in Pix. The Shareable PDF is an add-on item that has been made available by customer request for those who need a file for online sharing and screen viewing. The Shareable PDF is not intended for customer and/or recipient printing and we will not be able to allow individual access to print the Shareable PDF under any circumstance.
What is the best way to proof a project before ordering a large quantity?
How do I reorder my project?
If there are changes, you will need to reorder using your Focus in Pix software.
- Click ‘Open an Existing Project‘.
- Scroll to find the previous version of your project. Click to select it.
- Click ‘Open’ button.
- Make any necessary changes and then click ‘Save’.
- Click the green shopping cart in upper right corner to begin a new order.
If there are no changes to your project, you can bypass the software by going to our website at www.focusinpix.com and click the ‘My Account’ link to start a reorder.
Using My Account to place a reorder:
- Go to www.focusinpix.com
- Click on ‘My Account’ in the upper right corner
- Log in with Username and Password
- Click on ‘Your Orders’
- In the list of previous orders, find the previous order that you want to reorder. Click to select it.
- Click on the ‘Reorder’ button.
What kind of shipping options to you offer?
We offer UPS Ground shipping (additional fees will apply). This can take between 3 to 5 days to arrive after it has been produced. Overnight or 2-day shipping is available upon request and will cost additional fees. Please call 952-891-8707 or email teresa@focusinpix.com to inquire about upgrade options, additional cost or to arrange upgraded shipping.
Can my order be shipped to a different address other than my own address?
Yes, to ship to a different address, follow the steps below to change the shipping address on your order. Please verify the shipping address carefully to avoid any problems. Focus in Pix cannot be held responsible for shipping problems due to an incorrect address on your order.
- Begin order checkout.
- On the Shipping/Billing Details page, near the bottom, select ‘UPS Ground or US Mail’ shipping method.
- The Update Shipping Address window will open. Change the address details to the desired shipping address.
- Click ‘Change‘ button to see the updated Shipping/Billing Details page. The updated shipping address should now appear near the top under ‘Shipping Address’ — shown on the left side.
- If additional changes are needed, click the ‘Change‘ button below ‘Shipping Address’ (on left side) to make edits.
- If no changes are needed, click the ‘Continue‘ button.
- Continue with order checkout including credit card payment and artwork upload.
Remember to allow 5 to 7 business days for production and shipping. Overnight or 2-day shipping is available upon request and will cost additional fees. Please call 952-891-8707 during support hours (8 am to 2 pm CST) or email teresa@focusinpix.com if interested.
Creating Calendars
When I start to create an 11 x 8 1/2 flip calendar, the first month in the calendar is not the correct month. How do I change the month pages on my calendar?
There are two ways to change the months in your 11″ x 8 1/2″ calendar, each requiring you to change each month or each page manually.
The easiest way is to replace each month page in your project before you start to design your calendar. (Note: You will need to replace all month pages manually with consecutive months as explained below):
- Click on the Page Style tab near bottom of screen
- Scroll through the Page Styles to find the appropriate month layout
- Drag-and-drop the the appropriate Page Style month page onto the page to replace it.
- Continue to do this on each month page. Double-check your calendar pages to make sure each month is in the correct order.
If you have already designed your pages, you might find it useful to change each month using the scrapbook images of the months. These are found in the Scrapbook tab near the bottom of your screen. To change a month on a page, scroll through the scrapbook items to find the correct month. Then drag-and-drop it onto the page in the area of the page where the month shows. Make sure that before dropping it into this area, you see a blue line around the area where you will be replacing the image before you drop it onto the page. This insures that the previous calendar image will be replaced with the new one.
When I start to create a large wall calendar, I am forced to add my pictures while opening the project. Do I need to use the wizard to create my calendar?
The large wall calendars are slightly different types of projects in comparison to the 11 x 8.5 flip calendar. When creating a wall calendar, it is necessary to import some of your pictures first. The software will build a default calendar style using your pictures, however you can edit your calendar once it is open to change where pictures are added and page layouts. Additionally, the calendar month text and date text can be changed to different fonts and colors if you like.
How do I change which pictures show on each page?
When creating a wall calendar (11 x 17 or 12 x 25 1/2), it is necessary to import all or some of your pictures first. The software will build a default calendar style using these pictures, however you can add more pictures and edit your calendar once it is open to change where pictures are shown. You can also change the page layouts by dragging and dropping “Page Styles” onto any page.
You can replace any picture by dragging and dropping a different picture from the “Pictures” tray into the picture box. (Be sure to import your pictures first using the “+” button in upper left corner.)
How do I customize my Calendar with different backgrounds?
There are two different kinds of backgrounds. 1) Background Images and 2) Solid Background Colors.
Background Images: We have added many background images into the “Backgrounds” library. Click on the “Backgrounds” tab near the bottom of your screen. Scroll through to find an image you would like to add to the background. Drag-and drop the background image onto the page background area.
Solid Background Colors: Click on the “Page Background” tab found on the right of your screen (the icon looks like a blank piece of paper). Click on the color square to select or mix a color. (This will utilize your computer operating system’s color mixer.) Note: you must remove any background images assigned to the page in order to see a page background color.
Can I customize my calendar with different fonts?
11″ x 8 1/2″ Flip Calendar: The fonts used on the calendar month name and date cells cannot be edited. This is because we have created these calendars as images and imported them into the software. You can add custom text to any calendar cell, on top of the original calendar (see instructions below under topic, “Adding custom text to a specific calendar date”).
Large Wall Calendars (11″ x 17″ and 12″ x 25 1/2″ wall calendars): You can change the font and text color on the calendar by clicking on the calendar edit button found right above the page. Sometimes adding a white box behind the calendar area, or choosing a different Page Style may work best with different backgrounds.
With either calendar project, you will want to be mindful of using an appropriate text color against different background choices to achieve the best readability.
Can I add additional month pages to my calendar?
Yes, you can add pages (months) to any calendar project.
- The 11″ x 17″ and 12″ x 25 1/2″ wall calendars can be customized up to 18 months.
- The 11 x 8 1/2 calendar can be customized to include up to 24 months.
Adding months to 11 x 17 and 12 x 25.5 wall calendar: When opening up a wall calendar project, select how many months your calendar will include in the “Choose Options” step. Your calendar can include up to 18 months. (Additional fees apply when adding extra pages. See calendar pricing for more information.)
Adding months to the 11″ x 8.5″ calendar: This calendar is built differently than the wall calendar projects. The default calendar will open to include 12 months. This calendar can be customized to include up to 24 months at an additional cost (see calendar pricing for more information).
Special note about months (11″ x 8.5″ calendar only):
The default calendar including 12 months usually begins with a recent month. To add months and customize month pages, please follow the below steps:
- To add pages to your project, select from the top menu PAGE > INSERT. (Note: The additional page spread will be added BEFORE the page selected, but you can always rearrange pages using PAGE > REARRANGE PAGES… if needed.)
- Click on the Page Style tab near bottom of screen
- Scroll through the Page Styles to find the appropriate month layout
- Drag-and-drop the the appropriate Page Style month page onto the page to replace it.
- Continue to do this on each month page. Double-check your calendar pages to make sure each month is in the correct order.
Can I add a custom text box to specific calendar dates on my calendar page?
Yes, you can add a text box to any calendar. Be sure to zoom in on the page so you can see detail closer for best placement. Below are the suggested steps to adding a custom text box to a calendar. (11 x 8 1/2 and 11 x 17 calendars only)
Adding a custom text box to a specific calendar date:
- Click on the “Scrapbook” tab near the bottom of your screen.
- Scroll completely to the right to find the item titled, “CUSTOM TEXT BOX”.
- Drag and drop the “CUSTOM TEXT BOX” onto the date box you wish the custom text to appear. Adjust position with mouse pointer (click and drag text box into place).
- Double-click on the custom text box that you placed on your page. A blinking cursor will appear when you are in “edit mode” within the text box. Click and drag over existing text to highlight it. Then type in custom text to replace existing text.
- Change font, text size, alignment and other attributes in the Text Attributes panel (look under the “T” icon on the right side of your screen). You must select / highlight the text before changing attributes.
NOTE: You may find it useful to zoom into your page using the magnifying glass or “View” > “Maximum Zoom” from the top menu. When in “Maximum View” mode, you may need to use the scrollbar to locate the proper area on the page. To return to standard view, choose “View” > “Minimum View” from top menu.
Can I add a custom photo to specific calendar dates on my calendar page?
Yes, you can add a picture to your calendar date. Be sure to zoom in on the page so you can see detail closer for best placement. Below are the suggested steps to adding a picture to a calendar date. (11 x 8 1/2 and 11 x 17 calendars only)
How to add a photo with text to a specific calendar date:
- Zoom into the page and find position where picture and text box will be added.
- Click on the “Scrapbook” tab near the bottom of your screen.
- Scroll completely to the right to find the items titled, “PIC WITH TEXT” and “PIC W/TEXT FADE”
- Drag and drop either “PIC WITH TEXT” or “PIC W/TEXT FADE” onto the date box you wish the custom picture and text to appear. This will add both a picture box and a text box to your page.
- Adjust position and size of newly added picture and text box using mouse pointer. (Note, not all cells on each calendar month are the same size, so adjusting each new picture box will be necessary.
- Drag a picture from “Pictures” tray into picture box. Take extra care to not drag the picture onto the calendar month image. To adjust cropping, double-click on filled picture box to access the crop tool.
- Double-click on the text box to highlight and change placement text in text box. Change font, text size, alignment and other attributes in the Text Attributes panel (look under the “T” icon on the right side of your screen).
- To return to standard view, choose “View” > “Minimum View” from top menu.
NOTE: While magnified, items on your page may appear blurry because your computer system is managing memory. Right-click on any item and choose “Show High Quality Picture” see a better representation of an image.(“Show High Quality…” is only a choice when in “View” > “Maximum Zoom”)
3rd Party Software, Scanning and Other Questions
I plan to scan in some images so I can use them in my Focus in Pix project. What size do my photographs and images need to be?
What types of image files can be imported into Focus in Pix?
How do I import photos from iPhoto?
- Using iPhoto, select one or multiple photos using your mouse. iPhoto highlights selected images with a yellow border.
To select multiple photos, hold down the ’Shift’ key on your keyboard while clicking on multiple images. - In upper left corner of iPhoto menu, select File > Reveal in Finder > Original File.
This action will open your computer’s Finder and take you right into your iPhoto library to directly to the image you were looking for. The images will be highlighted. - Note this location for later when you import the pictures into Focus in Pix (below).
Once you have located the photos in Finder, import pictures into your Focus in Pix project with the following steps:
- Click on the ‘+’ button in the upper left corner of the Focus in Pix screen.
- From the list, click on ‘Computer’.
- Then choose one of the options to either import individual picture files or an entire folder.
- Your computer’s Finder will appear. Use your mouse to navigate to where your pictures are stored on your computer.
How do I import photos from Mac ‘Photos’ application?
By default, when importing pictures into this application, the original picture files remain stored in their original location rather than making a new file somewhere else on your computer. Therefore, to import your pictures into Focus in Pix, you can either:
- Use the Focus in Pix ‘+’ button to navigate to and add the pictures from their original location from where they were stored when they were imported into ‘Photos’.
OR - Use the ‘Photos’ app to export copies of the picture files to another location on your computer. After the pictures have been exported and copied to a new location where you specify in ‘Photos,’ you will then use the Focus in Pix ‘+’ button to add them to Focus in Pix.
To export pictures from ‘Photos’ into a new folder:
- Open the ‘Photos’ application.
- Click to select a picture to export. When selecting multiple pictures, hold down the ⌘ (Apple Command key) or Shift key while clicking on each picture. (Notice that the pictures selected will have a colored outline vs. those that are not selected.)
- At the top of your screen in the ‘Photos’ menu, select File > Export Unmodified Original…
- A dialog box will appear. We recommend the following settings:
- Under Export IPTC as XMP, leave this box unchecked.
- Next to ‘File Name:’ select ‘Use File Name’.
- Next to ‘Subfolder Format:’ select ‘None’
- Click ‘Export’ button
- A ‘Finder’ window will appear allowing you to navigate to where you want to save the picture copies on your computer. We recommend an easy-to-find location such as on your Desktop or in your ‘Pictures‘ folder (YourComputerName > Pictures). Note this location for later when you import your pictures into Focus in Pix.
- Click ‘New Folder‘ button. Type to name your folder something recognizable in reference to your project (ie: Vacation Book 2017).
- Click ‘Create‘ button. The new folder will appear in the Finder window.
- Click to select / highlight the new folder and click ‘Export Originals‘ button.
- A dialog box will appear to verify the files have been saved.
To import exported pictures into your Focus in Pix project:
- Click on the ‘+’ button in the upper left corner of the Focus in Pix screen.
- From the list, click on ‘Computer‘.
- Select Computer > Add Folder Containing Pictures…
- Your computer’s ‘Finder‘ will appear. Use your mouse to navigate to the location where you saved the exported pictures from ‘Photos’.
- With folder selected, click ‘Select‘ button to import pictures into Focus in Pix.
Our professional photographer gave us the digital files of the photographs he took of us (me). Do we still need to provide a copyright release?
It is important to understand that photographers and authors automatically obtain copyright on all of their work and retain those rights unless transferred in writing. Possession of a copy of a professionally shot image does not give the possessor the right to reproduce the work without written consent of the author/photographer. Therefore, a customer must have written permission from the photographer/owner for the use of a photo or logo in any project involving duplication of that image or photograph.
If after we receive your order we suspect we need a copyright release, we will put your order on hold and contact you regarding your photos. To avoid this production interruption, provide us with a copy of the release that the photographer provided to you. This will either be a physical document provided to you, or it will be a file stored on CD/media along with your photographs.
If you do not find one with your package, please contact the photographer to make sure you have rights to print duplicates of the photographs. If he/she approves, they will need to provide written documentation giving you permission to print duplicates. A copy of this approval should be provided to us. Alternatively, you can also ask your photographer to fill out our standard copyright release form.
Copyright releases can be forwarded to us via email at teresa@focusinpix.com, or via fax (952-891-8737). To ensure that your release is applied to your order, please reference your order number and last name when providing copyright releases.
Am I able to create my pages in a program such as Photoshop or InDesign and import my pages into Focus in Pix?
To achieve the best results use the following guidelines when setting up and exporting your pages:
- Document Sizes: The document size dimensions of your page(s) in the 3rd party software application must match exactly the size of the pages in your Focus in Pix project.
- When using a raster program such as Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Elements or Corel PaintShop, set the page resolution to 300 DPI.
- Document Bleed: The document bleed size of your page(s) in the 3rd party software application must match exactly the bleed size of the pages in your Focus in Pix project.
- Export Settings: Export the pages from your 3rd party application with the following settings:
- File type: JPG, TIFF or PNG
- Do not export your pages as PDF.
- Resolution at 300 dpi
- Include bleed
- Do not include crop marks
- File type: JPG, TIFF or PNG
Below are setup guides for Booklets and Hard Cover Books. These guides include document sizes. You can also call Teresa at 952-891-8707 for additional assistance on this topic.
Can I print my book on my own printer?
How do I access the right-click menu options if I am using a mac mouse?
You can also set up your Mac to allow right clicking on your one-button Mac mouse. Go to System Preferences > Mouse > Enable Secondary Click. Then, to access right-click menus, click with the right portion of your Mac mouse button.
I want to be sure my projects are backed up with my backup software. Where are my Focus in Pix projects saved on my computer so I can be sure to add it to my backup routine?
- On a Mac, this folder is stored in your computer’s “Users” folder (/Users/YourComputerName/Focus in Pix Projects).
- On a PC, this folder is stored in “My Documents” or in Libraries > Documents depending on your operating system.
Please note that the actual picture files used in your project will not be saved/embedded within these files. All picture files used in Focus in Pix projects are linked to a folder on your computer where the picture is stored. To completely backup your project, you will also need to backup the picture files used in your project as well.
Questions about Order Checkout, Order Processing, Shipping, & Pick-up
How do I place an order?
What payment options are available
How does the artwork get submitted for my order?
The preferred method is to “Upload Order,” which will automatically upload your artwork onto our server. Select this option and press the “Continue” button.
Alternatively, if you select “Send Order Via Mail,” the project files will be saved on your computer system and will need to be delivered to us so we can process your order. The files will first need to be copied onto media such as a CD, USB flash drive or memory card. The media containing your project files will then need to be delivered to our Burnsville location in Minnesota.
Our Burnsville address is: Focus in Pix Production, 13775 Frontier Court, Burnsville, MN 55337
If you live in the local Twin Cities area, you may deliver your files to Cornerstone Copy Center locations in Burnsville or Lakeville.
(Our Lakeville location can be found at 20776 Holyoke Ave, Lakeville, MN 55044)
If you plan to deliver your files to us instead of uploading them, please let us know by sending us an email at production@focusinpix.com and be sure to reference your order number.
I do not see a dialog box asking me to upload my files.
If after following the above instructions and you still do not see the dialog box prompt, it is possible that this box is hidden behind your browser and Focus in Pix program. Try to minimize your internet browser (i.e. Microsoft Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox). If you still do not see this box, try to minimize the Focus in Pix software.
If you still do not see the option to upload your artwork, please contact us at production@focusinpix.com.
Do I need an account to create a project?
I’ve created a project and started to order it. I can’t remember my Login name and/or Password.
Forgotten Password:
Click on the “Forgotten your Password” link on the login screen to reset your password. You will need to enter both your login name and email address to use this feature. Click “Reset” and a new password will be emailed to you (which you can change later if you wish).
Forgotten Login Name:
If you are having trouble finding your login name, email us at production@focusinpix.com. You must email us using the same email you registered your account under. We will then be able to verify your account and contact you with your login name. (We will contact you between the hours of 8 am and 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday.)
If you have never ordered from us before, there will not be an account on file. (You do not need an account to create a project.) You will need to click the “Create a new account” button to begin ordering your project.
IMPORTANT: Login names and passwords are case sensitive, so be sure to document your login and password in a safe place using the exact same capitalization and spacing that was used when the account was created.
When clicking on ‘Open an Existing Project’, my previously saved project does not appear in the list. Has my project been deleted?
If you are having trouble locating your project, please check the following:
- You can only access your project from the same computer you created and saved your project on.
- Focus in Pix projects are created and saved locally on your computer, not online.
- Focus in Pix projects are not accessible from another computer unless you physically transfer your project files and pictures to another computer.
- If your computer operating system (Mac OS or Microsoft Windows) has been set up with different user accounts and passwords, make sure you are logged into your computer using the same account that was used when launching Focus in Pix and creating your project.
- Make sure the software has been properly installed using the instructions on the download pages.
- Each time you launch the Focus in Pix application, be sure that you are using the correctly installed application file rather than opening the original download setup file.
If after checking the above you still cannot find your project, please call us at 952-891-8707, Monday through Friday between 8 am and 2 pm CST. We can help you best if you are in front of the same computer you used when you made your Focus in Pix project.
While placing my order, I receive an alert about ‘Low Resolution’ photos. How do I fix this?
First, you may want to open the picture(s) in question in your photo editing software program, outside Focus in Pix. Enlarge the magnification of the photo on your screen to view the photos fine details, mimicking how large the photo will appear on your printed piece. If your photo looks very blurry on your screen, this is an indication of how your photo will print on your final project and the photo will most likely look blurry on your printed piece. If after viewing your photo in your photo editing software and you decide you want to replace the photo, consider the following options:
For images that have been enlarged or cropped on your layout: If the photo has been enlarged or severely cropped on your layout, you may want to attempt to decrease the size of the photo box, or decrease the magnification of the cropping on the photo with the alert.
— To decrease the size of the photo box: Select the photo box and click on one of the blue dots in the corner. Drag the corner blue dot in the direction that would make the photo box smaller.
— To decrease the cropping magnification: Double-click on the photo box on the layout to bring up the cropping dialog box. Adjust the cropping inside this dialog box so the image is not magnified so much. Drag the “notch” or tag in the lower corner down and adjust the cropping area with your mouse cursor.
The alert will go away if the image’s resolution will support the new size or revised crop. If the alert still shows, you may want to consider reacquiring a different file for your image (see below).
Photos from a digital camera: If a photo that was taken by a digital camera is tagged with the “Low Resolution” alert, be sure it is the original version from the digital camera instead of a copied, lower resolution version. If you find you are using a lower resolution version, import the higher resolution version into your software and drop and drag the new version into your layout.
Photos you received from a friend: It is common for people to “downsize” their photos so they can be more easily sent via email or shared on the internet. If you are using a photo that you received via the internet or emailed to you by a friend, you may want to ask your friend for the original version from the camera instead of a manipulated, downsized version.
Photos that have been scanned: If you are using scans in your project, you may want to re-scan your images at a higher resolution DPI. We recommend that photos and other raster images be scanned in at 100% the final size on the page (including cropping) with a resolution setting of between 200-300 DPI (dots per inch).
For example, if the photo is going to be 5″ x 7″ on your final layout (including cropping), your scan settings should be:
- Width: 5 Inches
- Height: 7 Inches
- Recommended DPI Resolution: 200 to 300 DPI
Once you have a larger, higher resolution version of your photo, import it into your software via the “Pictures” palette (use the “+” sign in the upper left corner) and drop and drag the new version into your layout, replacing the old version.
While placing my order, I receive an alert about ‘Missing Photos.’ How do I fix this?
If you are getting a “Missing Photos” alert, you will need to either plug in or insert the flash drive, external hard drive or media card your pictures are stored on. If the pictures have been moved, you can try to put them back to the exact location they were before, or re-link them to the new location where they are stored on your computer.
To re-link your pictures in Focus in Pix:
- Open your project in Focus in Pix
- You will receive a message that your pictures are missing. Click, ‘Find Pictures.’
- A list of missing pictures will show. Click on one of the pictures shown in the list to highlight it.
- Click the ‘Update’ button.
- Use the dialog box to navigate to the picture on your computer (the name of the file will be shown at the top of the dialog box). Select it to highlight it, and then click ‘Select’ button.
- A dialog box will appear to confirm your selection, ‘Are you sure you wish to update the picture box with this picture?’ Click the ‘Yes’ button.
- The software may automatically alert you that it has found additional missing photos in the same folder with the dialog box, ‘There are other missing pictures that appear to be located in this folder. Do you wish to update the picture boxes for these pictures as well?’ Click the ‘Yes’ button.
- In the ‘Find Missing Pictures…’ list, the Status column will change to ‘Updated’ for each picture found. Scroll through the list and click on any additional ‘Missing’ photos to find them.
- Once the list shows that all the pictures have been ‘Updated,’ click the ‘Continue’ button to continue to open your project.
In some instances, a photo shows as missing due to a corrupt or incorrect file type. If the photo is stored on your computer hard drive and you are still getting a “Missing Image” alert, try open the file in a (3rd party) photo editing software program, such as Photoshop, Paintshop Pro or the photo editing software that came with your digital camera or scanner. After opening the image, save the image as a new file within the software program and title it with a new name. Be sure the revised image is being saved as a .JPG, .PNG or .TIFF file. You will need to re-import the newly named file into Focus in Pix again, and re-drag it into your photo box on your project board, replacing the previously corrupt or “missing photo” image.
During order checkout, I am asked repeatedly to log into my account and I cannot complete order checkout. How do I place my order?
This issue can happen when there is a conflict between the Focus in Pix website and ‘cookies’ stored in your browser. (‘Cookies’ are small pieces of information websites store on your computer for quick access later.) To remedy this problem, close the browser completely and then click the ‘cancel’ button in Focus in Pix. After cancelling, we recommend clearing/deleting all cookies in your computer’s default browser. After deleting browser ‘cookies,’ use Focus in Pix to begin order checkout again.
To learn out how to clear/delete cookies for your browser, you may need to refer to your browser instructions. Otherwise, you will easily find directions by doing a web search ‘how to delete cookies.’ (Example: ‘How to delete cookies on Chrome’).
If you continue to experience the same problem after deleting cookies, we suggest switching to a different default browser for your computer. So, for example, if the browser that automatically opens on your computer is Chrome, you may want to change your computer settings to open Microsoft Edge instead.
To learn how to change to another default browser, refer to your computer operating system instructions.
After you have switched the default browser for your computer, use Focus in Pix to begin order checkout again. If you want your computer to go back to using the other browser as the default, be sure to go back into settings again to change back to the original browser after you successfully checkout. /toggle]
While placing my order, I receive an error or my connection times out. How do I place my order?
Some computers are set up with extra security, especially those at a place of business. This extra security may prevent your computer from communicating with our servers. Therefore, in order to communicate with our servers, you will need to temporarily modify your computer’s security settings. We find that disabling the Firewall and /or Antivirus software on some computers will allow updates and ordering. These are advanced settings in your computer! Do not change these settings unless you are knowledgeable about your system. Seek appropriate technical help for your system if necessary. Also, please be sure to turn Firewall and Antivirus on again after you are done! If turning off these settings does not work, you can choose the “Send Order Via Mail” by saving your files to a disk or media drive. Instead of mailing the files, you can bring the disk or media to either of our Cornerstone Copy Center locations. (Burnsville: 13775 Frontier Court, Burnsville MN 952-891-8707 | Lakeville: 20776 Holyoke Ave, Lakeville, MN 952-232-0550.)
While uploading my order, the upload stops or times out when trying to upload a certain page or a certain image. How can I fix this issue?
The most common issue when this happens is that one of the images is excessively large, thus halting the upload. You will need to resize your images down so they are less than 10 MB.
- Open the folder where your pictures are stored for your project. Look for images larger than 10 MB.
- Important! Copy these images to another folder on your hard drive so you do not alter the original copy.
- From the folder where your pictures are stored for your project, open each image that is greater than 15 MB in your own photo editing software. Size each of the large images down so they are less than 10 MB in file size when the file is closed. We recommend that the image be sized at 100% dimension size that the image appears on the page at 200-300 dpi resolution. Refer to your photo editing software for documentation on how to do this.
- When saving the newly sized image, be sure to use high quality compression when making a JPG. Also, do not change the file name — save the file with the same original file name.
- Once all the large images are re-saved, then try again to “Send Files” for your project. (Click on “Open an Existing Project”. Select project in list — then click on Send Files button.
If you still cannot upload after changing large files, please contact us for help between 9 am and 2 pm, Monday through Friday at 952-891-8707.
While uploading my order, the upload does not progress and appears stuck. How can I fix this issue?
If you are trying to upload from work, you may want to pause and then try again from your home connection. Otherwise, you might try logging into a public wifi connection and then resume your upload. Another option is to disable your antivirus and/or firewall temporarily before uploading. Be sure to turn these items back on after file transfer.
If you still cannot upload, please contact us for help between 9 am and 2 pm, Monday through Friday at 952-891-8707.
During order checkout and/or file upload, the Focus in Pix application crashed. How do I upload my project for my order?
If your application crashed during order checkout/upload, follow the following steps to upload your order:
1. Open your Focus in Pix software
2. Choose ‘Open an Existing Project’
3. Click on your project (the status should say ‘Waiting for Files’) and choose the ‘Send Files’ option
4. Tick the disclaimer box and choose ‘Start’
5. Click on the ‘Upload Order’ button then choose ‘Continue’
Your files will then be uploaded automatically to our server. After a successful upload, you will receive an email confirming that your upload has been received.
I want to place another order for something I previously ordered. Is there an easy way to order my project again?
I ordered my book, now can I order another book in a different size?
First make a duplicate of your original project:
- Open Focus in Pix and choose the “Open an Existing Project” button.
- Click on your book project name to select / highlight it (note, the thumbnail will not match the exact design of your book — saved projects have a default Focus in Pix thumbnail assigned to them)
- Locate and click on the “Duplicate Project” button in the lower section of the dialog box. (It will activate only if you have a project selected / highlighted.)
- Rename your project with a new name.
Next, convert to the new size book:
- Open the project.
- If the option to order another size is available on your book, look for the “Change Product” icon located above your page. Remember, this option is only available on certain projects. If available, the new size must be proportional to original size.
- A dialog box of compatible products will appear. Given the current number of pages in your book, a “Price Difference” will be displayed next to the product icon. Select the same book theme in a new book size for your new book
- After your book has been converted to the new size, a dialog box will appear on your screen. It will prompt you to check each page as some graphics may shift and photo cropping will need to be adjusted after the conversion.
- Preview your new book and make any changes
- Order your book the same way you ordered the first book
Several family members loved the book I made so much, they want to order the exact same book! Is there a way for them to order my book?
- First access your account via the “My Account” feature. Go to www.focusinpix.com and click on “My Account” in the upper right corner. Enter your Login ID and password to log into your account. (Note: Login ID and Passwords are case-sensitive).
- Click on the “Previous Orders” icon to bring up a list of all past Focus in Pix orders. Locate the project you wish to share in the list. (You may need to use the “Preview” link next to the order name review a preview image of each order.)
- Click on “Send to a Friend” to send a preview of your book to your friends. (If you are in the Preview screen, click on “Share” near the bottom.)
- A dialog box will appear. Under “How would you like to share?” click on either the social networking icon (1st icon) or the email (envelope) icon.
- If you wish for this item to be protected with password protection (your friends will need to enter a password to access it), assign password in the password field. Confirm the password by typing it in again. (Be sure you provide the password to those you plan to share this with so they can access it!) If you do not wish for password protection, leave the passwords fields blank.
- If you selected the Social Networking (1st) icon, click on the Facebook logo in the list. You will then be asked to log into Facebook to share your book with Facebook friends
- If you selected Email (envelope) icon, click on the “Share by Email” button near the bottom.
- Fill in the Message Title, Email Addresses (separate each address with comma) and Message Text fields. Press the “Share” button.
- Your friends can now view your book and reorder if they wish. They will be required to open a new account to order your project.
How long will it take to complete my order?
Production Time (does not include shipping time)
Booklets: 2 to 3 days
Greeting Cards: 1 to 2 days
Poster Prints: 1 to 2 days
Calendars: 2 to 3 days
Please allow extra time for large quantity orders.
If you choose to have your order shipped, this can take anywhere between 3 to 5 business days to arrive via UPS Ground or US Postal. (You can also pick your book up at either the Burnsville or Lakeville locations.) Overnight or 2-day shipping is available upon request. Please email us at production@focusinpix.com if interested.
Can I make a change after my order has been placed?
Are you able to change my artwork after I have placed my order?
Where can I pick up my order?
If you live in the Twin Cities area in Minnesota, we have two locations:
13775 Frontier Court
Burnsville, MN 55337
Monday-Friday, 8 am – 4:30 pm
Phone: 952.891.8707
20776 Holyoke Ave
Lakeville, MN 55044
Monday-Friday, 8:30 am – 4:30 pm
Phone: 952.232.0550
Can my order be shipped to my address?
Yes, we offer UPS Ground shipping (additional fees will apply depending on your order). This can take between 3 to 5 days to arrive after it has been produced. Overnight or 2-day shipping is available upon request and will cost additional fees. Please call 952-891-8707 or email teresa@focusinpix.com if interested.
Can my order be shipped to a different address other than my own address?
Yes, to ship to a different address, follow the steps below to change the shipping address on your order. Please verify the shipping address carefully to avoid any problems. Focus in Pix cannot be held responsible for shipping problems due to an incorrect address on your order.
- Begin order checkout.
- On the Shipping/Billing Details page, near the bottom, select ‘UPS Ground or US Mail’ shipping method.
- The Update Shipping Address window will open. Change the address details to the desired shipping address.
- Click ‘Change‘ button to see the updated Shipping/Billing Details page. The updated shipping address should now appear near the top under ‘Shipping Address’ — shown on the left side.
- If additional changes are needed, click the ‘Change‘ button below ‘Shipping Address’ (on left side) to make edits.
- If no changes are needed, click the ‘Continue‘ button.
- Continue with order checkout including credit card payment and artwork upload.
Remember to allow 5 to 7 business days for production and shipping. Overnight or 2-day shipping is available upon request and will cost additional fees. Please call 952-891-8707 during business hours or email teresa@focusinpix.com if interested.
What are your business hours?
Lakeville: Monday through Friday: 8:30 am to 4:30 pm.
We are closed on Saturday and Sunday and most major holidays.
– New Year’s Day
– Memorial Day
– Labor Day
– July 4th
– Thanksgiving (Thursday & Friday)
– Christmas
If you did not find the topic you were looking for, please check the below pages / links for additional topics and tutorials.
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