Getting Started
Required computer knowledge
You do not need to know a lot about computers to use EZBook.However, you should be familiar with your computer, basic word processing programs, and how to import and effectively save images. If you plan to scan materials, you should be familiar with scanning techniques. If you do not use a computer on a regular basis, it is not recommended that you use EZBook.
Planning the Book
If you have any questions or concerns that your images may not meet these requirements, please contact YearbookLife for guidance and to perform quality testing. It is recommended that you read over the EZBook manual to familiarize yourself with the different options and areas you might need while laying out your yearbook. Follow the instructions in the manual to successfully create your book. This can be done through the curriculum, your parent/teacher organization, or volunteers.
Decide what type of cover you want, whether you will be designing your own custom yearbook cover or choosing a stock yearbook cover. If you will be creating your own custom cover, please see the Custom Covers section of the EZBook manual for cover submission procedures and deadlines.
Make a decision on where the yearbook will be worked on, how many people will be working on it, and what computers you will be using to do the yearbook. Please make sure that any computer you will be using meets at least the minimum requirements. Plan which topic items you will want on each page. Make a list of pictures you will need for each page.
Have your photographer supply you with a high-resolution portrait CD or DVD that includes an index file so you can import your portrait database. Please note that it is preferable to have all portrait pictures on one CD/DVD.
You may start your yearbook before you receive your portrait CD or DVD, but you will not be able to flow any portrait pages until you receive that CD or DVD. After you receive the CD or DVD, you may import your portrait database at any time.
For the images that you plan to import into your yearbook, it is recommended that you place your photos and custom artwork (these are images other than your portrait database) into folders on your hard drive. It is best if the folders are organized by the groups you will be using to sort by in EZBook. This will make importing the images much easier.