PhotoBooks FAQ
Answers about photo import, layouts, covers, PDF export, missing originals, backups and privacy. Browse by topic or search every answer.
PhotoBooks 1.2.0 · User guide · Reviewed
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Getting started
Is PhotoBooks free, including PDF export?
Yes. The app and PDF export are free, with no export watermark or account requirement. Printing through a third-party service is a separate cost.
Which devices does PhotoBooks support?
Mac with macOS 15 or later, iPhone with iOS 18 or later, and iPad with iPadOS 18 or later. These guides cover version 1.2.0 and show the Mac app.
What is the quickest way to make my first book?
Start with one album or image folder, review the selection, choose a shape and size, select an edge style, then choose Create my book. Review the pages before exporting.
Importing and selecting photos
Why can’t PhotoBooks see my photos?
Check Photos access in your device settings. With limited access, only permitted photos are available. If access is denied, use Open Settings or Use Folder Instead. iCloud originals may need to download first.
Which image files can I import?
Folder import accepts JPEG, HEIC/HEIF, PNG, TIFF and supported RAW files. The app must be able to decode the image; a renamed extension is not enough.
Does leaving a photo out delete the original?
No. Selection review changes which photos go into this book. It does not delete the original from Apple Photos or its folder.
Can I skip automatic selection and keep every photo?
Yes. Choose Keep every photo in Refine your selection. To review an automatic proposal instead, choose Create a balanced selection and adjust the recommended and left-out photos.
Pages, layouts and book format
Why doesn’t rebuilding change a page?
Rebuild Unlocked Pages preserves locked pages. Individual photo locks also constrain reflow. Unlock the page or photo you want the automatic layout to move.
Can I change my book’s size after creating it?
Yes. Choose Book → Book Size and Format…. Review the result, particularly after changing shape: locked pages and the cover keep their layouts and receive review badges.
Why isn’t my workspace color in the PDF?
Canvas changes only the workspace behind the book. Use Book Background or Page Background for colors that belong to the printed pages.
Can I move the cover between pages?
No. The cover stays first. Reorder interior pages in the page browser; compact layouts provide a Reorder control.
Cropping and photo tools
Why is a photo locked after I crop it?
Done in the crop editor applies your crop and locks the frame so reflow preserves it. Use Unlock photo or Reset to auto layout when you want automatic placement again.
How do I swap a photo for another one?
Select the placed photo, choose Replace, then select another placed image or a tray photo. Escape exits replacement mode on Mac.
Where did my unused photos go?
Open Photos to see the unplaced-photo tray. Use them as replacements, or choose Add → Place Remaining Photos. Unplaced photos are different from missing originals.
Covers, titles and text
Can I add captions or a title?
Yes. Choose Add → Add Text on a page, then Edit the text and style. Book → Rename Book… changes the title used for the spine; check the front-cover text separately.
Why is text cut off in my PDF?
The text may not fit its box. Edit the affected box, shorten the copy, reduce the text size or enlarge the box. Check preflight and inspect the exported PDF again.
PDF export and printing
Why does Blurb export produce two PDFs?
Blurb Book writes separate interior and cover PDFs into your chosen folder. Inspect both, and use a matching specification for your print order. Exporting does not order the book.
Should I choose Digital PDF or Print PDF?
Choose Digital PDF for screen viewing and sharing. Choose Print PDF for a print-ready file with bleed, after checking that the print service accepts your book dimensions and file setup.
What does the 200 DPI warning mean?
The photo’s effective resolution at its printed size is below 200 DPI. Try a higher-resolution original, a smaller frame or less crop zoom. Enlarging a low-resolution file does not restore missing image detail.
Why does preflight offer to add blank pages?
Your book has fewer pages than the selected preset’s minimum. The offered action adds enough blank pages to reach that minimum. Review the page count and final PDF before ordering.
What should I do if export fails?
Read the error, check that source images and the destination are accessible, then use Retry Failed Photos or Try Again. Allow iCloud originals to download if needed. Check that both files are complete after a Blurb export.
Saving, backups and privacy
Does my saved book contain all of the original photos?
No. The editable document stores book data and references to source photos, not all full-resolution originals. Keep and back up the original image folders or Photos library separately.
What should I back up?
Back up the whole saved book document and its original images or Photos library. The built-in previous-save fallback protects book data only; a PDF is not an editable project backup.
Are my photos uploaded to Graphic Meat?
No. Photo analysis and layout run on your device. Apple Photos may retrieve iCloud originals, and a cloud-backed file location follows its own storage behavior. Updates and optional online services may use the network.
Troubleshooting
How do I recover missing photos?
Choose Relink… in the missing-photos banner. For moved files, use Relink from Folder… and select their new folder. Photos deleted from Apple Photos cannot be relinked this way; restore originals from backup or remove the missing entries and refill their frames.
Why won’t a book from a newer PhotoBooks version open?
Update PhotoBooks first. A newer document format can require a newer app. Preserve the file rather than altering its internal data to bypass the version check.