Frequently Asked Questions

FAQ: Before Publishing

What is the difference between Storybooks and Classbooks?
Storybooks – each student writes and illustrates their own story.
Classbooks – each student contributes one or two pages to a book that the class is producing as a whole.

What are the requirements to participate in a free program?
10-30 students and you also agree some programs require a minimum purchase. See our Terms and Conditions page for more information.

Are parents required to purchase additional copies for the school to receive free books?
No, there is a space on the form for parents to sign which states that they received the form and chose not to purchase. However, even if the parent chooses not to purchase we must have their signed form returned to us.

Are your programs available to schools outside the U.S.?
This is dealt with on a case-by-case basis. Most of the international schools we deal with use an address within the U.S. with which we use to ship the books to and then the school facilitates the shipping of the books to themselves separately. If an international school does not have the ability to do this, we do occasionally make exceptions for schools with orders over $500 agree to pay for the shipping of the books to the school. Please call or email one of our Publishing Specialists for more details.

What personal information do you collect?
From the teacher or program administrator we require a first and last name, valid email address and a physical school address for shipping. We do not collect any personal information about your students nor do we store or sell the personal information received from parents who are wishing to purchase a copy of their child’s book.

Who handles payment on the parent purchases?
We do! You may return checks with the forms and we will process it them for you. You may also choose to process payments and submit a purchase order if you prefer. In addition, credit card payments may be made online as well.

Can I see a finished sample of the books before I start?
Of course! Just email or call one of our Publishing Specialists at (800) 706-8697, option 2 to request samples and we will send them out right away.

Storybook Questions

How many pages can I have in a Storybook?

Free Online Storybooks – 12

What size are Storybooks?

They are 7” x 9”, which is the smaller classic size you typically find at a book store.

Classbook Questions

How many pages can I have in a Classbook?
10-60

What size are Classbooks?
8.5” x 11”Top

FAQ: During publishing

What is the PDF Upload button and how is it different than image upload?
The PDF Upload functionality allows you to use existing student work in your books or create your books in another program and upload your material! There are two ways you might use PDFs to create your book.
The ‘PDF Upload’ button (located on the index view) allows you to upload your whole book, in order, into our online book making tool. You can upload PDF’s onto specific pages using the ‘PDF Upload’ button located within the Backgrounds tab.

Once uploaded, your PDF pages will function as “background images” that take up an entire page. Your PDF as as background can be layered with stickers, photos and text.

The ‘Upload Image’ button within the Images toolbox accepts JPEG images as is typically seen on photographs or other digital files. Images that are uploaded as JPEG’s can be layered on top of PDF’s, Backgrounds, Stickers, Text, and other images in your library.

At what quality should I export or scan my PDF?
Remember, an electronic file that looks great on your monitor may not print well. Our goal is to help you make your students’ work look fantastic when it is professionally published. Because every computer set-up and software configuration is different, you may have specific questions not addressed in this guide. Please contact a Publishing Specialist with any additional questions about your project. For best results in your published books, review these guidelines.

File Formats
PDF files are an electronic “snapshots” of a file. The text and graphics cannot be changed in this type of file once it is uploaded into your book.

Resolution
This determines the quality of a digital image. It is identified by DPI (dots per inch) or PPI (pixels per inch).
• 300 dpi: Best quality for printing
• 150-200 dpi: Medium quality for printing
• 72 dpi: Looks great onscreen, but may be fuzzy when printed

Scanner Settings
Most scanner setting can be adjusted to suit your needs. See your scanner’s owner’s manual or online help for direction of how to adjust the settings.
• Less than 200 dpi: Too small
• Greater than 400 dpi: Too Large
• 300 dpi: Just right

Saving a PDF
If you are converting an electronic document to a PDF (i.e. MS Word), select the “Standard” setting to create a PDF that is suitable for printing. You may also be able to adjust the dpi when you save the file or select “Print to PDF” in your software.
• Less than 200 dpi: Too small
• Greater than 400 dpi: Too Large
• 300 dpi: Just right

File Size
If your file is the correct resolution for printing, it should be several megabytes in size.
• Less than 1MB: Too small
• Greater than 6MB: Too large
• 1MB-5MB: Just right

While adjusting your scanner settings is the easiest way to monitor your file size, there are different programs you can use to reduce the file size after you have an electronic version.

May I use pictures (copyrighted or otherwise) I took off the internet in my book?
All content submitted to StudentPublishing.com is the sole responsibility of the individual who submitted the material. While StudentPublishing.com does not typically read or check the content of materials produced, we do reserve the right to refuse production of any book containing copyrighted or inappropriate material..Therefore, you must include express written permission from copyright owners in order to include their material in your book. Additionally, we may refuse to reproduce any material which we believe is abusive, deceptive, obscene, slanderous, or advocating illegal activity. You are solely responsible for any copyright violations that you may incur as a result of making your book.

Can my students work on their story from home?
Yes! Our web based program works on any computer with an internet connection (Mac or PC). Our online tool is not yet compatible with tablet devices that do not allow flash.

I don’t think I am going to be able to meet my projected submission, what should I do?
You can change your projected submission date at any time by clicking the icon above your student list and changing the date. If your project is tied to a reservation, please email or call one of our Publishing Specialists at (800) 706-8697, option 2 to make sure you there is still space available for your new reservation date.

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FAQ: After publishing

How can I check the status of my order?
Please email us and include your order number with a quick note about wanting to check the status. Someone will email you with the status of your order within 24-48 hours. If you prefer, you can call us at 800.706.8697 during our normal business hours.

How long will it take for me to receive my books?
Production time varies. Production time is normally 2-3 weeks from when we receive the family order forms and the books are submitted online. Please factor in time for the forms to be shipped to our facility and shipping time back to your school (when planning your projects).

What are the most common reasons orders get delayed?

Missing order forms
Missing or short payments
Mail-in projects – missing author photos, missing book covers or story pages, use of incorrect drawing materials

Can I make changes to an order I have already submitted?
It depends on where your order is in the production process. Email customerservice@studentpublishing.com or call (800) 706-8697 to see if your order can be changed. Please note that there may be an additional fee to make a change if an order is already submitted.

Who owns the copyright to my book after it is completed?
You do! While we do occasionally ask exceptional authors if we can use their stories as samples, we will not use or reproduce your book without expressed, written consent.

Can I order extra copies of a student’s book after they have been published?
Yes, Parents and/or the school may order extra copies of their books after they have already received the initial order IF they created the book within the last year AND it was created either online or the archival option was chosen.

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FAQ: About StudentPublishing.com

What are your hours of operation?
Monday – Friday, 8:00am – 5:00pm, Mountain Standard Time
If you leave a message and we will respond within 24 hours.

Where is Easy Student Publishing based?
Just south of Denver, Colorado. Great shipping times to the whole country!
Our address is:
1500 W. Hampden Ave., STE 4E
Englewood, CO 80110

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