4-1 Overview of Auto Layout

Auto Layout is the quickest and easiest design option available to create a classic and structured AsukaBook. After selecting images and choosing one of the available layout templates options, the selected images are automatically placed in the layout. When determining the book style, layout, and images, you can also choose to include file names and add keylines or drop shadows. Once the book is laid out, you may then use the same functions tat are available in Custom Design to add further enhancements to the images and design.

4-1-1 Book Type

After selecting the Auto Layout design option, the book preferences must be selected, such as the type of book, size, page finish, etc. There is also an option to display and print the file name below each image.

4-1-2 Select a Layout

Next, select one of the available layout template options, up to 9 images per page. The maximum number of images for a layout depends on the selected book size.
Background color can also be slected when selecting a layout, and will be applied to each page.

4-1-3 Adding Images

Click on the Add Image tab to browse for images and folders of images to include in the book. You can also drag and drop folders directly into the image file area.

4-1-4 Select Images

In the photo selection screen, you may choose the images from the list to be included in the design layout and arrange their order by dragging and dropping them into the selected images area. In addition, images can be rotated and cropped and keylines and drop shadows can be applied.

4-1-5 Confirmation Window

When 'Next' is clicked, the number of pages is determined automatically. If there are too many or too few images used, a dialog box will appear informing you of the number of pages that will be created and the number of images that can still be added or removed. You may then cancel and adjust the number of images accordingly.

Example: If 300 images are selected with a layout to display 7 images per page, the number of pages is 42 (300 / 7 = 42 pages) with 6 images remaining. Since 42 pages is currently not an option with AsukaBook, a 50-page book is automatically selected.
Of the 50 pages, the first 42 pages will have 7 images per page, with the other 6 images on page 43, leaving pages 44 through 50 blank.

4-1-6 Image Arrangement Order

If a layout for two or more images has been selected, the images will be arranged in order from left to right starting from the top.

4-2 Tools

When an image is selected (clicked), the tools that can be applied to that image appear in the tool bar area.
See 8 Tool Bar for more information about tool bar functions.

4-2-1 Zoom In/Zoom Out

In the image selection window, you can use the magnifying glass tools or you can select 'Small', 'Medium', or 'Large' from the view size pull-down menu to increase or decrease the size of the view of the display area.

4-2-2 Rotate

Used to rotate a photograph 90 degrees clockwise. Unlike the Rotate command in Custom Design Mode, you cannot specify an angle or invert the image.

4-2-3 Crop

You can trim the sides of an image or automatically trim the image to a square by selcting an image that has been allocated and then clicking on the 'Crop' tool.

4-2-4 Delete

You can delete an image that you have added to the layout by using the 'Delete' button on the tool bar, the 'Delete' key on your keyboard, or dragging and dropping an image back into the list of images. You can also remove images from the list of images area by selecting the image and click the 'Clear' button.

4-2-5 Previous

You may return to the layout selection screen from the photo selection screen if you wish to review or change the selected layout and bacground color.

4-2-6 Next

Used to exit the photo selection scren and proceed to Custom Design. However, if the specified number of pages has not been reached or has been exceeded, a message will appear instructing you to increase or decrease the amount of images to set the specified number of pages.

4-3 Confirmation Window

Once the layout and images have been selected for the desired amount of pages in the book, you will proceed to the Custom Design area to freely layout the cover of the book and to make any additional image and design enhancements.

You may click 'Previous' to return the photo selection screen, but all changes in Custom Design Mode will be lost.

Once a file is saved, it can only be opened as a Custom Design file and Auto Layout options will no longer be available.