Abstract: Methods and systems of creating and ordering a photobook via a display of a space constrained mobile device are disclosed. A photobook is produced by dragging and dropping of photos, pages, or spreads, thus creating user-desired pairing arrangements of photos, pages, or spreads. In one embodiment, a method comprises selecting photos via a touch interface of a mobile device, creating a page-preview of a photobook at the touch interface, providing book customization options by using dragging and dropping features, and creating a book-preview of said photobook after said book customization options have been performed, thereby displaying a virtual manifestation of a printable and deliverable book. The invention reduces friction points to purchase, and increases user satisfaction with the photobook creation and customization process.

Abstract: A method, system, and non-transitory physical storage medium for rendering theme-based digital assets in a media-based project having one or more searchable templates searchable through a graphical user interface (GUI), the method including tagging each of the searchable templates with one or more tag words relative to each searchable template's content; automatically retrieving one or more tag words corresponding to a current template of a currently-active media-based project; automatically retrieving one or more related tag words that correspond to the tag words of the current template; automatically forming one or more tag groups for the current template, each tag group comprising one or more of the tag words and/or one or more of the related tag words; and automatically searching for one or more related templates from among the searchable templates using one or more of the tag groups as search terms in a search engine.

Abstract: Methods and systems for editing media rich photo projects are disclosed. In one embodiment, the present invention uses drag and drop features to add a photo to a spread, to remove a photo from the spread, and/or to create a new spread. In another embodiment, drop areas are utilized to facilitate addition and removal of photos at an editor. In another embodiment, drop targets are determined by an animated highlight of a drop target, a time delay allowing a user to wait until a drop target is auto-selected by the pre-set rules of the editor, and pre-set rules of a drop target as determined by the location of a drop. Furthermore, drop targets are determined by location coordinates of a photo over the spread before being dropped, proximity of a dragged photo with a photo slot, or a pre-calculated photo slot based on pre-set rules.

Abstract: A system rendering theme-based digital assets used in creating and editing image and or text-based projects searchable through a graphics user interface (GUI) includes a server connected to a network, the server having access to least one processor and a data repository, the server including a non-transitory physical medium, and software running from the non-transitory physical medium, the software providing, a first function for tagging each template with multiple tag words relative to template content and function, a second function for forming tag groups from the template tags, a third function for providing a search engine for searching for templates using one or a grouping of the tag words as search input.

Abstract: A system for creating image and or text-based projects includes a server, the server having access to a processor, a data repository, and a non-transitory physical medium. Software running from the non-transitory physical medium provides a first function for establishing a server connection between the server and a computing appliance, a second function for initiating and maintaining a data session with a user, a third function for gathering information in a project, a fourth function for analyzing the information gathered and developing a list of keywords, a fifth function for searching one or more data sources for images and other assets using one or more of the primary keywords developed by the fourth function, and a sixth function for dynamically presenting one or more digital assets found in the search to the one or more users working on the project.

Abstract: Methods and systems of reversing edit operations of a media-rich project are disclosed. In one embodiment, the method comprises, offering to a user an editing action on a pre-edited view of a media-rich project, in which the editing action after being performed on the pre-edited view displays a first-edited view of the project; saving, in response to the user switching to a second view, the first-edited view as a last-edited view; and reversing, in response to a user reverse action, the editing action of the last-edited view by initiating a reverse function, in which the reverse function comprises two steps, in which a first step causes the editor to exit from the second view and to land on the last-edited view, and a second step causes the last-edited view to revert to the pre-edited view.

Abstract: A system for creating image and or text-based projects from a computing appliance includes a server connected to a network, the server having access to a processor, a data repository, and a non-transitory physical medium. Software running from the non-transitory physical medium provides a first function for establishing a client server connection between the server and a computing appliance connected to the network, a second function for initiating an active data session between the computing appliance and a data server, a third function for storing a database of zip codes with the relevant cities and states on the user-operated computing appliance, a fourth function for detecting when a user enters a zip code onto a form field, a fifth function for looking up the entered zip code, and a sixth function for retrieving the associated city and state information and auto-populating the text fields associated with the zip code.

Abstract: A method for managing layers across multiple pages of a photo project, comprising recording a position and a layer value for each of a plurality of objects in the photo project, wherein the plurality of objects are positioned on a first page of the photo project, wherein the plurality of objects occupy a plurality of layers; receiving an instruction to move the plurality of objects simultaneously from the position on the first page to a new position on a second page of the photo project; after receiving the instruction to move the plurality of objects, assigning the recorded layer values to the plurality of objects; and moving the plurality of objects, at the recorded layer values, from the first page to the second page while preserving the recorded layer values across pages, wherein each of the plurality of objects moved is placed in a corresponding layer on the second page.

Abstract: A system for creating media-based projects includes a server, the server having access to a processor and a data repository, the server including a non-transitory physical medium, and software running from the non-transitory physical medium, the software providing a method comprising steps of receiving a plurality of images from a user-operated computing appliance to add to the media-project; performing image analysis on the images added to the media-project to identify a plurality of distinguishable features in the images; and selecting a subset of the plurality of distinguishable features in the images for presentation in a mosaic pattern in the media-project, wherein the mosaic pattern comprises the plurality of distinguishable features displayed in a tile pattern comprising a plurality of tiles, and wherein an overlaid die-cut pattern has a plurality of die-cuts corresponding to the plurality of tiles through which the mosaic pattern comprising the distinguishable features is visible.

Abstract: A system for creating image and or text-based projects on a computing appliance having a space-constrained display includes a server, the server having access to least one processor, a data repository, and a non-transitory physical medium. Software running from the non-transitory physical medium provides a first function for establishing a client server connection between the server and at least one mobile computing device, a second function for initiating an active data session between a user involved in project creation and or in project editing through a graphics user interface (GUI), a third function for displaying a field of a multi-field form for text input on the display of the mobile computing appliance, a fourth function for detecting that the field of the multi-field form displayed by the third function is populated, and a fifth function for displaying a next field on the mobile computing device for text input.

Abstract: A system for working with image and or text-based projects includes a server having access to a processor and a data repository, the server including a non-transitory physical medium and software running from the non-transitory physical medium, the software providing a first function for establishing a client-server connection between the server and at least one user-operated computing appliance connected to the network, a second function for initiating and maintaining an active data session between one or more users involved in working with the image and/or text-based projects through a graphics user interface (GUI), a third function for acquiring and recording current font attributes for text-based items on a page that is to be remixed, and a fourth function for calculating a best unified set of font attributes for the text-based items subject to the remixed page.

Abstract: A system for creating and editing image and or text-based projects includes a server connected to a network and having access a processor and a data repository, and software running from a non-transitory physical medium, the software providing for establishing a client-server connection between the server and at least one user-operated computing appliance connected to the network, initiating and maintaining an active data session between one or more users involved in project creation and or in project editing through a graphics user interface (GUI), establishing a layout grid and defining gridlines as snap-to targets, establishing snap guides for specified assets to be placed on a canvass in an image and or text-based project, and establishing a distance threshold representing the distance between an asset and a gridline before snapping occurs, selectively de-activating or deleting gridlines for snap-to functionality with certain assets based on breach of an asset population threshold.

Abstract: Methods and systems of customizing a photobook by page arrangement and spread generation are disclosed. In one embodiment, the present invention creates an automatic grid preview of spreads, comprising pages, after a user of the user device completes a photo upload. In the grid preview, the user can swap a spread with another spread (spread location change), swap a photo from a spread with another photo from another spread (photo location change), create a new spread from a detached photo of an existing spread, add a new photo to a spread, and delete a photo from a spread. Unused photos and spreads may be stored in a temporary storage area in a manner that the unused photos and the spreads may be conveniently accessed anytime during the photobook creation process. The invention reduces friction points to purchase a photobook and increases user satisfaction with the photobook creation and customization process.

Abstract: A system for creating image and text-based projects includes a server and software running from physical medium providing a first function for establishing a client-server connection between the server and a computing appliance, a second function for initiating a data session with a user, a third function for the detecting user activity relative to uploading of, or permitting access to one or more photos to the server, a fourth function for accessing copies of the photos before or during upload and compressing them at a pre-designated resolution suitable for printing, a fifth function for transferring the photo copies in the compressed state to the server, a sixth function for decompressing and displaying the one or more photos ahead of receipt of the photos accessed, and a seventh function for replacing the displayed photo or photos with the one or more photos upon receipt thereof.

Abstract: A photo-based project and associated printed photobook having a flush photo collage, or montage, on the front cover are disclosed. In one embodiment, a photobook is made by receiving a plurality of images corresponding to a photo-project; storing said plurality of images in a data repository; receiving a print order for a printed photobook corresponding to the photo-project; in response to the print order, printing a photo-strip having one or more of the images; producing a front cover by compressing a compressible cover material to form a channel in the compressible cover material, wherein the channel is of a size and a shape matching the photo-strip; wrapping the compressible cover material with the channel around a cover board to make the front cover; and setting the photo-strip permanently into the channel and flush with the front cover to create the photobook.

Abstract: In an online collage-based editor, a method for determining an effective aspect ratio for a selected project orientation that includes a group of two or more available page sizes having different aspect ratios and displaying a project page at a derived aspect ratio in the GUI during editing includes the steps (a) determining for each page size in the group, the viewable area of each page, (b) recording the aspect ratios of the viewable areas of step (a), (c) using a mathematical function, describing a total amount of error present amongst the available aspect ratios of step (b) for a given aspect ratio, (d) using a mathematical program, process, or automated calculation tool, finding the effective aspect ratio that minimizes the function and hence the error value of step (c), and (e) displaying the project page at the selected effective aspect ratio.

Abstract: A system includes a server having access to least one processor and a data repository, the server including a non-transitory physical medium and software running from the non-transitory physical medium, the software providing for establishing a client-server connection between the server and at least one user-operated computing appliance connected to the network, maintaining an active data session between one or more users involved in working with the image and/or text-based projects through a graphics user interface (GUI), facilitating division of an image into a fractal image components for presentation on editable canvas in the GUI using more than one photo slot to present the fractal image components, coordinating the positions of the fractal views together, and translating the positional data resulting from the movement of a fractal image component in one photo slot to all of the other photo slots hosting the fractal image presentation.

Abstract: A method has steps receiving a plurality of digital images at a network-connected computing appliance, sorting the plurality of images by one or more functions of software executing from a non-transitory physical medium on the computing appliance to determine a subset of images that are related according to data associated with individual ones of the digital images, and dedicating the determined subset of images to a single page of a photo album being prepared by the software.

Abstract: A system for creating image and or text-based projects includes a server connected to a network, the server having access to least one processor and a data repository, the server including a non-transitory physical medium, and software running from the non-transitory physical medium, the software providing a first function for establishing a client server connection between the server and at least one user-operated computing appliance connected to the network, a second function for initiating and maintaining an active data session between one or more users involved in project creation and or in project editing through a graphics user interface (GUI), a third function for establishing a cache memory on the at least one operated computing appliance, the cache dedicated for caching user and server-side data, a fourth function for caching user actions in the cache memory, and a fifth function for persisting the cached data to the server.