The RocketLife Software lets you create stunning, professional quality products in just a few minutes. It’s fast, fun and easy to use and has many features not found anywhere else:
This guide contains important tips to get you started. We recommend you print it out or have it open on your computer to flip to as you begin to use the software. RocketLife is fun to play with so be sure to explore and try new things! Also be sure to watch the “Getting Started” video for even more helpful hints.
On the software's initial Welcome Screen, the Start a new Project button lets you load photos for your project. You can also Open an existing Project that you have previously saved.
When you Start a new Project, a Windows file requestor will appear. We highly recommend that you select one or more folders containing photos of an entire event, occasion, vacation, or even an entire year of family photos.
Note that if you load at least 30 or up to hundreds of photos, you will see how the Smart Arrangement Technology can create a set of naturally arranged layouts, and start you right away with a set of ready-to-order products or even a completely laid out photo book.
When you're ready, click the Add Photos button, and after your photos load, you will see the Product Catalog.
Also, in the Product Catalog a Start Over button is available at the top left of the screen - this will take you back to the Welcome Screen where you can start over with a new set of photos.
In the Product Catalog, a useful Select Photos feature is available to the left of the preview window. This opens a panel where you can choose the photos you want to use in your products.
This feature is particularly helpful when you have loaded in a large number of photos and you wish to make further choices as to which photos will be in your products. You can also always add or remove photos individually when you are editing a product.
Note that the photos are grouped by date and time, with handy Select This Group and Deselect This Group buttons.
One great way to use this feature is to use the Deselect All Photos button at the top, and then select just the photos or groups of photos you want to use.
Simply click on a Product Thumbnail below to see a 3D preview of that product with one or more of your photos. To the right, you will see a brief product description, with a link to open the Options & Pricing window.
Note that there are two basic types of photo products: Single-Item products such as Collage prints, Posters, Coffee Mugs, and Multi-Page products such as Photo Books and Calendars. These are treated a bit differently during the ordering process, as described below.
You can return to the Product Catalog using the Return to Catalog or Go Back button, which is always at the top left corner of the screen when you are in any other panel.
From the Product Catalog, click the green Customize & Order button at the bottom right to examine the selected product.
You will then see the Order page for single item products such as Prints, Posters and Coffee Mugs. Here you can browse the Item Thumbnails below, and choose quantities and sizes (as described in the following section).
For multi-page items such as Photo Books and Calendars, you will see the Review page.
Here you can click on the Page Thumnails below to scan through your book and do any desired customizations.
When you are happy with your book, click the Order Button at the bottom right, and you will see the Order page where you can select cover options and sizes for your book.
On either of these panels you will find options to Select Theme or Occasion, Arrange Photos, or Customize your product. These features are described in sections further below.
On the Order Page, select an Item Thumbnail below, and use the + and - buttons to increase and decrease the quantity of the size chosen in the right panel.
On the right panel, Size Buttons are available depending on the product. Use these to set the size such as 4 x 6 print or 11 oz. Mug, and then use the + and - buttons below the Item Thumbnail to set the quantity for that size.
When you click the Customize & Order button from the catalog, the Smart Arrangement Technology quickly creates automatic layouts for all items or pages of the selected product.
You can order these products as-is, or use them as a starting point for easy customizations using the options on the right panel.
If you'd like to start from scratch and do your own layouts manually, click on the Create New option to the left of the product preview.
On Single-Item products such as Collage Prints or Coffee Mugs:
On Multi-Page products such as Photo Books and Calendars, a new empty book is created:
The Arrange Photos button is available on the Order or Customize panels, and also opens automatically when you use the Create New option to the left of the preview.
This panel lets you add and move photos, and add or re-order pages in a Photo Book or Calendar.
Note the tabs above the photo list:
To move a photo from one page to another, use the Arrange Photos Panel to remove it and then add it in the new location, as follows:
On Photo Books, the left and right facing pages (called Page Spreads) are designed to be thematically coordinated and dramatic, and are thus created, deleted and moved together using the Arrange Photos Panel.
Each Theme contains an entire set of theme variations, graphic elements and font styles.
At the bottom of the Themes & Occasions Panel and at the top of the Editing Options Panel, you will find three handy buttons for quick and easy adjustments to your collage.
Anytime you are using one of the Theme, Arrange or Customize panels, you can also choose to manually edit your layout in the Preview Panel.
Simply select the photo you want to work with, and the following handles will appear:
Note that a Safe Print Area outline appears to keep your photos within the print margins, to ensure they are not cut off on the final product.
Anytime you are using one of the Theme, Arrange or Customize panels, additional control icons are also available to the right of the preview panel. (If you hold the mouse cursor briefly over a button, its name will appear in a tool-tip popup.)
While Ordering items or Reviewing a Photo Book or Calendar, a Customize button at the right will take you to the Editing Options Panel.
To the left of the preview panel you will find the Save Project button, which opens a Windows file requestor where you can save a copy of your project.
When you have selected one or more products in the Order Panel and set an order quantity, a green Add to Cart button is available at the bottom right of the screen. Click here and your products will be saved and added to the cart.
Any time you have products in your cart, or selected in an Order Panel, the orange Check Out button will be available at the bottom right of the screen. Click here to view your cart, and it will change to Continue with Check Out.
From the Cart screen, click the orange Continue with Check Out button at the bottom right.
You will see the Enter Order Information screen.
The Continue with Check Out button will proceed to the Upload screen.
When the upload is complete, the Order Confirmation screen will appear.
You will be notified by e-mail when your order has been shipped.