Frequently Asked Questions

Getting Started

How do I open or save a project?

Use File → New to create a new design, where you can define the document size, DPI, and measurement units. Use File → Open to load an existing .cpc project.

Use File → Save it save your current work.

What are the main sections of the editor?

The editor is organized into five tabs:

• Students
• Teachers
• Background
• Clipart
• Text

Students

Importing Photos

What filename format should I use?

Class Photo Composite reads names and display order directly from the filenames.

Examples:

• Smith,John.jpg → Sorts by lastname, name and displays as John Smith
• _001_Smith,John.jpg → Sorts by number and displays as John Smith
• Smith,John#Captain.jpg → Sorts by lastname, name and creates a line break at #

How do I import student photos?

Open the Students tab and either click the + button or drag your photos onto the canvas.

Editing Student Information

How do I edit a student’s name?

Go to Students → Names.

Each student has an editable text field. Use the # character to insert a line break.

How do I adjust the crop for one student’s photo?

With the Students tab selected:

• Click the student on the canvas.
• Use the mouse wheel to zoom.
• Drag to reposition the image.
• Click the Reset button in the student list to restore the original framing.

How do I change the font, size, or color of all student names?

Open Students → Text.

From there you can modify:

• Font
• Size
• Color
• Bold / Italic
• Margins
• Line spacing

These settings affect every student.

Student Layout

How do I change the student grid?

Open Students → Layout.

You can modify:

• Number of rows and columns
• Shape scale
• Redistribution options

You can also resize the student area by dragging the green margin guides on the canvas.

What is a Memory Mate?

A Memory Mate is a featured student portrait displayed larger than the rest of the grid.

It can be configured in Students → Layout.

How do I reserve space for a school logo?

Use the Keep-out Zone option in Students → Layout.

Student photos will automatically avoid this reserved area.

Why do I get “More photos than grid slots”?

There are more student photos than available positions. Increase the number of rows or columns.

Teachers

How do I add teacher photos?

Open the Teachers tab and either click the + button or drag your JPG, PNG, or TIFF files directly onto the canvas.

Teacher photos can be arranged and customized just like student photos, including names, frames, captions, and layout.

How do I remove all teachers?

Open the Teachers tab, expand the Layout section, and click the Delete (trash) button to remove all teacher photos.

Alternatively, simply don’t import any teacher images.

Can I remove the Teachers section completely?

Not entirely.

If your design doesn’t include teachers:

1. Leave the teacher list empty.
2. In the Teachers tab, drag the blue margin guides to reduce the teacher area.
3. In the Students tab, drag the green margin guides to give more space to the students.

The teacher area can be reduced significantly, although a small minimum area (approximately 12%) always remains. Please remember that the blue margin guides will not be exported for printing.

How do I make teacher labels match the student labels?

In the Teachers tab, enable the Same as students options in the Text and Frame sections.

Why do I still see the blue teacher area?

The blue layout area is always displayed while the Teachers tab is active.

If there are no teacher photos, the area remains empty but is still available for editing the layout.

Text

How do I add a title or other text?

Open the Text tab and click Add.

A new text box will appear centered on the design.

How do I edit the text?

Select the text object from the list and edit it in the multiline editor.

Press Shift + Enter to insert a new line.

How do I move text?

With the Text tab active, select the text on the canvas and drag it.

How do I change the font or appearance?

Select the text object and adjust:

• Font
• Size (6–120 pt)
• Color
• Bold
• Italic
• Opacity

How do I delete a text box?

Select it in the list and click the Delete button.

Can I resize a text box?

Not directly.

Text objects can be moved, but their size is controlled by the Font Size setting rather than resize handles.

Backgrounds

How do I change the background color?

Open the Background tab and choose a new Background Color.

How do I use one of the built-in backgrounds?

Select a thumbnail from the background gallery or drag it onto the canvas.

How do I use my own background?

Open Background → Backgrounds.

Drag a JPEG image into the design area or into the library, then click or drag it onto the design.

How do I adjust or remove a background image?

When a background is selected you can:

• Adjust its opacity.
• Delete it.
• Pan and zoom the image directly on the canvas.

Clipart and Graphics

How do I add clipart?

Open the Clipart tab.

Click a thumbnail to insert it in the center of the design, or drag it directly onto the canvas.

How do I add my own graphics?

Open Clipart → Cliparts and drag a PNG file into the design area or the library.

How do I move or resize clipart?

Select the object on the canvas.

You can:

• Drag to move it.
• Drag the corner handle to resize it.
• Change its opacity.
• Delete it.

Why was my image rejected?

The supported formats are:

• Backgrounds: JPEG
• Clipart: PNG

Exporting

How do I export the final composite?

Use the Export command from the File menu.

Before exporting, make sure:

• There are enough grid positions for all students.
• Any required background has been assigned.

Why is there a watermark?

The trial version exports images with a watermark.

Activating a subscription removes the watermark.

How do I change the document size, DPI, or units?

These settings are defined when creating a new project.

Default values can also be changed later in Preferences.