What does it mean that I can personalize THE OBAMA TIME CAPSULE?

After you answer a few questions and upload personal photos to our website, a personalized copy of the book will be created just for you, weaving pictures of President Obama’s extraordinary journey (shot by the world’s leading photographers) together with your name, your photos and your thoughts.

There are six places where you can personalize THE OBAMA TIME CAPSULE. Just imagine your name as one of the authors on the front cover; a favorite photo on the back cover; your child’s artwork on the Kids for Obama page; a family member or friend’s name on the Dedication page; your name on the Inaugural Invitation; and your photo amid the Celebrity Supporters. (See below for more information on all the fun ways you can personalize your book.)

Not only can you create your own personalized copy of the book, but personalized books for family members and friends make wonderful gifts. They will be delighted and touched that you created this collectable keepsake just for them.

Which pages can I personalize?

There are six places where you can personalize THE OBAMA TIME CAPSULE:

• Front Cover: Add your name as one of the authors on the front cover.
• Back Cover: Put your favorite photo on the back cover.
• Dedication Page: Dedicate the book to someone or something special, and write a personal Dedication message.
• Inaugural Invitation Page: Add your name on the book’s Inaugural Invitation page.
• Celebrity Supporters Page: Include your photo on the Celebrity Supporters page.
• Kids for Obama page: Add your child’s artwork to the book. You can also add your child’s name and age.

Want to personalize this book as a gift? Great idea! You can put the names and photos of family members or friends in all six locations.

How do I buy a personalized copy?

First, purchase a copy of THE OBAMA TIME CAPSULE on Amazon.com. You’ll be emailed an authorization link that will take you to www.theobamatimecapsule.com, where you can personalize your book.

Once you’ve completed personalizing the book, you’ll click the “Publish My Book” button. Your book will be sent to the printer, where a unique copy will be produced just for you. You’ll receive your personalized book 2-3 weeks later. (Please note: The email with the authorization link may take up to 3 hours to arrive in your inbox. If you do not receive your customization link within 24 hours please contact customerservice@theobamatimecapsule.com.)

Can I make a personalized book for someone else?

Absolutely! A personalized book is the ultimate gift for family or friends. Find some fun digital photos of the person for whom you’re making the book, and upload them to the website. Add their name and a personal Dedication, and you’ve just made a one-of-a-kind gift. Your friends and family will be delighted and touched that you created this collectable keepsake just for them. This personalized time capsule will be passed down from generation to generation.

Is it difficult to create a personalized copy of the book? Is this something aimed at sophisticated computer users and professional photographers?

Not at all. The personalization process was developed with consumers in mind. It’s very simple to upload your photos and type in your name and thoughts with our easy-to-use interface. After you’ve purchased your book on Amazon.com, you’ll receive an email with an authorization link to our website, which guides you through a few simple steps to personalize your book. You can actually see how your own photos and name will look on the different pages. Trying out different photos is easy and fun. Our personalization process is like an Apple iPod: complex technology, but incredibly easy for consumers to use.

Do I have to personalize the cover and all six pages?

No, our system is very flexible. You can choose not to personalize the cover or any of the personalization pages by selecting the button at the bottom of the page that says, “Don’t personalize this page.”

How long will it take to personalize the book?

The process is so simple and easy that you can personalize your book in about 10 minutes. Please note: You must complete the personalization process within 10 days of purchase on Amazon.com. If you do not complete the process in 10 days, you will be sent a standard version of the book.

Can I purchase a copy of THE OBAMA TIME CAPSULE without personalizing it?

Yes. In the first step of the personalization process, you have the option of checking a box on the right-hand side of the screen to simply have a standard version of the book shipped to you.

My cover and book are a gift. Do you offer gift wrapping or a gift message?

We do not offer gift wrapping at this time, but you can enclose a gift message when you purchase your book on Amazon.com.

What will the book look like, and what are its physical dimensions?

You’ll receive a sumptuous hardbound coffee-table book with gorgeous color photographs throughout. The book is 12.5 x 10.25 inches and weighs approximately 4 pounds. NOTE: DIMENSIONS MAY CHANGE.

How do I place an order for a personalized book?

First, purchase a copy of THE OBAMA TIME CAPSULE on Amazon.com. You’ll be emailed an authorization link that will take you to www.theobamatimecapsule.com, where you can personalize your book. (Please note: The email can take up to 3 hours to arrive in your inbox. If you do not receive your customization link within 24 hours please contact customerservice@theobamatimecapsule.com.) BE SURE TO SAVE THIS EMAIL: It includes your confirmation order ID and the Amazon.com email address that you’ll need in order to access the website if you need to return to finish a book.

Please note: You’ll have 10 days to complete the personalization process once you’ve received your authorization link. If you do not complete the process in 10 days, you will be sent a standard version of the book.

How do I get my book, and how long does it take?

Once you’ve finished personalizing your book and carefully checked it for spelling errors, you’ll click the “Publish My Book” button. Your book will be sent to the printer, where a unique version will be printed just for you. You’ll receive your personalized copy of THE OBAMA TIME CAPSULE in approximately 2-3 weeks.

I’ve just placed my order and noticed a typo. Will you correct the mistake?

Unfortunately, our system does not allow us to make any changes after you approve and place your order. This includes misspelling of names you enter and any typos in the Dedication message you write. Please carefully check for correct spelling before you click “Publish My Book.”

Can I change or cancel an order?

No, unfortunately not. Our system is completely automated and does not allow us to make any changes or cancellations after you’ve clicked the “Publish My Book” button.

How do I order multiple copies of my personalized book?

If you wish to order multiple copies of the same book, be sure to indicate that when you place your order on Amazon.com. Please note: Multiple copies of books can be shipped only to a single address.

Can I order multiple copies of the same book and ship them to different people?

Our system allows only one shipping address per order. To ship personalized books to different addresses, you’ll need to return to Amazon.com and create a book for each address.

I did not receive an order confirmation email. Did my order go through?

If you haven’t received an order confirmation email from us, you may have incorrectly typed your email address and we were unable to send you an email. For a copy of your order confirmation, please email your order ID and the name and email address you used to purchase your book on Amazon.com to customerservice@theobamatimecapsule.com.

How does the personalization process work?

When you receive your authorization link via email, click the link to begin the personalization process. The link will take you to the “Get Started Personalizing Your Book” page, where you’ll be asked to enter your name and upload a photo of yourself (or the name and photo of the person for whom you’re creating the book). Once you’ve typed in the name, uploaded the photo and clicked “Continue,” the system will guide you through six simple steps to personalize your book. You’ll be asked to click the “Approve this page” button at the bottom of each page in the personalization process in order to move to the next step.

You’ll be able to track your progress through the steps by looking at the small images (thumbnails) at the top of the personalization pages. Each time you finish a page and click the “Approve this page” button at the bottom of the page, a green check mark will appear over the thumbnail to indicate that you are finished customizing that page. You can also use these thumbnail images to navigate through the steps.

How do I upload my photo, and can I change it?

Use the Image Tool to upload and change photos. Click the “Choose File” button to find a digital photo on your computer that you’d like to use. Make sure the photo has been saved in .jpg format (.jpg is the only format our system accepts). Click “Upload” and then “Preview” to see how the photo looks on the page.

Check the quality meter to be sure the photo has sufficient resolution to look good when the book is printed. Do not use photos that are in the red zone.

If you would like to select a different image, simply use the “Choose File” button and repeat the process above until you find a photo that works well. (The Image Tool will appear only on pages where photos can be uploaded.)

How do I make my photo fit better in the button on the back cover of the book?

You can use the Image Tool to make your photos fit in the back cover button and various other locations. To resize a photo, just drag the red handles in the Image Tool. To center your image, click and drag the selection area. Click “Preview” to see how it looks.

How long does it take to upload photos?

Depending on the size of the file and your type of Internet connection (dial-up, cable or DSL), it may take several minutes to upload your .jpg image. Most images take 2-3 minutes, but if your image does not appear after you’ve clicked “Preview,” try uploading it again or use a smaller .jpg file of the photo.

How do I change the name I entered?

Changing a name or words you’ve entered is easy. Just use the Text Tool to enter a new name or words and to make corrections. It’s easy to make typos, so be sure to check your spelling.

What is the Image Tool?

The Image Tool enables you to resize and center your photos to fit well in the locations where you can add personal photos. To resize a photo, just drag the red handles in the Image Tool. To center your image, click and drag the selection area. Click “Preview” to see how it looks.

What is the quality meter, and how does it work?

The quality meter assesses your photo to determine if it has sufficient resolution to look good when the book is printed. Do not use photos that are in the red zone.

What is the Text Tool?

The Text Tool enables you to enter or correct a name or other text, such as the Dedication message. Be sure to carefully check for spelling errors.

If I don’t finish personalizing my book right away, how do I access it again to finish it?

To finish personalizing your book, click the authorization link from your email. Log in with the email address you used to purchase your book on Amazon.com. You can find the pages you haven’t finished by looking at the thumbnails (miniature images) at the top of each page. If there is a green check mark, it means you’ve completed personalizing that page. Don’t remember what you did? Don’t worry—you can check the completed pages again by clicking on the thumbnails. You are free to redo the pages as often as you like, but remember that you have to finish the personalization process within 10 days after you purchase your book on Amazon.com.

What are the little images at the top of the pages, and why do they have green check marks?

Those are miniature images (thumbnails) of each personalization page, which indicate your progress in the personalization process. Each time you finish personalizing a page and click the “Approve this page” button, a green check mark appears on the thumbnail of the page you just completed. You can also use these thumbnails as a way to check out different steps.

What happens when I click the “Publish My Book” button?

When you click “Publish My Book,” your personalized book will be sent to the printer to be produced. Once you place your order, you cannot cancel or make any changes (see Terms of Use). You will receive an email from Amazon.com with shipping and tracking information.

What file format will your system accept?

We accept only files in the JPEG (.jpg) format because it allows us to provide you with the best-quality photos in the printed book. If your photographs are in another format, such as .tif or .pict, use photo-editing software (such as Adobe Photoshop or the software packaged with your scanner or digital camera) to convert your pictures to the .jpg format. (Be sure to save a copy of the original file for your own use.)

What’s the minimum file size for uploading an image?

We need a minimum file resolution of 1024 pixels high and 1024 pixels wide to ensure that your photos look great. You should be able to obtain this resolution from a 2-megapixel camera or greater using the highest quality mode. If you’re not sure about your image resolution, you can try uploading a digital image to our site. If the file is too small, the quality meter will detect this and indicate that your photo does not have enough resolution to print well. If this happens, please select another photo with higher resolution.

What is a pixel?

Pixels (or “picture elements”) are the basic building blocks of every digital image. The more pixels in your photos, the better the prints will look. The term “resolution” refers to the number of pixels in the photo.

Is there a maximum .jpg file size?

The maximum file size is 25MB.

Why can’t I upload my .jpg?

If you encounter problems uploading your .jpg, your file resolution may be too small or your file may not actually be a .jpg file. Please verify that it has either a .jpg or .jpeg extension. If you continue to experience bad connections or dropped uploads, please email our customer service staff at customerservice@theobamatimecapsule.com.

Can you fix problems with my images before they get made into a book?

Our personalization system is automatic. We simply take your images as you submit them. We cannot fix problems with your photos or correct for overexposure, red eye or out-of-focus images. So check your original carefully before submitting it. We cannot stress enough that the quality of the photos on the back cover and on the personalized pages of the book depends on the quality of the original photos submitted to us.

My connection keeps dropping during my upload.

If you continue to experience bad connections or dropped uploads, please email our customer service staff at customerservice@theobamatimecapsule.com.

What browsers does the website support?

Our website supports Internet Explorer 6, 7 and 8; Firefox 2 and 3, and Safari 3.

How long does it take to get a personalized book?

You’ll receive your personalized copy of THE OBAMA TIME CAPSULE 2-3 weeks after you’ve been sent your shipping confirmation email from Amazon.com.

What shipping method do you use?

Orders will be shipped via Amazon.com’s FedEx shipping service. You must use a physical address; they do not accept P.O. Box numbers for delivery.

I’d like to give a personalized book as a gift. Can you ship to a different address from my credit card billing address?

Yes. You’ll indicate that you wish to ship your order to a different address than your credit card when you purchase your book on Amazon.com.

Do you ship internationally?

No. Unfortunately at this time we only ship to the 50 United States.

What are the prices and shipping times?

The prices and approximate shipping times will be indicated on Amazon.com when you purchase your book.

How do I track and check the status of my order?

When your book is shipped, you will receive an email from Amazon.com that will include shipping and tracking information.

It’s been more than five weeks since I placed my order and I haven’t received it. What should I do?

Please send an email to customerservice@theobamatimecapsule.com with your name, order ID and the date you placed your order. We will investigate your order and attempt to resolve the situation as quickly as possible.

I’ve lost my shipping confirmation email. How do I access my order details and authorization link?

Please send an email to customerservice@theobamatimecapsule.com with your name, order ID and the date you placed your order. We will send you an email with your unique link so that you can begin personalizing your book.

Can I return my order? Can I get a refund?

If there is a problem with your order, you have 30 days from receipt of your personalized book to contact us at customerservice@theobamatimecapsule.com. Please include the order ID contained on your packing slip along with your contact information (full name, phone number and email address) and a description of the problem. If the problem is on our side, we’re happy to fix it. If the problem is due to a user error (wrong address, typos, low-quality image), we’ll do our best to resolve the problem on a case-by-case basis. Because each book is a unique product, we need to investigate each problem individually to achieve a satisfactory resolution of your problem. Please note that we cannot control the quality of the image that you submit to us. We can only provide guidelines for our minimum file-size requirements.

Still have a question?

If you were unable to find an answer to your question in this list of FAQs, please contact our customer service staff at customerservice@theobamatimecapsule.com. We will try to respond within 2 business days. Thank you for visiting our site!