Flipsnack Academy: Learn the Basics of Digital Flipbook Publishing (2024)

Welcome to Flipsnack Academy! In this comprehensive video series, you'll discover everything you need to know in order to use Flipsnack to its full potential.

Whether you're a beginner or an experienced user, our step-by-step tutorials will guide you through the process of creating stunning flipbooks with ease.

Let's get started!

What Will You Learn?

The first video in the series will focus on the Main Dashboard, your central hub for accessing account details, flipbooks, settings, and more.

From here, you can create new flipbooks by uploading PDFs or using our Design Studio, and contact our Sales team to learn how Flipsnack can benefit your business. You’ll also find quick links to the Template page, your templates, and the Statistics section for an overview of your flipbook performance.

Future lessons will cover the various areas accessible from this dashboard.

In this lesson, you'll learn how to access and navigate your Flipsnack account settings. We'll cover basic settings such as managing your workspace, setting default privacy options, and handling billing information.

Additionally, you'll see how to grant Flipsnack access to your account for technical support. Advanced features and integrations will be addressed in other lessons.

In this lesson, you'll learn how to personalize your Flipsnack profile to reflect your brand identity. We'll explore the "Personalization" tab in the Branding section, covering options like changing the favicon, customizing the profile header, adding social media links, and modifying the social media thumbnail.

Additionally, you'll see how to build a Brand kit by uploading custom fonts, setting brand colors, and adding logos. Advanced branding features, such as setting up a White Label, will be covered in later lessons.

In this lesson, you will learn how to navigate the Main Dashboard to manage your workspaces and flipbooks. We will cover how to switch between workspaces, search for and filter flipbooks, and understand flipbook statuses like "Not published," "Published," "Draft," and "Shelf." You will also learn how to rename flipbooks, view creation dates, and manage privacy settings.

Additionally, we will explore the various options available for each flipbook, including editing, customizing, sharing, and removing flipbooks.

This chapter will focus on how you can create a flipbook either by uploading one or more PDF files into Flipsnack or directly from scratch using our in-built Design Studio.

We'll guide you through each step, ensuring you can choose the method that best suits your needs and preferences.

Let’s dig in!

In this lesson, you will learn how to create a flipbook in Flipsnack by uploading PDF files

We'll cover:

-Formatting PDFs to ensure smooth uploads

-Uploading single or multiple PDFs to create flipbooks

-Customizing flipbooks to enhance reader experience

-Adding interactivity through the Design Studio

-Incorporating additional PDF pages into existing flipbook

By the end of this lesson, you'll be equipped to create, customize, and enhance flipbooks to suit your needs.

In this lesson, you will learn how to create a digital flipbook from scratch using Flipsnack’s Design Studio.

We'll cover:

-Selecting a project size and starting a new flipbook

-Navigating the Design Studio, including the top bar, left sidebar, right sidebar, and design canvas

-Utilizing elements like links, videos, GIFs, and templates to enhance your flipbook

-Managing pages and layers for optimal organization

-Applying specific options to elements such as images and text boxes

By the end of this lesson, you'll be able to create a customized, interactive flipbook tailored to your needs.

In this lesson, we will cover how to replace a PDF in Flipsnack without losing any interactivity or statistics that the flipbook has gathered.

This is especially useful if you notice mistakes in your document after adding interactivity.

You'll learn:

-Accessing the Replace Feature

-Uploading the Replacement PDF

-Republishing the Updated Flipbook

By following these steps, you can easily replace a PDF in Flipsnack while preserving all the interactive elements and statistical data previously associated with your flipbook.

In this video, you’ll learn everything you need to know about using templates effectively in Flipsnack. We’ll cover the following topics:

Where to Find Templates

Discover the different ways to access Flipsnack’s template library, whether through the main website, dashboard, or Design Studio. Learn how to navigate the library using filters and find templates that match specific sizes, such as A4.

Creating Custom Templates

Learn how to create and save custom templates from scratch or by transforming existing flipbooks. We’ll show you step-by-step how to save and organize your custom templates in the “My Templates” section.

How to Use Templates

Understand how to customize templates to fit your needs. We’ll guide you through selecting, modifying, and personalizing templates, including mixing and matching pages from different designs for a truly unique result.

By the end of this lesson, you’ll be able to find, create, and use templates like a pro, giving your projects a polished, professional look with ease.

In this lesson, we’ll explore how to use Flipsnack’s interactive features—Links and Tags—to enhance your digital flipbooks. You’ll learn the following:

1. Link Area
   Discover how to add versatile link areas to your flipbook for internal navigation, external links, email prompts, or downloadable content. Learn how to customize the appearance of your links with color and transparency adjustments.

2. Link Button
   Learn how to use the Link Button for direct external links. Customize tooltips and adjust corner roundness for a polished look.

3. Tags
   Understand how to create interactive tags to display additional information or link to external content in an engaging way.

4. Captions
   Explore how to use captions as simple buttons for adding details or linking to other websites.

5. Embed Code
   Learn to incorporate external content like videos, maps, or 3D tours using iFrames, and add placeholder images for static downloads.

6. Pop-up Frame
   Discover how to make your design more interactive with pop-up frames for displaying external content only when clicked.

By the end of this video, you’ll be able to utilize these interactive tools to create dynamic, engaging, and professional digital flipbooks that captivate your audience.

In this lesson, we’ll dive into the Image section of the Interactions menu and explore how these features can elevate your digital designs. Here’s what you’ll learn:

1. Spotlight
   Discover how to use the Spotlight feature to display images in a pop-up window. Learn how to customize the tooltip, background, and image properties for a dynamic visual experience.

2. Slideshow
   Learn how to showcase multiple images in a space-efficient way using the Slideshow feature. Customize options like autoplay, duration, controls, and image properties to create an engaging scrolling experience.

3. Pop-up Slideshow
   Understand how the Pop-up Slideshow works similarly to the regular slideshow but displays images in a pop-up window. Customize settings such as tooltips, background visibility, autoplay, and duration for a polished and interactive presentation.

By the end of this video, you’ll know how to use these image interaction tools to add visual impact and enhance the interactivity of your designs.

In this lesson, we’ll explore how to enhance your flipbook by adding multimedia elements like audio and video using the Interactions menu. Here’s what we’ll cover:

1. Video Embed
   Learn how to embed videos from YouTube, Vimeo, or your own server directly into your flipbook. Discover how to customize settings such as autoplay, mute, loop, and whether to show or hide video controls. Understand mobile browser limitations and how to optimize playback for different devices.

2. Video Button
   Understand how to use the Video Button to play videos in a pop-up window. Explore customization options like adjusting the pop-up size and adding interactive tooltips.

3. Audio
   Learn how to upload and add audio files (up to 20MB) to your flipbook. Discover how to preview and trim your audio for a polished result.

By the end of this video, you’ll know how to seamlessly integrate multimedia elements into your flipbook to make it more engaging and interactive.

In this lesson, we’ll focus on the Product Tag feature within the Shop section, designed to simplify the process of showcasing and selling your products. Here’s what we’ll cover:

1. Product Tag Overview
   Learn how to use the Product Tag feature to enhance your flipbook with detailed product information and direct shopping links.

2. Customization
   Discover how to add and customize product tags by filling in details like the product title, description, URL, price (original and discounted), and up to three images. You’ll also learn how to adjust the tag’s color for a personalized look.

3. Interactive Overlay
   Understand how clicking on a product tag creates an interactive overlay that displays product details, images, and a “Shop this Item” button for a seamless shopping experience.

By the end of this video, you’ll know how to effectively use the Product Tag feature to engage your audience and streamline their path to purchase.

In this lesson, we’ll explore the Navigation section of the Interactions menu, along with the Social and Other sections, to enhance your flipbook with user-friendly shortcuts and interactive buttons. Here’s what you’ll learn:

1. Navigation Buttons
   Discover how to add buttons that help readers navigate your flipbook with ease. These include options for:

   • Moving to the next or previous page.
   • Jumping to a specific page by assigning a custom page number.
   • Navigating directly to the first or last page.

2. Social and Other Buttons
   Learn about the variety of button designs available for linking to external URLs or triggering specific actions. Understand how these buttons can enhance interactivity and guide readers effectively.

3. Customization and Clarity
   Explore how to assign URLs to each button, ensuring readers know exactly where the link leads or what action will occur. The intuitive designs make navigation and interaction seamless.

By the end of this video, you’ll be equipped to create interactive and user-friendly flipbooks with customized navigation and actionable buttons.

In this lesson, we’ll dive into Flipsnack’s Text options and explore how to leverage them to enhance your designs. Here’s what you’ll learn:

1. Adding and Editing Text

   • Discover two ways to add text to your designs: composing it yourself or using premade Text templates.
   • Learn how to drag and drop headings, subheadings, and body text and access editing options to customize font, size, weight, and more.
   • Troubleshoot collapsed sidebars and reopen the editing panel when needed.

2. Text Styling and Alignment

   • Explore customization options like bold, italic, underline, and alignment (left, center, justified).
   • Use text transformation tools to apply uppercase, lowercase, or capitalize each word.

3. Advanced Text Features

   • Experiment with text wrapping, clipping, transparency, and precise adjustments to font size, letter spacing, and line height.
   • Customize individual words or letters with unique colors, opacity, and styles for layered effects.

4. Text Templates

   • Browse and use Text templates to quickly add pre-designed text elements. Customize fonts, colors, and sizes and adjust layers individually or in groups.

5. Custom Fonts and Branding

   • Learn how to upload custom fonts on paid plans, organize typefaces, and maintain brand consistency.
   • Use the Typography feature to save and reuse custom text styles that align with your brand identity.

By the end of this video, you’ll have the skills to use Flipsnack’s Text tools to their fullest, creating clean, professional designs with personalized text options.

In this lesson, we’ll explore how to maximize the potential of the Upload section in Flipsnack. Whether you’re uploading personal files or managing resources for a team, we’ll cover everything you need to know. Here’s what you’ll learn:

1. Uploading Media

   • Learn how to upload images, GIFs, audio, videos, and SVG files by clicking the “Upload Media” button or dragging and dropping files directly.
   • Explore supported file formats and size limits:
     • Images (JPG, PNG, GIF): up to 20 MB
     • Audio files: up to 20 MB
     • SVG files: up to 1 MB
     • Video files: up to 1 GB

2. Organizing Your Files

   • Discover how to view and manage uploaded files in the Uploads tab.
   • Create folders to organize files for quicker access. Learn to move, rename, or delete files individually or in bulk.
   • Use the “Select All” option to manage multiple files at once.
   • Understand that deleting files from the Upload section doesn’t affect flipbooks where the files are already used.

3. File Options and Editing

   • Hover over files to access options like move, delete, or download the original file format.
   • For uploaded videos, explore playback customization options such as hiding the background and controls, autoplay, mute, loop, and setting custom thumbnails.

4. Team Uploads

   • Learn about team-specific uploads, which allow admins and owners to manage shared resources effectively.
   • Understand how to move files from personal uploads to Team Uploads for collaborative use.

By the end of this video, you’ll know how to upload, organize, and manage your media files efficiently, ensuring both personal and team resources are easily accessible and well-maintained.

In this lesson, we’ll take a deep dive into the Elements menu in Flipsnack’s online Design Studio. By the end of this video, you’ll know how to effectively use every feature within this menu to enhance your flipbook designs. Here’s what you’ll learn:

1. Graphics Section

• Stock Images & Videos: Discover how to browse and add high-quality photos and videos from Pexels and Pixabay, all free for commercial use without copyright restrictions.
• GIFs, Stickers, and Shapes: Learn how to incorporate engaging GIFs, stickers, and customizable shapes to create visually dynamic flipbooks.

2. Data Section

• Charts:

  • Add and customize various chart types, including Bar, Pie, and Line charts.
  • Learn how to connect your charts to Google Sheets for live data integration.
  • Customize chart settings, such as tooltip text, color schemes, axis visibility, and legend placement.
  • Explore unique features like stacked vs. unstacked bar charts, label positioning for pie charts, and line types for line charts.
  • Preview your customized charts to ensure they align with your design vision.

• Tables:

  • Add, resize, and modify tables to display your data cleanly and effectively.
  • Insert or delete rows and columns, customize cell sizes, and adjust table alignment using drag-and-drop functionality.
  • Style your tables with options to change background colors, border styles, and text formatting.
  • Update fonts, sizes, and styles for individual cells or the entire table to match your design aesthetics.

Wrap-Up

By the end of this video, you’ll have mastered the Elements menu, enabling you to add visually engaging graphics, charts, and tables to your flipbooks. You’ll be equipped with the tools to create professional, data-rich, and eye-catching designs.

This chapter will focus on how you can Customize your flipbook in order to deliver the best possible experience to your audience.

By the end of this chapter, you'll have a better understanding of how to tailor your flipbook to meet the specific needs and preferences of your audience.

Let’s get started!

In this lesson, you will learn how to access and navigate the Customize page in Flipsnack.

We'll cover:

-Different ways to reach the Customize page from the Main Dashboard, Design Studio, and flipbook Details area

-Options available on the Customize page

-Utilizing customization tools to enhance your flipbook's appearance and functionality

In this lesson, you will learn how to customize the appearance of your flipbook using various options available in Flipsnack.

We'll cover:

-Choosing between Classic and Modern player skins

-Selecting page transition effects (Flip or Slide)

-Adjusting layout styles for different devices

-Changing tooltip language for the user interface

-Setting up automatic page transitions

-Enabling flip sounds, right-to-left orientation, and shadows on pages

-Adding animations for interactive elements

-Highlighting and auto-detecting links within your flipbook

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to tailor the visual and interactive aspects of your flipbook to enhance the reader's experience.

In this lesson, you will learn how to customize the branding of your flipbook in Flipsnack.

We'll cover:

-Adding your logo to appear in the flipbook player

-Uploading and linking your logo for interactive functionality

-Utilizing a preloader for Business or Enterprise subscriptions

-Adjusting the background color with options for solid colors, uploaded images, or transparency

-Setting the player accent color to customize toolbar and hover colors

By the end of this lesson, you'll be able to maintain branding consistency and enhance the visual appeal of your flipbooks to align with your brand identity.

Here’s what you’ll cover:

-Controls in normal mode: Displaying the control bar in the flipbook even outside of fullscreen mode.

-Navigation bar: Enabling a navigation bar under the flipbook to show reading progress and facilitate page navigation.

-Share options: Allowing readers to share your flipbook via social media platforms or email.

-Pages overview: Providing a quick preview of the entire flipbook’s content for easy navigation.

-Allow fullscreen: Enabling or disabling the fullscreen view option for readers.

-Download PDF: Allowing readers to download the flipbook as a PDF file.

-Print PDF: Enabling printing functionality for the flipbook.

-Search: Enabling a search function within the flipbook content to help readers find specific information.

-Audio background: Adding an audio file to play in the background while readers browse the flipbook, with options for looping and autoplay.

By the end of this lesson, you’ll be able to customize these controls to enhance the functionality and user experience of your flipbooks based on your specific needs and preferences.

In this lesson, you will learn how to manage and customize the interactive features and options available in your flipbook player.

This chapter will teach you everything there is to know about publishing your flipbooks. From the different privacy options to republishing updates.

By the end of this chapter, you’ll be fully equipped to publish your flipbooks with confidence.

Let’s dig in!

In this lesson, you will learn how to publish your flipbook using Flipsnack’s intuitive platform. Here’s what you’ll cover:

• Publishing from Main Dashboard: Access the Main Dashboard, select your flipbook, and click the “Publish” button to initiate the publishing process.

• Publishing from Design Studio and Customize Section: From the online Design Studio or Customize section, click the “Share now” button at the top-right corner, then click “Publish” to proceed.

Once in the Publishing Dashboard, here’s what you can do:

• Title and Description: Personalize your flipbook by adding a title and description, enhancing its appeal and improving search engine visibility.

• Visibility Options: Choose from four visibility settings to control who can view your flipbook, ranging from public to private settings.

• Publish Button: Clicking “Publish” makes your flipbook live and accessible to your audience.

• Save as Draft or Schedule: Use the arrow next to the “Publish” button to save changes as a draft or schedule the publication for a later date.

By the end of this lesson, you’ll be able to confidently publish your flipbooks while leveraging customization options to optimize visibility and accessibility based on your preferences.

In this lesson, you’ll learn about the various ways you can control who can access your flipbooks on Flipsnack:

• Public Sharing: By default, flipbooks are set to public visibility. They appear on your Flipsnack profile and are indexed by search engines like Google. This option is ideal for widespread sharing and easy accessibility.

• Unlisted Sharing: Unlisted flipbooks do not appear on your public profile or get indexed by search engines. They can only be accessed via a direct link. Once a flipbook is set to public, it cannot be changed to unlisted due to search engine indexing. To achieve this, you need to create a copy of the flipbook, publish it as unlisted, and delete the original. Note that statistics from the original version won’t carry over.

• Password-Locked Sharing: For added security, use the password-locked option. Readers need a password to view the flipbook. If you forget the password, you can update it via the Customize section.

• Private Sharing: This is the most secure option. You can share your flipbooks by email, and recipients must sign in to Flipsnack to view them. If someone without access requests it, they can send you a request via email.

By understanding these options, you can choose the visibility settings that best suit your sharing needs, ensuring your flipbooks are accessible securely and efficiently.

In this lesson,

you’ll learn how to make real-time updates to your digital flipbooks on Flipsnack:

• Updating: Next, click on the “Update” button. This action makes the changes live immediately under the same link that you initially shared with your audience. There’s no need to redistribute the link.

• Saving Drafts: If you make edits or customizations without updating the flipbook, the changes will be saved as drafts in your library. This allows your audience to continue viewing the old version until you decide to republish the updated version.

By following these steps, you can seamlessly update your flipbooks to reflect the latest content or improvements, ensuring your audience always has access to the most current information.