GETTING STARTED

Starting Cascade

To start Cascade, locate Cascade on your computer and double click the application icon. The application opens up to Cascade's Home screen.

Navigating the Home Screen

The Home screen is where you can create new projects, create new products, and access existing work. Projects are folders that organize albums and press books for specific clients or events in one location. Products are the items that you are creating - either an album or a press book. Notice the icons on the left of the Home screen labeled Project, Album, or Press Book. You will use these icons to create new projects and products.

Home Screen

Creating a New Project

Cascade uses project folders to organize albums and press books for specific clients or events in one spot. In order to create a new album or press book, Cascade requires that you first create a project folder so you can place and organize your product(s) in one location.

To create a new project:

You can create a new project folder one of two ways:
a. Click on the folder icon labeled Project located in the upper left-hand side of the Home screen.
b. Click the symbol on the upper right-hand corner of the Home screen.
An Add Project dialog box will appear. Enter a project name and click Create.

Album vs. Press Book

Before you add a new product, you will need to decide whether you want to create an album or a press book. There is a distinct difference in the printing process of an album and a press book that may be important to your decision-making process:

Albums are photo printed on photo paper while press books are CMYK printed on press paper.

Once you decide whether you would like an album or a press book, proceed to Adding a New Product.

Adding a New Product

You have created a new project folder and now you want to create your product. Your product is either an album or a press book. For more information on the difference between an album and a press book, visit Album vs. Press Book. To create an album or press book:

Click on the icon labeled Album or the icon labeled Press Book on the left-hand side of the Home screen.
An album or press book dialog box will appear. Enter a name for your product.
Select a project location for your product using the scroll down menu.
Click the Browse button to locate the folder on your computer that contains the images you would like to use on this product. If necessary, you will have the opportunity to add and remove images later.

Note: Your product name will not appear anywhere on the final product.

Note: All images should be under one folder on your computer. If not, you will have the opportunity to add images from other locations later in the process.

Returning to The Home Screen

Once you leave the Home screen, you can return to it at any time from the Configuration Options panel or the Designer screen.

From the Configuration Options Panel: To return to the Home screen, select the icon in the upper right-hand corner of the Configuration Options screen. All changes selected for your product up to that point will be automatically saved.

From the Designer Screen: To return to the Home screen, select the Home icon in the upper left-hand corner of the Designer screen. All changes selected for your product up to that point will be automatically saved.