Step 1: Log into your account

When you are logged into your account, your page will look like this: 

Step 2: Open the My Account tab

The login info section allows you to change your login information. If for some reason you have forgotten your password, please contact Customer Service at info@snowfallpress.com and they can reset the password for you.

Step 3: Choose the Organization Settings section

Step 4: Upload your publisher logo for Drop Shipping (not required)

Snowfall Press gives publishers the opportunity to ship their packages using the publisher logo on the box instead of the Snowfall Press logo. The logo can be uploading by clicking on the 'Load Label' button, browsing/choosing the file.  This logo along with the return address in Step 6 allows publishers to "blind drop-ship" to customers with no mention of Snowfall Press inside or outside the package.

IMPORTANT: Currently the system only accepts files that are saved to the EXACT specs (B&W PNG 675x525 px) as outlined in the instructions.

Step 5: Add your Contact Information and Return Address

The Contact  Information helps Snowfall Press contact you in case of issues with your order. 

 The Return Address information will be used, if possible, to redirect packages to you if there is a problem with your shipment.

IMPORTANT:  This must be a physical address in the United States (no PO boxes or international addresses).

Step 7: Open the Book Setup tab to start a new book or edit an existing books.

With the line highlighted in blue, click on the 'Edit' tab; you will see the make-ready application screen, which looks like this: 

Step 9: Load your book files into the Make Ready template

Here you will upload the single PDF of your cover and the single PDF of your book body text.

Note: You must have Adobe Flash installed before attempting to upload your book. If you do not have the latest version of Flash, go here: 

Let's take a minute and look at the various components of the Make-Ready template.

Body, Cover, and Properties make up this section. The screen above is the view you get when you click on 'body'. Clicking on 'cover' will get you to the make-ready and upload page for your cover. In the 'properties' section you get the following drop-down menu. 

Put your book title, subtitle, and author's name into the make-ready application. (#4 in image above).

IMPORTANT! It is important that you use the legal Title and Subtitle of the book in this section so that books that are printing can be visually matched with the orders as they come off the press. 

Click on the "Load Body"' button and find your filed body text PDF and upload your body copy. When you load the body, the template will automatically adjust the spine width on the cover template to fit the pages and paper selection.

Input the correct size of your book in the template. Snowfall can print virtually any size and dimension between 4x6" to 8.5x11."  (#3 in the image above)

Enter a page number in this area, click on go and you will be advanced that many pages within the body document. You can also advance your pages by clicking on the arrows at the corners of the template.

NEW FEATURE You are now able to adjust the horizontal and vertical placement using new arrows also located at the corners of the template.

In addition, you can adjust the size of your body file to fit the page differently by using the Document Scale to enlarge or reduce the size of your body file as it sits on the page.

The final feature in this box, allows you to choose your paper color and weight.  (#5 in the image above)

Clicking on these arrows on either page will advance you one page forward or back.

Change the size and push enter on your computer to zoom in or out of your document.

Step 10: Load your body file

Click on the body tab, look for your body text PDF in your file structure, and your file will be loaded into the make-ready application.

When you have uploaded your body text, your make-ready page should look like the illustration below. At this point, if needed, you can make adjustments to your right and left pages – moving copy up and down or left and right. Please note that any changes made to a page are universal throughout the book – so if you need to adjust the pages throughout the whole book, simply changing one spread will apply the change to all the other pages.

Note: For the body text, the black line represents the trim (cut) line for the book and the blue lines represent your margin, which is simply a guide. The dark area in the middle represents the 'gutter' area…you do not want copy in this area. The dark area will not print in your book. 

Step 11: Load your cover file

In the make-ready application area, click on the 'cover' tab and you will open another page and see the following empty cover spread: 

Click on the 'load cover' tab and find your cover PDF in your files – your cover will load into the template shown above.

NOTE: In the cover template, the red line represents the trim line instead of the outside black line. If your cover art extends to the edge of your book (or bleeds), it is important to leave .25" around the outside of the trim line as a bleed and completely cover the pink shaded area. If this area is not completely covered, the cover could trim with a white line where the image was intended to bleed. 

Your loaded book cover should look like the item above.

In the cover make-ready section, the outside pink lines will be your trim (cut) line. Clicking on the + sign in the blue box on the right will give you a drop down menu. Within this menu will be the controls to adjust your artwork up or down on the page. To ensure the spine is positioned correctly, use the zoom function on this site to ensure the type is well placed in the spine area. NEW FEATURE You are now able to adjust the horizontal and vertical placement using new arrows also located at the corners of the template.

Step 12: Proof your files

We recommend that every book is proofed for accuracy, embedded fonts and images, and content. If you need more information about ordering a proof, click here: 

Step 13: Choose the files to save

Editable vs. Saved files

When you first upload your book the files automatically go into the Editable section. While in this section you can change/modify your files as often as you want – at no charge.

Once you have printed a proof of your book and approve the book for printing, highlight the book in the Editable menu and click on Save, which will add the book to the Saved menu. You should print the book from the Saved area from this point to ensure that it will print exactly the same way every time. 

If you decide to make changes in the book at a future date, simply upload either the altered body or cover (or both) to the Editable file. Go through the process of printing a proof to ensure the changed book is as you wish. If so, then save this file. It will add the book to the top of the Saved file area with the current date. You can them archive/remove the older version so as to eliminate confusion or keep it if you want access to the older version.

Step 14: Add your meta data

Now that your files are saved, you will need to add your meta data (product information) to your account. It is important that you use the legal Title and Subtitle of the book, author, description, price, and the ISBN, which is a critical identifier for your book throughout the Snowfall system and the book industry in general. (if you are not going to sell your book through retail channels, it is not required to have an ISBN)

Fill in all of the critical areas that will need to be shared with your e-commerce solution and make sure to mark the title 'Active' when you have finished. This will allow the title to be 'pushed' to your e-commerce or distribution solution.

For more information about selling your book online, click here: 

For more information about selling your book to retail and distribution, click here: 

Step 15: Open your orders tab

The orders tab is where you can track the orders that go through your account. Each order is available on a master order list as seen below. This list includes the customer name; company shipped to (if applicable); order status; tracking number (which can be copied and pasted into the website of the appropriate carrier to track the shipment); and finally the date the order was created. 

Step 16: Open an invoice

Select the order to view by clicking the order which will highlight it in blue. Click on the 'View Invoice' button. 

This is what the invoice will look like: