Cannot BUY iPhoto Book - Error Message ‘Incomplete Book‘. Problem with Theme 'Photo Essay' ?

Question

Cannot BUY iPhoto Book - Error Message ‘Incomplete Book‘. Problem with Theme 'Photo Essay' ?

Using iPhoto ’11 on Mac OS X

Problem - Cannot BUY iPhoto Book

Error Message - ‘Incomplete Book‘ .. frames on one or more pages do not contain photos’

WORKFLOW

Choose Theme - ‘Photo Essay’ / Hardcover / Large

Create Layout - Standard 20 pages of Photos and Text

TEST Version 1 - Export PDF OK - Preview OK - BUY OK

Create Duplicate - Save to Version 2 - Yellow Warning Triangles appear on All pages ! !

TEST Version 2 - Export PDF OK - Preview OK - BUY FAIL - same Error

Create Duplicate - Save to Version 3 - Reload Photos/Text/Background on All pages until every Yellow Warning Triangle disappears

TEST Version 3 - Export PDF OK - Preview OK - BUY still FAILS - same Error

Create Duplicate - Save to Version 4 - All looks good - No Yellow Warning Triangles

TEST Version 4 - Export PDF OK - Preview OK - BUY still FAILS - same Error

TEST Version 1 again - Export PDF OK - Preview OK - Buy Still OK

Search and read relevant Help Files, Apple Support, Chat Forums and try suggestions - many people have struggled with similar problems.

Eventually Repair and then Rebuild iPhoto Library - all looks fine.

TEST Version 1 again - BUY still OK. ALL other Versions - BUY still FAILS

Create Duplicate - Save to Version 5 - Try Changing Theme to ‘Picture Book’

TEST Version 5 - Export PDF OK - Preview OK - BUY OK Now ! !

BUT - All Layouts completely scrambled and useless

‘Photo Essay’ is the only Theme that works well for this Album

Version 1 not usable because all Photos/Text/Layouts are now improved

2 Days wasted trying to buy an iPhoto Book from Apple ...

At least I do have a good PDF of Version 4 which I can take to the local Print Shop

IS IT JUST A BUG? - IS THERE A WORKAROUND ? - IS THE NEW ‘PHOTOS’ APP ANY BETTER ?

Mac OS X (10.7.5)

Posted on May 2, 2016 9:44 AM

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Answer 1

Best reply

LarryHN

Level 10

106,110 points

May 2, 2016 10:39 AM in response to joolswhitehead

You can no longer purchase photos books with iPHoto (or APerture) - Apple discontinued that service 3/31/2016

You either have to use Photos or a third party - PrestoPhotos states that they can print them and there are mostly positive comments about the results in the Aperture forum - I have not personally used them

And the error you are getting is not false - you do have one or more photos missing from your book - usually a full page background photos covered by another photo so you do not notice it

and You do not tell how you are previewing but this is the recommended way - Preview a print project in Photos or iPhoto to avoid issues - Apple Support

LN

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Answer 2

May 2, 2016 10:51 AM in response to LarryHN

Larry - thanks for your helpful reply.

However it is disappointing after all the work we put into it.

Unfortunately we cannot try Photos as not ready to upgrade the OS just yet.

Will try your other suggestion of PrestoPhotos and hope that they can print from the exported PDF

Regards H&J

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Answer 3

LarryHN

Level 10

106,110 points

May 2, 2016 2:02 PM in response to joolswhitehead

You are welcome

PrestoPhoto seems responsive and their Customer Support comes by here fro time time and helps people - for more see How to Print Aperture Books After the Print Services Have Been Discontinued

LN

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Answer 4

May 3, 2016 11:51 AM in response to joolswhitehead

Hi H&J!

This is Meghan from PrestoPhoto. Definitely let us know if we can help with anything along the way! 🙂 As long as you follow this screenshot to export your PDF, it should work like a dream when uploading to our site (complete dust jacket and all): https://www.prestophoto.com/products/images/iphoto-saveaspdf.jpg

I hope this helps!

-Meghan

*I may receive some form of compensation, financial or otherwise, from my recommendation or link.*

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