Ibook layouts in iPhoto 6.0

Question

I know that this issue has been addressed earlier, but I have not been able to find answers to this problem. We want to manipulate the layouts that exist, like move panoramic photos to the left side instead of the right, or move the four photos in the six photo layout to the bottom or to the left instead of the top right corner. How do I go about this? Is it even possible? Another question is that the book is for my wedding as a guest sign-book, and we wanted to leave some parts blank. I notice that when there is no photo, it shows up grey. Will that become white when the book is published, or will it be grey? Obviously, we don't want grey spots in our book, and if they are white, that is perfect so people can sign it. I hope this makes sense and i hope someone can help us. Thanks.

Answer 1

clarity23:
What you have to do is create your own layout image in the size 8.5 x 11 inches at 300 dpi with a 3rd party editor that will handle layers. Photoshop Elements for Mac is, IMO, the best option (more bang for the buck) for that. If the theme you've chosen has a specific color background and frames around pictures then it's much more difficult. You can create a book with no photos but the different layouts. Then follow the instructions in Tutorial #6 for getting each book page into iPhoto as a separate jpg file at 200 dpi. You can then up that to 300 dpi with PSE and then cut and past the various frames, etc. into a blank page of that theme. Then select a one photo per page layout and add your own page.
It can be difficult if, as I said, you're trying to use some of the elements of the theme. If you want to make your own layout from scratch, then it's relatively simple. Just create a blank canvas 8.5 x 11 x 300 dpi and add your photos to it. If your photos are large enough then will up to 300 when you resize them to put on the blank canvas.
When there's no Photo it will not show gray. Just pick a blank page layout or create a sign in page in a text editor, landscape oriented, do a Print to PDF/Send PDF to iPhoto and add that file to a one photo per page layout. It will look something like this rough example of a landscape text demo.
Do you Twango?
TIP: For insurance against the iPhoto database corruption that many users have experienced I recommend making a backup copy of the Library6.iPhoto database file and keep it current. If problems crop up where iPhoto suddenly can't see any photos or thinks there are no photos in the library, replacing the working Library6.iPhoto file with the backup will often get the library back. By keeping it current I mean backup after each import and/or any serious editing or work on books, slideshows, calendars, cards, etc. That insures that if a problem pops up and you do need to replace the database file, you'll retain all those efforts. It doesn't take long to make the backup and it's good insurance.
I've written an Automator workflow application (requires Tiger), iPhoto dB File Backup, that will copy the selected Library6.iPhoto file from your iPhoto Library folder to the Pictures folder, replacing any previous version of it. You can download it at Toad's Cellar. Be sure to read the Read Me pdf file.