Photo sites for family and friends, photography sharing, storage and gifts.
Print Print PhotoBin User Manual

FAQ

Using PhotoBin

Accounts and Subscriptions

Scanning

How do I add photos?

  1. Login at www.PhotoBin.com in the upper right corner.
  2. Click on "Add Photos" from the Welcome screen, or click "My PhotoBin" in the upper right corner and select "Add Photos."
  3. Click in "Enter Gallery Name" and type to view a list of your existing gallery names, or enter a new gallery name.
  4. Then click "Choose Photos to Add" and select the images you want to upload. (Tip: hold the Shift key to select multiple images at once.)
  5. Click "Submit" to upload.
  6. After upload is complete, add more photos to a gallery or click "My PhotoBin" to organize, view, share or update your settings.
* Note: The Photo Uploader is sending full resolution image files to our servers, so upload speed varies.

How do I add or delete a photo gallery?

  1. Login at www.PhotoBin.com in the upper right corner.
  2. Click "My PhotoBin" in the upper right corner and select "Organizer."
  3. Click on "+" in the lower left corner to add a gallery (or "-" to delete a gallery).
  4. Enter your new gallery name.

How do I add photos to a gallery?

  1. From the Organizer, click on a photo to highlight it. Tip: PC users can hold down the "Ctrl" key to highlight multiple photos at once. (To get to the Organizer, click on "My PhotoBin" in the upper right corner and select "Organizer.")
  2. Drag and drop the photo to the name of the gallery you want them to be in.

How do I delete a photo?

  1. Click on a photo to highlight it.
  2. Click the "Delete" button on the bottom tool bar.
  3. Click "Yes" in the confirmation screen.
  4. The photo will now only show up in your "Deleted" section.
* Note: If you have copies of the same picture in multiple galleries, the image will not appear in "Deleted" because you still have copies in other galleries.

How do I add a description or caption to a photo?

  1. From the Organizer, click on a photo to highlight it. (To get to the Organizer, click on "My PhotoBin" in the upper right corner and select "Organizer.")
  2. Click the "Info" button in the tool bar at the bottom of the page and add a description.
  3. Click Save.

How do I tag somebody in a photo?

  1. From the Organizer, click on a photo to highlight it. (To get to the Organizer, click on "My PhotoBin" in the upper right corner and select "Organizer.")
  2. To Tag, or ID, a person's face in a photo, click the "Tags" button in the tool bar at the bottom of the page and add a tag.
  3. Arrange the box around the person's face.
  4. Type their name in the window, or select them from the list.
  5. Click Save.

How do I set my privacy settings?

  1. Click on "My PhotoBin" in the upper right corner and select "Settings."
  2. Scroll down to Photo Gallery Preferences.
  3. Under Opening Gallery, select which photo gallery you want to appear first when opening your website.
  4. Under Photo Gallery Privacy, click the privacy setting you prefer for each gallery. "Private" means only those you email or social network to can view the gallery. "Everyone" means anyone viewing your website can view the gallery. (For example, if you "share" with someone to view 2 of your private galleries, they will not see all galleries in your website. They will see those 2 "Private" galleries plus any gallery marked "Everyone.")
  5. Click the Save button for that section.

How do I name my website?

  1. Click on "My PhotoBin" in the upper right corner and select "Settings."
  2. Scroll down to Website Preferences.
  3. Enter a Website title and Website subtitle. The title and subtitle will appear at the top of your photo wall in Website view.
  4. Click the Save button for that section.

How is my photo website URL determined?

Your username, which is created upon account signup, is the URL for your website (e.g., if your username is happygirl, your photo website URL is www.photobin.com/happygirl). Tip: Share your URL only with those you would want to view all of your photos - those marked "Private" or "Public."

How do I add a profile photo?

  1. Click on "My PhotoBin" in the upper right corner and select "Settings."
  2. On the right side of the page, under Profile Photo, click "Update Photo."
  3. Click "Change."
  4. Find a photo by clicking "Browse," or select a Gallery from the dropdown list and double-click an image.
  5. To change or crop a photo, click "Change" or "Crop."

How do I share photos?

  1. Click the "Share" button in the upper right corner. (You can also access share in "My PhotoBin" in the upper right corner.)
  2. The gallery you were on will appear on the left side of the Share page. (If you have not selected a gallery or want to add additional galleries to the one already selected, click "+ Share Additional Galleries?")
  3. On the right side of the Share page click the method you want to use to share (e.g., Email, Facebook, Twitter, etc.). Note that social networking sites will open in a separate window and will not close your PhotoBin window.

Does a photo appear with the galleries I share?

Yes, your share email or send will be personalized with the first photo from that gallery (or the first gallery in the list you share) as well as a note or text from you and the link to view your photos.

Can I try PhotoBin before I buy?

Yes! We believe so strongly in our products and services that we offer a no-hassle 15-Day Free Trial. No credit cards. No 5-page form to fill out. Start Your Free Trial.

How do I subscribe?

It's easy to join. Estimate the number of photos you'd like to backup and/or share (250, 1000, 5000), then click "Get Started" from our home page, www.PhotoBin.com. Choose the product that fits your need and start your personal digital archive. With all products, you can archive, organize, create unlimited galleries, share and make gifts.

How can I upgrade my account?

Upgrading your account is fast and easy. Visit the sign up page, and select the upgrade you want.

What if I have to cancel my subscription?

You can cancel your PhotoBin subscription at any time. When you cancel, your subscription remains active until it reaches its end but it will not be renewed automatically and you will not be billed again unless you actively re-subscribe. Learn more. More FAQs.

If I want to drop off my photos, what are your business hours and where are you located?

Our business hours are 9:00 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Drop off is available in the San Diego area only. Please call to schedule a drop-off time. We are located at 10045 Mesa Rim Rd., San Diego, CA 92121.

What is dpi and ppi?

Dots per inch (dpi) refers to the resolution and sharpness of printed material - composed of dots of ink. Pixels per inch (ppi) refers to the resolution and sharpness of digital material - composed of digital pixels. Standard print resolution is 300 dpi or the ppi equivalent. Higher resolutions (such as 600 dpi or higher) are used for larger-scale works such as billboards, art work or archival quality output.

Will my photos appear "grainy"?

Sometimes. Like photocopies, direct reproductions are generally only as good as the original. There are many variables in image quality. Look at your photos. Is the paper surface bumpy? Are parts of the image out of focus? Is the color still intact or is it faded or damaged? All these factors and others contribute to the possibility of a "grainy" image.

How many images fit on one DVD?

It depends on the DPI and the image size. At 600 dpi around 975 4x6 scans will fit on a single DVD. More for 300 dpi.

Where are my photos scanned?

Your photos are scanned right here in our facility. Upon receipt, your photos are delivered to us, stay with us, and go directly back to you. From the minute we receive your pictures, whether you mail them in or drop them off (San Diego County only), they never leave our facility. And, if kept overnight, all customer photos are carefully boxed, logged and locked in our facility's fire safe for added security.

How long does it take?

Depending on how many photos and how many orders in front of yours, it can take anywhere from 2 to 10 business days.

Are my photos safe?

The safety of your photos is our number one concern. We know these photos are your precious family memories, and we take care to protect them from the moment they reach us. During the scanning process, your photos never leave the building. Our skilled photo technicians wear white gloves whenever handling photos, and when they leave at night, all photos are locked away in a fireproof safe.

What resolution will they be in?

Your photos are scanned at 300 dpi unless you tell us otherwise. Increased resolution (600 dpi) is also available.

How do I package my photos?

PhotoBin makes packaging easy. With Mini, Standard and Big Box orders, we ship you a box, packaging material and a pre-paid UPS shipping label. We'll also send you packaging tips and a photo checklist so you don't forget to include any of your favorite prints.

How do you give scanned photos back to me?

Upon final payment, we will return your originals, along with a CD or DVD with your newly scanned digital photo files. Orders are shipped to us and returned to you via UPS Ground service with shipment tracking.

Can I drop off my photos?

Yes. We are located in San Diego, California. If you're in the neighborhood, drop-off is welcome. Please call us at 800-441-3175 to schedule a drop-off time.

Do you restore photos?

No. At this time we do not offer advanced photo enhancement or restoration services.

Can you scan from negatives and/or slides?

Currently, we scan only 3x5, 4x6 and 5x7 photo prints.

Can you scan my portrait photos from Olan Mills, Lifetouch, or my local senior portrait photographer or wedding photographer?

No, we cannot. Professional photographs are copyrighted. No scanning service can reproduce them without a signed release from the photographer. (Look for photographer stamps on the back of your photos.)

Can you upload my pictures online so I can share them with friends and family?

Yes, our online photo site, PhotoBin.com, offers the best in online photo sharing and easy drag-and-drop organizing of your scanned photos. For pennies a month, PhotoBin allows you to back up your photo collection as well as share your photos with family and friends all over the world. PhotoBin.com can even turn your scanned photos into photo mugs, t-shirts, calendars, wall art, magnets and all kinds of other photo gifts. Visit our Photo Gifts section at http://www.photobin.com or email us at support@photobin.com.