Opening EDONext for the first time can feel like a lot — new tools, new workflow, new terminology. The good news? Once you understand how the system is designed to work, everything clicks. After helping design hundreds of yearbooks, here are the tips I share to help new users feel confident from day one.

— Julia

1. Learn the Structure Before the Designer

EDONext has three main power areas:

Manage

The Manage section is your control center. This is where you set up and configure your project — manage users and permissions, adjust settings, upload data, and control key book details. Think of Manage as the administrative backbone of your yearbook.

The top menu also includes the Upload, Sell, Create, and Help tabs. I recommend exploring these tabs to get comfortable with where everything is and what EDONext offers. 

Ladder

The Ladder is your organizational blueprint. It shows your entire book at a glance and allows you to structure sections, arrange spreads, assign pages, and track progress. If Manage sets up the project, the Ladder structures it.

Designer

The Designer is where the creative work happens. This is where you build spreads, place photos, add text, apply templates, adjust layers, and bring your book to life. Once your structure is set in the Ladder, the Designer is where you execute.

I always recommend just playing around in the designer before you start designing your pages for real to get comfortable with where things are, what design elements we have and what effects are available. Have fun a spread because you can easily clear it off. 

Understand what each section controls before you start clicking around. Most confusion comes from not knowing which area handles what.

2. Set Up Your Ladder Before You Design

The Ladder controls:

• Page order
• Sections
• Assignments
• Locks

If your ladder isn’t organized, your book won’t be either. Always build structure first.

Starting by planning your book order helps you prepare what events you need photos for, divide work with your team and plan for how many pages you need. There is nothing worse than trying to shrink down sections you already finished to fit in your spring events. 

Click here to learn more about the ladder

3. Upload and Organize Photos in Folders

Don’t dump everything into one giant photo library.

Use folders strategically:

• Events
• Sports
• Clubs
• Portraits

Searching becomes dramatically faster when your backend is organized.

In EDONext you can sort folders in parent categories to organize your photos even further. I like to set up a folder for every page header I will have in the book. For example if I will have grade specific candid photos and portraits, I like to set up my folders like this: 

Click here to learn more about uploading and managing your photos

4. Pay Attention to Image Quality Warnings

If EDONext flags an image as low resolution, don’t ignore it.

The system is protecting your print quality. Replace weak files early — not during final review.

Click here to learn more about Pre-Flight warnings

5. Start with Templates — Then Make Them Yours

Templates are your foundation, not your final design.

Start by placing a template to establish:

• Alignment
• Proper margins
• Safe zones and bleed spacing
• Balanced photo placement

Then customize it to match your school:

• Rearrange photo boxes
• Adjust colors to your school palette
• Swap fonts
• Resize elements
• Add or remove design accents

Once you’ve created a layout you love, save it as your own custom template. That way, your team can reuse it across spreads and maintain consistency all year.

Think of templates as a launchpad — not a limitation. Create a spread that works for you based off a template then duplicate it. 

Click here to learn more about saving a custom template

6. Master Layers and Locking

Most “why did that move?” problems are layer-related.

Get comfortable with:

• Send forward/backward
• Locking elements
• Selecting the correct layer

This is one of the fastest ways to level up inside the Designer.

Click here to learn how to use layers in EDONext

7. Use Zoom and Preview Strategically

Don’t design at 300% zoom.

Zoom out often to check:

• Balance
• Spacing
• Consistency
• Alignment across the full spread

Preview mode is your friend. You can view your design without the element selection boxes and guidelines. This is great for noticing:

• Unintentional borders
• Improper bleeds
• How close elements are really to the cut line

Click here to learn more about view preferences

8. Upload People Data Before Flowing Portraits

Never manually type portrait names unless absolutely necessary. All you need is an index file and it will save you hours of work. Seriously, I mean hours of work saved and less worrying about typos (although, I ALWAYS recommend proofing your book and asking others to help you too)

Let EDONext automate what it was built to automate.

Click here to learn more about what's needed for a people page index

9. Save Intentionally (Even with Auto-Save)

Yes, EDONext auto-saves — but get in the habit of:

• Watching for save confirmations
• Letting large uploads process fully
• Avoiding rapid page switching during heavy uploads

Work with the system, not against it.

10. Keep It Simple Your First Year

As a first-time advisor, it’s tempting to use every font, every shape, and every effect you discover in the Designer.

Resist that urge.

Instead:

• Choose 2–3 fonts and stick to them
• Use a consistent color palette
• Repeat layout structures across sections
• Let photos be the focus, not decorations

EDONext gives you a lot of creative freedom — but strong design usually comes from restraint, not complexity.

Clean, consistent spreads will always look more professional than overly busy ones.

Your first year isn’t about designing the most elaborate book — it’s about creating a cohesive one.

Consistency builds confidence.

Final Thought from Julia

EDONext is a powerful tool, but the key to success — especially for first-time advisors — is structure, consistency, and confidence.

Learn the system first. Creativity comes easier after that.

You've got this and remember, if you have any questions your account manager is here to help!