1. Overview

Unlike web-based tools, this application follows a "Local-First" philosophy. All image processing—including scanning, compression, and PDF generation—happens entirely on your device. Your original high-resolution photos are never uploaded to the cloud, ensuring maximum privacy and speed.

2. Getting Started & Authentication

Access to Contact Sheet Maker Pro is Invite-Only. To secure the application, we use a passwordless "Magic Link" system powered by Supabase.

Logging In:

Launch the application. You will be greeted by the Authentication Overlay.

Enter your authorized email address in the Email field.

Click SEND LOGIN CODE.

Check your email for a verification code.

Enter the 8-Digit Code into the input boxes on the screen.

Click VERIFY & LOGIN to unlock the workspace.

Access Restricted?

If you see an "Access Restricted" screen, your email is not on the allowlist. You can use the built-in form on this screen to request access from the administrator.

3. The Workspace

The interface is divided into two main areas:

The Preview Area (Left): Displays a live preview of your contact sheet. You can drag the resize handle to adjust the split between the preview and the sidebar.

The Sidebar (Right): Contains all configuration controls, split into sections for Source, Page, Layout, and Cover Sheet.

4. Importing Images

You can import images (JPG, PNG, WEBP, TIFF, HEIC) in two ways:

Drag & Drop: Simply drag a folder or a selection of images from your computer directly onto the "Drop Zone" area.

Folder Scan: Click anywhere on the "Drop Zone" to open your system's file picker and select a directory to scan.

Once loaded, the Source panel at the top of the sidebar will display the active folder path and the total image count.

5. Layout Configuration

Contact Sheet Maker Pro supports two distinct layout modes tailored for different workflows.

A. Grid Mode

Best for standard contact sheets. Images are arranged in a strict grid.

Columns & Rows: Manually define the grid size (e.g., 4 columns x 5 rows).

Auto-Flow: Images automatically spill over to new pages when the grid is full.

B. Product Mode

Best for catalogs or grouping shots by item. This mode uses "Smart Grouping" based on filenames.

Group By: Click the tokens representing filename parts (e.g., SKU or Shot Type) to group images together.

Max Per Page: Limits how many images appear on a single page, useful for creating consistent catalog pages per product.

6. Page Setup & Orientation

Customize your document size to fit your output medium.

Paper Sizes: Standard sizes include Letter, Legal, Tabloid, A4, and A3.

Screen Sizes: Select "HD" (1920x1080) or "4K" (3840x2160) for digital presentations.

Orientation: (For Paper) Choose Portrait or Landscape. (For Screen) Labels automatically change to Cinematic (Horizontal) or Stories (Vertical).

7. Customization & Metadata

Make the document professional with Cover Sheets and Custom Fields.

Cover Sheet

Toggle "Include Cover Sheet" to add a dedicated first page.

Title & Date: Set the main title (e.g., "Fall 2025 Campaign") and the reference date.

Custom Fields: Add unlimited metadata rows. Click "+ Add Field" to create pairs like "Photographer" / "Jane Doe" or "Client" / "Acme Corp".

Typography

Show Filenames: Toggle this to display file names under images.

Retain Extension: Choose whether to show .jpg in the label.

Font: Select from built-in system fonts (Helvetica, Courier, Times, etc.).

8. Exporting Output

When your layout is ready, click the Generate PDF button at the bottom of the sidebar.

Standard Mode: Uses 800px resolution and 75% quality. Ideal for print or high-res viewing.

Optimize for Email: Check this box to use 600px resolution and 50% quality, significantly reducing file size for quick sharing.

9. Settings & Utilities

Recent Folders

Quickly jump back to previous projects using the Recent Folders list found at the top of the sidebar. Click the "×" to remove an entry from history.

Export/Import Settings

Working with a team? You can standardize your layout settings.

Go to Menu > Settings (or click the Settings gear icon).

Select Export Settings to save a .json file of your current configuration.

Share this file with your team, who can use Import Settings to match your layout exactly.