What is an iMag?

An iMag is a way of viewing Bead magazine online without having the actual hard copy. Revolutionary page turning software means you can view it as you would a real magazine, but on your computer screen. You can print selected pages and keep for yourself. It is built using the original high quality PDFs we send to print the actual magazines.

Why should I subscribe?

Many people have commented on the long list of benefits the iMag offers. Amongst others, it is a brilliant way of always having access to your favourite magazine wherever you are. Maybe you travel a lot, or live in a country where it is expensive to buy or subscribe to Bead.
Like many things done online, the iMag is a much cheaper way to subscribe; under half the price of a normal subscription, and as it uses no paper or delivery lorries, it has no effect on the environment.
The iMag always gets published as the PDFs go to print. This means that subscribers get the magazine before hard copy subscribers! You can enter competitions before anyone else, and get to know all the latest news and see the hottest projects before the world knows!
However, the best thing about the iMag is that subscribers can view all Bead back issues, even issues two and four which are widely unavailable and out of print.

Now I have subscribed, how do I access my iMag?

The only way to get to the iMag is to go online. All you have to do is go to www.beadmagazine.co.uk and click on these links:

‘Log in to iMag’ > ‘Login’ > Put in your email address and password > ‘Click here to view your iMag’

A blank page will appear with a white background and a picture of the latest cover of Bead magazine. Click on this cover and a new screen will pop up with a black background. This is the iMag. There are basic instructions on how to use the iMag in the list next to the cover, including more FAQs and an icon guide. To start the iMag, click on the bottom right corner of the front page of the picture of the magazine (you will see it start to flick up when you hover over it with your mouse), then the pages will start turning.

How do I print?
To print, Select the little printer icon in the bottom left hand corner and a list of thumbnails from the whole magazine will appear. Tick the little box under the pages that you want, then click on ‘Print Selected Pages’ This means that only the pages you have ticked will print.

My iMag isn’t showing!

First, you need to check that your answer to these three questions is YES:

1. Do you have a dial-up connection? You need Broadband to view the iMag.
2. Is your computer more than 3 years old?
3. Is your operating system older than 3 years? You can find out what your operating system is when you select "Help and Support" in your main menu (for example Windows 95 will not work, but Windows Vista or XP will)

If the answer is YES to any of these, you will be sure to have problems using the iMag. Please contact us for a full refund or for more information.

If your answer is NO to all of these questions, begin by restoring the settings by going to "Tools" in your browser, Internet Explorer >Advanced>Restore all settings. This resets all the internet settings to their original position. Then you need to work your way through the rest of this answer.

You need to make sure you have the latest Adobe Flash (available free from http://www.adobe.com/shockwave/download/download.cgi ) In order to view the iMags correctly.

If you get stuck at the link with the cover and white background, you need to check your computer settings. If you have 'pop-ups' blocked you need to unblock them to view the iMag. To do this you go to Tools>Internet Options>Privacy>Pop-Up Blocker>untick.

If this still doesn't work then right click the image and select 'open in new window'. You need to make sure you have no other windows open or it might try to open it in one of those.

My iMag isn’t showing properly; I have signed in and it’s only showing me a corner or it’s too small for me to see!

Work your way through these points and you should be successful in viewing the iMag. Firstly, your iMag needs to open in a standard web browser (Internet Explorer, Firefox or Safari).

Not, for example, AOL as it conflicts with the iMag and also on our TV sites. You can find a new browser (if you don’t already have one) here:http://www.microsoft.com/windows/internet-explorer/download-ie.aspx or http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/ .

If the browser is opening up too small, you need to close the iMag and all other open windows and start again. If it keeps opening in a small screen after you have done this, you need to alter the full screen popup, then the browser records that new setting as the full screen so the next time it happens the user the browser opens at that readjusted size. What is required is that you must reset it. When the browser is opened, hit ctrl + n to open a new browser. The browser should open at that smaller size. The user should then stretch the browser window to the maximum available width and height and then close. If you click ctrl+n again the browser window should then open at full screen. If so, you can then enter the magazine and the pop up should be adjusted.

How do I look at previous issues?

Once you are logged in and looking at the magazine image on a black background, you can view all the back issues we can fit up there by click on the little arrow next to ‘View Previous Issues’.  The list of previous issues will appear underneath and you can select the one you want.

I want to download a page to save on my computer, how do I do this?

Unfortunately, this is not possible. The only way to keep pages forever is to print them off. The iMags are such good value however, that you may as well keep subscribing and receiving the latest issue as well as having the back issues to look at when you like. We do have digital downloads on our website, www.craft-club.com where you can find articles and save them to your computer.

If you have any further technical queries, email our iMag editor at amie@ashdown.co.uk, or for payment and purchase enquiries, email support@ashdown.co.uk