Method for displaying content within an online collage-based editor using a relative coordinate system

1. In a server-based system for creating and editing image-based projects, the system having access to a digital medium containing an executable graphics user interface (GUI) accessible by computer browser, a method for providing a grid pattern by scaling project pages using relative units, comprising the steps:

(a) establishing a 0 point at the center of each project page of a project;

(b) from the center, scaling a number of relative units ending at a negative limit value for width equal to one half of total width value, and scaling a number of relative units ending at a positive limit value for width equal to one half of total width;

(c) from the center, scaling a number of relative units ending at a negative limit value for height equal to one half of the total height and scaling a number of relative units ending at a positive limit value for height equal to one half of the total height;

(d) representing each unit as an equal division of the total value from the negative limit to the positive limit for width and for height;

(e) calculating a plurality of aspect ratio groupings, each aspect ratio grouping comprising two or more output sizes corresponding to a given orientation of a project page, wherein any project page having said given orientation does not require any editing of page content before printing in said corresponding two or more output sizes;

(f) calculating a core aspect ratio for each of the plurality of aspect ratio groupings, so as to produce a plurality of core aspect ratios, wherein the core aspect ratio is calculated so as to result in minimal loss of page content during printing of a project page; and

(g) identifying a particular core aspect ratio for the project from the plurality of core aspect ratios, wherein the particular core aspect ratio corresponds to the ratio of height to width for each project page of the project and to the grid pattern and further automatically resizing objects as they are added to the project page according to the particular core aspect ratio.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein a plurality of project pages are included in a project and a core aspect ratio is calculated and assigned to the project from aspect ratios of each project page and used to display and print the project.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein there is more than one granularity level at which the relative units might be presented.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein a project template designer determines the granularity of the relative units.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein a user creating a project may select a granularity level for display of the relative units.

6. The method of claim 3 where each higher level of granularity represents an equal division of a first level of granularity.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the relative units are converted into actual dimensional units relative to a page size and width.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein conversion is automatic based on user product selection for printing.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the grid pattern is visible to or hidden from the user.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the grid pattern is visible to the user at some level of transparency.