Joining with a code

Every exchange has a six-character join code, like 7KQ2MX, and a link in the form brayer.app/x/7KQ2MX. Open that link, or go to /join and type the code in by hand, or scan the organizer's QR code with the app. The /join page tells you what to expect next before you commit: you'll see the specification and deadline, confirm your name and address so the organizer can post prints back to you, then pull your edition and mark it sent once it's in the post.

What you see before you join

The join page shows the exchange name, who's organizing it, the specification (dimensions, paper, ink, edition size, theme), the submission and completion deadlines, the fee, and how many of the available places are filled. You don't need an account to look.

Signing in

If you're not signed in, the page offers "Sign in to join" or "Create an account." Either one sends you back to the same join page once you're done, so you don't lose your place in line.

The join form

Once you're signed in, the form asks for three things:

1. Your name. How you sign your prints.
2. Mailing address. The organizer uses this to mail your portfolio back. Other participants never see it.
3. Short bio. Appears in the colophon.

If you've filled these in on your Brayer account before, they're prefilled from your profile. Click "Join this exchange" to confirm your place, and you land straight on the exchange page.

Other states you might see

• Already a member. If you've joined before, the page shows "You're already in this exchange" with a button straight through to it.
• Full. If every place is taken, the page tells you so and suggests asking the organizer whether they keep a waiting list.
• Not open. A Draft, Complete, or Cancelled exchange shows "This exchange isn't taking new participants." Only Open and In progress exchanges accept new joiners.

Leaving an exchange

If you've changed your mind, the "Leave exchange" button on your exchange page asks you to confirm, then removes your participation. The organizer sees that your place has opened up, and the roster capacity has room for someone else. An organizer can't leave their own exchange; they'd need to cancel it instead, which is a heavier step since it locks the join code for everyone.

If your name is already on the roster

Organizers sometimes import a class list or mailing list before everyone has joined individually. If the email you sign in with matches an unclaimed row the organizer already added, joining claims that row instead of creating a new one, and carries over anything the organizer already entered for you.