MobileRead Forums - View Single Post - Converting your PDF files to Kindle using PDF2LRF (Better than Amazon's conversion)

guineapiguser · 01-13-2008, 03:19 PM

Hey,

As an former Sony Reader I frequently used a program called PDF2LRF which I found to be the best PDF converter too because it specifically increased the contrast for text/ images to make them more readable on our eReader screens (which default converters don't do)

I came up with a straightforward workflow to convert PDFs to Kindle format which also bypasses Amazon's service. Note: this works best for image based/ or text +image based pdfs or if you want to preserve PDF formatted.

PDF to Kindle Workflow:
The workflow I've come up with is this.
1) Use PDF2LRF to input the PDF and output to a .zip file filled with PNG files. (I have to use PDF2LRF in command line format to accomplish this).

link: https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=13135 (download the command line program). Use command:

" pdf2lrf -i INPUT_PDF_FILENAME.pdf -o OUTPUT_PDF_FILENAME.zip " (which generates a zip file of PNG images from PDF)

2) Then use the program that jbenny posted (PNG2PDF) to generate a PDF file in commandline from the Zip files

LINK: https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...=13135&page=18 (scroll down and download the file PNG2PDF.zip) Type this command in command line prompt:

" png2pdf OUTPUT_PDF_FILENAME.zip "

This generates a file called: OUTPUT_PDF_FILENAME_png.PDF

3) Afterwards, I run Mobipocket Creator to import PDF file and output to .PRC format which is then readable with the Kindle.

download link: http://www.mobipocket.com/en/Downloa...ilsCreator.asp

Use option: Import PDF file: OUTPUT_PDF_FILENAME_png.PDF in Mobipocket Creator program (free), then after setting the Metadata, click Publish, to generate PRC file.

4) Move the generated .PRC file to your Kindle and enjoy it.
Note: you can fiddle with the PDF2LRF settings but I found the default settings worked pretty well.

Note: The advantage of this is I don't have to email the file to Amazon at all to get it converted and readable on kindle! (Since Gmail's 20 meg limit which I find quite limiting). And best of all the output is split nicely with high contrast, 2 pages/ landscape rotated which makes it as readable as on my Sony device compared to Amazon's default PDF conversion.

Summary: PDF -> PDF2LRF -> PNG2PDF -> MobiPocket Creator -> Kindle.

01-13-2008, 03:19 PM	#1
guineapiguser Junior Member Posts: 4 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jan 2008 Device: Kindle & Sony PRS-505	Converting your PDF files to Kindle using PDF2LRF (Better than Amazon's conversion) Hey, As an former Sony Reader I frequently used a program called PDF2LRF which I found to be the best PDF converter too because it specifically increased the contrast for text/ images to make them more readable on our eReader screens (which default converters don't do) I came up with a straightforward workflow to convert PDFs to Kindle format which also bypasses Amazon's service. Note: this works best for image based/ or text +image based pdfs or if you want to preserve PDF formatted. PDF to Kindle Workflow: The workflow I've come up with is this. 1) Use PDF2LRF to input the PDF and output to a .zip file filled with PNG files. (I have to use PDF2LRF in command line format to accomplish this). link: https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=13135 (download the command line program). Use command: " pdf2lrf -i INPUT_PDF_FILENAME.pdf -o OUTPUT_PDF_FILENAME.zip " (which generates a zip file of PNG images from PDF) 2) Then use the program that jbenny posted (PNG2PDF) to generate a PDF file in commandline from the Zip files LINK: https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...=13135&page=18 (scroll down and download the file PNG2PDF.zip) Type this command in command line prompt: " png2pdf OUTPUT_PDF_FILENAME.zip " This generates a file called: OUTPUT_PDF_FILENAME_png.PDF 3) Afterwards, I run Mobipocket Creator to import PDF file and output to .PRC format which is then readable with the Kindle. download link: http://www.mobipocket.com/en/Downloa...ilsCreator.asp Use option: Import PDF file: OUTPUT_PDF_FILENAME_png.PDF in Mobipocket Creator program (free), then after setting the Metadata, click Publish, to generate PRC file. 4) Move the generated .PRC file to your Kindle and enjoy it. Note: you can fiddle with the PDF2LRF settings but I found the default settings worked pretty well. Note: The advantage of this is I don't have to email the file to Amazon at all to get it converted and readable on kindle! (Since Gmail's 20 meg limit which I find quite limiting). And best of all the output is split nicely with high contrast, 2 pages/ landscape rotated which makes it as readable as on my Sony device compared to Amazon's default PDF conversion. Summary: PDF -> PDF2LRF -> PNG2PDF -> MobiPocket Creator -> Kindle.