Aspect Ratio for Covers?

Buddy13 · 10-17-2011, 05:35 PM

While creating ePubs of my first book, I've decided to create a nice cover image for it. However, I created it a 8.5x11 inches. But the aspect ratio on the Kobo squishes it a bit.

Does anyone know the aspect ratio of the Kobo screen? Or better yet, the exact pixel dimensions (Kobos don't even use pixels, do they?).

Would this aspect ratio be standard for most other eReaders, as well?

The Terminator · 10-17-2011, 05:50 PM

I think Calibre will convert the cover to what ever size the Kobo Touch uses.

BryanK · 10-17-2011, 06:03 PM

Calibre added a 600x800 pixel cover to the epub I checked. I've been meaning to play around with this, so I'll let you know if I find anything different.

JSWolf · 10-17-2011, 06:54 PM

There is an option in Calibre to keep the aspect ration of the cover. It seems it's not being used.

Nigol · 10-19-2011, 09:25 AM

Regardless of the options you used in calibre to convert the file. the Kobo will stretch the file to fit the screen.

SO for the OP the best options would be to create a cover that has a ratio of 3:4 as most reader have this screen size.

Buddy13 · 10-21-2011, 12:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nigol

Regardless of the options you used in calibre to convert the file. the Kobo will stretch the file to fit the screen.

SO for the OP the best options would be to create a cover that has a ratio of 3:4 as most reader have this screen size.

That seems a bit fat. 3:4 is like a non-widescreen TV, right?

Calibre didn't convert the cover I created, neither by altering the images dimensions nor by means of the dimensions specified on the titlepage.html

It just plops it in in its original dimensions, and the Kobo squishes it from the sides.

I guess the easiest thing to do would be to create a dummy ePub and have the cover be a 3:4 image with a perfect circle in the middle. Then try to maybe adjust the size bit by bit until it is also a perfect circle on the Kobo.

Sorry for the slow reply, I could've sworn I set the thing to "Instant email notification" but I only just got the email.

Canorka · 10-21-2011, 01:00 AM

I created a 800x600 cover for a book and it still got "squished from the sides." Just weird behaviour.

Buddy13 · 10-21-2011, 01:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Canorka

I created a 800x600 cover for a book and it still got "squished from the sides." Just weird behaviour.

Is there an official spec anywhere that defines the aspect ratio or pixel dimensions?

Canorka · 10-21-2011, 01:57 AM

Not that I know of, but maybe? There has been a little prior discussion surrounding this topic though, which is where I got the 800x600 pixels ratio from.

Buddy13 · 10-21-2011, 03:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Canorka

Not that I know of, but maybe? There has been a little prior discussion surrounding this topic though, which is where I got the 800x600 pixels ratio from.

If anything, it should be 600x800, being that it's portrait oriented...

timlegge · 10-21-2011, 07:45 AM

The device takes what ever cover image it finds in the epub and converts it to some of the following:

- iPhoneThumbnail.parsed'- 103,150),
- bbMediumGridList.parsed' - 93,135),
- NickelBookCover.parsed' - 500,725),
- N3_LIBRARY_FULL.parsed' - 355,530),
- N3_LIBRARY_GRID.parsed' - 149,233),
- N3_LIBRARY_LIST.parsed' - 60,90),
- N3_FULL.parsed' - 600,800),
- N3_SOCIAL_CURRENTREAD.parsed' - 120,186)

Tim

10-17-2011, 05:35 PM	#1
Buddy13 overt-ops.com Posts: 6 Karma: 10 Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Nanashi Island Device: Kobo	Aspect Ratio for Covers? While creating ePubs of my first book, I've decided to create a nice cover image for it. However, I created it a 8.5x11 inches. But the aspect ratio on the Kobo squishes it a bit. Does anyone know the aspect ratio of the Kobo screen? Or better yet, the exact pixel dimensions (Kobos don't even use pixels, do they?). Would this aspect ratio be standard for most other eReaders, as well?

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10-17-2011, 05:50 PM	#2
The Terminator Retired Posts: 2,552 Karma: 37638420 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Vancouver Island Canada Device: Kobo Touch, Optimus One (2.3), Nexus 7 (4.2)	I think Calibre will convert the cover to what ever size the Kobo Touch uses.

10-17-2011, 06:03 PM	#3
BryanK Connoisseur Posts: 66 Karma: 12538 Join Date: Oct 2011 Device: Kobo Wifi, Kobo Glo HD	Calibre added a 600x800 pixel cover to the epub I checked. I've been meaning to play around with this, so I'll let you know if I find anything different.

10-17-2011, 06:54 PM	#4
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 73,983 Karma: 128903378 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	There is an option in Calibre to keep the aspect ration of the cover. It seems it's not being used.

10-19-2011, 09:25 AM	#5
Nigol Groupie Posts: 184 Karma: 363616 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Montreal, Canada Device: Kobo Original, Kobo Touch	Regardless of the options you used in calibre to convert the file. the Kobo will stretch the file to fit the screen. SO for the OP the best options would be to create a cover that has a ratio of 3:4 as most reader have this screen size.

10-21-2011, 01:00 AM	#7
Canorka Connoisseur Posts: 90 Karma: 4254 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Norway Device: Kobo Touch	I created a 800x600 cover for a book and it still got "squished from the sides." Just weird behaviour.

10-21-2011, 01:57 AM	#9
Canorka Connoisseur Posts: 90 Karma: 4254 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Norway Device: Kobo Touch	Not that I know of, but maybe? There has been a little prior discussion surrounding this topic though, which is where I got the 800x600 pixels ratio from.

10-21-2011, 07:45 AM	#11
timlegge Addict Posts: 305 Karma: 78651 Join Date: May 2010 Location: New Brunswick, Canada Device: Kobo, Kobo Wifi, Kobo Touch	The device takes what ever cover image it finds in the epub and converts it to some of the following: - iPhoneThumbnail.parsed'- 103,150), - bbMediumGridList.parsed' - 93,135), - NickelBookCover.parsed' - 500,725), - N3_LIBRARY_FULL.parsed' - 355,530), - N3_LIBRARY_GRID.parsed' - 149,233), - N3_LIBRARY_LIST.parsed' - 60,90), - N3_FULL.parsed' - 600,800), - N3_SOCIAL_CURRENTREAD.parsed' - 120,186) Tim

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