preparing images for Sony Reader ebook?

hapax legomenon · 07-30-2007, 04:07 PM

Hi, I'm preparing a free high quality erotica story anthology for Sony Reader format. (with creative commons license).

I'm new to ebooks, but have a basic understanding of what it's about. Also, a friend gave me his Sony Reader device, so I would like to make an ebook specifically for Sony Reader.

I understand about different page sizes on Sony reader and can adjust accordingly. What's the best format for creating content on the Sony reader: PDF/DOC/LRF?

I'm trying to figure out the best way to include images. I have jpeg illustrations for most of the stories in the anthology.

I see several possibilities:

1. MS Word/Office
2. PDF (via Open Office, Adobe Professional, etc)
3. html2lrf

(I should mention that the source content is in structured xml/xhtml).

I realize that I need to convert to 4 bit grayscale for the Sony Reader. But I was wondering,

what is a good dimensions in pixels for the image?
which method or format is best for laying out graphics.
Can you make images into hyperlinks with method #1 or 2
What steps can I do to make sure that the image is at the same place on a page (for example, if you change text size). My preference would be for images to be either on the top of the page or the very bottom.
If you embed an image within a paragraph, does the text run around the image. (what is that called?)

I've looked over the forum a bit and have seen the article about reading manga http://hightech.afmag.net/reading-ma...ve-review.html
and the related thread. but those are talking about scanned images, not about creating images specifically for the Sony Reader. Should I be aiming at creating a good pdf with grayscale images in the right size?

Any advice/suggestions/relevant threads? I realize that the best thing to do is to try it out. But can anyone get me started? (I promise to report back with what I discover).

Hapax Legomenon
(Not a dirty old man)

RWood · 07-30-2007, 04:53 PM

Welcome to MobileRead.

IMHO the best format for the Sony Reader is LRF. The two best tools to create LRF files are BookDesigner and libprs500. Both are available from links in the MobileRead Wiki Conversion page.

While RTF and TXT can be read by the Reader, they cannot display graphics. PDF is an interesting case. Some love it, some hate it. While designed as a print medium, it does not allow the fonts to change size on the Reader and the best PDFs are those designed for the Reader and not something formatted for letter or A4 paper.

Graphics are somewhat a hard case. There are mysteries of the LRF format that have yet to be cracked and implemented in the tools. Among them is drop caps and inline images. As it is now graphics are set between paragraphs . If there is enough room on the current page they are displayed, if not, they start their own page. You can force a page break before a graphic but that is about it that I know of. Only in a PDF could you get text next to a graphic.

Reducing the images to 4 shade b+w is performed in the Reader if it is a color image and there is a switch in BookDesigner that will convert color to b+w for you. The b+w files are slightly smaller than the full color ones.

I hope this helps.

kovidgoyal · 07-30-2007, 04:58 PM

Umm libprs500 supports both drop caps and inline images.

RWood · 07-30-2007, 05:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kovidgoyal

Umm libprs500 supports both drop caps and inline images.

I am corrected. I need to push the things I do with libprs500 a bit more.

JSWolf · 07-30-2007, 05:48 PM

Since the source is in xml/xhtml, you might be best off giving html2lrf a go. It may take less work to clean up your book that way for the conversion process. Html2lrf is quite good. It's part of the libprs500 package. There is a sticky for it here int he Reader Content section.

hapax legomenon · 07-30-2007, 07:00 PM

Thanks.

are you saying it's generally better/easier to let the sony program convert the images than to try to make optimized grayscale images of my own prior to doing conversions? is the desktop reader fairly accurate at conveying what images will look like?

Do creators usually specify font sizes and families, or do they just use the defaults?

My preference would be to use a program like the libprs500 toolset.
I'll put the rest of my questions at libprs500 thread.

Could you point me to a resource about what css works in html2lrf?

By the way I couldn't install BookDesigner. got an error message
RICHTX32.ocx is not installed."

Thanks hapax legomenon

kovidgoyal · 07-30-2007, 08:00 PM

look at the demo html file in the html2lrf thread.

JSWolf · 07-30-2007, 08:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hapax legomenon

By the way I couldn't install BookDesigner. got an error message RICHTX32.ocx is not installed."

Thanks hapax legomenon

To get RICHTX32.OCX....

1. download it from http://www.ascentive.com/support/new...b/RICHTX32.OCX
2. Put it in windows\system32\
3. Using your mouse, click on the "Start" button and then click on "Run".
4. # According to your Operating System, type the following command to register this library file:
Windows NT or 2000: regsvr32 \WINNT\system32\RICHTX32.OCX
Windows XP: regsvr32 \windows\system32\RICHTX32.OCX
5. You should see a message saying "DllRegisterServer ... succeeded"

HarryT · 07-31-2007, 12:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RWood

I am corrected. I need to push the things I do with libprs500 a bit more.

BD supports in-line images too - just check the "in-line" box on the image properties dialog.

JSWolf · 07-31-2007, 05:53 PM

But html2lrf supports simple tables and right justified text.

HarryT · 08-01-2007, 03:57 AM

Yes - table support would be a nice addition to BD. I know it's on vvv's "to do" list.

hapax legomenon · 08-05-2007, 08:55 PM

gave this message: "RICHTX32.OCX is not an executable file and no registration helper is registered for this file type."

I'm running as admin when running this command.

Any ideas what to do? (I'm on XP)

C:\WINDOWS\system32>regsvr32 RICHTX32.OCX

C:\WINDOWS\system32>dir RICHT*
Volume in drive C has no label.
Volume Serial Number is 48D1-D269

Directory of C:\WINDOWS\system32

07/30/2007 09:35 PM 165,888 RICHTX32.OCX
1 File(s) 165,888 bytes
0 Dir(s) 4,812,918,784 bytes free

C:\WINDOWS\system32>regsvr32 RICHTX32.OCX

C:\WINDOWS\system32>

JSWolf · 08-06-2007, 12:16 PM

Try a reinstall since you've now registered the OCX file.

08-05-2007, 08:55 PM	#12
hapax legomenon Erotica Writer Posts: 102 Karma: 106 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Tulsa, OK Device: ipad, Sony Reader PRS 505, Cybook 3	book designer does not install gave this message: "RICHTX32.OCX is not an executable file and no registration helper is registered for this file type." I'm running as admin when running this command. Any ideas what to do? (I'm on XP) C:\WINDOWS\system32>regsvr32 RICHTX32.OCX C:\WINDOWS\system32>dir RICHT* Volume in drive C has no label. Volume Serial Number is 48D1-D269 Directory of C:\WINDOWS\system32 07/30/2007 09:35 PM 165,888 RICHTX32.OCX 1 File(s) 165,888 bytes 0 Dir(s) 4,812,918,784 bytes free C:\WINDOWS\system32>regsvr32 RICHTX32.OCX C:\WINDOWS\system32>

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07-30-2007, 04:07 PM	#1
hapax legomenon Erotica Writer Posts: 102 Karma: 106 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Tulsa, OK Device: ipad, Sony Reader PRS 505, Cybook 3	preparing images for Sony Reader ebook? Hi, I'm preparing a free high quality erotica story anthology for Sony Reader format. (with creative commons license). I'm new to ebooks, but have a basic understanding of what it's about. Also, a friend gave me his Sony Reader device, so I would like to make an ebook specifically for Sony Reader. I understand about different page sizes on Sony reader and can adjust accordingly. What's the best format for creating content on the Sony reader: PDF/DOC/LRF? I'm trying to figure out the best way to include images. I have jpeg illustrations for most of the stories in the anthology. I see several possibilities: 1. MS Word/Office 2. PDF (via Open Office, Adobe Professional, etc) 3. html2lrf (I should mention that the source content is in structured xml/xhtml). I realize that I need to convert to 4 bit grayscale for the Sony Reader. But I was wondering, what is a good dimensions in pixels for the image? which method or format is best for laying out graphics. Can you make images into hyperlinks with method #1 or 2 What steps can I do to make sure that the image is at the same place on a page (for example, if you change text size). My preference would be for images to be either on the top of the page or the very bottom. If you embed an image within a paragraph, does the text run around the image. (what is that called?) I've looked over the forum a bit and have seen the article about reading manga http://hightech.afmag.net/reading-ma...ve-review.html and the related thread. but those are talking about scanned images, not about creating images specifically for the Sony Reader. Should I be aiming at creating a good pdf with grayscale images in the right size? Any advice/suggestions/relevant threads? I realize that the best thing to do is to try it out. But can anyone get me started? (I promise to report back with what I discover). Hapax Legomenon (Not a dirty old man)

07-30-2007, 04:53 PM	#2
RWood Technogeezer Posts: 7,233 Karma: 1601464 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Virginia, USA Device: Sony PRS-500	Welcome to MobileRead. IMHO the best format for the Sony Reader is LRF. The two best tools to create LRF files are BookDesigner and libprs500. Both are available from links in the MobileRead Wiki Conversion page. While RTF and TXT can be read by the Reader, they cannot display graphics. PDF is an interesting case. Some love it, some hate it. While designed as a print medium, it does not allow the fonts to change size on the Reader and the best PDFs are those designed for the Reader and not something formatted for letter or A4 paper. Graphics are somewhat a hard case. There are mysteries of the LRF format that have yet to be cracked and implemented in the tools. Among them is drop caps and inline images. As it is now graphics are set between paragraphs . If there is enough room on the current page they are displayed, if not, they start their own page. You can force a page break before a graphic but that is about it that I know of. Only in a PDF could you get text next to a graphic. Reducing the images to 4 shade b+w is performed in the Reader if it is a color image and there is a switch in BookDesigner that will convert color to b+w for you. The b+w files are slightly smaller than the full color ones. I hope this helps.

07-30-2007, 04:58 PM	#3
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 43,860 Karma: 22666666 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	Umm libprs500 supports both drop caps and inline images.

07-30-2007, 05:48 PM	#5
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 74,027 Karma: 129333114 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	Since the source is in xml/xhtml, you might be best off giving html2lrf a go. It may take less work to clean up your book that way for the conversion process. Html2lrf is quite good. It's part of the libprs500 package. There is a sticky for it here int he Reader Content section.

07-30-2007, 07:00 PM	#6
hapax legomenon Erotica Writer Posts: 102 Karma: 106 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Tulsa, OK Device: ipad, Sony Reader PRS 505, Cybook 3	Thanks. are you saying it's generally better/easier to let the sony program convert the images than to try to make optimized grayscale images of my own prior to doing conversions? is the desktop reader fairly accurate at conveying what images will look like? Do creators usually specify font sizes and families, or do they just use the defaults? My preference would be to use a program like the libprs500 toolset. I'll put the rest of my questions at libprs500 thread. Could you point me to a resource about what css works in html2lrf? By the way I couldn't install BookDesigner. got an error message RICHTX32.ocx is not installed." Thanks hapax legomenon

07-30-2007, 08:00 PM	#7
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 43,860 Karma: 22666666 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	look at the demo html file in the html2lrf thread.

07-31-2007, 05:53 PM	#10
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 74,027 Karma: 129333114 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	But html2lrf supports simple tables and right justified text.

08-01-2007, 03:57 AM	#11
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Yes - table support would be a nice addition to BD. I know it's on vvv's "to do" list.

08-06-2007, 12:16 PM	#13
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 74,027 Karma: 129333114 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	Try a reinstall since you've now registered the OCX file.

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