04-13-2010, 02:42 PM | #1 |
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Best example of HTML formatting for Kindle???
I've got an ebook file I'd like to format for the Kindle - from a friend - and he and I would love to have an example of the best HTML layout to give it the best appearance on the Kindle, including ToC. Anyone got an example? I've looked over at Amazon's DTP, but I guess I'm not seeing a full layout guide. If there's one there, could someone point out where it is?
Derek |
04-13-2010, 02:56 PM | #2 |
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I don't know if anyone has just a layout, but I found Joshua Tallent's "Kindle Formatting: The Complete Guide to Formatting Books for the Amazon Kindle" very helpful. And so was
http://www.robotcomics.net/2009/08/a...-doc-tutorial/ The web site deals with comics, but the info was helpful for a straight text novel, particularly the idea to put the TOC and other info at the back so that the Kindle sample is as large as possible. I had only a little experience with html, and between these 2 sources, I managed Kindle formatting that I can honestly say is better than 99% of what I've bought, whether from big pubs or indies. I did the html files, then used Mobi Creator to actually make a prc file of my book. Then I put the book on my own Kindle and looked it over, tweaked a few things, redid it, etc., until I had what I wanted. If you don't have a Kindle, you can get Kindle for PC and still see what your book will look like. My understanding is if you upload a prc file to Amazon, nothing is changed, they just make your prc file an azw, so it seemed to me the safest way to make sure my Kindle book looked just the way I wanted. |
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04-13-2010, 03:09 PM | #3 | |
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04-13-2010, 03:32 PM | #4 | |
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Of course, if you've bought a large block of ISBNs (100 or 1000) you could assign one to the Kindle edition just in case. But if you've only got bought a block of ten, don't waste one on it. |
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04-13-2010, 07:23 PM | #5 | |
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04-14-2010, 08:41 AM | #6 | |
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If you're doing an ePub edition as well, then I wouldn't worry about the Kindle version. Focus on the ePub edition and then convert that with kindlegen. Kindlgegen also uses the toc.ncx file in the ePub to make those nice little chapter marks on the bottom scroll bar. A few notes on the things you need to look out for while creating an ePub that'll convert to kindle/mobi nicely: - Don't use soft-tabs in the ePub, Mobi doesn't support them, and things render poorly. - Obviously Kindle doesn't support embedded fonts. So they will be lost. - Try to avoid Unicode characters, and replace them with their html-entity names instead. - Make sure to add Cover Page support for Mobi to your OPF properly. One last thing off the top of my head: last I checked, kindlegen didn't support the file-as= attribute in the <dc:creator> tag of the OPF. So you might have to go back and change: Code:
<dc:creator opf:role="aut" opf:file-as="Lastname, Firstname">Firstname Lastname</dc:creator> Code:
<dc:creator opf:role="aut">Lastname, Firstname</dc:creator> |
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04-14-2010, 02:50 PM | #7 |
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That's an excellent idea. I wish all publishers would do that. Well, maybe the ToC should go at the front, but I would definitely put the author's bio, acknowledgements, testimonials, printing history and similar stuff at the back.
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04-14-2010, 06:00 PM | #8 | |
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04-14-2010, 06:01 PM | #9 | |
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04-14-2010, 06:12 PM | #10 |
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HarryT put together a good tutorial on creating books for the Kindle and other devices that support the mobi format.
https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=17914 |
04-15-2010, 12:29 PM | #11 |
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It depends on the book, of course. For non-fiction, the TOC probably needs to be in the sample so you can have a better idea of what is in there. Or for anthologies.
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04-15-2010, 02:46 PM | #12 | |
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Actually, Near Space Press is about to release "Net Assets" with "The Anarchists" (anthology) to come next month and, we hope, "Bargaining Position" by August. And it appears that I'll have no legal trouble with releasing the Kindle version via Amazon and the ePub via FiFo. Yay! Derek |
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02-15-2011, 04:23 AM | #13 |
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02-15-2011, 06:22 AM | #14 | |
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I'd also second Ellenoc's recommendation for Joshua Tallent's book "Kindle Formatting" - it's excellent for gaining an understanding of what will and what won't work when it comes to formatting Kindle books, and for advice and tips on how best to handle formatting. |
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