What purpose do thumbnail images serve?

bfollowell · 08-06-2013, 08:34 PM

I'm not sure if this is the best forum for this question or not but, since I use epubs I'll ask it here.

I don't see it as much as I used to but I often still find ebooks that have a small thumbnail image included in the file. What purpose does this image serve? I can't say as I've ever found any hardware or software readers that actually use them. Are they some holdover from a bygone era that is no longer needed?

Just curious.

Thanks.

- Byron

Toxaris · 08-07-2013, 05:13 AM

Never seen that, but I think it is a leftover of the process used.

DiapDealer · 08-07-2013, 07:22 AM

MOBIs had/have thumbnail images in addition to the "full size" covers that were/are used by various reading apps. Perhaps it's a conversion remnant -- and/or they're used for "bookshelf" views in various reader apps.

mrmikel · 08-07-2013, 07:29 AM

For some books from web sources, the original displays a thumbnail which you can click on to see the full-size image in a popup window. This doesn't work so well in smaller readers, so the supporting html (<target> for instance) is removed. They should have removed the thumbnails too, but apparently didn't.

08-06-2013, 08:34 PM	#1
bfollowell Fanatic Posts: 541 Karma: 1152752 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Evansville, IN, USA Device: Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 Nook & Samsung Galaxy Tab S 10.5	What purpose do thumbnail images serve? I'm not sure if this is the best forum for this question or not but, since I use epubs I'll ask it here. I don't see it as much as I used to but I often still find ebooks that have a small thumbnail image included in the file. What purpose does this image serve? I can't say as I've ever found any hardware or software readers that actually use them. Are they some holdover from a bygone era that is no longer needed? Just curious. Thanks. - Byron

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Thumbnail images incorrect display	cortman	Kobo Reader	7	06-28-2013 12:10 PM
Kindle Touch has thumbnail cover images	tomsem	Amazon Kindle	9	12-14-2011 12:22 PM
What useful purpose does the blinking LED light serve?	greenapple	Ectaco jetBook	16	09-09-2010 01:29 PM
Mixed-up thumbnail images	momghoti	Calibre	5	01-28-2010 12:30 PM
PDF thumbnail images	cap	Bookeen	3	01-31-2008 05:00 AM

08-07-2013, 05:13 AM	#2
Toxaris Wizard Posts: 4,520 Karma: 121692313 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Heemskerk, NL Device: PRS-T1, Kobo Touch, Kobo Aura	Never seen that, but I think it is a leftover of the process used.

08-07-2013, 07:22 AM	#3
DiapDealer Grand Sorcerer Posts: 27,549 Karma: 193191846 Join Date: Jan 2010 Device: Nexus 7, Kindle Fire HD	MOBIs had/have thumbnail images in addition to the "full size" covers that were/are used by various reading apps. Perhaps it's a conversion remnant -- and/or they're used for "bookshelf" views in various reader apps.

08-07-2013, 07:29 AM	#4
mrmikel Color me gone Posts: 2,089 Karma: 1445295 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Central Oregon Coast Device: PRS-300	For some books from web sources, the original displays a thumbnail which you can click on to see the full-size image in a popup window. This doesn't work so well in smaller readers, so the supporting html (<target> for instance) is removed. They should have removed the thumbnails too, but apparently didn't.

Advert