So many ebooks missing real covers

zobop · 06-28-2012, 10:25 AM

I know, the cover is not what you read as far as the book contents.

But I really enjoy seeing the original cover for the book. It kind of sets the tone for the read and gives you a feel for the experience. It can also show the history and some very nice art.

I wonder why so many ebooks are missing the original cover scans?

It is so frustrating to receive an ebook, then open it to find a Microsoft or Calibre or some other 3rd party cover graphic. If people go through all the trouble scanning the entire books pages, why not include the cover?

It is very easy to go online and get the cover image and insert it into the ebook file, but shouldn't the maker of the ebook do this and not the end reader?

It is really aggravating to get a complete series of a book, only to find out all the covers are missing from them.

Oh well, my rant is over. Is it just me or does this bother any other people?

Thanks

JSWolf · 06-28-2012, 10:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zobop

I know, the cover is not what you read as far as the book contents.

But I really enjoy seeing the original cover for the book. It kind of sets the tone for the read and gives you a feel for the experience. It can also show the history and some very nice art.

I wonder why so many ebooks are missing the original cover scans?

It is so frustrating to receive an ebook, then open it to find a Microsoft or Calibre or some other 3rd party cover graphic. If people go through all the trouble scanning the entire books pages, why not include the cover?

It is very easy to go online and get the cover image and insert it into the ebook file, but shouldn't the maker of the ebook do this and not the end reader?

It is really aggravating to get a complete series of a book, only to find out all the covers are missing from them.

Oh well, my rant is over. Is it just me or does this bother any other people?

Thanks

By receiving an eBook that has a Microsoft Word or Calibre cover image, you are receiving eBooks that most likely are illegally obtained.

But as for legal eBooks with a generic cover, it's because the publisher did not obtain the rights to use the cover image for eBooks.

ilovejedd · 06-28-2012, 11:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

But as for legal eBooks with a generic cover, it's because the publisher did not obtain the rights to use the cover image for eBooks.

I hate it when this happens. The generic covers look pretty ugly, too. If they must use a generic cover, why couldn't they have gone with something prettier?

JSWolf · 06-28-2012, 03:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ilovejedd

I hate it when this happens. The generic covers look pretty ugly, too. If they must use a generic cover, why couldn't they have gone with something prettier?

Because it costs money to design a decent cover.

I just find the best cover image I can and replace with that.

AnemicOak · 06-28-2012, 03:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

But as for legal eBooks with a generic cover, it's because the publisher did not obtain the rights to use the cover image for eBooks.

For many older backlist books sure, but certain publishers seem to go out of their way to use a generic cover even on new releases. I don't buy that they couldn't use it in all of those cases.

StoryEnthusiast · 06-28-2012, 03:52 PM

Is there any software program that allows you to create simple cover image for suitable display on smart phones?

JSWolf · 06-28-2012, 03:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StoryEnthusiast

Is there any software program that allows you to create simple cover image for suitable display on smart phones?

A proper cover with a proper cover XML (set to show the proper aspect ratio) should work fine on a smart phone in ePub. The book's cover image (not a generic cover image) is suitable unless it's a poor quality image.

jgaiser · 06-28-2012, 04:06 PM

The problem *seems* to be that some of the publishers no longer hold the copyrights on some of the book covers and cannot add them to the ebooks. I just find a decent one on the web and use calibre to add it on.

Jozawun · 06-28-2012, 05:49 PM

I have an ethical question: if it is OK to buy a book, but then to "find" a better (so-called) "cover" without any apparent regard to copyright, is it OK to just "find" the whole book in the first place?

StoryEnthusiast · 06-29-2012, 12:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

A proper cover with a proper cover XML (set to show the proper aspect ratio) should work fine on a smart phone in ePub. The book's cover image (not a generic cover image) is suitable unless it's a poor quality image.

I'm a newbie. What size in terms of pixels should it be? Currently, I always use 240 pixels as the width for mobile phone, but flexible on the height. For cover image, what is the common size?

AnemicOak · 06-29-2012, 01:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StoryEnthusiast

I'm a newbie. What size in terms of pixels should it be? Currently, I always use 240 pixels as the width for mobile phone, but flexible on the height. For cover image, what is the common size?

Personally I go for 600px wide as a bare minimum if possible (much higher if possible). In August Apple will start requiring a minimum of 1400px on a side.

theducks · 06-29-2012, 09:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AnemicOak

Personally I go for 600px wide as a bare minimum if possible (much higher if possible). In August Apple will start requiring a minimum of 1400px on a side.

Require? Apple thinks they own EPUB?

Square pix? Covers are rarely square. II have over a K worth of dead tree books to prove that.

HarryT · 06-29-2012, 09:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zobop

It is so frustrating to receive an ebook, then open it to find a Microsoft or Calibre or some other 3rd party cover graphic. If people go through all the trouble scanning the entire books pages, why not include the cover?

It you're talking about pirated books, you'd need to ask the thieving scum who did the scanning.

If you're talking about commercial eBooks, very often it's because the image rights are negotiated separately, and the publisher doesn't have the rights to electronic distribution of the cover image.

JSWolf · 06-29-2012, 10:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StoryEnthusiast

I'm a newbie. What size in terms of pixels should it be? Currently, I always use 240 pixels as the width for mobile phone, but flexible on the height. For cover image, what is the common size?

You just have to get a good quality cover image. It will be resized to fit on the screen if the cover display XML is written properly.

If the cover image I find has more then 1024 lines, I reduce it down to 1024 lines and let the width take care of itself. I do like my covers to show with the correct aspect ratio.

ilovejedd · 06-29-2012, 10:26 AM

I decided to standardize on 600x800 for mine, mostly because that's the PRS-350's native resolution.

06-28-2012, 10:25 AM	#1
zobop Member Posts: 11 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jun 2012 Device: kindle	So many ebooks missing real covers I know, the cover is not what you read as far as the book contents. But I really enjoy seeing the original cover for the book. It kind of sets the tone for the read and gives you a feel for the experience. It can also show the history and some very nice art. I wonder why so many ebooks are missing the original cover scans? It is so frustrating to receive an ebook, then open it to find a Microsoft or Calibre or some other 3rd party cover graphic. If people go through all the trouble scanning the entire books pages, why not include the cover? It is very easy to go online and get the cover image and insert it into the ebook file, but shouldn't the maker of the ebook do this and not the end reader? It is really aggravating to get a complete series of a book, only to find out all the covers are missing from them. Oh well, my rant is over. Is it just me or does this bother any other people? Thanks

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06-28-2012, 03:52 PM	#6
StoryEnthusiast K. C. Lee Posts: 584 Karma: 3652522 Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: New Zealand Device: Android phone	Is there any software program that allows you to create simple cover image for suitable display on smart phones?

06-28-2012, 04:06 PM	#8
jgaiser Omnivorous Posts: 3,281 Karma: 27978909 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Rural NW Oregon Device: Kindle Voyage, Kindle Fire HD, Kindle 3, KPW1	The problem seems to be that some of the publishers no longer hold the copyrights on some of the book covers and cannot add them to the ebooks. I just find a decent one on the web and use calibre to add it on.

06-28-2012, 05:49 PM	#9
Jozawun Fanatic Posts: 519 Karma: 2693434 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Australia Device: Cybook Gen 3, Pocketbook 902, Sony 650	I have an ethical question: if it is OK to buy a book, but then to "find" a better (so-called) "cover" without any apparent regard to copyright, is it OK to just "find" the whole book in the first place?

06-29-2012, 10:26 AM	#15
ilovejedd hopeless n00b Posts: 5,111 Karma: 19597086 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: in the middle of nowhere Device: PW4, PW3, Libra H2O, iPad 10.5, iPad 11, iPad 12.9	I decided to standardize on 600x800 for mine, mostly because that's the PRS-350's native resolution.