Quote:
Originally Posted by Trane
Unfortunately the PDF -- while exceedingly helpful, and thanks again to Tex for that -- does not appear to be current, as in the Images section it made no mention of converting all images to JPG XR in the upload, (as Amazon started doing in fall 2015, according to a link I included a few posts back).
It did specify PNG transp is not retained... which is stupid since JPG XR is capable of transparency. And also did not specify if GIF transp is retained.
Line drawings are not the only reason to use transp. (@ Granny that was great info about 8bit vs 24bit). My book involves a hobby that requires various products. As an example, an image might feature a few products which have been removed from their backgrounds in PS to be placed on the same canvas and arranged. The bg is transparent, which looks much more professional and much nicer than a block of white... and looks great no matter what background the user chooses for their e-reader. But from what I read in the PDF it looked like Amazon might not allow photo images that include a transparent bg. WHY NOT? This should be up to the author, not Amazon.
Amazon's arcane rules (imho) force authors to dumb-down and reduce the visual attractiveness and professionalism of their books... by forcing GIF over PNG and treating transparency like an unneeded luxury. This in addition to not making mobi compliant with standard epub code.
I also noticed the PDF stresses using pictures fit for a stadium screen (i.e. the largest Amazon tablets) which are only owned by a small percentage of the Kindle market, costing the author more in downloading, while making Amazon more money.
If I follow their guidelines I have to re-do all 130 images, JPG and PNG. And if I follow their rules for giant images, I also have to re-download larger images than the ones I chose., importing each into PS to apply effects like borders and contours all over again. I cannot say I am a happy camper.
|
As far as I know, at this time, for commercial production, it is NOT possible to eliminate the white background.
I've asked one of the guys to do some tests--it's not something that I've invested a lot of time in, but, as far as I know, the transparency promise that Aaron was talking about is still not implemented.
I noticed that Ducky mentioned AZW3, etc., earlier, and I think, inadvertently confused you. Ducky was simply talking about sideloading to your OWN device, for testing. AZW3--which, IIRC, is actually a Calibre format, not a Kindle format--is fine for sideloading to your own device, but worthless from a production/publishing standpoint. Honestly, so is AZW and AZK, Amazon's own formats. The MOBI is still the carrier, effectively. That's what you'll upload at Amazon's KDP. You can use the AZK to test the book's appearance on iOS devices through a tortured process, and AZW is an Amazon output, not yours.
So, for testing during production, you'll use .mobi and AZK (from Previewer, as in Devices-->iOS). You will upload a MOBI, at the KDP. During the PW (Publishing Workflow), your book will be "converted" into the various output formats (.mobi, AZW, AZK-ish, KFX, etc.). That's all done outside of the eyes/ears of the publisher. Once the book is on sale, I'd recommend that you check it on every available device.
Now, with regard to your background--I am sorry to say, I'm fairly sure that you're stuck, so you probably oughtn't redo those images, at least, not for that.
Hitch