Quote:
Originally Posted by JSWolf
But using a % like you did is not going to work. It means that with different size screens, you get different amounts of space. Also, you have to remember, this is a screen. What may have worked for a pBook doesn't mean it works for an eBook. You may not be able to duplicate the look and feel of this pBook and have it work. It's a different medium. For example, I've seen pBooks where the hardcover was printed exactly the same for a MMPB and because of this, the size of the print for the MMPB was too small.
Don't do things that don't work. 18% and 15% space around a chapter title does not work for an eBook. Having offset text (like in a blockquote) be smaller doesn't always work. Having the main text be smaller then 1em doesn't work. Having large left/right margins doesn't work. Embedding a font just because it was the font used in the pBook doesn't work (there are cases where it does work, but in most cases it doesn't work). Graphics have to be of high resolution or they may not work. Do not a graphics of text just because it's easier then created the code as that doesn't work. You have to create your eBook so it works as an eBook and no as thought it was a pBook.
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Here's the thing. I like *some* space around chapter headers. It's pretty normal in print. Yes, ebooks aren't print. I get that if you go too far, it's not ideal. And I may well go with less space. I try to stay on the conservative side.
But we might have different definitions of what works and what doesn't. As far as I'm concerned, I don't mind too much in the way of publisher styling on an ebook as long as I can read the book. As long as I can access all the content, I'm good, the book works, IMHO.
I've run into books where I can't access everything, either because font size was fixed very small and not adjustable or images were too small to see necessary details, or a font was embedded that simply was too light and thin for visibility on e-ink. Or color use that didn't account for how certain shades can be near invisible on e-ink. Those are things that makes a book NOT WORK, because they prevent accessing content.
I'm not embedding fonts. I'm not mandating crazy margins. The graphics will be high resolution. In black and white PNG. Main text is 1em.
Yes, some screen space is wasted around the chapter header. But ONLY for the chapter header. And nothing is unreadable.
I've seen and read books from the major publishers where they have set larger top and bottom margins than I have, but the books are readable. I've got one from the library now. Anne Boleyn, A King's Obsession by Alison Weir. The header is centered and takes 50% of the vertical screen space at my preferred font size on my Kobo Aura ONE. It consists of the chapter number, an ornamental graphic and a date. But it doesn't look awful, it looks much like a print book would. Yes, if you blow the font size up much further, this look goes south pretty quick, as with enough font size, the header occupies the page by itself or worse, goes to two pages. Even so, there is no impediment to reading this particular book. Therefore, again, IMHO, it works.
The current book is for myself, but one of my Dad's books hits public domain next year, so if I do that one, for MR, I will certainly consider what you've said for chapter header margins.
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