MobileRead Forums - View Single Post - ePub format looks right on Calibre/Play Books but not in other ebook reader

Quoth · 10-24-2019, 02:56 PM

What everyone says. Real ebooks that work on any size screen reader, app or dedicated hardware MUST be reflowable. Otherwise it's not an ebook.

Fixed layout is for paper. PDF is really a way to preview paper print on a screen.

If you don't have any eink based ereaders, then install both kindle/mobi apps and epub apps on a phone. No larger than 6".

I test by using two kinds of kindle, two kinds of Kobo, a 5" Sony PRS350 for ePub, a Nook Simple Touch, Calibre ebook viewer set to similar to a 6" reader on 1920 x 1080 screen, a 7" LCD tablet with ereader app and 6" phone apps (much smaller screen than 6" eink as it's widescreen or more).

Forget fixed ePub. Use ordinary FIXED PDF if you really really need a fixed layout. You then MUST decide on a physical page size. Likely any device less than a 8" or 10" screen is then useless. There is a good reason why Sony's Electronic Paper PDF only gadget is 13.8" if you can afford it. They have a smaller one, but it's not so useful!

Absolutely FORGET fixed layout unless you are doing stuff for 8" tablets or larger (ideally 10") or paper. Absolutely forget fixed layout for other than coffee table books, graphic novels, comics, Manga, printed books such as courseware etc.

10-24-2019, 02:56 PM	#8
Quoth Still reading Posts: 14,437 Karma: 107078855 Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: Ireland Device: All 4 Kinds: epub eink, Kindle, android eink, NxtPaper	What everyone says. Real ebooks that work on any size screen reader, app or dedicated hardware MUST be reflowable. Otherwise it's not an ebook. Fixed layout is for paper. PDF is really a way to preview paper print on a screen. If you don't have any eink based ereaders, then install both kindle/mobi apps and epub apps on a phone. No larger than 6". I test by using two kinds of kindle, two kinds of Kobo, a 5" Sony PRS350 for ePub, a Nook Simple Touch, Calibre ebook viewer set to similar to a 6" reader on 1920 x 1080 screen, a 7" LCD tablet with ereader app and 6" phone apps (much smaller screen than 6" eink as it's widescreen or more). Forget fixed ePub. Use ordinary FIXED PDF if you really really need a fixed layout. You then MUST decide on a physical page size. Likely any device less than a 8" or 10" screen is then useless. There is a good reason why Sony's Electronic Paper PDF only gadget is 13.8" if you can afford it. They have a smaller one, but it's not so useful! Absolutely FORGET fixed layout unless you are doing stuff for 8" tablets or larger (ideally 10") or paper. Absolutely forget fixed layout for other than coffee table books, graphic novels, comics, Manga, printed books such as courseware etc. Last edited by Quoth; 10-24-2019 at 03:00 PM.