Changing book covers

Paegan2246 · 03-21-2016, 11:08 AM

Using Calibre 2.51

I downloaded 1300 books from my Amazon account. All of them coverted to Mobi or AZW3 versions. I downloaded the metadata for each book plus new covers for many of them.

When I open up the ereader within Calibre, the old covers show up, not the new ones I selected.

Is there something else I need to do?

Sorry if this is an annoying question, but I sure could use some help here.

Thanks,
Susan

Edited to add: when I transfer books to my Kindle 7th gen, the old books cover also transfer, not the ones I changed.

dwig · 03-21-2016, 02:42 PM

The cover image displayed in calibre is not the image inside of the ebook, but a separate JPEG file associated with the ebook. Initially, this JPEG is the same as the cover image in the ebook, if it had one. When you change the image in calibre, only this external JPEG is changed. The cover embedded in the book is not changed.

You can have calibre replace the cover image in the book with the new one calibre is using, but you must do the manually. With ePub and AZW3 there are functions or plugins to do this easily (somebody step in and specify which, please, as I'm not where I can run calibre and get the correct steps). Converting a book, even converting to the same format as the original, will also replace the embedded cover image with the new one. With some formats, like classic MOBI, this is the only way to change the embedded cover image.

Once the embedded cover image is updated you can reload the ebooks onto you device and you will see the new covers.

BetterRed · 03-21-2016, 04:32 PM

The Polish Book feature can inject the library cover image (cover.jpg in the book folders) into ePUB and AZW3 formats. If Polish is not in a toolbar or menu then it can be added via Preferences->Toolbars

The Modify optional plugin can also inject the library cover image into the ePUB format only.

BR

Paegan2246 · 03-21-2016, 04:48 PM

Thank you both very much. This clearly explained it to me.

eschwartz · 03-21-2016, 10:00 PM

Note: By default when sending the book to the device, metadata and covers are updated in the sent copy anyway.

And if you are referring to Cover View in the books listing on your Kindle, then the Kindle uses a saved thumbnail regardless. calibre will sideload the thumbnail (this works for MOBI too!) if the book is not a Personal Document. When resending the book that thumbnail gets updated. If the book is a PDOC I don't believe the Kindle will update the thumbnail itself.

Paegan2246 · 03-21-2016, 10:16 PM

I converted the Mobi files to AZW3 files and then used the embed metadata tool. It worked fine. I sent the file to my Kindle 3 and the new book cover is there. Now its just a matter of taking the time to adjust all the missing covers. A little here, a little there. Gives me something to do while watching TV

This forum has been very helpful to me.

03-21-2016, 11:08 AM	#1
Paegan2246 Connoisseur Posts: 86 Karma: 2627294 Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Wisconsin Device: Kindle Keyboard, Kindle Touch, iPod Touch, 3-160GB iPod classics	Changing book covers Using Calibre 2.51 I downloaded 1300 books from my Amazon account. All of them coverted to Mobi or AZW3 versions. I downloaded the metadata for each book plus new covers for many of them. When I open up the ereader within Calibre, the old covers show up, not the new ones I selected. Is there something else I need to do? Sorry if this is an annoying question, but I sure could use some help here. Thanks, Susan Edited to add: when I transfer books to my Kindle 7th gen, the old books cover also transfer, not the ones I changed. Last edited by Paegan2246; 03-21-2016 at 11:14 AM. Reason: to add information

03-21-2016, 10:16 PM	#6
Paegan2246 Connoisseur Posts: 86 Karma: 2627294 Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Wisconsin Device: Kindle Keyboard, Kindle Touch, iPod Touch, 3-160GB iPod classics	I converted the Mobi files to AZW3 files and then used the embed metadata tool. It worked fine. I sent the file to my Kindle 3 and the new book cover is there. Now its just a matter of taking the time to adjust all the missing covers. A little here, a little there. Gives me something to do while watching TV This forum has been very helpful to me. Last edited by Paegan2246; 03-21-2016 at 10:17 PM. Reason: correct spelling

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03-21-2016, 02:42 PM	#2
dwig Wizard Posts: 1,613 Karma: 6718541 Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Paradise (Key West, FL) Device: Current:Surface Go & Kindle 3 - Retired: DellV8p, Clie UX50, ...	The cover image displayed in calibre is not the image inside of the ebook, but a separate JPEG file associated with the ebook. Initially, this JPEG is the same as the cover image in the ebook, if it had one. When you change the image in calibre, only this external JPEG is changed. The cover embedded in the book is not changed. You can have calibre replace the cover image in the book with the new one calibre is using, but you must do the manually. With ePub and AZW3 there are functions or plugins to do this easily (somebody step in and specify which, please, as I'm not where I can run calibre and get the correct steps). Converting a book, even converting to the same format as the original, will also replace the embedded cover image with the new one. With some formats, like classic MOBI, this is the only way to change the embedded cover image. Once the embedded cover image is updated you can reload the ebooks onto you device and you will see the new covers.

03-21-2016, 04:32 PM	#3
BetterRed null operator (he/him) Posts: 21,729 Karma: 29711016 Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Sydney Australia Device: none	The Polish Book feature can inject the library cover image (cover.jpg in the book folders) into ePUB and AZW3 formats. If Polish is not in a toolbar or menu then it can be added via Preferences->Toolbars The Modify optional plugin can also inject the library cover image into the ePUB format only. BR

03-21-2016, 04:48 PM	#4
Paegan2246 Connoisseur Posts: 86 Karma: 2627294 Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Wisconsin Device: Kindle Keyboard, Kindle Touch, iPod Touch, 3-160GB iPod classics	Thank you both very much. This clearly explained it to me.

03-21-2016, 10:00 PM	#5
eschwartz Ex-Helpdesk Junkie Posts: 19,421 Karma: 85400180 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: The Beaten Path, USA, Roundworld, This Side of Infinity Device: Kindle Touch fw5.3.7 (Wifi only)	Note: By default when sending the book to the device, metadata and covers are updated in the sent copy anyway. And if you are referring to Cover View in the books listing on your Kindle, then the Kindle uses a saved thumbnail regardless. calibre will sideload the thumbnail (this works for MOBI too!) if the book is not a Personal Document. When resending the book that thumbnail gets updated. If the book is a PDOC I don't believe the Kindle will update the thumbnail itself.

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