How to best add a cover image?

Alda · 06-28-2012, 08:33 AM

Hi,

I'm trying to add a cover image for my ebook. I've got a jpeg image that I want to use, and know how to add it. The problem starts when I open the book in Adobe Digital Editions - the entire cover doesn't appear, i.e. about a third is cut off the bottom.

Is there a good way to do this so that the entire image appears? Does it have something to do with the size ratio of the original image?

Any help would be much appreciated. Thanks!

Alda

mrmikel · 06-28-2012, 09:42 AM

What is the size of the original image? Are you specifying a fixed size in the img command?

Alda · 06-28-2012, 09:49 AM

The original is 481x680 px.

No, I'm not specifying an image size. I didn't know that was possible. I'm just using the 'insert image' command and then choosing the file from my computer.

Am I missing something?

Thanks!

theducks · 06-28-2012, 11:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alda

Hi,

I'm trying to add a cover image for my ebook. I've got a jpeg image that I want to use, and know how to add it. The problem starts when I open the book in Adobe Digital Editions - the entire cover doesn't appear, i.e. about a third is cut off the bottom.

Is there a good way to do this so that the entire image appears? Does it have something to do with the size ratio of the original image?

Any help would be much appreciated. Thanks!

Alda

My KISS way (so you get whatever stylesheet is in use on the current page):

Step 0 ) add the Image to the Book Browser (if not there)
Step 1 ) Open a place (a line by its self) where the Image will be in viewing order.

place a Sigilchapter Marker after this line if you want the image to appear on the previous page.
Step 2 ) Select and Place the Image on the line.
Step 3 a ) (may be a Sigil 6 feature) Right-click the image you placed: adjust the properties to taste

Step 3 b ) Create and assign your own stylesheet class to this image (in CV)

Alda · 06-28-2012, 05:22 PM

I've discovered my problem: it's the aspect ratio I'm using. I think I need to go back to the drawing board with this one.

Thanks for your help!

Danger · 06-28-2012, 06:24 PM

My code, image is sized to 600w x 800h for my Kobo Screen size:

<body style="margin: 0px; text-align: center; background-color: #000000">
<div><img alt="" src="../Images/cover.jpg" /></div>
</body>

Jellby · 06-29-2012, 03:36 AM

This is my standard cover code. In the <head> I have this style (and no CSS file linked in the cover XHTML):

Code:

<style type="text/css">
  body.cover { margin: 0; }
  div { text-align: center; }
</style>

And the <body>:

Code:

<body class="cover">
<div>
<svg version="1.1" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"
  width="100%" height="100%" viewBox="0 0 600 800" preserveAspectRatio="xMidYMid meet">
  <image width="600" height="800" xlink:href="images/Cover.jpg" />
</svg>
</div>
</body>

This should resize the image (keeping aspect ratio) to full width and/or height (but that may depend on how the reader interprets 100% height). The class="cover" in the <body> simply helps me style different the cover page when using Prince. (I guess I should add "@page { margin: 0; }" to the style too.)

mrmikel · 06-29-2012, 05:53 AM

I think there is really no one size fits all with tablet computers with their larger screens, some with super-high resolution and e-ink displays mostly showing 600x800 pixels.

You can include giant pictures for some devices which will only slow down and clog up other devices trying to scale it down for display, if they succeed at all. Even if Apple created only fully compliant EPUB3 devices, this fundamental difference is one which is not addressed and in fact may not be addressable. In terms of display, it may be like DOS and Windows. A computer can display both but it is hardly the same.

Alda · 06-29-2012, 06:09 AM

Thanks so much!

Danger's code worked for me, but Jellby's didn't - not sure why.

I had the cover redesigned in the right ratios. Part of my problem was that it was showing up with white lines as the thumbnail in ADE, but the black background fixed that (even if it may be a bit of a cheat). My only issue now is that the full cover doesn't show up on the first page when I'm reading in ADE, but I guess I can live with that. Still need to test it on my Kindle.

cybmole · 06-30-2012, 12:20 AM

the lazy way is to add both the ebook & the cover picture to calibre then run an epub to epub conversion. when you do that, calibre adds the cover to the book , as 1st page, with all the necessary support code

Alda · 06-30-2012, 06:00 AM

Lazy is good. Thanks for the tip!

Perkin · 06-30-2012, 07:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cybmole

the lazy way is to add both the ebook & the cover picture to calibre then run an epub to epub conversion. when you do that, calibre adds the cover to the book , as 1st page, with all the necessary support code

Use kiwidude's Modify ePub plugin, which now has a 'insert cover', it will then preserve all your formatting.

Hitch · 07-01-2012, 05:36 AM

n.b.-Apple now requires a 1400px WIDE cover for ePUBs (no--seriously. I didn't make that up). Effective 8/1, I think it is, no ePUBs will pass their intake sans a cover sized to those dimensions. Seriously, it's a freaking nightmare; it means yet AGAIN we have to copy an ePUB, exchange out some bits, do the "what-device-are-we-styling-for-now" boogie, and then make the MOBI. 1400 works in Nook, but, DAMN, it makes the file larger than it has to be. It's just...ludicrous.

Hitch

Toxaris · 07-01-2012, 12:10 PM

It makes it very, very large even.

Elfwreck · 07-06-2012, 11:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hitch

n.b.-Apple now requires a 1400px WIDE cover for ePUBs (no--seriously. I didn't make that up).

And because of that, Smashwords is requiring 1400px-wide covers for anything in the premium catalog--even if you don't care to distribute to Apple.

I almost think this is Apple's way of thinning out self-pubbed books, or pushing them toward very simple or ugly covers (it's easy to make a 1400px-wide cover that's just text on a colored background), because there is NO REASON WHATSOEVER to have an ebook with a 1400-pixel wide cover. Never. Ever ever. Even if the next generation of ipad is 1500 pixels wide x 3000 long (or whatever), at no point does anyone need to look at a book cover with that level of detail. And even if they want to... they'll look at it for, what, twenty seconds before they open the book and never see the cover at full size again?

Bah. Stupid. Huge filesize jump with no practical benefit.

06-28-2012, 08:33 AM	#1
Alda Zealot Posts: 104 Karma: 22 Join Date: Jun 2010 Device: none	How to best add a cover image? Hi, I'm trying to add a cover image for my ebook. I've got a jpeg image that I want to use, and know how to add it. The problem starts when I open the book in Adobe Digital Editions - the entire cover doesn't appear, i.e. about a third is cut off the bottom. Is there a good way to do this so that the entire image appears? Does it have something to do with the size ratio of the original image? Any help would be much appreciated. Thanks! Alda

06-29-2012, 03:36 AM	#7
Jellby frumious Bandersnatch Posts: 7,549 Karma: 19500001 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Spaniard in Sweden Device: Cybook Orizon, Kobo Aura	This is my standard cover code. In the <head> I have this style (and no CSS file linked in the cover XHTML): Code: <style type="text/css"> body.cover { margin: 0; } div { text-align: center; } </style> And the <body>: Code: <body class="cover"> <div> <svg version="1.1" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" width="100%" height="100%" viewBox="0 0 600 800" preserveAspectRatio="xMidYMid meet"> <image width="600" height="800" xlink:href="images/Cover.jpg" /> </svg> </div> </body> This should resize the image (keeping aspect ratio) to full width and/or height (but that may depend on how the reader interprets 100% height). The class="cover" in the <body> simply helps me style different the cover page when using Prince. (I guess I should add "@page { margin: 0; }" to the style too.)

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06-28-2012, 09:42 AM	#2
mrmikel Color me gone Posts: 2,089 Karma: 1445295 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Central Oregon Coast Device: PRS-300	What is the size of the original image? Are you specifying a fixed size in the img command?

06-28-2012, 09:49 AM	#3
Alda Zealot Posts: 104 Karma: 22 Join Date: Jun 2010 Device: none	The original is 481x680 px. No, I'm not specifying an image size. I didn't know that was possible. I'm just using the 'insert image' command and then choosing the file from my computer. Am I missing something? Thanks!

06-28-2012, 05:22 PM	#5
Alda Zealot Posts: 104 Karma: 22 Join Date: Jun 2010 Device: none	I've discovered my problem: it's the aspect ratio I'm using. I think I need to go back to the drawing board with this one. Thanks for your help!

06-28-2012, 06:24 PM	#6
Danger Evangelist Posts: 490 Karma: 1665031 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Vancouver Island, Nanaimo Device: K2 (retired), Kobo Touch (passed to the wife), KGlo, Galaxy TabPro	My code, image is sized to 600w x 800h for my Kobo Screen size: <body style="margin: 0px; text-align: center; background-color: #000000"> <div><img alt="" src="../Images/cover.jpg" /></div> </body>

06-29-2012, 05:53 AM	#8
mrmikel Color me gone Posts: 2,089 Karma: 1445295 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Central Oregon Coast Device: PRS-300	I think there is really no one size fits all with tablet computers with their larger screens, some with super-high resolution and e-ink displays mostly showing 600x800 pixels. You can include giant pictures for some devices which will only slow down and clog up other devices trying to scale it down for display, if they succeed at all. Even if Apple created only fully compliant EPUB3 devices, this fundamental difference is one which is not addressed and in fact may not be addressable. In terms of display, it may be like DOS and Windows. A computer can display both but it is hardly the same.

06-29-2012, 06:09 AM	#9
Alda Zealot Posts: 104 Karma: 22 Join Date: Jun 2010 Device: none	Thanks so much! Danger's code worked for me, but Jellby's didn't - not sure why. I had the cover redesigned in the right ratios. Part of my problem was that it was showing up with white lines as the thumbnail in ADE, but the black background fixed that (even if it may be a bit of a cheat). My only issue now is that the full cover doesn't show up on the first page when I'm reading in ADE, but I guess I can live with that. Still need to test it on my Kindle.

06-30-2012, 12:20 AM	#10
cybmole Wizard Posts: 3,720 Karma: 1759970 Join Date: Sep 2010 Device: none	the lazy way is to add both the ebook & the cover picture to calibre then run an epub to epub conversion. when you do that, calibre adds the cover to the book , as 1st page, with all the necessary support code

06-30-2012, 06:00 AM	#11
Alda Zealot Posts: 104 Karma: 22 Join Date: Jun 2010 Device: none	Lazy is good. Thanks for the tip!

07-01-2012, 05:36 AM	#13
Hitch Bookmaker & Cat Slave Posts: 11,503 Karma: 158448243 Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Phoenix, AZ Device: K2, iPad, KFire, PPW, Voyage, NookColor. 2 Droid, Oasis, Boox Note2	n.b.-Apple now requires a 1400px WIDE cover for ePUBs (no--seriously. I didn't make that up). Effective 8/1, I think it is, no ePUBs will pass their intake sans a cover sized to those dimensions. Seriously, it's a freaking nightmare; it means yet AGAIN we have to copy an ePUB, exchange out some bits, do the "what-device-are-we-styling-for-now" boogie, and then make the MOBI. 1400 works in Nook, but, DAMN, it makes the file larger than it has to be. It's just...ludicrous. Hitch

07-01-2012, 12:10 PM	#14
Toxaris Wizard Posts: 4,520 Karma: 121692313 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Heemskerk, NL Device: PRS-T1, Kobo Touch, Kobo Aura	It makes it very, very large even.

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