Trying to make a thumbnail cover appear on kindle

werls · 09-13-2018, 12:11 PM

Hi there. I'm developing a ebook using Sigil that'll be converted to a MOBI at the end.

I'm trying to add a cover to the epub in a way that shows as a thumbnail in Kindle library. I've tried many methods editing and adding data to content.opf ( as described in Kindle Publishing Guidelines), with no success at all.

First, I though that was a problem in the conversion of epub to MOBI (I was using the Kindle Previewer). So, i've tried to change to Kindlegen, but the result keep appearing on the Kindle as it doesn't have a cover image to thumbnail display.

When I use Calibre to convert the epub, the thumbnail cover looks fine, but Calibre mess with all my CSS.

So, there's a way that I can make this work?

HarryT · 09-13-2018, 12:12 PM

Moved to the “Kindle Formats” forum.

johnnyb · 09-13-2018, 05:20 PM

Quick hack: take the cover file that Calibre generates and merge it into your Sigil project.
Clean it up if necessary and turn it into a template for further use.
Also, be aware that Kindles under certain circumstances have trouble generating covers from kf8-format files. It’s a bug in the Kindle firmware that has never been fixed). Try viewing the file on additional devices and see what happens (e.g. use send to Kindle with the epub renamed as a txt file and have a look at it on an iPad or phone).

odamizu · 09-14-2018, 05:23 AM

For KF8/AZW3, Kindle thumbnails aren't extracted from the ebook; rather, Kindles download cover thumbnails from Amazon based on an ASIN embedded in the metadata.

You can insert an ASIN in Sigil using Doitsu's KindleGen plugin: https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh....php?p=2957196

Go to Amazon's website, find the book, scroll down to "Product details" and copy the ASIN, which is 10 digits and starts with a B, e.g., B123456789
Add the following metadata to the opf file:
<dc:identifier>urn:amazon:B000000000</dc:identifier>
and/or
<dc:identifier>urn:mobi-asin:B000000000</dc:identifier>
(use the actual ASIN, not all zeroes)
Make sure there is also the following metadata:
<meta name="cover" content="[insert item id]" />
Run the KindleGen plugin and when the options window comes up, check "Add Fake ASIN"
Transfer the ebook via USB or a cloud service like Dropbox. Make sure WiFi is on when you transfer the book. The Kindle will then download the cover automatically. (Note: You cannot use Send-to-Kindle as Send-to-Kindle overwrites any ASIN you input and creates a new one, which is why you won't get a cover if you use Send-to-Kindle.)

johnnyb · 09-14-2018, 07:02 AM

Thanks for the clarification!

09-13-2018, 12:11 PM	#1
werls Junior Member Posts: 1 Karma: 10 Join Date: Sep 2018 Device: Kindle D01200	Trying to make a thumbnail cover appear on kindle Hi there. I'm developing a ebook using Sigil that'll be converted to a MOBI at the end. I'm trying to add a cover to the epub in a way that shows as a thumbnail in Kindle library. I've tried many methods editing and adding data to content.opf ( as described in Kindle Publishing Guidelines), with no success at all. First, I though that was a problem in the conversion of epub to MOBI (I was using the Kindle Previewer). So, i've tried to change to Kindlegen, but the result keep appearing on the Kindle as it doesn't have a cover image to thumbnail display. When I use Calibre to convert the epub, the thumbnail cover looks fine, but Calibre mess with all my CSS. So, there's a way that I can make this work?

09-13-2018, 05:20 PM	#3
johnnyb Cloud Reader Posts: 1,136 Karma: 4273668 Join Date: Aug 2010 Device: Kindle Paperwhite, Boox Note Air 4C, Remarkable PP Move, iPad Pro 11	Quick hack: take the cover file that Calibre generates and merge it into your Sigil project. Clean it up if necessary and turn it into a template for further use. Also, be aware that Kindles under certain circumstances have trouble generating covers from kf8-format files. It’s a bug in the Kindle firmware that has never been fixed). Try viewing the file on additional devices and see what happens (e.g. use send to Kindle with the epub renamed as a txt file and have a look at it on an iPad or phone). Last edited by johnnyb; 09-13-2018 at 05:25 PM.

09-14-2018, 05:23 AM	#4
odamizu just an egg Posts: 1,848 Karma: 8006346 Join Date: Mar 2015 Device: Kindle, iOS	For KF8/AZW3, Kindle thumbnails aren't extracted from the ebook; rather, Kindles download cover thumbnails from Amazon based on an ASIN embedded in the metadata. You can insert an ASIN in Sigil using Doitsu's KindleGen plugin: https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh....php?p=2957196 Go to Amazon's website, find the book, scroll down to "Product details" and copy the ASIN, which is 10 digits and starts with a B, e.g., B123456789 Add the following metadata to the opf file: <dc:identifier>urn:amazon:B000000000</dc:identifier> and/or <dc:identifier>urn:mobi-asin:B000000000</dc:identifier> (use the actual ASIN, not all zeroes) Make sure there is also the following metadata: <meta name="cover" content="[insert item id]" /> Run the KindleGen plugin and when the options window comes up, check "Add Fake ASIN" Transfer the ebook via USB or a cloud service like Dropbox. Make sure WiFi is on when you transfer the book. The Kindle will then download the cover automatically. (Note: You cannot use Send-to-Kindle as Send-to-Kindle overwrites any ASIN you input and creates a new one, which is why you won't get a cover if you use Send-to-Kindle.) Last edited by odamizu; 09-14-2018 at 05:25 AM.

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09-13-2018, 12:12 PM	#2
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,560 Karma: 93980341 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Moved to the “Kindle Formats” forum.

09-14-2018, 07:02 AM	#5
johnnyb Cloud Reader Posts: 1,136 Karma: 4273668 Join Date: Aug 2010 Device: Kindle Paperwhite, Boox Note Air 4C, Remarkable PP Move, iPad Pro 11	Thanks for the clarification!