JPEGs choppy/fuzzy in epub

MichaelKaufman · 10-05-2011, 12:41 PM

I'm creating a graphic for an epub as follows:
- designed it in InDesign 5.5 (it's mainly letters but one line drawing)
- exported as a JPEG
- in Photoshop, cropped in.
- in my ID book layout, I placed the JPEG. It looks great, the letters are all sharp

But when I export to epub and open it in a reader, the letters look terrible, choppy and amateurish.
I've tried on different object export settings (fixed, relative. Jpeg, giff) but nothing seems to make a difference.

Any help would be appreciated!

ilovejedd · 10-05-2011, 03:00 PM

After you've exported the ePub, open it with an archiving program (WinZip, WinRAR, 7-Zip, etc) and replace the offending pictures with the original JPEG files you exported.

MichaelKaufman · 10-05-2011, 03:20 PM

Thanks for the reply, ilovejedd.
I copied the original JPEG into my OEBPS/Images folder.
I gave it the name as the one that was in there and changed the name of the original.
When I looked at the epub, there was only a ? where the image should be.
So I went into the content.opf file. In the manifest, it is href'ing to a title for the jpeg that is slightly different than the old jpeg file that I replaced (but which did show up, even though the quality was low.)

What now?

Thanks!
Michael

JSWolf · 10-05-2011, 03:23 PM

If you are viewing your ePub in ADE for Windows, then the problem lies there. If there is any resizing to be done in ADE for Windows, it does a poor job of it. ADE on Sony Readers does a quite nice job of rendering images when they have to be resized.

MichaelKaufman · 10-05-2011, 03:31 PM

I've looked at it in both Calibre and Sony Reader (on my desktop) and in both cases the letters have a sketchy quality.
thanks, m

Toxaris · 10-06-2011, 03:12 AM

If it is a simple images, perhaps you can convert it to vector graphics (svg). That would solve the resize issues.

With renaming, take care. The names are case-sensitive.

Jellby · 10-06-2011, 04:23 AM

If "it's mainly letters but one line drawing", try saving it as PNG instead, it should give more quality with a smaller size. (SVG would be better, but is more poorly supported.)

The resizing problem will probably the same, though.

HarryT · 10-06-2011, 11:33 AM

Why are you using JPEG format for a graphic consisting of lettering and a line drawing? It's the worse possible choice of format for such a thing - the JPEG compression with "blur out" the edges of the letters and the lines.

Use the correct format for the job at hand: JPEG for real-world photographs, PNG for lettering, block graphics, line drawings, etc.

ilovejedd · 10-06-2011, 12:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

Why are you using JPEG format for a graphic consisting of lettering and a line drawing? It's the worse possible choice of format for such a thing - the JPEG compression with "blur out" the edges of the letters and the lines.

Use the correct format for the job at hand: JPEG for real-world photographs, PNG for lettering, block graphics, line drawings, etc.

Didn't notice it was just letters and line drawings. If so, yes, PNG is a much better format. Ideally, SVG is even better but few readers support it.

Toxaris · 10-06-2011, 01:06 PM

I thought SVG was part of the specs? Which readers don't support it then?

10-05-2011, 12:41 PM	#1
MichaelKaufman Junior Member Posts: 9 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2011 Device: none	JPEGs choppy/fuzzy in epub I'm creating a graphic for an epub as follows: - designed it in InDesign 5.5 (it's mainly letters but one line drawing) - exported as a JPEG - in Photoshop, cropped in. - in my ID book layout, I placed the JPEG. It looks great, the letters are all sharp But when I export to epub and open it in a reader, the letters look terrible, choppy and amateurish. I've tried on different object export settings (fixed, relative. Jpeg, giff) but nothing seems to make a difference. Any help would be appreciated!

10-05-2011, 03:20 PM	#3
MichaelKaufman Junior Member Posts: 9 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2011 Device: none	then do I rename the jpeg? Thanks for the reply, ilovejedd. I copied the original JPEG into my OEBPS/Images folder. I gave it the name as the one that was in there and changed the name of the original. When I looked at the epub, there was only a ? where the image should be. So I went into the content.opf file. In the manifest, it is href'ing to a title for the jpeg that is slightly different than the old jpeg file that I replaced (but which did show up, even though the quality was low.) What now? Thanks! Michael

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10-05-2011, 03:00 PM	#2
ilovejedd hopeless n00b Posts: 5,126 Karma: 19597086 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: in the middle of nowhere Device: PW4, PW3, Libra H2O, iPad 10.5, iPad 11, iPad 12.9	After you've exported the ePub, open it with an archiving program (WinZip, WinRAR, 7-Zip, etc) and replace the offending pictures with the original JPEG files you exported.

10-05-2011, 03:23 PM	#4
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 80,742 Karma: 150249619 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	If you are viewing your ePub in ADE for Windows, then the problem lies there. If there is any resizing to be done in ADE for Windows, it does a poor job of it. ADE on Sony Readers does a quite nice job of rendering images when they have to be resized.

10-05-2011, 03:31 PM	#5
MichaelKaufman Junior Member Posts: 9 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2011 Device: none	I've looked at it in both Calibre and Sony Reader (on my desktop) and in both cases the letters have a sketchy quality. thanks, m

10-06-2011, 03:12 AM	#6
Toxaris Wizard Posts: 4,520 Karma: 121692313 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Heemskerk, NL Device: PRS-T1, Kobo Touch, Kobo Aura	If it is a simple images, perhaps you can convert it to vector graphics (svg). That would solve the resize issues. With renaming, take care. The names are case-sensitive.

10-06-2011, 04:23 AM	#7
Jellby frumious Bandersnatch Posts: 7,570 Karma: 20150435 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Spaniard in Sweden Device: Cybook Orizon, Kobo Aura	If "it's mainly letters but one line drawing", try saving it as PNG instead, it should give more quality with a smaller size. (SVG would be better, but is more poorly supported.) The resizing problem will probably the same, though.

10-06-2011, 11:33 AM	#8
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,560 Karma: 93980341 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Why are you using JPEG format for a graphic consisting of lettering and a line drawing? It's the worse possible choice of format for such a thing - the JPEG compression with "blur out" the edges of the letters and the lines. Use the correct format for the job at hand: JPEG for real-world photographs, PNG for lettering, block graphics, line drawings, etc.

10-06-2011, 01:06 PM	#10
Toxaris Wizard Posts: 4,520 Karma: 121692313 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Heemskerk, NL Device: PRS-T1, Kobo Touch, Kobo Aura	I thought SVG was part of the specs? Which readers don't support it then?