digital comics - lots of dumb? questions from an absolute dummy...

[ilovejedd]

Originally Posted by Apparition B5

I've just learned to accept that most digital comic book and graphic novel purchases are going to be locked down with DRM, and read them via the Comixology app on my iPad Air. The Comixology app has worked just fine the past eight years and I don't see any reason to change. Indeed, there's very little way to change if I want high quality resolution.

Note, if you buy on Amazon, they have a Kindle+comiXology program so most comic books (pretty much all DC, Marvel and Image) transfer over to the comiXology app.

The AZW3 version is lower quality than the one downloaded via comiXology app but still better than the Google Chrome comic backup plugin. The plugin essentially just takes screenshots of lossy compressed images so it's a much bigger file size for same or lower quality as AZW3.

On Kindle for PC 1.19-1.24, you can get higher quality versions in other formats which can be liberated:
1. AZW3+AZW6: a big hassle to work with
2. KFX: works with Calibre + KFX Input plugin + Alf's plugins

[stumped]

once again, thanks to all

we have ordered new or like new hardbacks of three of annotated sandman volumes as I could not see annotated versions in digital. I figured hardback would be better quality than paperback and they will get passed around the family - or sneakily re-packaged as xmas/bithday gifts once we've read them

my wife likes the fire tablet presentation of the kindle unlimited loans, but I will probably get a recommended epub reader and some content to to see how that compares

I get that cbr, cbz are zips of image collections but surely there is also stuff in there which says how the images are to be placed into panels and laid out ?

FYI the first 2 Gaiman - Sandman collection KU files in my K for PC ( v1.17) are >50Mb each so I guess that is reasonably high quality. I was actually sort of suprised they downloaded into that - I expected them to be locked down and only viewable on Amazon hardware.

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by ilovejedd

The AZW3 version is lower quality than the one downloaded via comiXology app but still better than the Google Chrome comic backup plugin.

What size are the images you pull with AZW3?

The plugin essentially just takes screenshots of lossy compressed images so it's a much bigger file size for same or lower quality as AZW3.

You can save as PNG instead of JPG with the Chrome plug-in.

[ilovejedd]

Originally Posted by stumped

I get that cbr, cbz are zips of image collections but surely there is also stuff in there which says how the images are to be placed into panels and laid out ?

Nope. It's one image per page and these are just viewed fullscreen. That or comic viewers allow simple panning. I don't think anyone here knows how Amazon/comiXology implements guided view but if I had to guess, panel data is probably stored in an external file with a list of coordinates and panel dimensions.

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

What size are the images you pull with AZW3?

It varies but I think it's 1920 max height. One example:

Originally Posted by ilovejedd

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07FR13YYV/

• website: 118,847 KB (my guess: 1280x1920 res)
• azw3 download: 38,755 KB (variable resolution: 1280x1920 max, ~220 KB per image)
• PW3 kfx download: 35,180 KB (assets folder 35,028 KB, 965x1448, ~180 KB per image)

comiXology

• in-app, proprietary format: 384.6 MB (lines are sharp and clean even on a 12.9" iPad, no blurriness at all)

https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/skip-beat-vol-41

• epub download: 151,273 KB (1400x2100, ~880 KB per image)

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/ski...=9781974706129

• website: 94 MB

Haven't gotten around to checking what the image reso is on K4PC 1.24. My main desktop runs 1.17 while the 1.24 (maybe 1.23) is installed on my laptop that doesn't get used much. I prefer buying from Kobo (or DRM-free source) but since that's not an option for DC or Marvel, buying comics from Amazon instead of comiXology direct gives multiple options for backup: azw3, azw3+azw6 or kfx, and comiXology Chrome plugin

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

You can save as PNG instead of JPG with the Chrome plug-in.

I know. I've tried both PNG and JPG but the screenshots are already lossy compressed to begin with. There's no getting around the original compression. PNG would just make the files much bigger.

[jhowell]

Originally Posted by ilovejedd

I don't think anyone here knows how Amazon/comiXology implements guided view but if I had to guess, panel data is probably stored in an external file with a list of coordinates and panel dimensions.

The proprietary HTML markup needed for panel view in the Kindle platform is documented in the Amazon Kindle Publishing Guidelines in section 11.3 "Panel View (Region Magnification)".

[ilovejedd]

Originally Posted by jhowell

The proprietary HTML markup needed for panel view in the Kindle platform is documented in the Amazon Kindle Publishing Guidelines in section 11.3 "Panel View (Region Magnification)".

Thanks! Good to know.

I do wonder if this also works with files converted from EPUB to AZW3 with Calibre or KindleGen.

That said, no such system for CBZ/CBR.

[stumped]

i am still puzzled. I had read that usually amazon's prices are lower than comixology so its advisable to compare but in this case:

Sandman Overture deluxe

Kindle edition is £5.99 and 224 pages

Comixology is £2.99 but only 167 pages ???

the title in both places is The Sandman: Overture (2013-2015): Deluxe Edition

so how do I figure what's different - do they use different page count mechanisms or does paying double get you a better product / more actual content ?

e.g. does the cheaper version still have guided view ( i read the Comix.. generally have that but there is no specific statement in a single item description )
does the "kindle version" work on more devices because its in AZW

[ilovejedd]

I checked Amazon's website and the Kindle edition shows:

Product details
Format: Kindle Edition
File Size: 215958 KB
Print Length: 167 pages
Publisher: Vertigo; Deluxe ed. edition (10 Nov. 2015)
Sold by: Amazon Media EU S.à r.l.
Language: English
ASIN: B0159C1Z20

The hardcover edition is 224 pages.

Product details
Hardcover: 224 pages
Publisher: DC Comics; Deluxe edition (10 Nov. 2015)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1401248969
ISBN-13: 978-1401248963

Yes, the Kindle edition works on more devices. Under Amazon Product Details, there's a link: tell us about a lower price. I report the lower price there when Comixology pricing is lower than Kindle.

Guided view originally came from Comixology so yes, it will have it (you have to use Comixology app to read, though). Iirc, everything on Comixology has guided view except for manga which are specifically marked as MFF (Manga Fixed Format).

[ZodWallop]

Doh! I posted info jedd already shared!

[stumped]

pages discrepancy. well different routes in give different answers,
i can bring up a page saying Kindle AND saying 224 pages:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sandman-Ove...2648855&sr=8-1
The Sandman: Overture (2013-2015): Deluxe Edition Kindle & comiXology
by Neil Gaiman (Author), JH Williams III (Illustrator), J.H. Williams III (Artist)
4.7 out of 5 stars 61 customer reviews
See all 3 formats and editions
Kindle & comiXology
£5.45
Read on any device
Kindle & comiXology

..

..

Read more
Length: 224 pages

"Length: 224 pages
Available on comiXology and on these devices "

but you guys reckon that despite that, the comixology version would have identical content and features but be wrapped into a different format ?

update: with my "pay attention" specs on- the 224 pages number on my link is clickable: and it brings up a note saying " from the print edition" when clicked.

TBH doubling up on a small number purchase cost is not that big a deal; esp if the higher price puts a copy in amazon cloud where all my devices can get to it. I was wanting to compare prices on the big expensive sandman compilations but I don't see those on comixology

The whole UK v USA bit is also confusing.
I installed the Comixology app from google play (UK) to android and logged in with my amazon credentials when prompted, then tried to buy a " free" comic...

... but it would not let me, it said i did not have a payment method set up!. More prodding revealed that it was looking at my amazon.com profile, not my co.uk, and my pay methods are set up in UK. [but my amazon login works on both amazon.com and co.uk

At that point I gave up, I decided that trying to get a free comic in order to try out the system was simply too complex and stressful

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by stumped

pages discrepancy....

but you guys reckon that despite that, the comixology version would have identical content and features but be wrapped into a different format ?

As mentioned earlier, digital comics are really just folders full of images (usually .jpg or .png), zipped. Each image file is treated as 1 page. So even a two page spread is counted as 1 page.

Unlike ebooks, digital comics will be the same number of pages no matter what. A .CBZ, .CBR and .PDF of the same comic would all have the same number of pages.

[stumped]

OK get that, 1 image = 1 page - so the hardcover edition at 224 pages has 57 pages of additional content, that is not in the digital comic versions with 167 pages. That's about 25% extra content.

so I'm back to griping that is disappointing and confusing. I'd much rather collect in digital than in print, but not if I'm going to miss out on stuff.

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by stumped

OK get that, 1 image = 1 page - so the hardcover edition at 224 pages has 57 pages of additional content, that is not in the digital comic versions with 167 pages. That's about 25% extra content.

so I'm back to griping that is disappointing and confusing. I'd much rather collect in digital than in print, but not if I'm going to miss out on stuff.

You would have to compare the printed and digital comic side-by-side.

Two things here:

1. A two-page spread would be counted as one page in a digital comic and it would count as two pages in a printed one.
   
2. The digital comic may not reproduce things like blank end pages and ad pages that would be counted as pages in the printed comic.

I checked a few other random comics and here's what I found:

Watchmen
Print: 448 pages
Digital: 449 pages

Batman - Year One
Print: 136 pages
Digital: 136 pages

Marvels: Remastered
Print: 248 pages
Digital: 238 pages

Marshal Law: The Deluxe Edition
Print: 480 pages
Digital: 480 pages

[stumped]

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

You would have to compare the printed and digital comic side-by-side.


but how: its not like amazon have a local store to pop into and browse !
i am not going to play the order one of everything, return all but one game, like some folks do with clothes sizes. That's not fair honest.

Two things here:

1. A two-page spread would be counted as one page in a digital comic and it would count as two pages in a printed one.
   
2. The digital comic may not reproduce things like blank end pages and ad pages that would be counted as pages in the printed comic.

yes front and end pages may account for some of the page creep but not for 57 extra pages

I may try comparing a few other things, see if a pattern emerges

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by stumped

...so I'm back to griping that is disappointing and confusing. I'd much rather collect in digital than in print, but not if I'm going to miss out on stuff.

If you are that worried, it may well be worth buying the book on sale and taking your tablet to a book store where you could do a page-by-page comparison. In my experience with digital comics, I have not seen one where the print edition had extra pages that were not included in the digital edition. If anything, some comics have digital exclusives (alternate covers, usually).