Content Kindle Comic Converter - Convert comics/manga to MOBI/EPUB

[peapeadontcry]

Hello, I am super new to the art of creating/prepping manga files for e-readers, and I would like to learn and get more insights/advices! From my rabbit-hole 20+ tabs of research yesterday, so far I was able create a .cbz on my first try (huzah!), but still ran into roadblocks (sobsob). So please teach me your ways, masters! ^u^

Warning: sorry for the long post and highly-possible silly mistakes.

I'll walk you through everything I have done so far, I would love to get your feedback on the step-by-step workflow and explanation for my in-experienced one brain cell T_T (psst... please explain like I'm 5yo, and thank you so much for your patience)

Some details on what I have/use:
- Main Device: Kobo Libra 2 that I got exactly 2 years ago in 2022 (factory settings + a Vietnamese font update so that my Vietnamese book-titles can show in the main interface. I don't have KOreader... I am baby...)
- Computer: Apple desktop M1 macOS 15.1.1
- Apps I downloaded yesterday: KCC 7.0.0; and a few things I also got bc my rabbit-hole research said they might be helpful(?): Calibre (no additional plugins or anything), ComicTagger.

what-I-did Walkthrough:
First Try
So yesterday, I downloaded and installed KCC 7.0.0 for the first time. I also (through idiot-proof youtube videos) downloaded and installed Homebrew for 7zip. Then Calibre and ComicTagger.

I then gathered all the images for the manga pages into a folder (I just bulk download the images from a manga website that has the series I want). I followed the Set Up structure from the Metadata KCC wiki page (example attached below - 'FolderStructure')

My outermost folder is the Title > Volumes (3 in total) > Chapters (per volume) > Manga pages JPEGs

In KCC, with the Setup attached, I add directory and picked the title folder. Had my Device as Kobo Libra 2 and format as CBZ, I hit 'Convert' and huzah! A .cbz file named (At 2500, in Akasaka - Volume 1-3.cbz).

I go back to the KCC Editors, load up the newly created cbz to add the Series name and Writer for the metadata. I then manually drop into my Kobo via USB.

Result: yay! first time reading manga on Kobo! All the images shows up, no weird sizing, crops, or missing pages!

Roadblocks I ran into:

1. I cannot get the cbz file to have ToC that is sectioned out by chapter/volume. Everything is showing up per "Page"? I have 606 pages, across 3 volumes and 18 chapters, and all 606 came up as an entry in the ToC (please see image 'ToC_NoChapter' attached)
2. I also can't (understand how to) edit metadata or to get the ComicInfo.xml to work T_T My .cbz file show still up as Unknown Author on the Kobo after using the Editor function in KCC
   I unzip the cbz to confirm the .xml file from the KCC Editors was saved and it is infact there.
   when I load it to Calibre the information is not retained there either, but I couldn't figure out how to update it again there in a way that is saved into the cbz. I tried editing the metadata of the cbz on Calibre, and then click Send it to device, but none of the information is retained

Second Try
I read on the ComicRack Metadata KCC wiki page that ComicRack can be used to edit metadata, but it seemed like the website is down, so I opted for ComicTagger that was also mentioned.

I used the same Files folder to a new .cbz file to test. Loaded the cbz into Comic loader, and I inputed all the metadata there and use the Pages tab to do the ToC bookmarks (see ComicTagger attached-image).

I hit "Saved Tags" and then loaded the newly saved cbz to my Kobo via USB again.

Results:
The file shows up with all the pages and no weird visual, but again, still no metadata that I have input into it and no ToC T_T

Side quest:
Out of curiosity, I unzipped the cbz to look at the ComicInfo.xml using macOS Terminal's command:

7z e At\ 2500\,\ in\ Akasaka\ -\ Volume\ 1-3.cbz ComicInfo.xml

I did a bit of a clean up in the mac default TextEdit app from the long format of

<Page Bookmark="Scene. 1" DoublePage="False" Image="1" ImageHeight="1680" ImageSize="499827" ImageWidth="1264" />

to the short and sweet example on the metadata KCC wiki page

<Page Bookmark="Scene. 1" Image="1" />

for all of the pages that has an important bookmark for the chapters/volume.

I then using Terminal's 7z commands again to delete the old ComicInfo.xml from the cbz, and replace with the one I cleaned, using:

7z d At\ 2500\,\ in\ Akasaka\ -\ Volume\ 1-3.cbz ComicInfo.xml

to delete one saved out from ComicTagger

7z a At\ 2500\,\ in\ Akasaka\ -\ Volume\ 1-3.cbz ComicInfo.xml

to add the new one (see attached for my current ComicInfo.xml)

I opened the cbz with the new xml on ComicTagger to see if the Details information are intact, and the are. Same for the bookmark information as well. However, when I load that new cbz into my Kobo, I still get the same result T_T... Still no info and ToC whatsoever T_T

=> Long story short:
YES I DID IT! to cbz file when convert from folders and image files (which is the most basic thing LOL)
No - I am an ultra failure at figuring out how to make metadata like author/covers/other details and Table of Contents work. which I am very SAD....

Questions:
- How to get metadata to work?
- How to get Table of Contents to work?
- Is CBZ the best option for comic/manga/webtoon?
- Is there a different app or plugins for anything that I should install? (or use, like aside from or switch from ComicTagger)
- Should I give up on cbz file and just go with an epub file? so that the metadata can just be edit with Calibre? If so, how would I do the ToC on Calibre?
- Any idiot-proof step by step guide for newbie in making manga/comic/webtoon files?
- Best practices?

I truly don't know where I went wrong, and I'm determined to learn, so please! Let me know what I did wrong, or what I should change. If you have a step-by-step workflow (or link to a tutorial, even better if it has visual), please teach me! I would really appreciate it!

Thank you and I hope you guys have a wonderful holidays ahead!

[axu2]

I have never used a Kobo, but a google search for "cbz author kobo" and similar gives several results that may help. My brief readings indicates that cbz metadata support is not as easy as epub metadata support on kobo.

[peapeadontcry]

Originally Posted by axu2

I have never used a Kobo, but a google search for "cbz author kobo" and similar gives several results that may help. My brief readings indicates that cbz metadata support is not as easy as epub metadata support on kobo.

First of all, thank you so much for responding and taking a look! You are the best! and Aaaa, that makes sense, I spent the day trying out if there's way to use .cbz but keep the metadata from the ComicInfo.xml, but that was a sad effort haha

I ended up just going with EPUB format in the drop down menu like you mentioned, and the resulting .kepub.epub file works great! With the same folder directory from my previous post (Title>Vol>Chapter>page.jpg), I was finally successful in getting a somewhat working ToC for the first time just reflecting the chapter structure! ^u^

Another progress I was able to make is making the Author and Title metadata appears as I wanted. This was just through the KCC Editor function. And I feel much more comfortable now that I have worked out a pipeline workflow for myself. (attached tangible images are my very much proud progress as a noobie lol)

Buttttt....

If you don't mind, I still have trouble trying to get the more complex metadata to work, and I'd love to hear what you think T_T <3

So, I want to have a ToC that I can custom through the ComicInfo.xml but I keep getting an error when I try to convert a CBZ file (with a more extensive comicinfo.xml metadata list) > EPUB

(please see the attached error)

What-I-did:
Folder structure wise, I tried one over-arching folder structure with all the JPEGs files in one folder like:
(Title > all 606 page.jpegs)

I tested zipping that folder up to cbz, ran through KCC + Editor (for Title + Author data), and the resulting kepub works with this simple ComicInfo.xml:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?><ComicInfo xmlns:xsd="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance"><Series>At 25:00, in Akasaka - Volume 1-3</Series>
<Writer>Hiroko Natsuno</Writer>
</ComicInfo>

I ran into the error mentioned above when I try to convert that .cbz to epub with KCC ( T __ T ) I basically tried to replace the ComicInfo.xml in the cbz with a more complex XML that has the TOC I want (using macOS Terminal 7z u filename.cbz ComicInfo.xml command):

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?><ComicInfo xmlns:xsd="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance"><Series>At 25:00, in Akasaka - Volume 1-3</Series>
<Writer>Hiroko Natsuno</Writer>
  <Pages>
    <Page Image="0" Bookmark="Volume 01"/>
    <Page Image="1" Bookmark="Scene. 1"/>
    <Page Image="42" Bookmark="Scene. 2"/>
    <Page Image="77" Bookmark="Scene. 3"/>
    <Page Image="113" Bookmark="Scene. 4"/>
    <Page Image="149" Bookmark="Scene. 5"/>
    <Page Image="200" Bookmark="Bonus track: What Happened Next on that Day"/>
    <Page Image="206" Bookmark="Volume 02"/>
    <Page Image="207" Bookmark="Scene. 6"/>
    <Page Image="237" Bookmark="Scene. 7"/>
    <Page Image="273" Bookmark="Scene. 8"/>
    <Page Image="303" Bookmark="Scene. 9"/>
    <Page Image="333" Bookmark="Scene. 10"/>
    <Page Image="361" Bookmark="Scene. 11"/>
    <Page Image="407" Bookmark="Bonud track: CELEBRATION"/>
    <Page Image="412" Bookmark="Volume 03"/>
    <Page Image="413" Bookmark="Scene. 12"/>
    <Page Image="436" Bookmark="Scene. 13"/>
    <Page Image="460" Bookmark="Scene. 14"/>
    <Page Image="486" Bookmark="Scene. 15"/>
    <Page Image="546" Bookmark="Scene. 16"/>
  </Pages>
</ComicInfo>

I thought it might be because of my method to replace the XML file in the cbz; but when I swapped the complex one back to the simple one, I don't see the error and KCC was able to spit out a working KEPUB again.

I also tested converting with a Kindle device + mobi/azw3 selected but still get the same error. Same as Kobo Libra 2 + cbz. It seems like if I have a complex metadata in the root of the archive, it will give me the error.

My ultimate goal is to have Title, Author, ToC, and along with other infos (like Genre, summary, date, etc.) from my previous-post-attached xml, works.

Please let me know your thoughts!

[axu2]

You don't need to use a CBZ. You can just put the XML next to the jpgs in a folder and it will work.

I just made a plain folder. Put 600 jpgs in it. Put your comicinfo.xml file in it. And it worked for me.

Maybe you should use an external program to manage tags like ComicTagger.

[peapeadontcry]

AHHHHH IT WORKED!!!! THANK YOU!

Turns out it was just simple as that, I was lead astray by my own brain from reading all the different posts about zipping and cbz and the extra stuff. That worked beautifully and now I have both the TOC I want and all the titles/author info ^u^ <3

This is a holiday miracle that I figure out new technology (to me) hahaha! I will try ComicTagger from a cbz first to get the XML with all the info I want too, and keep on experimenting.

You're amazing!! Thank you again for all of your patience with me and your kind help. I am absolutely in love with this tool! I hope you have a great end to the year and a wonderful start in the next xD

[axu2]

KCC 7.1.1 is out!

Various changes/bug fixes for double page spread handling/alignment and dark mode was fixed! Read the change log for full details.

Edit:

7.1.2 also out! No rotate option, default author option in GUI, and appimage fix.

[ftzlotus]

I ran into an issue: i have Chapter 20 and Chapter 20.5 as subfolders, then the cbz file will show 20.5 first then 20 and combine both of them to "chapter-0020.0005" in the ToC

I'm not sure but i don't remember this issue in older KCC (may be 5.8.x).

Anyone know how to fix it

[axu2]

Originally Posted by ftzlotus

I ran into an issue: i have Chapter 20 and Chapter 20.5 as subfolders, then the cbz file will show 20.5 first then 20 and combine both of them to "chapter-0020.0005" in the ToC

I'm not sure but i don't remember this issue in older KCC (may be 5.8.x).

Anyone know how to fix it

What device and app you reading on? Koreader?

This is an issue brought up previously, you may need to open a GitHub issue. Temporary workaround is naming chapters 20.0 and 20.5.

Or use epub instead.

[wynnwave]

I've noticed that KCC appears to be using the "Title" value from the cbz metadata for the output book title, rather than using "Series" and "Number" like the wiki on github says. I'd much prefer the latter. Is there a way to change this behavior?

[axu2]

Originally Posted by wynnwave

I've noticed that KCC appears to be using the "Title" value from the cbz metadata for the output book title, rather than using "Series" and "Number" like the wiki on github says. I'd much prefer the latter. Is there a way to change this behavior?

If you leave title blank it will do that.

https://github.com/ciromattia/kcc/bl...2ebook.py#L728

Also, did you ever resolve your steam deck/linux issues? KCC had some updates to that in the meantime.

[wynnwave]

Originally Posted by axu2

If you leave title blank it will do that.

https://github.com/ciromattia/kcc/bl...2ebook.py#L728

Also, did you ever resolve your steam deck/linux issues? KCC had some updates to that in the meantime.

Gotcha, thanks. Was hoping there might be a setting so that I wouldn't have to edit all the metadata, but I'll just bulk edit the books I'm about to convert and delete the Title value.

As for the Steam Deck issues, I was never able to resolve them, even after installing the latest KCC updates. I'm now using KCC in a Docker container running on a different machine.

[axu2]

Originally Posted by wynnwave

Gotcha, thanks. Was hoping there might be a setting so that I wouldn't have to edit all the metadata, but I'll just bulk edit the books I'm about to convert and delete the Title value.

As for the Steam Deck issues, I was never able to resolve them, even after installing the latest KCC updates. I'm now using KCC in a Docker container running on a different machine.

Feel free to ask that as a feature request on GitHub.

Also, this is the mobi conversion stuck wiki for linux: https://github.com/ciromattia/kcc/wi...allation#linux

[Crusher]

Hello,

I have only two question for which I was not able to find yet an answer.

1.Is there an option when using kcc to have the converted file read L2R? (as a regular comic/book?)
2.Which device name is for Kindle 7th Gen ? Touch? Kindle 4/5/7 ?

Thank you.

[bustacap]

Originally Posted by Crusher

Hello,

I have only two question for which I was not able to find yet an answer.

1.Is there an option when using kcc to have the converted file read L2R? (as a regular comic/book?)
2.Which device name is for Kindle 7th Gen ? Touch? Kindle 4/5/7 ?

Thank you.

1. disable manga mode
2. kindle 4/5/7/8/10

[C4thie]

Is it possible to resize manga cover?
If it comes to books, it easy, because I start with epub file, so I can resize cover with plugin in Calibre. Then use ebook-polish option to insert cover into epub. And here we go.

But since manga output file for Kindle is mobi, I don't know how to insert resized cover into this file. Without breaking it with converting. Ebook-polish option in Calibre is available only for epub and azw3