Best option for converting scanned ePub to PDF

karlfranz · 05-29-2026, 01:25 AM

I have a few hundred ePub files that are just containers for scanned images. Each "page" is just a full-size scan from the original book's page. They have no reflowable text at all. I don't know why the creators chose to save them as ePub files, but I'd like a simple way to convert them all to PDFs.

The problem I'm having is that I don't know how to set the output page size options in Calibre so that it automatically uses the aspect ratio of the original scanned pages. Most of my test conversions result in a PDF where each page has the scanned image anchored to the upper left corner and the bottom and right areas have dead empty space (unwanted margins). I then have to open each PDF with a utility such as Wondershare or UPDF to crop the pages to the correct sizes.

The image attached at the end of this post shows a sample two-page spread from a PDF generated by the Calibre ePub->PDF conversion. The gray area is the portion I then have to crop.

Ideally, I'm looking for an option for batch conversion of all the ePubs that just uses the scanned image proportions to create the proper dimensions for each PDF page and doesn't distort the original images by forcing them into a different aspect ratio. Is there such a thing?

Thanx

dandaman · 05-29-2026, 02:35 AM

Could you just batch crop the PDFs?

kovidgoyal · 05-29-2026, 05:39 AM

If your images are all different sizes then no, otherwise simply rename the epub file to cbz and try converting it.

karlfranz · 05-29-2026, 09:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kovidgoyal

If your images are all different sizes then no, otherwise simply rename the epub file to cbz and try converting it.

Do you mean different sizes within the same document or across files? The only image that is sometimes a different size within the same document seems to be the cover. All other images within the ePub are the same size.

Also, Are there any special settings for cbz I need to be aware of?

karlfranz · 05-29-2026, 09:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dandaman

Could you just batch crop the PDFs?

Unfortunately, the amount to crop varies per PDF depending on the aspect ratio of the original scanned images in the ePub, so batch processing won't work.

05-29-2026, 01:25 AM	#1
karlfranz Member Posts: 18 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jun 2024 Device: Boox Note Air 3 & 3C, KyBook 3 on iPad	Best option for converting scanned ePub to PDF I have a few hundred ePub files that are just containers for scanned images. Each "page" is just a full-size scan from the original book's page. They have no reflowable text at all. I don't know why the creators chose to save them as ePub files, but I'd like a simple way to convert them all to PDFs. The problem I'm having is that I don't know how to set the output page size options in Calibre so that it automatically uses the aspect ratio of the original scanned pages. Most of my test conversions result in a PDF where each page has the scanned image anchored to the upper left corner and the bottom and right areas have dead empty space (unwanted margins). I then have to open each PDF with a utility such as Wondershare or UPDF to crop the pages to the correct sizes. The image attached at the end of this post shows a sample two-page spread from a PDF generated by the Calibre ePub->PDF conversion. The gray area is the portion I then have to crop. Ideally, I'm looking for an option for batch conversion of all the ePubs that just uses the scanned image proportions to create the proper dimensions for each PDF page and doesn't distort the original images by forcing them into a different aspect ratio. Is there such a thing? Thanx Attached Thumbnails

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05-29-2026, 02:35 AM	#2
dandaman Connoisseur Posts: 82 Karma: 100 Join Date: May 2026 Location: London, United Kingdom Device: Kindle PW3, Kobo Clara Colour	Could you just batch crop the PDFs?

05-29-2026, 05:39 AM	#3
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 46,272 Karma: 29630860 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	If your images are all different sizes then no, otherwise simply rename the epub file to cbz and try converting it.

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