Publishing Kids Picture books outside Amazon

JohnnyParker · 08-20-2016, 09:07 AM

Hi Folks

I've used Kindle Kids Book creator to make MOBI files to upload to Amazon but I want to publish to other platforms.

Do I have to make a separate EPUB file with the image dimensions to suit each type of reader?

Amazon seems to manage this for their different devices but am not sure where to start.

Cheers

Johnny

GeoffR · 08-20-2016, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnnyParker

IDo I have to make a separate EPUB file with the image dimensions to suit each type of reader?

No, just use screen-relative (%) sizes instead of absolute or pixel sizes for height, width, max-width, etc. on the <img> styles. If you want to have finer control over aspect ratio (fit, stretch, clip etc.) then use <svg> instead of <img>

e.g. this image will display 100% of the available screen height with aspect ratio preserved:

Code:

<head>
  <title>Cover</title>
  <style type="text/css">
    @page { margin:0px; }
  </style>
</head>
<body style="margin:0px;">
  <div style="margin:0px; text-align:center;">
    <img style="height:100%; width:auto;" src="my-picture.png" />
  </div>
</body>

JohnnyParker · 08-20-2016, 01:03 PM

Thanks for the advice GeoffR
I've got Calibre is this a good tool to use?

Turtle91 · 08-21-2016, 01:03 AM

Calibre's Editor is good to use, as is Sigil. Both are pretty equivalent in their capabilities - both free. Calibre tends to use more keyboard commands while Sigil is a little more GUI. I'd recommend trying both and seeing which one you like.

Notjohn · 08-21-2016, 06:58 AM

Has Calibre Editor been updated since it debuted? I found Sigil satisfactory so I didn't switch over during the interregnum, and then of course it acquired new developers and has evolved nicely (with Preview Pane, most significantly).

JohnnyParker · 08-21-2016, 08:47 AM

Thanks Not John and Dion will have a gander at Sigil too.

Cheers

Johnny

JSWolf · 08-21-2016, 09:05 AM

But don't forget you will need to have hi-resolution images because a lot of the new screen are hi-resolution and low resolution images can be a problem to see if the resolution is too low and can be fuzzy if stretched too much.

Turtle91 · 08-21-2016, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Notjohn

Has Calibre Editor been updated since it debuted? I found Sigil satisfactory so I didn't switch over during the interregnum, and then of course it acquired new developers and has evolved nicely (with Preview Pane, most significantly).

Yes, it's been updated and is pretty good. I'm more of a GUI type user, so I prefer Sigil, but Calibre has a few nice features that aren't available in Sigil such as regex functions. Those can save a few find/replace steps.

Toxaris · 08-22-2016, 02:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Turtle91

Yes, it's been updated and is pretty good. I'm more of a GUI type user, so I prefer Sigil, but Calibre has a few nice features that aren't available in Sigil such as regex functions. Those can save a few find/replace steps.

Well, you can store RegEx actions in a search list in Sigil and execute as a group. What would the added value of a RegEx function?

jbacelar · 08-22-2016, 03:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toxaris

What would the added value of a RegEx function?

If you really want an answer, I recommend this link:
https://manual.calibre-ebook.com/function_mode.html

In addition, as an example I bring two codes to switch arabic numbers to romans, and viceversa.

Code:

#Searching: (?)(\d+)(?)
def num_roman(input):
    ints = (1000, 900,  500, 400, 100,  90, 50,  40, 10,  9,   5,  4,   1)
    nums = ('M',  'CM', 'D', 'CD','C', 'XC','L','XL','X','IX','V','IV','I')
    result = ""
    input=int(input)
    for i in range(len(ints)):
        count = input//ints[i]
        result += nums[i] * count
        input -= ints[i] * count
    return result
def replace(match, number, file_name, metadata, dictionaries, data, functions, *args, **kwargs):
    return match.group(1)+str(num_roman(match.group(2)))+match.group(3)

Code:

#Searching: (?)(.+?)(?)
numeral_map = zip(
    (1000, 900, 500, 400, 100, 90, 50, 40, 10, 9, 5, 4, 1),
    ('M', 'CM', 'D', 'CD', 'C', 'XC', 'L', 'XL', 'X', 'IX', 'V', 'IV', 'I')
)
	   
def arabic_num(n):
    n = unicode(n).upper()
    i = result = 0
    for integer, numeral in numeral_map:
        while n[i:i + len(numeral)] == numeral:
            result += integer
            i += len(numeral)
    return result
def replace(match, number, file_name, metadata, dictionaries, data, functions, *args, **kwargs):
    return match.group(1)+str(arabic_num(match.group(2)))+match.group(3)

Toxaris · 08-22-2016, 06:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jbacelar

If you really want an answer, I recommend this link:
https://manual.calibre-ebook.com/function_mode.html

Why would I ask a question if I don't want an answer?

Thank you for the link. That answers my question.

Personally I haven't found the need of functions as described, but I can see the added value for some cases.

JohnnyParker · 08-22-2016, 04:34 PM

Thanks for all the detailed input.

My book is just images - the story text is part of the image.

Little bit of text for copyright and link to other books but no chapter numbers or TOC.

Talking of high res, isn't there a file size limit with EPUB's - that's going to limit resolution surely?

Johnny

08-20-2016, 09:07 AM	#1
JohnnyParker Junior Member Posts: 9 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Birkenhead, UK Device: ipad 2, ibooks on macbook, android Galaxy S3	Publishing Kids Picture books outside Amazon Hi Folks I've used Kindle Kids Book creator to make MOBI files to upload to Amazon but I want to publish to other platforms. Do I have to make a separate EPUB file with the image dimensions to suit each type of reader? Amazon seems to manage this for their different devices but am not sure where to start. Cheers Johnny

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08-20-2016, 01:03 PM	#3
JohnnyParker Junior Member Posts: 9 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Birkenhead, UK Device: ipad 2, ibooks on macbook, android Galaxy S3	Thanks for the advice GeoffR I've got Calibre is this a good tool to use?

08-21-2016, 01:03 AM	#4
Turtle91 A Hairy Wizard Posts: 3,101 Karma: 18727053 Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Charleston, SC today Device: iPhone 11/X/6/iPad 1,2,Air & Air Pro/Surface Pro/Kindle PW & Fire	Calibre's Editor is good to use, as is Sigil. Both are pretty equivalent in their capabilities - both free. Calibre tends to use more keyboard commands while Sigil is a little more GUI. I'd recommend trying both and seeing which one you like.

08-21-2016, 06:58 AM	#5
Notjohn mostly an observer Posts: 1,515 Karma: 987654 Join Date: Dec 2012 Device: Kindle	Has Calibre Editor been updated since it debuted? I found Sigil satisfactory so I didn't switch over during the interregnum, and then of course it acquired new developers and has evolved nicely (with Preview Pane, most significantly).

08-21-2016, 08:47 AM	#6
JohnnyParker Junior Member Posts: 9 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Birkenhead, UK Device: ipad 2, ibooks on macbook, android Galaxy S3	Thanks Not John and Dion will have a gander at Sigil too. Cheers Johnny

08-21-2016, 09:05 AM	#7
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 74,037 Karma: 129333114 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	But don't forget you will need to have hi-resolution images because a lot of the new screen are hi-resolution and low resolution images can be a problem to see if the resolution is too low and can be fuzzy if stretched too much.

08-22-2016, 04:34 PM	#12
JohnnyParker Junior Member Posts: 9 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Birkenhead, UK Device: ipad 2, ibooks on macbook, android Galaxy S3	Thanks for all the detailed input. My book is just images - the story text is part of the image. Little bit of text for copyright and link to other books but no chapter numbers or TOC. Talking of high res, isn't there a file size limit with EPUB's - that's going to limit resolution surely? Johnny

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