How to embed animation in epub

q5485 · 01-02-2011, 10:40 AM

Hi there

I searched for the phrase "embed animation" in the search box above, but could not find a single match, hence this post.

I am a children's book author with several illustrated hardcover books. I am getting them animated and will put the animation after my ebook. The reader of my ebook will be offered a choice of reading the ebook or watching the animation (which is based on the print version of the book) or doing both.

I need to embed animation in the epub file. I have converted the animation into m4v and mov formats so that it can play on ipads and iphones. I can convert the printed books into epubs using sigil, callibre and epub Maker software. But I can't seem to find a way of embedding animation into my epub, that will work.

Does anyone know a resource for a non-techie that will explain how to embed an animation in an epub file? I can do basic html editing but am not familiar with java script or scripting in any form. I also have no knowledge of css. Does this mean I am totally handicapped and need to hire an epub composer? I am struggling and would like to do it myself, if I can.

Many thanks for your help and suggestions.
Happy New Year to all of you.

mr ploppy · 01-02-2011, 12:37 PM

I would be surprised if it was possible, but even if it is there wouldn't be many devices that could cope with the framerate. For something like that you would be better off creating it as an Apple App, someone showed me something similar to what you describe on an iphone a while ago. But you would be drastically cutting down on your potential readership if you went down that route.

Jellby · 01-02-2011, 02:08 PM

Animations are out of the scope of the ePUB specification. They can only be included as non-standard content, and ePUB readers are not required (nor expected) to support them.

DaleDe · 01-02-2011, 08:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jellby

Animations are out of the scope of the ePUB specification. They can only be included as non-standard content, and ePUB readers are not required (nor expected) to support them.

Having said that the ADE implementation does support SWF images in the PC desktop version and probably on a mac. These can be animated. It may be supported on portable versions that are LCD based but not on devices that are E-paper based. Check our wiki on ePUB

Try this link for details: http://blog.threepress.org/2009/11/1...omment-page-1/

Dale

q5485 · 01-02-2011, 09:45 PM

Thanks everyone for your replies. I am not a techie so I am not sure if it is doable or not. I have seen several posts on freelancer where requests to do the ebook conversion (with animation) are listed. Those services are way too expensive for me. In addition, I would rather do the conversion myself, if I am given the know-how.
Thanks

Jellby · 01-03-2011, 04:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaleDe

It may be supported on portable versions that are LCD based but not on devices that are E-paper based.

and not on the iPad either, since it does not use ADE, and it does not support Flash (or so I've heard).

finance4kids · 01-03-2011, 09:59 AM

I too am interested in knowing how to do the animation in epub.

q5485 · 01-03-2011, 10:37 AM

Dear Jellby and Dalede

Thank you for your comments. I am aware that ipad does not play flash. I am assuming ADE stands for Adobe Digital Editions? Given all that, can i put an external link in my epub file which will take the reader to another site where animation (in mov or m4v format) is located? Can the reader or his child watch the animation that way?
I think the animation is worth watching and it would be a shame to not let that happen.
Thanks once again.

DaleDe · 01-03-2011, 11:49 AM

everything I know about video linking in ePUB is in the blog I referenced earlier. I would suggest you read it. External links are even worse than internal ones as they require an Internet connection to be useful. Not all ePUB readers can integrate WiFi into the reader application even if the device supports WiFi for other usage.

Dale

Jellby · 01-03-2011, 01:45 PM

If the system has an internet connection, it might be that the reading software launches a browser program for external links, and then you are in web-page dominions. I don't know if this is the case with ADE (yes, Adobe Digital Editions) or the iPad. If it has no connection (like my Cybook), it can never work.

But you can alway write the URL of the animation, so that the interested reader can visit it with an appropriate system.

hard13 · 02-18-2011, 01:57 PM

you can use m4v format for animation and add it to the epub

LGN · 02-18-2011, 07:09 PM

The 3.0 specs will allow for audio and video embedding but it seems it's just targeting Tablest with this. And to be honest, when ebooks start looking and acting like regular websites... well.

Anyway the first public draft of ePUB 3.0 is presented, and noo, they chose a closed video codec support for this open format. (H.264). That's a real shame as now only publishers who pay a fee will be able to use video it seems.

Oh well, for now adding video might be a bad thing unless you want your content exclusive be targeting iPAD and similar devices and not the REAL eReading devices...

JonDeus · 02-21-2011, 05:44 AM

This isn't about video, but animated gif. I can get it to work in epub viewable in Sigil, Calibre, but not on Nook Color.
SO gif is playing in the epub file, just not showing up on NC. has anyone been able to get a gif play on NC? I even treid as a seperate gif file i ported over, but just shows 1st image and thats all.

Toxaris · 02-21-2011, 09:38 AM

If Sigil or Calibre is showing it, it will not say that it will play. Both uses QT Webkit to display the xhtml files. The webkit does not follow the epub specs. A reader system should follow the specs more. Afak an animated gif is not supported according to the specs.

hard13 · 02-21-2011, 10:20 AM

only png and jpg format that support common devices..

01-02-2011, 10:40 AM	#1
q5485 Member Posts: 11 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jun 2010 Device: ipad	How to embed animation in epub Hi there I searched for the phrase "embed animation" in the search box above, but could not find a single match, hence this post. I am a children's book author with several illustrated hardcover books. I am getting them animated and will put the animation after my ebook. The reader of my ebook will be offered a choice of reading the ebook or watching the animation (which is based on the print version of the book) or doing both. I need to embed animation in the epub file. I have converted the animation into m4v and mov formats so that it can play on ipads and iphones. I can convert the printed books into epubs using sigil, callibre and epub Maker software. But I can't seem to find a way of embedding animation into my epub, that will work. Does anyone know a resource for a non-techie that will explain how to embed an animation in an epub file? I can do basic html editing but am not familiar with java script or scripting in any form. I also have no knowledge of css. Does this mean I am totally handicapped and need to hire an epub composer? I am struggling and would like to do it myself, if I can. Many thanks for your help and suggestions. Happy New Year to all of you.

01-03-2011, 09:59 AM	#7
finance4kids Author, finance4kidz dot Posts: 5 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Rancho Palos Verdes, CA Device: ipad	embedding animation I too am interested in knowing how to do the animation in epub. Last edited by finance4kids; 01-03-2011 at 10:01 AM. Reason: (spelling)

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
How to embed fonts in ePub after Calibre	fiery	ePub	79	12-05-2016 02:18 AM
Stop motion graffiti animation	ShortNCuddlyAm	Lounge	2	07-12-2010 11:33 AM
Cover animation feature	danwdoo	Calibre	5	06-20-2010 01:38 AM
Any free software can embed fonts in epub	droople	ePub	4	03-06-2010 05:40 PM
Unutterably Silly As long as we're on about great animation	RickyMaveety	Lounge	7	05-30-2009 05:12 AM

01-02-2011, 12:37 PM	#2
mr ploppy Feral Underclass Posts: 3,622 Karma: 26821535 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Yorkshire, tha noz Device: 2nd hand paperback	I would be surprised if it was possible, but even if it is there wouldn't be many devices that could cope with the framerate. For something like that you would be better off creating it as an Apple App, someone showed me something similar to what you describe on an iphone a while ago. But you would be drastically cutting down on your potential readership if you went down that route.

01-02-2011, 02:08 PM	#3
Jellby frumious Bandersnatch Posts: 7,516 Karma: 18512745 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Spaniard in Sweden Device: Cybook Orizon, Kobo Aura	Animations are out of the scope of the ePUB specification. They can only be included as non-standard content, and ePUB readers are not required (nor expected) to support them.

01-02-2011, 09:45 PM	#5
q5485 Member Posts: 11 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jun 2010 Device: ipad	Thanks everyone for your replies. I am not a techie so I am not sure if it is doable or not. I have seen several posts on freelancer where requests to do the ebook conversion (with animation) are listed. Those services are way too expensive for me. In addition, I would rather do the conversion myself, if I am given the know-how. Thanks

01-03-2011, 10:37 AM	#8
q5485 Member Posts: 11 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jun 2010 Device: ipad	Dear Jellby and Dalede Thank you for your comments. I am aware that ipad does not play flash. I am assuming ADE stands for Adobe Digital Editions? Given all that, can i put an external link in my epub file which will take the reader to another site where animation (in mov or m4v format) is located? Can the reader or his child watch the animation that way? I think the animation is worth watching and it would be a shame to not let that happen. Thanks once again.

01-03-2011, 11:49 AM	#9
DaleDe Grand Sorcerer Posts: 11,470 Karma: 13095790 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Grass Valley, CA Device: EB 1150, EZ Reader, Literati, iPad 2 & Air 2, iPhone 7	everything I know about video linking in ePUB is in the blog I referenced earlier. I would suggest you read it. External links are even worse than internal ones as they require an Internet connection to be useful. Not all ePUB readers can integrate WiFi into the reader application even if the device supports WiFi for other usage. Dale

01-03-2011, 01:45 PM	#10
Jellby frumious Bandersnatch Posts: 7,516 Karma: 18512745 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Spaniard in Sweden Device: Cybook Orizon, Kobo Aura	If the system has an internet connection, it might be that the reading software launches a browser program for external links, and then you are in web-page dominions. I don't know if this is the case with ADE (yes, Adobe Digital Editions) or the iPad. If it has no connection (like my Cybook), it can never work. But you can alway write the URL of the animation, so that the interested reader can visit it with an appropriate system.

02-18-2011, 01:57 PM	#11
hard13 Enthusiast Posts: 30 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Parisj Van Java Device: none	you can use m4v format for animation and add it to the epub

02-18-2011, 07:09 PM	#12
LGN Connoisseur Posts: 88 Karma: 60 Join Date: Oct 2010 Device: ProMedia eReader, Sony PRS-600	The 3.0 specs will allow for audio and video embedding but it seems it's just targeting Tablest with this. And to be honest, when ebooks start looking and acting like regular websites... well. Anyway the first public draft of ePUB 3.0 is presented, and noo, they chose a closed video codec support for this open format. (H.264). That's a real shame as now only publishers who pay a fee will be able to use video it seems. Oh well, for now adding video might be a bad thing unless you want your content exclusive be targeting iPAD and similar devices and not the REAL eReading devices...

02-21-2011, 05:44 AM	#13
JonDeus HackJOB Posts: 17 Karma: 10 Join Date: Feb 2011 Device: Nook Color, iPad, Android(Epic), PC.	This isn't about video, but animated gif. I can get it to work in epub viewable in Sigil, Calibre, but not on Nook Color. SO gif is playing in the epub file, just not showing up on NC. has anyone been able to get a gif play on NC? I even treid as a seperate gif file i ported over, but just shows 1st image and thats all.

02-21-2011, 09:38 AM	#14
Toxaris Wizard Posts: 4,520 Karma: 121692313 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Heemskerk, NL Device: PRS-T1, Kobo Touch, Kobo Aura	If Sigil or Calibre is showing it, it will not say that it will play. Both uses QT Webkit to display the xhtml files. The webkit does not follow the epub specs. A reader system should follow the specs more. Afak an animated gif is not supported according to the specs.

Advert

Advert

02-21-2011, 10:20 AM	#15
hard13 Enthusiast Posts: 30 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Parisj Van Java Device: none	only png and jpg format that support common devices..